Licensing Requirements

Whether you want to obtain a real estate salesperson or broker license, SAR has all the information you need, from California Department of Real Estate (DRE) minimum application requirements to what to expect once you pass your exam.

For specific licensing requirements, see:

• Obtaining a Real Estate Salesperson License
• Obtaining a Real Estate Broker License
• Exam Prep
• Education Chart

For more information:

Traci Sarria, Education Coordinator
(916) 437-1210
tsarria@sacrealtor.org

Obtaining a Real Estate Salesperson License

See real estate schools for a listing of education institutions that offer the courses listed below.

Minimum Application Requirements

Age: 18 years of age or older

Honesty: Must be honest and truthful; conviction of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude may result in denial of a license

Residence: Residency in the State of California is not a requirement to become licensed. See the California Department of Real Estate’s Instructions to License Applicants, Section IX for additional details.

Education: Successful completion of a college-level course in Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice and Choose one of the following:

• 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

Experience: None required

How to Apply for a License

1. Complete a DRE Examination Application, RE 400A.
2. Obtain a transcript of the required course in Real Estate Principles.
3. Determine the appropriate fee
4. Mail your application and payment to:

Department of Real Estate
Examination Section
P.O. Box 187001
Sacramento, CA 95818-7001

Or you many use the DRE e-licensing feature.

You will receive notification of your examination date, time and location.

Note: If you have physical limitations and need special accommodations, submit a physician’s letter with your application.

Once You Pass the Exam

• You may practice real estate provided you are working under the control and supervision of a licensed real estate broker. *If you are the member of the bar, you may be exempt from the college-level course requirements. Visit the DRE website at www.dre.ca.gov for exemption details.

Once the DRE receives the proper documents, your license will be considered a four-year license.

Obtaining a Broker License

The following information is provided by Duane Gomer Seminars . For more information, visit the DRE website at www.dre.ca.gov.

See real estate schools for a listing of education institutions that offer the courses listed below.

Experience Requirements

The experience requirements to obtain your broker's license are rather complicated. Visit the Department of Real Estate's website for full details.

Education Requirements

To qualify to take the DRE Real Estate Broker Exam, you must be able to provide college-level transcripts to the California Department Real Estate that demonstrates that you have successfully completed eight (8) college-level Business-related Real Estate courses. This may include previous courses completed in college from years ago. Some college courses that may apply include Business Law, Economics, and Accounting.

Continuing Education course certificates will not be accepted as a substitute for college-level required courses.

A total of eight (8) college-level courses must be completed. The five (5) required courses include:

• Real Estate Practice
• Real Estate Finance
• Real Estate Appraisal
• Legal Aspects of Real Estate
• Real Estate Economics or Accounting*

The three (3) remaining elective courses can be selected from the following:

• 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 or Computer Applications.

*If you complete both Real Estate Economics and Real Estate Accounting, one will count as a required course and the other as an elective.

Note: Continuing Education courses never qualify for Broker requirements.

How to Apply for an Exam

1. Complete a Broker Examination Application, RE 400B.
   Obtain a transcript showing successful completion of the statutory college-level real estate courses and degrees.
2. Determine the appropriate fee
3. Document experience requirements by completing Employment Verification (RE 226); 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. For more information, see Documenting Experience Requirements for the Broker Examination.
4. Mail your application and payment to:
   Department of Real Estate
   Examination Section
   P.O. Box 187001
   Sacramento, CA 95818-7001
   Or you many use the DRE e-licensing feature.
   
   Wait at least six weeks from the date your application is mailed or faxed to receive notification from DRE of your exam date, time and location. (for more info, visit http://www.dre.ca.gov/brkrexam.htm)
   If after reviewing your paperwork, DRE determines that you do not qualify for the exam, you may submit any additionally needed requirements within two years of the date your application was received, without an additional fee. Note: Failure to qualify and pass the examination within two years of the date your application was received will require a new application and fee. Applicants may also be required to submit additional qualification documentation.

Exam results

Results are normally mailed within five (5) working days. However, if you have a touch-tone phone, you can obtain your results after five (5) working days by calling (916) 227-0900.

Exam Preparation
Below is a list of companies who offer salesperson and/or broker's exam preparation

elearners.com
Real Estate License School
Anthony Schools