The information contained below is designed to provide a summary of the minimum education, experience, and examination requirements established by the California Department of Real Estate.
The information provided below can be found on the DRE’s website. However, we recommend you contact the DRE for more detailed information and for any changes which may have occurred.
Sales Prelicense
- Must be 18 years of age or older to be issued a license
- Submit Proof of Legal Presence in the United States
- Must be honest and truthful
- Successful completion of three college-level courses is required to qualify for a real estate salesperson examination:
- Real Estate Principles, and
- Real Estate Practice, and
- One course from the following list:
- Real Estate Appraisal
- Property Management
- Real Estate Finance
- Real Estate Economics
- Legal Aspects of Real Estate
- Real Estate Office Administration
- General Accounting
- Business Law
- Escrows
- Mortgage Loan Brokering and Lending
- Computer Applications in Real Estate
- Common Interest Developments
- Complete a Salesperson Examination Application (RE 400A)
or a Combined Salesperson Examination and License Application. (RE 435) - Obtain transcripts showing successful completion of the statutory college-level real estate courses and degrees
- Once qualified, an Examination Schedule Notice (RE401A) or an authorization to self schedule will be sent to you.
- After you pass the examination, you will be sent a Salesperson License Application (RE 202). This form must be completed and returned along with the appropriate fee within one year after passing the examination.
- A completed Live Scan Service Request (RE 237) must be submitted with the application unless you held a real estate license which expired less than two years ago. A license cannot be issued until DRE receives fingerprint response information. See Fingerprint Requirements for further information.
Broker Prelicense
- Must be 18 years of age or older to be issued a license
- Submit Proof of Legal Presence in the United States
- Must be honest and truthful
- A minimum of two years full-time licensed salesperson experience within the last five years or the equivalent is required.
- Must have successfully completed the following eight statutorily required college-level courses:
- Real Estate Practice; and
- Legal Aspects of Real Estate; and
- Real Estate Finance; and
- Real Estate Appraisal; and
- Real Estate Economics or Accounting; and
- Three* courses from the following list
- Real Estate Principles
- Business Law
- Property Management
- Escrow
- 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
- Common Interest Developments
*If both Real Estate Economics and Accounting are taken, only two courses from the above group are required. - Complete a Broker Examination Application (RE 400B)
or a Combined Broker Examination and License Application. (RE 436)
. - Obtain transcripts showing successful completion of the statutory college-level real estate courses and degrees.
- Document experience requirements for the broker examination by:
- Completing Employment Verification (RE 226)
forms to verify licensed salesperson experience; - Obtaining a copy of diploma or transcript to verify a 4-year college degree earned through a regionally accredited college; or
- Completing Equivalent Experience Verification (RE 227)
forms to verify non-licensed real estate-related experience. - Once qualified, an Examination Schedule Notice (RE401A) or an authorization to self schedule will be sent to you.
- After passing the exam, you will be sent a Broker License Application (RE 200). This form must be completed and returned along with the appropriate fee within one year after passing the examination.
- A completed Live Scan Service Request (RE 237) must be submitted with the application unless you held a real estate license which expired less than two years ago. A license cannot be issued until DRE receives fingerprint response information. See Fingerprint Requirements for further information.
Continuing Education
- Licenses are issued for a four-year period and should be renewed prior to the expiration date listed on the license.
- Real estate salespersons who were licensed prior to 10/1/2007, and are renewing an original license for the first time, must complete five separate three-hour DRE-approved continuing education courses in Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, Fair Housing and Risk Management.
- Those licensees who were licensed on or after 10/1/2007, and were required to have all three statutory/pre-licenses courses (RE Principles, RE Practice, and one additional course), must complete 45 clock hours of DRE-approved continuing education consisting of:
- Five separate three-hour courses in the following subjects: Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, Fair Housing, and Risk Management;
- A minimum of 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses; and
- The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses.
- Real estate brokers renewing an original license for the first time must complete 45 clock hours of DRE-approved continuing education consisting of:
- Five separate three-hour courses in the following subjects: Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, Fair Housing, and Risk Management;
- A minimum of 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses; and
- The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses.
- For subsequent renewals, all real estate brokers and salespersons must complete 45 clock hours of DRE-approved continuing education consisting of:
- Either 12 hours of continuing education courses in the following subjects: (Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, and Fair Housing) OR one six-hour course that covers the four mandatory subjects (Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, and Fair Housing);
- One three-hour course in Risk Management; and
- At least 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses; and
- The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses.