How to Get a California Real Estate License

This article was co-authored by Hannah Park. Hannah Park is a Licensed Real Estate Agent operating in Los Angeles, California and is a part of Keller Williams, Larchmont. She received her Real Estate Certification in 2018 from the California Bureau of Real Estate, and now specializes as a Buyer's Agent and Listing Agent.

There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

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Getting your real estate license in California is not difficult. First, check to make sure you meet some basic requirements designated by the California Bureau of Real Estate. Then, pass the exam administered by the CBRE. It can be a tough test, so signing up for a program that will provide guidance and materials to help you study will give you a leg up on the exam.

Satisfying Basic Requirements

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Be of the appropriate age to obtain a real estate license. [1] X Research source To obtain a real estate license in California, you must be 18 years old or older. If you are 17 when you take the test to obtain a real estate license, you must wait until you are 18 before submitting your application.

• Some crimes which will almost certainly result in your application being denied include extortion, fraud, burglary, criminal conspiracy, and tax evasion. [3] X Research source
• Failure to disclose charges pending against you, or convictions which were expunged, overturned, or pardoned could also result in your application's dismissal.

Pass a work history background check. Crimes for which you've been convicted in a court of law are not the only sort of behavior which can disqualify you from obtaining your real estate license. If you've had administrative action taken against you by the state or federal government while working in a business, you could be denied a real estate license. For instance, if you were levied a fine for selling alcohol to a minor at your bar, you could be denied your real estate license.

Getting a Real Estate Salesperson License

Find an accredited school. There are several college-level courses which you must take before obtaining your license. Courses must be completed at school accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or a comparable agency recognized by the US Department of Education, or a private real estate school whose courses have been accepted as valid by the California Real Estate Commission.

• The list of courses required for the real estate salesperson license, including the list of classes which could satisfy the optional third course, is available at http://www.dre.ca.gov/Examinees/RequirementsSales.html.
• If you are a member of the California State Bar, you are exempt from the coursework requirements.

Real Estate Agent

Hannah Park is a Licensed Real Estate Agent operating in Los Angeles, California and is a part of Keller Williams, Larchmont. She received her Real Estate Certification in 2018 from the California Bureau of Real Estate, and now specializes as a Buyer's Agent and Listing Agent.

Start by taking an online course to get your certification. Then, take some time to study and memorize the information you learned from the course. You can also watch YouTube videos to make studying more engaging. Finally, set a date for the test on the DRE website.

Obtain your transcripts. Transcripts are typically accessible through your school's registrar office. Some schools offer digital transcripts through their website which you can print out yourself. Applicants must send their transcripts along with their exam applications to demonstrate proof they have taken the requisite coursework.

Have transcripts translated if you completed coursework overseas. If you were educated in a foreign country, you must have your transcripts translated and then verified as valid by a credentialing service. There are several private credentialing services around the country which can assist with translation and verification of your transcripts. A list is available on form RE 223, online at http://www.dre.ca.gov/files/pdf/forms/re223.pdf. You must then send the transcripts along with your application to take the exam. [5] X Research source

• The Exam/License Application (form RE 435) is available at http://dre.ca.gov/files/pdf/forms/re435.pdf.
• The Exam Application by itself is available at http://dre.ca.gov/files/pdf/forms/re400a.pdf.
• The current license fee is $245 and the current exam fee is $60.
• After completing the application to take the exam, or the application to take the exam and obtain a real estate license, you will have to mail it to the Bureau of Real Estate, P.O. Box 137001, Sacramento, CA 95813-7001.

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• If you believe that you are unable to attend a testing site in any of the above-listed locations, you can attach a Reasonable Accommodation Request (form RE 413) along with relevant documentation -- such as a description of your disability and recommended accommodation you'd need -- in order to be considered for a test site closer to you. This form is typically used by individuals with disabilities. [8] X Research source

• You can reschedule your exam with eLicensing at www.calbre.ca.gov. You can also use the site to schedule your own examination date after being approved to take the exam. To do this, indicate your preference to schedule your own exam date by placing an “X” next to the box which reads “YES” on item 9 of the exam application. You will receive acknowledgment that you've been approved to schedule your test date in the mail.
• You can use eLicensing to check if you've been assigned a test date.

• Electronic devices, drinks, wallets, purses, and other personal items cannot be brought into the test center for security reasons. Leave them in your car or at home.
• Do not cheat on your test by smuggling notes or other aids into the testing center. This is considered grounds for denial of your real estate license. Paying or enlisting the aid of someone else to take your exam is likewise frowned upon and constitutes a misdemeanor.

Getting a Real Estate Broker License

• The full-time work or full-time work equivalent must all have occurred within the past five years, though not necessarily within a contiguous period. For instance, if you worked two years full-time in real estate sales starting four years ago, you can include that experience on your form RE 226.
• You cannot offer letters of recommendation in lieu of form RE 226 and the relevant experience.
• Besides working in mortgage loans, securities sales, rentals, leases, or real estate sales under a licensed broker, you might also be able to draw on experience as a subdivider, contractor, or speculative builder if you performed work relating to the purchase, financing, sale, or development of real estate.

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• The Exam/License Application (form RE 436) is available at http://dre.ca.gov/files/pdf/forms/re436.pdf.
• The Exam Application by itself is available at http://dre.ca.gov/files/pdf/forms/re400b.pdf.
• The current license fee is $300 and the current exam fee is $95.
• After completing the application to take the exam, or the application to take the exam and obtain a real estate license, you will have to mail it to the Bureau of Real Estate, P.O. Box 137001, Sacramento, CA 95813-7001.

• In order to take the test as soon as possible, all you have to do is leave item 11 blank.
• If you are disabled or believe that you will for any reason be unable to test at one of the available testing centers, fill out form RE 413, the Reasonable Accommodation Request form. [14] X Research source

Choose a time to take the test. After being approved to take the exam, you can use the eLicensing website at www.calbre.ca.gov to schedule your exam date. You can also use the site to check whether you've been assigned a testing date after being approved to take the exam, or to change the date of your exam if you need to reschedule. If you want to schedule your exam date after being approved to do so, check the “YES” box on item 9 of the application.

• There is a break between the two sessions.
• To ensure honesty, may personal items like phones and notebooks are not allowed in the test center. Do not bring your personal items in with you.
• If you cheat on your test, you will be dismissed from the test center and immediately fail your test.

Following Up After the Exam

• If you did not pass the exam, you can apply to retake it with the eLicensing website (www.calbre.ca.gov). There is no limit to the number of times you can retake the exam. However, if you want to retake it more than two years after submitting your original exam application, you must submit a new exam application and a new set of academic transcripts.

• To get your fingerprints taken, print and complete part two of form RE 237. You can get the form online at http://www.dre.ca.gov/files/pdf/forms/re237.pdf. Bring the form with you to the Live Scan fingerprinting location of your choice.
• For a list of locations where Live Scan fingerprinting services are available, visit https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations. After identifying the location where you'd like to have your fingerprints taken, contact them to make an appointment. Each location charges a fee for the service and for processing. Ask for current rates when making your appointment.
• If you had your fingerprints taken before you took the examination, mail the completed form and your original license application to Bureau of Real Estate, P.O. Box 137002, Sacramento, CA 95813-7002, Attn: Fingerprint Desk.
• If you are getting your fingerprints taken after passing the exam, send the license application and fingerprint form to Bureau of Real Estate, Licensing Section, P.O. Box 137002 Sacramento, CA 95813-7002.

Complete your license application. If you passed the exam for the real estate salesperson license and did not fill out form RE 435 (the exam application / license application combination form), you will be mailed a separate license application. If you pass the exam for the real estate broker license and did not fill out form RE 436 (the exam application / license application combination form), you will be mailed a separate license application. No matter what license you applied for, fill it out and mail the completed license application to it to Bureau of Real Estate, Licensing Section, P.O. Box 137002 Sacramento, CA 95813-7002 along with your fingerprint form to obtain your license application.

• Use the CBRE's processing timetables to figure out whether your license is late in arriving. The processing timetable is available online at http://www.dre.ca.gov/Licensees/CurrentTimeframes.html. Most applications take about one month to process, while exam / license combination applications are usually processed after about 45 days.

• In order to renew your license, you will need to pay a fee. Check http://www.dre.ca.gov/Licensees/Fees.html for current information on the cost of a license renewal fee.
• When renewing your license, you will have to prove that you've taken at least 45 hours of continuing education relating to the real estate industry. This is required whether you're renewing a real estate broker license or a real estate salesperson license. Courses must be taken at an approved college or university.
• Instead of coursework, you could be eligible for receiving a continuing education equivalency waiver if you've written books or articles pertaining to a topic in real estate, or delivered educational programs about the real estate industry. See form RE 332 for requirements regarding the continuing education equivalency. [19] X Research source