You need to create an account with the Real Estate eLicensing System. Online submission of your application saves time and speeds up application processing.
You must include copies of your Course Completion Certificates from each of the 3, 45-hour pre-license courses.
You must pay the appropriate fee. If you complete the Salesperson Exam Application, you only have to pay the exam fee of $60. If you complete the Combined Salesperson Examination and License Application, you will have to pay a total fee of $305 ($60 for the state exam, plus the $245 license application fee).
The DRE will need at least six weeks to review and approve your application. You can see the current application processing timeframes here.
Once your application is approved, the DRE will send you an Examination Schedule Notice or an authorization to self schedule via email.
Please note that you have two years to pass the state licensing exam from the date your exam application is received by the DRE.
Related FAQs
To schedule your state exam, create a Real Estate eLicensing System account, submit an exam application, pay the appropriate fee, include copies of your course Certificates, and a reasonable accommodation request (if applicable). Once the DRE approves the application, you will receive an Examination Schedule Notice.
You can pay the $60 exam fee using a credit card, cashiers' check, money order, or check. Checks or money orders must be made payable to: Department of Real Estate. If you want to pay using a credit card, you must complete a Credit Card Payment Form.
You can take the state licensing exam at one of five proctoring locations throughout the State of California. The five proctoring locations include the following: Fresno, San Diego, Los Angeles Vicinity, Oakland, and Sacramento.
When it comes time to submit your state exam application, the DRE requires you to include copies of your three Course Completion Certificates (one for each of the 3, 45-hour pre-license courses). The DRE will use these Certificates as evidence that you have completed the 135-hour education requirement.
No, the school will not transmit any of your information to the DRE. Instead, the DRE requires the student to submit copies of their three Course Completion Certificates as part of their exam application. The DRE will use the Certificates as evidence that you have completed their education requirements.
Yes. Since California does not offer reciprocity with any other state, you will have to complete the licensing process just like any other applicant. You must complete the 135-hours of pre-license education and pass the state exam.
Yes, you do not need a sponsoring broker to schedule and take the state licensing exam. You only need a sponsoring broker if you opt to submit a Combined Salesperson Exam/License Application.
The DRE charges the following rescheduling fees for the state exam: First-time rescheduling fee: $15. Any additional rescheduling requests: $30 per request.
The Combined Salesperson Exam and License Application allows you to apply for your state exam and your real estate license at the same time. Once you pass the state licensing exam, the DRE will go ahead and issue your real estate license. This will allow you to save several weeks of time during the licensing process.
You should file the Combined Salesperson Exam and License Application in the eLicensing system after you have completed the 3, 45-hour pre-licensing courses. Please note that you can only file a Combined application if you have a sponsoring broker lined up by the time you are ready to take the state exam.
The Salesperson Examination Application is used to apply to take the state licensing exam. You should file the Salesperson Examination Application after you have completed the 3, 45-hour pre-licensing courses.
You have two years to pass the state licensing exam from the date your exam application is received by the DRE. If you do not pass the state exam within two years, you must submit a new exam application and pay the exam fee again.
If you wish to schedule your state exam location and date yourself, you must select 'Yes' under section #11 of the Salesperson Examination Application, or section #14 of the Combined Exam/License Application. The DRE will then notify you via email when you are qualified to schedule your state exam using eLicensing.