Click on the following links to learn more about the Real Estate Salesperson Licensing State Requirements:
Required Education
About the Exam
Required Experience
Application Procedures
Required Education [Back to Top]
As of October 1, 2007, your required education is comprised of 135 credit hours (45 credit hours in Real Estate Principles, 45 credit hours in Real Estate Practice, and 45 credit hours in one additional DRE state approved course). You must provide proof of completion (certificates) of all 3 required courses when applying for the licensing exam. We highly recommend our supplemental live course options and suggest you attend our 16-hour License Exam Preparation Course. You can obtain more information on education requirements by visiting the DRE web site at http://www.dre.ca.gov.
About the Exam [Back to Top]
About the California State Exam
The Department of Real Estate administers the California Real Estate Licensing Exam at five California locations: Sacramento, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Diego. The cost to take the State Exam is $60.
The exam is 150 multiple-choice questions. You are given 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete the exam.
A score of 70% or better is required to pass the state exam.
Registration and Exam Fees
You must complete an original Salesperson Examination Application and send it along with certificates of completion in Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and one additional state approved course, and the $60 exam fee.
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 $15. A fee of $30 is required for the second and subsequent request to reschedule your exam.
What to Bring to the Exam
Exam Results
Examination results will be mailed to you within five business days after the examination. Exam results can be obtained through E-Licensing on the DRE website or by contacting 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.
Additional Information about the State Exam
More information about the California Real Estate Licensing Exam, including procedures, a printable State 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]
An applicant for a California real estate salesperson's license must:
1. Be at least 18 years old. 2. Provide proof of completion in 135 hours of required education (45 credit hours in Real Estate Principles; 45 credit hours in Real Estate Practice course; and 45 credit hours in one additional state approved course). 3. Pass the salespersons exam
A salesperson is licensed to act on behalf of a broker, and may not act as a real estate agent independently. A salesperson may only work for one broker in California at a time. California does not require an applicant for a salesperson's license to have a high school diploma or college degree. There is also no state residency requirement.
Application Procedures [Back to Top]
After passing the examination, you will be sent a Salesperson License Application. Within one year of the examination date this form must be completed and returned along with the licensing fee. Also submit your Live Scan Request form (for submitting fingerprints). Visit the DRE website at http://www.dre.ca.gov to get the latest application procedures.