California Real Estate License

As of 2007, one in every fifty adults residing in California have a california real estate license.  In fact, the number of real estate license holders in the state is continuing to rise despite the fluctuations in the housing market.  Now is your chance to join this wildly diverse group of real estate professionals by pursuing your new real estate career.

The California Department of Real Estate has set forth a number of regulations and requirements that must be met before becoming eligible for your California real estate license.  This page includes all of the information and resources that you need to begin your new career in real estate.  We encourage you to read through the requirements below and then use the links located at the top and bottom of this page to enroll in approved California real estate license courses.  If you have any questions along the way, please feel free to contact us.

California Real Estate License Requirements

The basic requirements for obtaining a California real estate license are:

1. You must show legal proof of presence or see below for information on out-of-state applicants.
2. You must be 18 years of age or older.
3. You must have a clean criminal record.

California Real Estate License Educational Requirements

The California Department of Real Estate offers a couple of options on their educational requirements for becoming a real estate salesperson. Those options are as follows:

1. You may complete your California real estate license courses in a private real estate school that has been approved by the California Real Estate Commission.  You can enroll in a state approved online real estate course by clicking here.

2. Alternatively, you have the option of completing three semester-units or four quarter-units at the college level to obtain your California real estate license.  Those courses will need to be completed at an institution of higher learning that has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or by another accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Department of Education.

If you choose to complete the college credits, your courses can include:

• Real Estate Principles, and
• Real Estate Practice, and
• One of the following courses:
• 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

3.  If you are a current member of the California State Bar in good standing, you may be exempt from the college course requirements listed above.

California Real Estate Exam Information

Before becoming eligible for your California real estate license, you will need to pass the California real estate exam.  To score a passing grade on the exam you will need to answer a minimum of seventy percent of the questions correctly.

The California real estate license exam covers a variety of topics which include:

• Property Ownership and Land Use Controls and Regulations
• Laws of Agency
• Valuation and Market Analysis
• Financing
• Transfer of Property
• Practice of Real Estate and Mandated Disclosures
• Contracts

California License Reciprocity Information

The State of California does not offer any license reciprocity agreement at this time.  If you are an out-of-state applicant, you will need to file a Consent to Service of Process form with the Department of Real Estate and complete the other State requirements as listed above.

You will need to provide a copy of your fingerprints to the DRE.  The fingerprint card should have been included with your California real estate license application, it will need to be taken to a local law enforcement agency for completion.

Additional Information for California Real Estate License Applicants

If you have any questions about the licensing process or would like links to specific State forms and exams, please feel free to contact us today.  If you would like to enroll in California pre-license courses today, please click here.

Please let us know if you have any other questions about obtaining your california real estate license. We are always happy to help.

Please be sure to check our homepage for more information on getting your real estate license!