State Requirements

California Education Requirements

Salesperson License:

Successful completion of the following college-level courses (total of 135 hours) is required to become a real estate salesperson:

1. Real Estate Principles; and
2. Real Estate Practice; and
3. One course from the following list:
• Real Estate Appraisal
• Property Management
• Real Estate Finance
• Real Estate Economics
• Legal Aspects of Real Estate
• Real Estate Office Administration
• General Accounting
• Business Law
• Escrows
• Mortgage Loan Brokering and Lending
• Computer Applications in Real Estate
• Common Interest Developments

Note: Members of the bar of any state in the United States or graduates of law schools recognized by the California State Bar will generally qualify on the basis of their education, and as such are exempt from the college-level course requirements. Evidence of admission to practice law, such as a photocopy of both sides of a current State Bar membership card, or of an LL.B. or J.D. Degree should accompany the application.

Also, applicants who submit evidence of having completed the eight statutory college-level courses required for the broker examination and license are eligible to take the salesperson examination without submitting further evidence of experience or education.

Broker License:

Applicants for a real estate broker license examination must have successfully completed the following eight statutorily required college-level courses:

1. Real Estate Practice
2. Legal Aspects of Real Estate
3. Real Estate Finance
4. Real Estate Appraisal
5. Real Estate Economics or Accounting
6. 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.

Other Notes:

• Continuing education offerings do not satisfy the college-level course requirements for this examination.
• Applicants who submit evidence of having completed the eight statutory college-level courses required for the broker examination and license are eligible to take the salesperson examination without submitting further evidence of experience or education.
• Courses must be three semester-units or four quarter-units at the college level. 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 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.
• Broker qualification courses must be completed at an institution of higher learning accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or by a comparable regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, or by a private real estate school which has had its courses approved by the California Real Estate Commissioner.
• 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)Graphic: Denotes a PDF document.
• Applicants who have completed the eight college-level courses statutorily required for the broker examination and license are eligible to take the salesperson examination without providing further evidence of education or experience.

California Continuing Education Requirements

Salespersons Renewing for the First Time

Real estate salespersons who were licensed prior to 10/1/2007, and are renewing an original license for the first time, must complete five separate three-hour DRE-approved continuing education courses in Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, Fair Housing and Risk Management.

Those licensees who were licensed on or after 10/1/2007, and were required to have all three statutory/pre-licenses courses (RE Principles, RE Practice, and one additional course), must complete 45 clock hours of DRE-approved continuing education consisting of:

• Five separate three-hour courses in the following subjects: Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, Fair Housing, and Risk Management;
• A minimum of 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses; and
• The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses.

Brokers Renewing for the First Time

Real estate brokers renewing an original license for the first time must complete 45 clock hours of DRE-approved continuing education consisting of:

• Five separate three-hour courses in the following subjects: Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, Fair Housing, and Risk Management;
• A minimum of 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses; and
• The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses.

Salespersons and Brokers – Second & Subsequent Renewals

For subsequent renewals, all real estate brokers and salespersons must complete 45 clock hours of DRE-approved continuing education consisting of:

• Either 12 hours of continuing education courses in the following subjects: (Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, and Fair Housing) OR one six-hour course that covers the four mandatory subjects (Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, and Fair Housing);
• One three-hour course in Risk Management; and
• At least 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses; and
• The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses.