How to get a Real Estate Salesperson license in California

California real estate agent licenses

California issues 2 real estate agent credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every California real estate agent license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old²⁷

Background check

Background check required²⁷
Fingerprints required⁸
DOJ and FBI reports are screened by DRE before an original license is issued; convictions may lead to denial.⁸

Residency or citizenship

California residency not required; out-of-state applicants file a notarized Consent to Service of Process (RE 234) and submit FD-258 fingerprint cards to DRE.⁹

Social Security number

Social Security Number or ITIN required¹⁰

Also required

Applicants on the FTB/CDTFA top-500 tax delinquency lists are denied or suspended until released.¹¹

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Get Live Scan fingerprints with form RE 237 (California residents; $49 plus the provider's service fee). Out-of-state applicants use FD-258 cards and also file the notarized RE 234 consent.⁸

Apply online

secure.dre.ca.gov¹²

Application form

Form (PDF, dre.ca.gov)⁴

Temporary or provisional license

No provisional license for new applicants; a 90-day temporary license exists only for renewing licensees whose CE evidence is pending.¹

Renewal

How often

Every 4 years³

When it expires

Four-year license from issue; renew up to 90 days before expiry; on-time filing lets you keep working past the date.³

Continuing education

At least 45 hours each renewal period¹

Approved courses

DRE-approved continuing education courses only.¹³

Exemptions

Age 70+ with 30 continuous years licensed in good standing may request a CE exemption (form RE 213).¹³
A 90-day CE extension may be requested on RE 213 by mail before expiry if qualifying circumstances apply.¹³

If it expires

You cannot apply for a new exam while your license can still be renewed (i.e. during the late-renewal window).¹²

Renew online

dre.ca.gov³

From another state

Who needs a Real Estate Salesperson license

Salesperson: licensed real estate activity under the supervision of a licensed broker; a salesperson with no responsible broker may not perform licensed acts.²

Requirements for a Real Estate Salesperson license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

Three college-level courses: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice (with implicit-bias and fair-housing components) and one elective from the DRE list¹
Who may teach it: WASC-accredited (or comparable regionally accredited) institution or a private real estate school with Commissioner-approved courses; each course 3 semester or 4 quarter units, minimum 45 hours.²
Alternative: California State Bar members are exempt from the course requirement.²
Alternative: Applicants who completed the eight broker courses qualify without further evidence.²

Exam

California Real Estate Salesperson Examination¹
Given by: California Department of Real Estate (state-administered exam at DRE sites: Fresno, Los Angeles vicinity/La Palma, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego)¹⁴
Passing score: 70% correct¹⁴
When you can take it: After the courses are completed and DRE approves the exam application; schedule through eLicensing.¹⁰
150 multiple-choice questions, 3 hours¹⁴
Retakes: Re-apply (re-exam fee) only after receiving the failing result.¹⁴
Time limit: Exam/combination application lapses if the exam is not passed within two years of filing; after passing, the license application must be filed within one year.¹⁵
Exam waived: No exam waiver: California has no reciprocity.⁹

Also required

A salesperson may hold a license without a broker but cannot perform licensed acts until employed by a responsible broker.²

How much a Real Estate Salesperson license costs

Each line is a separate charge, except the line “Total Due to DRE with RE 435”, which is the board’s own combined figure for other charges; do not add it to the other lines.

How to apply

1. Check eligibility: age 18, SSN or ITIN, and the three required college-level courses.²
2. Apply for the exam only, or file the combined exam/license application (RE 435, $450) online through eLicensing or by mail, with transcripts.¹² Form (PDF, dre.ca.gov)⁴
3. Schedule the exam in eLicensing after approval and pass (150 questions, 70%).¹⁰
4. If you filed exam-only, download the license application from eLicensing after passing (RE 202) and mail it with the original license fee within one year.¹⁶
5. Once DRE issues the license, print the certificate from the DRE website; work under a responsible broker.¹⁰

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal fee

$350⁴

Required topics

First renewal (salesperson): 45 hours incl. four 3-hour courses (ethics, agency, trust fund handling, risk management), 3-hour fair housing with role-play, 2-hour implicit bias, at least 18 hours consumer protection.¹³

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $525¹

Real Estate Broker

Broker: a person who for compensation does or negotiates acts listed in B&P Code § 10131 (selling, buying, leasing, soliciting, negotiating loans, etc.) and may employ salespersons.¹

Requirements

Education or training

Eight college-level courses: Real Estate Practice, Legal Aspects, Finance, Appraisal, Economics or Accounting, plus three from the DRE list¹
Who may teach it: WASC-accredited (or comparable) institution or Commissioner-approved private real estate school; 3 semester / 4 quarter units, minimum 45 hours each; must be completed before being scheduled.⁷
Alternative: State Bar members are exempt from the courses but must still meet the experience rule.⁷

Experience

At least 2 years⁶
Two years of full-time licensed salesperson experience within the last five years (or equivalent)⁷
License you must hold first: Salesperson license (or equivalent experience / qualifying degree)⁶
Substitute: Four-year degree with a major or minor in real estate replaces the two years of experience (two-year degrees do not qualify).⁶

Exam

California Real Estate Broker Examination¹
Given by: California Department of Real Estate (state-administered exam at DRE sites: Fresno, Los Angeles vicinity/La Palma, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego)¹⁴
Passing score: 75% correct¹⁴
When you can take it: After the courses are completed and DRE approves the exam application; schedule through eLicensing.¹⁷
200 multiple-choice questions, 4 hours¹⁴
Retakes: Re-apply (re-exam fee) only after receiving the failing result.¹⁴
Time limit: Exam/combination application lapses if the exam is not passed within two years of filing; after passing, the license application must be filed within one year.¹⁸
Exam waived: No exam waiver: California has no reciprocity.⁹

Fees

Each line is a separate charge, except the line “Total Due to DRE with RE 436”, which is the board’s own combined figure for other charges; do not add it to the other lines.

How to apply

1. Check eligibility: age 18, SSN or ITIN, and the eight required college-level courses plus two years of qualifying experience (or a real estate degree).⁷
2. Apply for the exam only, or file the combined exam/license application (RE 436, $600) online through eLicensing or by mail, with transcripts.¹² Form (PDF, dre.ca.gov)⁴
3. Schedule the exam in eLicensing after approval and pass (200 questions, 75%).¹⁷
4. If you filed exam-only, download the license application from eLicensing after passing (RE 200) and mail it with the original license fee within one year.¹⁶
5. Once DRE issues the license, print the certificate from the DRE website.¹⁷

Renewal

Renewal fee

$450⁴

Required topics

First renewal (broker): 45 hours incl. five 3-hour courses (ethics, agency, trust fund handling, risk management, management and supervision), 3-hour fair housing with role-play, 2-hour implicit bias, at least 18 hours consumer protection.¹³

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $675¹

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a real estate agent in California, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in California is on the California license lookup page.

Look up a license

www2.dre.ca.gov¹⁹

File a complaint

dre.ca.gov²⁰

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code Div. 4, Part 1 (Real Estate Law), §§ 10130, 10131, 10150.6, 10151, 10153, 10153.2, 10153.7, 10170.5, 10170.8, 10201, 10201.6, 10213.5, 10215 (DRE-published 2026 Real Estate Law, in effect January 1, 2026)
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 10130 (live leginfo page returned 403 to scripts
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 10215 and § 10207
• Cal. Code Regs. tit. 10, ch. 6 (Regulations of the Real Estate Commissioner), DRE-published 2026 edition
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code Div. 4, Part 1 (Real Estate Law), §§ 10130, 10131, 10150.6, 10151, 10153, 10153.2, 10153.6, 10170.5, 10170.8, 10201, 10201.6, 10208.5, 10210 (DRE-published 2026 Real Estate Law, in effect January 1, 2026)
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 10210 and § 10207

Rule changes since January 2024

• January 1, 2024: Real Estate Practice prelicense course must include implicit-bias and fair-housing (role-play) components.²

Common questions

Real estate agent licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Texas
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• Washington
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