How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Washington

Who can apply

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Pass state and national fingerprint-based background checks.
• Work under the supervision of a managing broker at a licensed firm to perform brokerage services.

Step by step

1. Complete 90 hours of approved education: the 60-hour Real Estate Fundamentals course and the 30-hour Real Estate Practices course.
2. Your school sends your completion records to PSI (up to 7 days). Register through the link PSI emails you.
3. Pass the broker state and national exams within 2 years of finishing your courses, and within 6 months of each other.
4. After passing, get fingerprinted through IdentoGO ($54 in Washington). Results take up to 14 business days.
5. Apply online with SecureAccess Washington (the link arrives by email within 72 hours of passing) or by mail, and pay the $233 license fee, within 1 year of passing your final exam.
6. DOL issues the license in inactive status. A firm then adds you to make it active.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: 90 hours of DOL-approved education: Real Estate Fundamentals (60 hours) and Real Estate Practices (30 hours). You must complete the exams within 2 years of finishing these courses. Education is waived for qualified applicants licensed in another state.

Exam: PSI (Washington bulletin, 3/28/2024). National portion: 100 items in 150 minutes. Washington state portion: 30 items in 90 minutes. Passing is a scaled score of 70 on each portion, with some unscored experimental questions. Fee: $210 (retake $210). If you fail one portion, retake only that portion, but both must be passed within 6 months of each other or you retake both.

What it costs in Washington

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

What other sites get wrong about Washington

After you're licensed

Renewal: Renew every 2 years, up to 120 days early. Renewal fee: $233 ($273 late). First active renewal: 90 hours of CE, including the 30-hour Advanced Practices course, the 30-hour Real Estate Law course, the 3-hour Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate course, and at least 27 more approved hours; take the initial 6-hour Washington Real Estate Fair Housing course first if you have not. Later renewals: 30 hours, including the 3-hour Current Issues course, with at least 15 hours completed within 24 months of the renewal date; the 3-hour Fair Housing course is required each renewal. Reinstating a cancelled license costs a $40 late fee, a $100 reinstatement fee, and all past renewal fees; after 3 years expired you must apply as new.

Good to know in Washington

Firm affiliation: Your license is issued inactive. You must be added by a licensed firm and work under a managing broker before you can provide brokerage services.

Reciprocity: Applicants licensed in another state at an equivalent or higher level may apply by reciprocity if they were actively licensed in good standing within the preceding 6 months and upload an official License History (copies or screenshots are not accepted). Education is waived and only the Washington state exam is required. Reciprocity exam approval lasts 6 months and cannot be extended.

Sources

• WA DOL — Get your license: Real estate brokers
• WA DOL — Exam: Real estate brokers
• WA DOL — Fees: Real estate
• WA DOL — Fingerprinting and background checks
• WA DOL — Renew or reinstate your license: Real estate brokers
• WA DOL — Real estate broker license by reciprocity
• PSI — Washington Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin (3/28/2024)