Here’s How Do You Get Your Real Estate License in California in a Few Easy Steps
To start a career in California real estate, it is important to prepare for completing a list of state and federal specific license requirements.
Getting a real estate license requires one to carefully understand and fulfill the various eligibility, education and examination requirements.
Since real estate is a dynamic, ever-evolving and fast-moving industry, aspiring real estate agents must be prepared to stay on top of the latest rules, regulations and license laws.
California’s premier real estate market is amongst the hottest property destinations around the globe and across the country.
The Golden Gate state is home to popular destinations and regions like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Bakersfield among many others.
California’s booming real estate market is second to none, thanks to the strong economic outlook, world-class amenities, presence of the best companies and a high quality of living.
The appeal of California continues to be alluring for thousands of homebuyers and real estate investors who want to own a piece of the proverbial pie called real estate.
Working in CA real estate can be a professional dream come true for anyone who seeks to be financially independent and take control of their career growth.
It is no surprise then that the top real estate agents in California can earn as much as $100K to $150K annually while enjoying a stable work-life balance.
Imagine earning a six figure income and having the autonomy to find your own clients, define your working hours and set your career goals and targets.
With a median home price of around $800K and a sustained year-on-year growth, California real estate market is showing no signs of slowing down.
Does that mean now is an ideal time to enter the market and start your career in CA real estate? The answer is certainly a yes!
If you want to work in a dynamic, fast-growing industry where opportunities for earnings and commissions are abundant, California real estate can be the ideal launchpad for your career.
However, to unlock the true benefits of a high-paying, flexible and fulfilling career, you must be prepared to apply for a California real estate license.
To answer your questions and help you get started, we have put together this in-depth guide which covers all the key aspects of how to get your real estate license CA easily.
Let us start with the basics first and learn about the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) and their role in your career.
What is the California DRE and why is it relevant for you?
Established in 2018, the California DRE or Department of Real Estate is the state’s leading agency for regulating and managing the matters of real estate.
The DRE in California is the official department in charge of issuing and renewals of real estate licenses for professionals and firms in the state.
To obtain a California salesperson or broker’s license, you must be prepared to meet the state-specific license requirements and regulations established by the California DRE.
Did you know that California was the first state in the country to have enforced and standardized a set of real estate laws and regulations for real estate professionals.
As an aspiring real estate agent in CA, you must be prepared to understand to learn about the duties and responsibilities of this department which are:
Real estate licensing:
The DRE is in charge of issuing and renewing licenses for real estate professionals and firms operating in the state of California.
As per the state and federal policies, the DRE reserves the right to grant or deny license to an applicant as deemed by their policies.
It also fulfills the duty of researching and verifying the license status and credentials of any real estate professional or firm.
Real estate regulation:
It is the duty of this state agency to regulate all the transactions, deals and activities in California’s real estate landscape.
The California DRE establishes and enforces the laws and regulations governing real estate professionals and their actions.
Real estate education:
It is the duty of the DRE in California to formulate and establish the educational requirements, standards and real estate coursework for aspiring professionals.
The DRE chooses both mandatory and elective courses and also defines the exam format and tests schedule.
Additionally, it also formulated and promotes educational and informative resources while improving the ease of access to information for consumers in CA.
Consumer rights protection:
The DRE is responsible for ensuring the rights and protecting the interests of consumers in the state of California.
The DRE safeguards the welfare of the people in the matters of real estate transactions by providing useful resources such as license lookup and consumer rights awareness to help consumers stay updated.
Since its founding, the Department of Real Estate in California continues to strive towards maintaining and upholding the highest ethical, legal and operational standards and protect and safeguard the rights and interests of the consumers in real estate transactions
Whether you want to work as a part-time or a full-time real estate agent, you must adhere to the guidelines and standards for excellence established by the DRE in California.
Without following the DRE license regulations and professional guidelines, your career prospects might be limited as you might not get your license issued or renewed.
Be it the basic statutory requirements or state specific license requirements, you are required to fulfill all the DRE enforced license guidelines for a California salesperson license.
Thus, by staying cognizant of the DRE license laws, industry standards and guidelines for professionals, you can build a thriving, successful career.
If you are keen to pursue the path of working in real estate and want to know how to get my real estate license in CA, keep on reading to learn about the step-by-step process.
How long does it take to become a licensed real estate agent
For first time applicants and absolute beginners, the process of obtaining a license and completing various state and federal requirements might seem daunting.
Before committing to the journey of pursuing a career in CA real estate, it is important to understand how long it will take to achieve your goal.
Generally, it takes most people a few weeks to a couple of months to complete all the steps and fulfill the state specific license requirements.
However, you must note that not every student is the same and if you are unable to clear the steps on your first attempt, it might take you longer to become licensed.
If you are preparing to get a CA salesperson license,it is advisable to follow a structured, step-by-step approach as discussed in this guide.
The key to succeeding in the journey to becoming a licensed professional is to remain committed and stay disciplined to your goal as you navigate the different steps.
Basic eligibility requirements for a career in CA real estate
To obtain a real estate license in the state of CA, you must fulfill the state and federal license requirements established by the DRE.
Remember that pursuing a career path in real estate requires commitment and sincerity, and you must be prepared to complete a series of steps in your licensing journey.
As per the California DRE, all applicants are required to meet a set of pre-established qualifying requirements to qualify for a real estate license.
Here’s a checklist of all the basic statutory requirements to apply for a license:
- You must be at least 18 years of age or older
- You must be a legal resident of the state of California
- You must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent in education
If you fulfill the eligibility requirements, the next step is to complete the remaining requirements for a CA salesperson license.
Educational requirements for getting a real estate agent license
To work as a part-time real estate agent or start a full-time career, completing mandatory education is an integral and essential stepping stone.
When it comes to education, you might be wondering what exactly it takes and how to get a CA real estate license quickly.
The California DRE, like most states, requires aspiring real estate agents to complete a minimum level of qualifying education and training.
This means if you want to obtain a California salesperson license, you must be prepared to equip yourself with the required knowledge and understanding of real estate laws, principles, processes and industry standards.
As per the Department of Real Estate in California, aspiring real estate agents must complete 135 hours of pre-licensing coursework from a state approved education provider.
Pre license education and training will give you a fundamental understanding of the core topics, subjects and courses which you need to become a successful professional.
Here are some of the mandatory courses which you will cover during your pre license education and training in California:
- Real Estate Principles
- Real Estate Practice
- Property Management
- Real Estate Finance
- Promulgated Contract Forms
- Consumer Rights and Fair Trade
- Real Estate Accounting
As a student, you have the choice and flexibility to complete your coursework in your preferred learning medium i.e. you can choose to join a physical, classroom based real estate college or enroll in an online real estate pre licensing course.
Irrespective of whether you choose an offline or an online pre license course, it is recommended to learn from a state approved education provider only.
You can visit the website of the California DRE to find a list of state approved and accredited education providers.
Generally, many students prefer the convenience and flexibility of online pre license courses as they can be completed from anywhere at your own schedule.
Clear federal background verification and criminal history check
To obtain a California real estate license, you must meet the minimum standards of honesty, integrity and truthfulness established by the California DRE.
The DRE in partnership with the federal authorities, have established the minimum standards which must be withheld by all aspiring professionals.
As per the California law, you must have good moral conduct and no history of criminal activity or felony to qualify for a real estate license.
To prove your competence and clear background verification, you must get your fingerprints scanned at any of the live scan vendor locations approved by the California DRE.
You can easily choose the nearest live scan vendor based on your convenience as there are numerous centers present across California.
Next, you need to submit an electronic scan of your fingerprints along with additional verification documents to the department for review and approval.
Note that you will have to pay a one time fee of $49 for getting your fingerprints verified and approved.
Once your background verification is completed and your application is approved, you will receive your license within a few weeks.
Pass the California salesperson license test
Once you have successfully completed the California real estate course and obtained a certificate of completion, the next step is to take the sales agent licensing exam.
According to the DRE in California, passing the licensing exam is a mandatory requirement to prove your eligibility and obtain a license.
You can schedule your test online by visiting the California DRE website and choosing a preferred location for taking the test.
The exam consists of multiple choice questions covering both state and national specific portions to test your knowledge of real estate laws, industry principles and other key topics.
You should aim for scoring at least 75% or above to pass the real estate license test in CA.
Note that you will have to pay a one-time examination fee of $100 to take the salesperson licensing exam in California.
Many first-time applicants often wonder about the difficulty of the state licensing exam and whether it is possible to clear the test on the first attempt or not.
The fact is - the state real estate license test is difficult on purpose as it aims to eliminate weak candidates from the selection process.
However, if you manage your preparation well and are confident about the fundamental topics and courses, passing the test on your first attempt is certainly possible.
Tips for passing the California licensing exam
Passing the license test might seem challenging and even impossible, especially if you are a complete beginner attempting it for the first time.
However, the answer to the question - how do you get your real estate license in CA - is based on whether or not you can successfully pass the state license test or not.
There are many real estate education providers which offer exam prep resources and study material to help students get familiar with the type of questions covered in the test.
To boost your preparation, you can make use of sample questions and mock tests which will help you understand the exam structure and format while managing the limited time.
Having a pre established study routine will help you allocate specific time duration to complete various courses and give enough time to each topic.
Preparing for the real estate test is time consuming, especially as you will be completing several courses and multiple topics.
To manage your vast course curriculum better and complete all the key topics, it helps to have a set study schedule.
Having a predetermined schedule will help you stay consistent with your learning and exam preparation routine.
Another important exam preparation tip is to practice California real estate sample questions and take the help of mock tests.
This technique will give you the confidence to ace the test as you will become more familiar with the type of questions you can tackle on the day of the test.
Most importantly, practicing using sample tests will also help you improve your speed and readiness to tackle all the questions in a limited time period.
Many real estate courses and schools provide sample tests, simulated exam environments and commonly asked questions to help students assess their level of preparation.
Find employer sponsorship
If you have successfully completed your education, passed the real estate license test and cleared the federal background verification, you should receive your CA salesperson license.
However, there is one last step you must complete to start working with clients which is activating your license.
As per the California DRE, you must find a sponsoring broker or a brokerage firm licensed in the state who will be willing to take you under their wing.
The state law requires newly licensed agents to gain practical experience and industry knowledge by working under the supervision of a senior broker.
As there are more than hundreds and thousands of licensed brokers in CA, finding a suitable one who aligns with your career goals and objectives should not be a challenge.
Once you have found a sponsoring broker or brokerage firm, you must submit the employer sponsorship details to the department to activate your salesperson license.