Bookmark this guide to start your real estate career in California
If you are eager to kickstart your real estate career, there couldn’t be a place better than California to enter the industry.
Becoming a real estate agent in California can be a challenging yet exciting journey, especially if you are self-motivated to build a career.
California’s real estate landscape has always been a hot favorite for migrant workers, homebuyers, and real estate investors.
Even today, the state is home to numerous cities and neighborhoods placed amongst the most popular real estate markets in the country.
Be it San Francisco or Santa Barbara, industry data and property listing surveys show that there is money to be made as a real estate agent or broker in California.
With interest rates being stable and the demand for housing gaining steam, now could be a good time to enter California’s flourishing real estate landscape and start working towards a thriving career.
While starting a new career might seem daunting and overwhelming at first, it is an achievable goal if you are clear about the steps and the requirements.
The best part about working in California real estate is that you do not need a bachelor’s degree to get started. You can enjoy unlimited growth potential without having to invest three to four years to complete qualifying education.
As long as you have your California real estate license, you are free to work anywhere in the state and assist clients in buying or selling residential or commercial properties.
There are additional benefits of having a license in CA - you can reap the benefits of the growing number of job opportunities for real estate salespersons and find the most suitable work opportunity.
Additionally, only licensed professionals are allowed to define their own working hours and enjoy a more flexible schedule.
If you are wondering how to go about getting your real estate license in CA, then you have come to the right place on the internet.
We have put together this in-depth, beginner-friendly guide to help you navigate the requirements and necessary steps to become a licensed real estate agent in California.
From the ideal skills and mandatory education to the licensing requirements and exam preparation, we have covered all the key aspects of starting a new career from scratch.
Let’s give you a detailed overview of the process and the mandatory requirements to earn your licensure in the Golden Gate State.
The job profile of a real estate agent
Real estate agents are often expected to manage and juggle multiple tasks at once and there is never a dull moment at work.
As a real estate agent in California, you will be expected to perform a range of tasks as part of your job profile.
The core duty of a real estate agent is to help clients navigate through the journey of buying and selling property while ensuring a fair, transparent, and ethical environment.
Let’s take a look at some of the tasks and duties you can expect to perform as a real estate agent in California:
- Meeting with prospective clients and answering their queries
- Generating leads and inquiries on behalf of a broker or a brokerage firm
- Helping clients buy, sell, and lease residential and commercial real estate
- Showing properties and conducting site visits on behalf of clients
- Providing detailed information to potential buyers about a property and its location, value, fixtures, features, and amenities
- Presenting and reviewing purchase contracts to buyers and sellers
- Promoting and advertising with listings, ads, and classifieds
- Preparing and formulating real estate contracts, deeds, rental agreements, and related documents to facilitate legal real estate transactions
- Liaising with industry professionals such as loan officers, brokers, and home inspectors, and appraisers to facilitate a real estate transaction
- Help clients make informed decisions regarding buying or selling properties.
Note that your exact day-to-day job responsibilities might vary depending on your employer. However, you can expect to sift through a range of tasks at work as a real estate agent.
What is the need for a real estate license?
Whether your goal is to work independently or as part of an established brokerage, getting a real estate license is going to be the most important test of your capabilities and skills.
Real estate is a heavily regulated and licensed industry with a strict set of rules, regulations, and guidelines for professionals.
In order to work with clients and guide them in making financial decisions, it is important that real estate professionals acquire the minimum level of education and training to prove their competence.
This is where a real estate license comes into the picture - it is legal proof which has to be earned by every individual after fulfilling the state and federal requirements and standards.
With a real estate license, you can work with clients anywhere in California and in some cases, even expand your network outside the state.
Having a license not only makes you a legitimate professional capable of helping consumers, but it also opens up avenues for networking and community partnerships.
Moreover, a license is a mandatory requirement as per California law, and failure to comply with the regulations could lead to limited career growth and penalties.
Real estate salespersons, brokers, and realtors in California are required to first earn their license to be legally able to help clients buy, sell, or lease properties.
To obtain a real estate license in CA, you must complete pre-licensing education, pass the real estate licensing exam, and complete background verification and criminal history checks.
Do people find it difficult to earn their real estate license in California and is the process too hard for beginners?
Although the difficulty level depends on the individual - if you are confident and well-prepared, then getting a license is not a complicated process at all.
The basic eligibility requirements for California real estate
In order to be eligible for a real estate license in California, you must meet the basic statutory requirements.
Every aspiring or existing real estate agent, broker, or realtor in California must meet the minimum qualifying guidelines and standards as established by the DRE.
The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) requires all applicants to adhere to and comply with the following requirements:
- You must be at least 18 years of age or older
- You must have a high school diploma in education or a GED equivalent
- You must be a legal resident of the state of California or a lawfully admitted alien
- You must not have any history of felony or criminal activity
Every state has its own set of licensing requirements and guidelines but listed above are the standard set of eligibility requirements.
Only if you meet the above general eligibility requirements, you can proceed to California-specific requirements.
Education requirements for a California salesperson license
If you want to be eligible to work as a licensed real estate professional in California, you must first complete the mandatory pre-licensing coursework of 135 hours.
According to the California DRE, all aspiring real estate salespeople must be trained in the principles of real estate along with the state and federal guidelines and regulations.
The DRE in California requires every applicant to complete their pre-licensing education from a state-approved and accredited college, university, or real estate school.
However, you are free to choose whether you want to complete the course credits in a physical, classroom-based environment or enroll in an online pre-licensing course.
As part of the pre-licensing education, you will learn about Real Estate Principles (45 hours) and Real Estate Practice (45 hours).
Additionally, you will be required to choose any elective course from the following list of courses.
● Real Estate Finance
● Real Estate Appraisal
● Property Management
● General Accounting
● Business Law
● Legal principles of real estate
● Escrows
● Computer Applications in Real Estate
The objective of pre-licensing education is to expose students to the required knowledge and skills for the job profile while educating them about the regulatory and operational standards.
In case you are wondering, it takes around a few weeks to a couple of months for students to complete the California real estate course, however, your mileage may vary depending on your pace of learning.
Many applicants prefer enrolling in online courses as they enable remote learning and help students complete the course as per their preferred learning time.
Plus, it is easier to complete the course credits when you can self-pace your learning, as compared to following the same learning schedule every day.
Another advantage of choosing an online course is that you can have access to lectures and tutorials anywhere without limitations.
Once you have successfully completed the 135 hours of pre-licensing training, you will be eligible to take the California real estate salesperson licensing exam.
California Salesperson Licensing Exam
Passing the California salesperson licensing exam is a mandatory step toward getting your real estate license.
It is estimated that only 60 percent of students are able to successfully pass the exam on their first attempt.
However, this should not deter you from trying because you can work on your skills and preparation to increase the likelihood of you passing the exam on your first attempt.
The real estate licensing exam consists of 175 multiple-choice questions and you will get 3 hours to complete the test. You must score at least 70 percent or above to pass the test.
Since the questions are tricky in nature and they are based on the pre-licensing curriculum, it is important that you invest time and effort in exam prep.
If you want to improve your odds of success, it is recommended that you practice using mock tests and sample questions.
This will give you an understanding of the type of questions you can expect to face and help you familiarize yourself with the exam format.
Many course providers offer specific exam prep resources and study materials to help students become more confident and improve on their weaknesses.
Some educators also provide interactive quizzes and flashcards-based learning resources to help you test your knowledge and evaluate your preparation.
Since your course curriculum will formulate the majority of the questions on the salesperson licensing exam, it is critical that you invest in the best exam prep courses and learning materials to boost your preparation.
Finding Employer Sponsorship
After you complete the pre-licensing education and pass the salesperson licensing exam in California, you can submit your application to the California DRE for approval.
However, to get their approval, you must also submit proof of employer sponsorship from a California-based broker or brokerage firm who will be willing to sponsor your employment.
This is a mandatory requirement for every new agent as the California DRE requires you to gain practical industry experience under the supervision of a senior, licensed broker.