Free California review resource
California salesperson licensing checklist
Keep education, exam application, fingerprints, examination and license issuance in the right order.
Original educational material. Review date: October 6, 2026. Use the full linked lesson for context and current official sources for a live transaction. A study worksheet does not establish exam readiness.
Education and eligibility
- Be at least 18 when the license is issued and satisfy DRE's honesty requirements.
- Complete Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice and one approved elective, subject to applicable exemptions. Qualifying college courses require three semester units or four quarter units; each DRE-approved private-school course is at least 45 hours.
- The qualifying Practice course must meet current implicit-bias and fair-housing requirements, including participatory role play.
- Provide a Social Security number or ITIN as required. California residency is not required; out-of-state applicants have additional paperwork.
Application and examination
- Choose examination-only or the combined examination/license application.
- The examination fee is $100; the original license fee is $350; the combined filing is $450. Fingerprint processing is $49, plus any provider service charge.
- Meet DRE's fingerprint and application requirements. Under the combined route, fingerprint results must be received before license issuance.
- Pass the 150-question, three-hour examination at 70% or better.
- A salesperson needs a responsible broker to perform licensed activity. Taking the exam is a different step from working under a broker.