Broker and Real Estate Agent Licensing in Washington, DC
10 min read·
The DC Real Estate Commission, part of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), regulates all real estate licenses in the District of Columbia. The path to a salesperson license follows a specific sequence: education, exam, application, and broker affiliation. The distinction between a broker and real estate agent shapes the process — a salesperson works under a broker's supervision, while a broker operates independently after completing additional education and experience requirements.
To obtain a DC real estate salesperson license, you must complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education from a DC Real Estate Commission-approved provider, then pass both the national and state (DC) portions of the licensing exam administered by PSI with a minimum 75% passing score. After passing, you must find a sponsoring broker to activate your license and submit the application with required fees within 6 months of passing the exam. The application fee is $65, the salesperson license fee is $130, and the Real Estate Guaranty and Education Fund fee is $60.See the answer for every state
DC requires 60 hours of pre-licensing education from a DC Real Estate Commission-approved provider before taking the salesperson exam. Most candidates complete the coursework within a few weeks to a few months, depending on study pace. After passing both the national and state portions of the exam, applicants must submit the license application with required fees within 6 months. Including exam scheduling and application processing, the full process typically takes a few months from start to finish.See the answer for every state
Step
Requirement
Administered by
Pre-licensing education
DCREC-approved pre-licensing course
DC Real Estate Commission
Licensing exam
Passing score on both national and state portions
PSI
License application
Submit application and fees after passing the exam
DC Real Estate Commission
Broker affiliation
Sponsoring broker activates the license
DC Real Estate Commission
DC real estate license eligibility requirements
DC requires salesperson license applicants to be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[1] identifies these as standard minimum requirements across most states. You do not need a college degree or prior real estate experience to begin the licensing process.
Applicants must also complete a background check with fingerprinting. PSI[2], the vendor that administers DC licensing exams, operates test centers equipped with fingerprinting services to support this step.
To obtain a DC salesperson license, you must complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education from a DC Real Estate Commission-approved provider. You must pass both the national and state (DC) portions of the salesperson exam with a minimum 75% score, then submit a license application with required fees within 6 months of passing. The application fee is $65, the salesperson license fee is $130, and the Real Estate Guaranty and Education Fund fee is $60. You must also become associated with a sponsoring broker to activate the license.See the answer for every state
To become a DC real estate salesperson, you must complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education from a DC Real Estate Commission-approved provider and pass both the national and state (DC) portions of the salesperson exam with a minimum 75% score. After passing, you must find a sponsoring broker to activate your license and submit a license application with the required fees ($65 application, $130 salesperson license, and $60 Real Estate Guaranty and Education Fund) within 6 months. The exam is administered by PSI and can be scheduled at psiexams.com or by phone at 1-855-557-0616.See the answer for every state
Complete your pre-licensing education
Before registering for the salesperson exam, you must finish the mandatory pre-licensing coursework from a provider approved by the DC Real Estate Commission. The required real estate course for salespersons covers principles and practices of real estate, per the DCREC approved course list[3] for 2023-2025. Approved schools offer the course in classroom and online formats.
DC requires 60 hours of pre-licensing education from a DC Real Estate Commission-approved provider for a salesperson license. For a broker license, DC requires 135 hours of pre-licensing education. Both courses are available in classroom and distance education formats from providers on the commission's approved-education list.See the answer for every state
Yes, the DC Real Estate Commission approves pre-licensing courses delivered through distance education. Both the 60-hour salesperson course and the 135-hour broker course are available in distance education format from providers on the commission's approved-education list. Course access periods vary by provider.See the answer for every state
The DC Real Estate Commission publishes an approved-education list of providers that offer the required 60-hour salesperson and 135-hour broker pre-licensing courses. Approved providers deliver courses in both classroom and distance education formats. The list is available on the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection website.See the answer for every state
DC requires 60 hours of pre-licensing education for salespersons and 135 hours for brokers, both completed through DCREC-approved providers. Approved courses are available in classroom and distance education formats. Tuition varies by provider and delivery method, with salesperson courses typically costing several hundred dollars depending on format and included features.See the answer for every state
Some DCREC-approved pre-licensing course providers offer financing or payment plan options, including monthly installment plans for online distance education courses. The availability and terms of these plans vary by provider and course package tier. Both the 60-hour salesperson course and the 135-hour broker course are offered in distance education formats where financing may be available.See the answer for every state
Pass the DC real estate salesperson exam
After finishing your coursework, you must pass the DC real estate salesperson exam administered by PSI[4]. PSI offers testing at computer-based centers and through online proctoring.
The DC real estate licensing exam is a proctored test administered by PSI that candidates must pass to obtain a salesperson or broker license. The exam has national and state (DC) portions, and the minimum passing score is 75% on both portions. The national portion covers property law, real estate finance, contracts, agency relationships, and ethics, while the state portion tests DC-specific license law and regulations.See the answer for every state
The DC salesperson licensing exam requires a minimum passing score of 75% on both the national and state (DC) portions. PSI administers the exam, and candidates can schedule at psiexams.com or by phone at 1-855-557-0616. The national portion covers property law, real estate finance, contracts, agency relationships, and ethics, while the state portion tests DC-specific license law, commission rules, and local practices.See the answer for every state
Submit your license application and fees
You must submit your license application to the DC Real Estate Commission within six months of passing the exam. The commission[5] requires applicants to provide a 2x2 passport-style photo in JPEG format, an unexpired government-issued ID, and a debit or credit card to pay fees. Application fees are non-refundable under DC Code § 47-2853.10.
The DC Real Estate Commission charges a $65 application fee, a $130 salesperson license fee, and a $60 Real Estate Guaranty and Education Fund fee. Pre-licensing course tuition varies by provider and delivery format, with both classroom and distance education options available from DCREC-approved schools. PSI administers the licensing exam, and the exam fee is set per DC regulation. Additional costs may include a background check.See the answer for every state
Find a sponsoring broker to activate your license
Your license remains inactive until an active DC real estate broker agrees to sponsor you. The sponsoring broker submits approval to the commission, which activates your license and allows you to begin representing clients. You cannot practice real estate with an inactive license.
In DC, a real estate salesperson must work under a licensed broker, while a broker has completed additional education and experience requirements to operate independently. A salesperson license requires 60 hours of pre-licensing education and passing both the national and DC portions of the exam. A broker license requires 135 hours of pre-licensing education and 2 years of experience as a licensed salesperson with an active license immediately preceding the application date. Brokers can manage their own real estate businesses and supervise salespersons; salespersons cannot practice independently.See the answer for every state
DC reciprocity for out-of-state licensees
Two neighboring jurisdictions have reciprocity arrangements with the District: Virginia, for both broker and salesperson credentials, and Maryland, for licensees who received their broker or salesperson credentials in 1996 or later. The DC Real Estate Commission[5] also offers an endorsement pathway for licensees from other states, which requires completing a 3-hour DCREC-approved Fair Housing course, a 3-hour DCREC-approved Property Management course, and a passing score on the state portion of the salesperson exam.
DC maintains formal reciprocity agreements with Virginia (for brokers and salespersons) and Maryland (for all brokers and salespersons licensed from 1996 to present). Licensees from other states may use DC's endorsement pathway, which requires meeting DC's education equivalency standards, completing a 3-hour Fair Housing course and a 3-hour Property Management course, passing the DC state portion of the exam, and submitting an original license certification letter dated within 90 days with the official seal. Both reciprocity and endorsement applicants must submit their application within 6 months of passing the exam.See the answer for every state
Renewal, continuing education, and career advancement
Once your license is active, you must renew it on a two-year cycle. Salesperson licenses expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years, and the renewal fee is $130, per the DC Real Estate Commission[5]. Licensees must complete 15 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. New licensees are exempt from CE for the remainder of the cycle in which their license was issued.
After gaining two years of experience as a licensed salesperson, you can pursue a broker license by completing 135 hours of broker pre-licensing education and passing the broker exam. Joining the National Association of REALTORS®[6] is a separate, voluntary step. NAR does not grant licenses or require continuing education, but membership provides the REALTOR® designation and access to local association resources.
A REALTOR® is a real estate agent who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), a trade association, and pays annual membership dues. Every REALTOR® is a licensed real estate agent, but not every licensed agent is a real estate agent. In NAR's 2025 Member Profile, the organization had approximately 1.4 million members, 64% of whom were licensed sales agents, 22% brokers, and 16% broker associates.See the answer for every state
When you are ready to get your real estate license, your first step is to enroll in a DCREC-approved pre-licensing course and begin studying for the salesperson exam.
