Licensing Requirements - Salesperson, Broker

Minimum Requirements to Apply for the Salesperson Exam and License

To obtain a real estate salesperson license, you must first qualify for and pass a written examination.

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 employing broker may not perform acts requiring a real estate license.

General Requirements

Age: You must be 18 years of age or older to be licensed.

Residence: Proof of Legal Presence in the United States is required. 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. For further information, see Help Avoid Denial of Your License Application and Application Eligibility Information (RE 222) .

Course Requirements

Successful completion of three college-level courses is required to qualify for a real estate salesperson examination:

1. Real Estate Principles (must be completed to apply for examination); and
2. Real Estate Practice (must be completed to apply for examination); and
3. One course from the following list (must be completed to apply for examination):
   
   
   • 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.

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

Courses must be three semester-units or four quarter-units at the college level. 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. Search for approved statutory/pre-license real estate courses..

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) .

Copies of official transcripts are generally acceptable evidence of completed courses. Transcripts of equivalent courses submitted as substitutes for the college-level courses listed above must be supported by an official course or catalog description in order to be evaluated for equivalency.

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.

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 employing broker may not perform acts requiring a real estate license.

General Requirements

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

Residence: Proof of Legal Presence in the United States is required. 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. 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 or the equivalent is required. For further information, see Documenting Experience Requirements for the Broker Examination..

Course Requirements

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

• 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.

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)

· 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.