Who is responsible for issuing real estate salesperson licenses in the state of California?

According to the California Department of Real Estate (DRE), below are the requirements to obtaining a California Real Estate Salesperson License: 

To obtain a real estate salesperson 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.  This license is required of individuals who conduct licensed real estate activities as described in the Real Estate Law under the supervision of a licensed broker. A license may also be obtained by a person who does not immediately intend to be employed by a broker. However, a salesperson without an responsible broker may not perform acts requiring a real estate license.

Age: You must be 18 years of age or older to be issued a license.

Residence: If you are not a California resident, see Out-of-State Applicants.

Honesty: 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. 

Education:  You must complete a minimum of three (3) statutorily required college-level courses. 

Required:

  • Real Estate Principles
  • Real Estate Practice

Elective:

Pick one (1) of the following courses.  However, some previously completed three semester unit, four quarter unit, or higher college classes may count toward your elective course (e.g., Accounting, Business Law, or Economics).

  • Property Management
  • Escrow
  • Mortgage Loan Brokering and Lending
  • Legal Aspects of Real Estate
  • Real Estate Finance
  • Real Estate Appraisal
  • Real Estate Economics
  • Business Law

If you would like more information, please contact a representative or the California Department of Real Estate.

California Department of Real Estate

Phone Number: 1.877.373.4543
Various locations, see all:https://www.dre.ca.gov/Contact.html
Website: https://www.dre.ca.gov/

Real Estate Salesperson Prelicensing Education Requirements

A. Be at least 18 years old
B. Non-California residents, please read: https://www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/outofstate.html
C. Successfully complete 135 hours of education to include:

a. Real Estate Principles—45 hours (required)
b. Real Estate Practice—45 hours (required)
c. One of the courses from the following list:

i. Real Estate Appraisal
ii. Property Management
iii. Real Estate Finance
iv. Real Estate Economics
v. Legal Aspects of Real Estate (Kaplan offers Legal Aspects as the elective in licensing packages)
vi. Real Estate Office Administration
vii. General Accounting
viii. Business Law
ix. Escrows
x. Mortgage Loan Brokering and Lending
xi. Computer Applications in Real Estate
xii. Common Interest Developments
xiii. Important note: Kaplan offers Legal Aspect of Real Estate in the packages

D. Pass the State Licensing Exam (can only be provided by the State). Please use the eLicensing system to register for the California real estate exam and/or the online application for licensure. The DRE recommends before starting the online application to review this short video that will provide additional information. 
E. Upon passing the exam, applicants will receive an application for licensure. Please make sure to submit applications with all necessary items at the same time for timely processing; i.e.

a. Fingerprints
b. Background check
c. Submission of all fees

F. Review theCurrent Application Processing Timeframes page to have a clear understanding of the time frame.
G. Statutory Course Important Note: Per California Department of Real Estate guidelines, Statutory courses require a waiting period of 18 days before attempting a final exam. Additional exams will become available as the mandated 18-day wait period expires. You cannot apply one 18-day wait period to meet the wait time for all statutory courses. Our Learning Management System will track your wait period time

Real Estate Broker Prelicensing Education Requirements

A. Be 18 years or older
B. A minimum of two years full-time licensed salesperson experience within the last five years or the equivalent is required. For more information, please review this form: https://www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/requirementsbroker.html
C. Successfully completed the following five courses:

a. Real Estate Practice
b. Legal Aspects of Real Estate
c. Real Estate Finance
d. Real Estate Appraisal
e. Real Estate Economics or Accounting*

D. Successfully completed three of the following courses:

a. Real Estate Principles
b. Business Law
c. Property Management
d. Escrow
e. Real Estate Office Administration
f. Mortgage Loan Brokering and Lending
g. Advanced Legal Aspects of Real Estate
h. Advanced Real Estate Finance
i. Advanced Real Estate Appraisal
j. Computer Applications in Real Estate
k. Common Interest Developments
l. *If both Real Estate Economics and Accounting are taken, only two courses from the above group are required

E. Take and pass the broker examination
F. Complete the Employment Verificationforms to verify experience
G. Submit completed application
H. Pay applicable fee

Real Estate Salesperson First Renewal Education Requirements

A. Renewal periods are every four years
B. Must have completed 45 hours of continuing education to consist of:

a. Five separate, three-hour courses in the following subjects:

  1. Ethics
  2. Agency
  3. Trust Fund Handling
  4. Fair Housing
  5. Risk Management

b. A minimum of 18 hours of consumer protection courses
c. The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of CE may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses

C. Complete the application and pay the applicable fee
D. See application here: www.dre.ca.gov/files/pdf/forms/re209.pdf
E. Participants taking a correspondence offering or package of offerings shall be limited to completion of final examinations for a maximum of 15 credit hours during any one 24-hour period. A participant shall not be granted access to additional segments of the final examination for offering or a package of offerings that exceed 15 credit hours until the 24-hour period has elapsed.

Real Estate Broker First Renewal Education Requirements

A. Renewal periods are every four years
B. Brokers renewing on or after 1/1/2016, or who are renewing on a late-basis on or after 1/1/2016, must complete 45 hours of education consisting of:

a. Six three-hour courses in the following subjects:

  1. Ethics
  2. Agency
  3. Trust Fund Handling
  4. Fair Housing
  5. Risk Management
  6. Management and Supervision

b. 18 hours of consumer protection courses

c. The remaining hours required may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses

C. Complete the application and pay the applicable fee
D. See application here: www.dre.ca.gov/files/pdf/forms/re208.pdf
E. Participants taking a correspondence offering or package of offerings shall be limited to completion of final examinations for a maximum of 15 credit hours during any one 24-hour period. A participant shall not be granted access to additional segments of the final examination for offering or a package of offerings that exceed 15 credit hours until the 24-hour period has elapsed.

Salesperson Subsequent (2nd) Renewal Education Requirements

A. Renewal periods are every four years
B. All salespersons with an expiration date on or after 1/1/2016, or who are renewing on a late-basis on or after 1/1/2016, must complete 45 hours of continuing education to consist of:

a. One eight-hour survey course covering the six mandatory subjects (Ethics, Agency, Fair Housing, Trust Fund Handling, Risk Management, and Management and Supervision)
b. Licensees are able to take each subject separately if so desired
c. A minimum of 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses
d. The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of CE may be related to either consumer services or consumer protection courses

C. Complete the application and pay the applicable fee
D. Participants taking a correspondence offering or package of offerings shall be limited to completion of final examinations for a maximum of 15 credit hours during any one 24-hour period. A participant shall not be granted access to additional segments of the final examination for offering or a package of offerings that exceed 15 credit hours until the 24-hour period has elapsed.
 

Broker Subsequent (2nd) Renewal Education Requirements

A. Renewal periods are every four years
B. All salespersons with an expiration date on or after 1/1/2016, or who are renewing on a late-basis on or after 1/1/2016, must complete 45 hours of continuing education to consist of:

a. One eight-hour survey course covering the six mandatory subjects (Ethics, Agency, Fair Housing, Trust Fund Handling, Risk Management, and Management and Supervision)
b. Licensees are able to take each subject separately if so desired
c. A minimum of 18 clock hours of consumer protection
d. The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of CE may be related to either consumer services or consumer protection courses

C. Complete the application and pay the applicable fee
D. Participants taking a correspondence offering or package of offerings shall be limited to completion of final examinations for a maximum of 15 credit hours during any one 24-hour period. A participant shall not be granted access to additional segments of the final examination for offering or a package of offerings that exceed 15 credit hours until the 24-hour period has elapsed.

Real Estate Exam Provider Information in California

A. Examinations are held by the DRE
B. Review this website, www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/HowWhereScheduled.html, to find locations, exam times, and dates
C. To apply for the salesperson exam:

a. Complete the salesperson examination application
b. Include any required fees; cash is not accepted
c. Obtain transcripts showing successful completion of the required education
d. Applicants are now able to complete an online application via DRE’s eLicensing system. Before starting the online application, please watch this short video that goes through the additional information needed.
e. Wait six weeks, or check current processing timeframes

i. Once qualified, an examination schedule notice will be sent to you

f. If you are not qualified at the time the application is submitted, applicants will be notified in writing, and applicants will have two years from the date of receipt of the application to complete the qualifications and take the examination
g. See the process in detail here: www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/applysalesperson.html

D. To apply for the brokers exam:

a. Complete the broker examination application
b. Include any required fees; cash is not accepted
c. Obtain transcripts showing successful completion of the required education
d. Mail in the completed application, appropriate fees, and course transcripts, or apply online
e. Wait six weeks, or check current processing times

i. Once qualified, an examination schedule notice will be sent to you

f. If you are not qualified at the time the application is submitted, applicants will be notified in writing, and applicants will have two years from the date of receipt of the application to complete the qualifications and take the examination
g. See the process in detail here: www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/applysalesperson.html

EFFECTIVE 5/1/20: The Department of Real Estate (DRE) is cancelling real estate salesperson and broker license exams in all exam centers through May 16,2020. This action is being taken to comply with state and local public health agencies ordering residents to shelter in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Examinees affected by these cancellations will be notified by email and will be allowed to reschedule their canceled exam dates using DRE’s eLicensing system.  Exam rescheduling fees will be waived for canceled exams.

Examinees with questions or concerns regarding canceled exams can contact DRE’s Licensing program at (877) 373-4542 or by email at .

EFFECTIVE 5/26/20: In order to get important updates and information out to examinees, licensees and stakeholders quickly, DRE utilizes the email address provided by the respective parties to send email blasts messages.  We would like to encourage our students to provide a current email address to DRE so they can receive these important emails. Many times email providers will send mass email blasts to junk mail folders, therefore, examinees, licensees and stakeholders are encouraged to check their junk mail folders often to ensure they do not miss any important information from DRE.

Examinee and Licensee email addresses can be updated on DRE’s website using eLicensing or by calling the Licensing Program at 877-373-4542.

www.dre.ca.gov

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Who is responsible for issuing real estate salesperson licenses in the state of California?

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How do I get my California real estate license?

Meet the General Requirements to Prequalify. ... .
Complete 135 Hours of Pre-Licensing Education. ... .
Apply for the California Salesperson Exam. ... .
Pass the California Salesperson Licensing Exam. ... .
Find a Sponsoring Brokerage. ... .
Complete Your Real Estate License Application..

What is 2780 of DRE Commissioner's regulations regarding?

Section 2780 of the Regulations sets out discriminatory practices that are prohibited pursuant to Sections 125.6 and 10177 of the Code. The Department of Real Estate (DRE) adopted Section 2780 in 1977 and amended it 1978 and 1980. Since 1980, anti-discrimination statutes have advanced considerably.

What is the fastest way to get a real estate license in California?

The fastest way to get your real estate license is through an online program. In California, all students are required to spend at least 54 days in an accredited real estate program, per the DRE.

How long does it take to become a licensed real estate agent in California?

On average, it takes between five (5) and six (6) months to get a California real estate license depending on the pace in which you complete the 135 hours of pre-licensing courses and pass your licensing examination, the time it takes you to complete the application process and find a sponsoring broker, and application ...