How to Get a Real Estate License in California

Steps to Get a California Real Estate License

California has one of the largest real estate markets in the U.S., and the licensing process is designed to ensure agents are prepared to represent buyers and sellers responsibly. Below is a straightforward breakdown of what it takes to get licensed in the Golden State:

Step 1: Meet Basic Eligibility Requirements

Before enrolling in courses or scheduling your exam, make sure you meet California’s baseline requirements. To qualify for a real estate salesperson license, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be honest and truthful (the DRE reviews criminal history and background)
• Provide proof of legal presence in the U.S.

You do not need to be a California resident to apply, but you must meet all DRE requirements before your license can be issued. 

If you have a criminal history, it doesn’t automatically disqualify you. However, the DRE evaluates applications on a case-by-case basis. 

Step 2: Complete 135 Hours of California Prelicensing Education

California requires 135 total hours of approved prelicensing education before you can sit for the salesperson exam. These courses must be completed through a state-approved provider. The required courses include:

• Real Estate Principles (45 hours)
• Real Estate Practice (45 hours)
• One elective course (45 hours)

These required courses introduce the core legal and practical concepts you’ll use every day as an agent in California. From contracts to disclosures, this education lays the groundwork for both passing the state exam and entering the industry prepared.

View Our Licensing Packages

Step 3: Apply for and Pass the California Real Estate Exam

After finishing your 135 hours of required coursework, you’ll submit your salesperson exam application to the DRE. Unlike many states that use third-party testing companies, California administers the real estate exam directly through the DRE. Once your application is approved, you’ll schedule your exam at one of the state-run DRE exam centers.

The California real estate salesperson exam:

• Includes 150 multiple-choice questions
• Must be completed within 3 hours
• Requires a scaled score of 70% or higher to pass

The exam tests both national real estate principles and California-specific laws, including agency relationships, disclosures, contracts, property ownership, and financing. 

Try Our Real Estate License Practice Exam

Step 4: Complete Fingerprinting and a Background Check

California requires all applicants to submit fingerprints for a background check through the Department of Justice and the FBI. This process includes:

• Scheduling a Live Scan appointment
• Paying the fingerprint processing fee
• Submitting fingerprints electronically

Your license will not be issued until your background check clears, so it’s best to complete this step promptly after passing your exam. 

Step 5: Apply for Your California Real Estate License and Find a Sponsoring Broker

Passing the exam doesn’t automatically activate your license. In California, you must work under a licensed real estate broker before you can begin practicing. To receive your license from the DRE, you must:

• Submit your salesperson license application (if you did not apply at the same time as your exam)
• Complete all required background clearance steps
• Pay the required state licensing fees
• Be affiliated with a licensed California real estate broker

Choosing a broker is more than a formality. Especially in competitive California markets, the right brokerage can shape your first year in the business. When evaluating your options, consider:

• Training and mentorship opportunities
• Commission splits and fee structures
• Marketing and lead generation support
• Company culture and team structure

Once the DRE processes your application and confirms your broker affiliation, your license will be issued, and you can begin practicing real estate in California. 

California Real Estate License Renewal and Continuing Education

Once you’ve earned your California real estate salesperson license, maintaining it requires ongoing effort–especially when it comes to continuing education (CE) and renewals. The DRE sets specific requirements to ensure agents stay up to date with laws, regulations, and best practices unique to the California real estate market. From disclosure to ethics and agency relationships, your CE helps you serve clients confidently and compliantly. 

How Often Must You Renew Your California Real Estate License?

In California, a real estate salesperson license is valid for four years from the date it’s issued. Before your license expires, you’ll need to complete CE and submit a renewal application to the DRE. 

Failing to renew on time can result in your license lapsing, which means you’ll be unable to practice real estate legally in California until it’s reinstated.

California Continuing Education Requirements for First-Time License Renewal

When renewing your California real estate salesperson license for the first time, the DRE requires 45 hours of post-licensing education with a specific course structure. For first-time renewal, you must complete:

• Six 3-hour courses covering required DRE topics such as ethics, agency, trust fund handling, risk management, fair housing, and supervision
• One separate 2-hour Implicit Bias course

These post-licensing courses are designed to reinforce California-specific laws, compliance responsibilities, and professional standards early in your real estate career. All coursework must be completed before your license expiration date to qualify for renewal. 

Prepare for Your First California License Renewal

California Continuing Education Requirements for Subsequent License Renewals

After your first license renewal, California still requires 45 hours of CE for each renewal period. The difference is that the DRE allows more flexibility in how those required topics are completed. For subsequent renewals, your 45 hours must include coverage of the seven DRE-required topics. You can meet this requirement in one of two ways:

• Take one 9-hour Survey course that covers all seven required DRE topics as a single course
• Take separate DRE-approved courses for each of the required topics individually

The remaining hours needed to reach the full 45-hour requirement are completed through additional DRE-approved CE courses. As with all renewals, all CE must be completed before your license expiration date.

Browse Our Continuing Education Courses

How to Renew Your California Real Estate License

Renewing your California real estate license involves a few clear steps:

• Complete 45 hours of DRE-approved CE before your license expires
• Submit your renewal application to the DRE
• Pay the required renewal fee when you submit your application

The DRE will review your CE completion and renewal application before issuing your renewed license.

What Happens if You Miss the Renewal Deadline?

If you let your California real estate license expire without renewing, you may still be able to reinstate it, but the process becomes more complicated and may involve additional fees. To avoid interruptions in your ability to practice real estate, plan ahead and complete your CE early. 

Staying on top of California’s CE and renewal requirements helps ensure your license stays active and that you continue serving clients with up-to-date knowledge in a market as dynamic and complex as California’s.

California Real Estate License Reciprocity

If you’re already licensed as a real estate agent in another state and thinking about practicing in California, it’s important to understand how reciprocity–or the lack of it–works in the Golden State.

Does California Offer Real Estate License Reciprocity?

California does not have formal real estate license reciprocity with any other state. That means you cannot simply transfer or waive into a California real estate license based on your out-of-state credentials or experience. Even if you’re a licensed agent elsewhere, you must still complete the California prelicensing education, apply with the DRE, and pass the California salesperson exam to become licensed here. There are no shortcuts or exemptions that allow you to bypass these steps based on another state’s license. 

Due to this, you should plan for the full licensing process in California rather than expecting a direct license transfer from another state. 

Out-of-State Agents and California Practice

Even though there’s no formal reciprocity, California does allow out-of-state residents to become licensed as long as they meet all of the state’s requirements–including education, exam passage, background clearance, and broker sponsorship.

If your goal is to practice in California without earning a license without a license here, that’s a different concept known as portability. Generally, out-of-state agents who don’t hold a California real estate license may only refer clients to California license holders and collect referral fees–they can’t conduct licensed activities (like showing property or negotiating terms) within California without being licensed here. 

Real Estate License Portability in California

California follows a “physical location” licensing model, which means that if you perform any licensed real estate activity within California, you must hold a valid California real estate license. Without a California license, you:

• Cannot show property in California
• Cannot negotiate contracts or transaction terms
• Cannot conduct open houses or client meetings within the state
• Cannot represent buyers or sellers in a California transaction

However, out-of-state agents may refer clients to a California-licensed agent and receive a referral fee, as long as they do not engage in licensed activity within the state.