How to Get Started

For Real Estate Broker

Minimum Requirements to Apply for the Broker Exam and License

To obtain a real estate broker license, you must first qualify for and pass a written examination. Those who pass the examination are provided a license application which must be submitted to and approved by the DRE Sponsor ID S0629. For complete statutory requirements and qualification patterns, see Instructions to License Applicants.

Age: To apply for a license, you must be 18 years of age or older.

Residence: License applicants must provide Proof of Legal Presence in the U.S. If not a California resident, see Out-of-State Applicants.

Honesty: License applicants must be honest and truthful. Conviction of a crime may result in the denial of a license. Failure to disclose any criminal violation or disciplinary action in an applicant's entire history may also result in the denial of a license. For further information, see Help Avoid Denial of Your License Application and Application Eligibility Information (RE 222).

Experience: A minimum of two years full-time licensed salesperson experience within the last five years preceding the application or provide satisfactory proof to the commissioner of other experience equivalent to two years of full-time experience as a real estate salesperson. For further information,see Documenting Experience Requirements for the Broker Examination.

Education: Applicants for a real estate broker license examination must have successfully completed eight three-semester-unit (or Equivalent) College –level courses taken at an accredited institution of higher learning or a private vocational school approved by the commissioner. The courses include:

Real Estate Practice
Legal Aspects of Real Estate
Real Estate Finance
Real Estate Appraisal
Real Estate Economics or Accounting
And three* courses from the following group:

Real Estate Principles
Business Law
Property Management
Escrows
Real Estate Office Administration
Mortgage Loan Brokering and Lending
Advanced Legal Aspects of Real Estate
Advanced Real Estate Finance
Advanced Real Estate Appraisal
Computer Applications in Real Estate
Common Interest Developments
* If both Real Estate Economics and Accounting are taken, only two courses from the above group are required.

Continuing education offerings do not satisfy the college-level course requirements for this examination.

The courses must be completed prior to being scheduled for an examination. Copies of official transcripts are generally acceptable evidence of completed courses. Transcripts of other courses, submitted as an equivalent course of study in lieu of the statutory courses, must be accompanied by an official course or catalog description in order to be evaluated.

Courses completed through foreign institutions of higher learning must be evaluated by a foreign credentials evaluation service approved by the Department of Real Estate. See Examination Applicant Foreign Education Information (RE 223).

NOTE: Applicants who have completed the eight college-level courses statutorily required for the broker examination and license are eligible to take the broker examination.

NOTE: Attorneys who are members of the bar of any State in the United States generally are exempt from both experience and education requirement that are required for the broker examination. The may apply for broker examination without providing further evidence of education or experience.

NOTE: The Bureau of Real Estate can not issue or renew a license if the applicant is on a list of persons who are delinquent in making court-ordered child support payments. See DRE Sponsor ID S0629 website for more information