How To Get a California Real Estate License
In today’s rapidly advancing technology and AI landscape, the threat of machines replacing humans is quickly becoming a possible reality with each passing day.
While AI can perform common office tasks and automate knowledge-based workflows, it cannot be an alternative for human-to-human interaction and interpersonal skills.
If you are looking for a stable, secure career path where you can earn a six-figure income and enjoy a flexible work-life balance, working as a real estate agent might just be a good fit.
A career in real estate is not likely to be affected by any technological wave or AI-led disruption anytime soon, and the reason is this: buyers and sellers will continue to rely on trusted professionals for advice, guidance, and assistance in matters of real estate.
Working as a real estate agent can be a rewarding and exciting professional path, especially in a popular and iconic market like California, where opportunities for growth are abundant.
Did you know that the top real estate professionals in CA make anywhere between $120K to $150K annually, including bonuses and commissions?
On top of the handsome earning opportunities, successful and well-established agents can choose to work as per their own schedule and set their own goals and targets.
Imagine having the ability to be your own boss, set your own targets, and find clients on your own - the career freedom and flexibility sound enticing to you, don’t they?
If yes, now is a good time to start preparing for a career in California real estate and start your professional journey by getting your salesperson license.
Getting licensed is a crucial and mandatory requirement to start your career and earn commissions, as the state and federal laws permit only licensed professionals to work with clients.
You might be wondering how to get a California real estate license and kickstart a profitable and exciting career.
In this blog, we will walk you through the step-by-step process to make your dream career a reality and share everything you need to know to start working in CA real estate.
Why pursue a career in California real estate
Before we dive into the basics of starting a career and give you an in-depth look into the step-by-step process of how to get a California real estate license, let’s step back.
Choosing a career is an important professional decision, one that can significantly impact the trajectory of your life, and thus, it requires careful planning and consideration.
Whether you are a complete beginner or someone who is interested in switching industries, working as a real estate agent in California can offer a dynamic, rewarding experience.
Real estate agents help clients and customers in buying and selling properties and making informed financial decisions.
If you are someone who wants to work in a fast-moving, evolving industry where you will get to work with people from all walks of life, real estate can offer you the opportunity.
When professional real estate agents in CA were asked about their experience in the industry, here are some of the key career benefits that were highlighted:
Good earning opportunities:
For most professionals, a career as a real estate agent can unlock handsome earnings and commissions, especially in a popular and busy market like CA.
Working in CA real estate can fetch you a good starting annual income of between $70K to $80K, and within a few years of experience, you can make a six-figure income annually.
Given California’s booming real estate market and its burgeoning popularity, it is no surprise that the top agents can earn north of $120K in a year.
This means that if you are looking for a financially lucrative career path where you can achieve your monetary goals, becoming a licensed real estate agent is worth it.
Career growth opportunities:
Many individuals assume wrongly that the job profile of a real estate agent does not offer any opportunities for professional growth and career advancement.
However, starting your career as a real estate agent is just the beginning of entering a dynamic industry with various career paths.
For example, - you could choose to work under a California brokerage for a few years and then complete additional education to obtain your broker’s license.
Many real estate agents also choose to start their own brokerage firm or agency after gaining industry experience and building a stable client base.
Irrespective of whether you are the entrepreneurial type or someone who wants job stability, real estate in CA offers exciting growth opportunities that you can tap into.
Better work-life stability:
For many people, making money is second to having a flexible and stable work-life balance, especially for parents and caretakers.
If you want to balance your personal and professional life without sacrificing income and career growth, the job role of a real estate agent would suit you well.
Since real estate agents have the flexibility to work from anywhere and define their own schedule, it offers them a better chance at achieving work-life balance.
As you grow in your real estate career, you can choose to define your goals and targets, and work accordingly to meet them as per your own timelines.
These are just some of the numerous pros of choosing to work in California real estate, and if you are wondering how to get a California real estate license, you’re on the right path.
To work as a California real estate agent, you must prepare to obtain your salesperson license first and foremost, as it is the most important part of starting your career.
If you have started exploring the career path of an agent but are not sure how to get your CA real estate license, then keep on reading to find out more about it in the coming section.
Understanding the eligibility requirements for a California real estate agent license
After reading the exciting prospects and career benefits, you might already be wondering how do I get my real estate license in CA and what it takes to start working.
However, the journey to start a career from scratch comprises numerous small steps that must be completed in a structured way to get maximum results and benefits.
Firstly, it is important to prepare yourself for the job role of a real estate agent in California and what will be expected of you.
Essentially, the job profile of a real estate agent entails connecting buyers and sellers and enabling transactions through the sale or purchase of residential or commercial properties.
You can choose to represent a seller or a buyer in a particular real estate transaction, depending on your and your clients’ interests and needs.
As per the California DRE (Department of Real Estate), real estate agents are required to hold a valid, active, state-issued license at all times to work with clients or assist them.
The California law permits only licensed professionals to participate in a real estate deal and earn any money or benefits from it.
Due to the legal and regulatory guidelines for professionals, you must prepare to understand how to get a California real estate license as a complete beginner.
To start with, here are the minimum eligibility requirements to apply for a license:
- Be at least 18 years of age or older
- Be a legal resident of the state of California
- Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Have a clean record with no history of felony or unlawful activity
Applicants can complete a fitness determination test to check their eligibility before completing the next set of CA salesperson license requirements.
Educational requirements for a California salesperson license
Now that you have learned the minimum qualifying requirements on how to get a California real estate license, the next step is completing the state-specific educational criteria.
The DRE in California requires aspiring real estate agents to complete a minimum level of qualifying courses and gain fundamental knowledge about the industry and their duties.
The DRE calls this foundational training and courses pre-license education, and completing it is one of the key steps in becoming a successful real estate professional.
If you have been wondering how do I get a real estate license in CA, you must prepare to complete 135 hours of DRE-approved pre-license course credits.
The pre-license course curriculum is divided into three courses worth 45 hours each, and completing all of them is mandatory to qualify for a license.
The first two courses are - Principles of Real Estate (45 hours) and Real Estate Practice (45 hours), and the third course can be an elective of your choice, and you can pick from such as:
- Real Estate Finance
- Real Estate Appraisal
- Property Management
- Legal Aspects of Real Estate
The benefits of completing pre-license education go beyond a qualifying requirement for a salesperson license.
The need for education stems from the fact that to become a qualified professional in a regulated industry, one must be aware of the various laws, principles, and standards.
Additionally, you must also be familiar with the processes and policies of the industry and how it works.
Most importantly, completing pre-license courses will equip you with the knowledge and skills required to guide and assist your clients in a professional manner.
When it comes to the important question - how do you get a real estate license in CA- the most important step in the licensing journey is completing your pre-license education.
As a student, you have the flexibility to choose your preferred course provider and learning medium, i.e., you can decide whether you want to join a classroom-based, physical environment or enroll in an online, self-paced pre-license course.
The cost of completing pre-license course credits varies depending on many factors, such as the learning package and medium of content delivery of your choice.
Examination requirements for the CA salesperson license
Once you have completed 135 hours of state-approved pre-license course credits, you might wonder how to get a California real estate license now.
The next step in getting licensed is proving your knowledge and preparation, and to do so, you need to take the sales associate licensing exam in CA.
According to the DRE license guidelines, all applicants must pass the licensing exam to become eligible for a salesperson license in the state.
The exam is a multiple-choice question-based test that includes both state and national-specific portions to test your knowledge of the laws of real estate and other key concepts.
You can schedule the test as per your preferred day and date at any of the DRE-approved Pearson Vue centers in California.
To clear the salesperson license test in CA, you must score at least 70 percent or above, and the result will be declared as soon as you finish your test.
Note that if you are unable to pass the test on your first attempt, you can appear for the exam again after 24 hours.
Here’s a tip for aspiring real estate agents - make sure you understand and remember the state and federal laws for your industry, as they are the basis of many questions on the test.
Background verification requirements to get your real estate license in CA
Once you have successfully completed pre-license education and passed the CA salesperson license test, you are now just one step away from getting licensed.
To meet the DRE license requirements, you need to clear the federal background verification and criminal history check.
Completing this step is mandatory for getting licensed, and to do so, you need to submit a scanned copy of your fingerprints, taken at a state-approved live scan vendor.
Once your background verification is completed and approved, your salesperson license will be issued to you.