Click on the following links to learn more about the Real Estate Broker Licensing State Requirements: 

Required Education

About the Exam

Required Experience

Application Procedures

Required Education [Back to Top]

All broker license applicants must complete the following statutory required college level courses:

1. Real Estate Practice
2. Legal Aspects of Real Estate
3. Real Estate Finance
4. Real Estate Appraisal
5. Real Estate Economics or General Accounting
6. And three* courses from the following group:
   
   • Real Estate Principles
   • Business Law
   • Property Management
   • Escrows
   • Real Estate Office Administration
   • Mortgage Loan Brokering and Lending
   • Advanced Legal Aspects of Real Estate
   • Advanced Real Estate Finance
   • Advanced Real Estate Appraisal
   • Computer Applications in Real Estate

About the Exam [Back to Top]

About the Broker Exam - California

The Department of Real Estate administers the California Broker Licensing Exam at five California locations: Sacramento, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Diego. The cost to take the Broker Exam is $95.

The exam is 200 multiple-choice questions. You are given 5 hours to complete the exam, a 2½ hour morning session and a 2½ hour afternoon session.

A score of 75% or better is required to pass the broker exam.

What to Bring to the Exam

• Photo ID; i.e. valid drivers license
• A silent, battery-operated, electronic, pocket size calculator that does not have a print capability or an alphabetic keyboard.

Exam Results

Examination results will be mailed to you within five business days after the examination. You can also contact the interactive voice response system by calling the Examination Section at (916) 227-0900 or visit the Department of Real Estate's website at http://www.dre.ca.gov. You must wait three business days after you have completed your examination before calling this number. Once you have passed the state exam and submitted the completed license application with all required fees, you will be issued a broker license.

Changing or Canceling Exam Appointment Time 

To change or cancel your appointment time, you must call the Department of Real Estate at least one full business day before the day of your scheduled appointment. The first request for a new examination date will be $20. A fee of $30 is required for the second and subsequent request to reschedule your exam.

Additional Information about the Broker Exam

More information about the California Real Estate Licensing Exam, including procedures, a printable Broker Exam Application Form and outlines describing exam content, is available on the Department of Real Estate’s website at http://www.dre.ca.gov.

Required Experience [Back to Top]

All applicants for a California broker license must be at least 18 years old and have one of the following:

1. A minimum of two years full-time licensed real estate salesperson experience in the last five years.
2. A four-year degree from an accredited college.
3. Members of the bar of any state in the United States will generally qualify on the basis of their education and experience, and are statutorily exempt from the college-level course requirements.

In addition to these minimum requirements, you must also successfully complete required licensing education and pass the written state exam.

Application Procedures [Back to Top]

You must complete an original Broker Examination Application and send it along with an official transcript showing successful completion of the statutory college-level real estate courses and degree(s), and the $50 exam fee.