How to Become a Real Estate Agent in California

Who can apply

• Be 18 or older to be issued a license.
• Be honest and truthful. A criminal conviction may result in denial of a license.
• California residency is not required; out-of-state applicants must also file a notarized Consent to Service of Process (RE 234).
• Complete three approved college-level real estate courses before you can take the exam (members of the California State Bar are exempt).

Step by step

1. Complete the three required college-level courses: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and one approved elective.
2. Apply online through eLicensing or by mail. The combined exam and license application (RE 435) costs $450 ($100 exam + $350 license); you upload transcripts and a Live Scan form (RE 237).
3. Get fingerprinted at a Live Scan provider using form RE 237 and pay the $49 processing fee to the provider (out-of-state applicants may use an FBI FD-258 card).
4. When DRE finds you eligible, choose or confirm your exam date in eLicensing.
5. Pass the DRE salesperson exam (150 questions, 70% to pass) within two years of filing your application.
6. After DRE issues the license, work under a licensed responsible broker; a salesperson without one may not perform acts that require a license.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Three college-level courses, each 3 semester units or 4 quarter units (DRE-approved private school courses are at least 45 hours each): Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and one from Appraisal, Property Management, Finance, Economics, Legal Aspects of Real Estate, Office Administration, General Accounting, Business Law, Escrows, Mortgage Loan Brokering and Lending, Computer Applications in Real Estate, or Common Interest Developments. Since January 1, 2024, the Practice course must include implicit bias and fair housing components, with an interactive role-play. Courses must come from a regionally accredited college or a DRE-approved private real estate school; continuing education courses do not count.

Exam: Given by DRE itself (not a vendor) in Fresno, La Palma, Oakland, Sacramento, and San Diego, in electronic format. 150 multiple-choice questions with four answer choices, 3 hours. You must answer at least 70% correctly. Fee: $100; re-exam $100; rescheduling $40. You can retake as many times as you want within two years of filing your original application, but wait for your results before reapplying.

What it costs in California

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

How long it takes

DRE posts its processing times every week. As of October 5, 2026, it was processing combined exam and license applications (RE 435) received October 1, 2026.

What other sites get wrong about California

After you're licensed

Renewal: Licenses are issued for four years; renewal costs $350 on time or $525 late (within two years after expiration). Every renewal requires 45 clock hours of DRE-approved CE. First renewal for salespersons: four 3-hour courses (ethics, agency, trust fund handling, risk management), a 3-hour fair housing course with an interactive role-play, a 2-hour implicit bias course, at least 18 hours of consumer protection, and the rest in consumer service or protection. Later renewals: a 9-hour survey course covering the seven mandatory subjects (or separate courses), at least 18 hours of consumer protection, and the rest in consumer service or protection.

Good to know in California

Responsible broker: A salesperson license lets you do licensed real estate work only under the supervision of a licensed broker. You may hold the license without a broker, but you cannot perform acts that require a license until you have one.

Reciprocity: California has no reciprocity with any other state. Out-of-state licensees must meet the same course and exam requirements; out-of-state college courses count if the school is regionally accredited.

Two-year window: Your application and fee stay valid for two years from the date DRE receives them. If you do not qualify and pass the exam in that time, the application lapses and you must reapply with new fees.

Sources

• DRE — Requirements to Apply for a Real Estate Salesperson License
• DRE — Salesperson Examination and License Application Process
• DRE — Taking the Exam
• DRE — Fees
• DRE — Renewing Your License
• DRE — Continuing Education Requirements
• DRE — Out-of-State Applicants
• DRE Current Processing Timeframes (Exam and New License Applications)