Getting a Real Estate License

The Department of Real Estate, otherwise known as the DRE, is in charge of California’s licensed real estate business.  A license is required to sell real estate in California.  That being said, the barriers to entry are actually quite low.  An individual with real estate experience can sit for the broker’s exam and obtain a broker’s license.  I have a broker’s license.

In order to sit for the real estate exam an individual has to take coursework.  We recommend First Tuesday.  A locally owned company.  You can sit in a classroom or take the classes online.  I recommend the online version.  It’s way more efficient.  Here is a link to First Tuesday’s website: https://www.firsttuesday.us/.  It’s a couple month’s worth of study with tests along the way.  It’s less than $300 to complete the course.  Once an individual has completed the coursework they can sit for the state exam.  It takes a few weeks to secure an exam date.  We also recommend that people take the exam preparation coursework too.

California’s real estate exam consists of 150 questions, all of which are multiple choice.  The exam is 3 hours long and takes place at a testing center.  An examinee gets their test results back instantly.  The pass rate is 44%.  You’ll never know how many questions you got right versus wrong unless you don’t pass.  Most of the questions mirror the questions found in the coursework.   Once an examinee has passed their test, they can affiliate with a licensed real estate brokerage.  It costs $305, plus the cost of finger printing, to get the license and a license is good for four years.

As you can see, there is not a lot to getting a real estate license.  That’s why so many people have one.  We all start somewhere so connecting with the right mentors is really important.  Connect with us if you would like more information on pursuing this profession.