When studying to become a real estate agent or broker in California, it’s important to feel fully prepared to pass the exam on the first try, considering it costs $305 to get your license. The best California real estate exam prep courses help you get ready for the 150-question test by including a mix of study materials and structured courses that prepare you to pass the real estate licensing exam. We found the top six courses for agents and brokers based on cost, money-back guarantee, study materials, and other key criteria.
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Best for: | Best for: | Best for: | Best for: | Best for: | Best for: |
Students wanting California-specific exam prep class with online and in-person components | Agents needing time-sensitive preparation for the California real estate exam | Future agents looking for the exam prep course with the highest pass rates | Students wanting instructor-led prep via online, on-demand video, and in-class instruction | Agents seeking self-study prep materials such as flashcards, webinars, e-books, worksheets, and practice tests | Students wanting easy-to-follow exam prep material divided into topics |
Cost: | Cost: | Cost: | Cost: | Cost: | Cost: |
$50-100 | $59 | $39 | $199 | $89 | $119 |
Things you need to know before enrolling for your California real estate exam prep: Along with education requirements and exam prep, there are additional steps to completing your real estate licensure. Check out our Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Real Estate Agent in California to get started.
How We Evaluated the Best California Real Estate Exam Prep Providers
Many aspiring real estate agents and brokers struggle to pass the California (CA) real estate exam—largely because they don’t have the right study materials to ace the exam. To help you find the most effective options, we evaluated the best exam prep programs based on specific criteria like price, course types, study aids, delivery methods, and availability of faculty and staff.
After researching many options, California Realty Training emerged as the top choice for exam prep due to its local expertise, live classes, and affordable prices. With a winning score of 4.21 out of 5, CA Realty Training is an ideal choice for those who want California-specific course material as well as live and on-demand online courses.
Here are the criteria used to evaluate the best California real estate exam prep courses:
25% of Overall Score
Based on the cost, pass guarantee, and refund policy of each online institution.
20% of Overall Score
Consists of various formatting and learning styles for each course to meet the specific needs of the agent as well as the length of course accessibility.
20% of Overall Score
Features that enhance your learning experience to aid in retention and comprehension, so you succeed at passing the test on your first attempt.
15% of Overall Score
Based on customer feedback for each program, with particular attention given to reviews of the product and popularity of the provider, to certify the course meets user satisfaction.
10% of Overall Score
Expertise in the field and firsthand experience with the providers allow us to evaluate the standout features, value for the money, and ease of use for each school.
10% of Overall Score
We looked into the convenience and attainability of customer service for technical support and instructor assistance.
California Realty Training: Best Overall & Best California-specific Exam Prep
California Realty Training
What We Like
- California-specific video content
- Courses offered live and online
- Affordable options include instructor access
What's Missing
- No money-back or pass guarantee
- Doesn’t have a la carte study aids
Additional Features
- Online, video, live, and hybrid course options
- Unlimited state practice tests
- Two months of access to crash course videos
- One year of access to study prep material
- 1,000+ practice questions
- 3,000+ flashcards
- Live crash courses include access to a California real estate professional
- Customer review rating of 4.8 out of 5
CA Realty Training is the only exam prep provider on our list based in California, and student access to local real estate experts is one reason it’s our pick for overall best California real estate exam prep. Its courses directly aid prospective agents in studying for and passing the licensure exam on their first try, and it’s a great choice for students who want a combination of live and self-paced education.
CA Realty Training uniquely offers self-paced online video as well as live online courses, which include 16 hours of video training and two days of classes taught by licensed, local real estate agents. In addition, each exam prep package includes flashcards, more than 1,500 practice questions, and unlimited variations of practice.
Customer Reviews
Hundreds of online reviews praise CA Realty Training for its personalized approach, consistently updated information, and engaging videos. Compared to older reviews, there are very few negative comments within the last four years, which shows that the school made adjustments to better serve aspiring real estate agents. However, if you’d prefer purchasing individual study tools, Kaplan may be a better fit for your needs.
Pricing
- Live + Online State Exam Prep Crash Course: $50
- Online + Video State Exam Prep: $100
- Online State Exam Prep: $100
Visit California Realty Training
PrepAgent: Best for Time-sensitive Learning
PrepAgent
What We Like
- Study aids include audio and video
- Live webinars from an instructor
- Money-back guarantee
What's Missing
- Basic package is limited
- Upper-level packages can be expensive
Additional Features
- Interactive flashcards
- Hours of audio lessons
- More than 75 videos
- Exam prep e-book
- Live webinars
- Customer review rating of 5 out of 5
PrepAgent is a national online exam prep platform, and it’s ideal for prospective agents in California wanting a variety of study aids. In fact, it offers the largest variety of study aids at an affordable price, and you can choose from packages offering access for a week, month, or year. This makes it perfect for aspiring California real estate professionals who want anywhere from a few days to several months to equip themselves to pass the exam and be successful in their real estate career.
Customer Reviews
Almost all PrepAgent reviews rave about the instructors, webinars, and practice tests. They said the app is a game-changer and credit the material for passing their exam on the first try. A few customers gave PrepAgent less-than-perfect reviews due to technical glitches. Plus, its lowest-tier plan only includes one week of access, so if you want a longer period of time to study, check out California Realty Training.
Pricing
All packages include unlimited access for the duration of your account, national and Florida-specific exam practice questions with clear explanations, and a 100% no-risk, money-back guarantee.
- Basic: $59 for one week of access to everything listed above
- Deluxe: $79 for one month of access to everything in the Basic package plus exam prep videos, audio lessons, flashcards, and exam prep e-book
- Premium: $99 for one year of access to everything in the packages above plus vocabulary worksheet, live online webinars, and recorded webinars
Real Estate Exam Scholar: Highest Pass Rates
Real Estate Exam Scholar
What We Like
- Pass on your first try money-back guarantee
- Most affordable exam prep option
- Most practice tests of any exam prep provider
What's Missing
- Video and audio components
- Phone customer support
- Instructor access
Additional Features
- 95% pass rate
- Six months of course access
- Unlimited timed practice tests
- 1,000+ practice questions
- 25 different practice tests
- Practice exams are printable and accessible on all devices
- Customer testimonials of 5 out of 5
Real Estate Exam Scholar is an online-only national real estate school. It uniquely offers a six-month subscription-based program with 25 practice tests covering more than 1,000 questions. Plus, it offers specific courses for both California agent and broker exam prep.
In addition, flashcards and study tools are included in the one-time course fee. Students who want to acclimate to taking timed tests will find Real Estate Exam Scholar a good choice. As proof, it boasts a 95% pass rate, which is the highest of any online California real estate school.
Customer Reviews
Reviews shared on the Real Estate Exam Scholar website glow with praise—comments like “no-brainer purchase” and “confidence builder” illustrate students’ love of the platform. As the most affordable California exam prep course with a pass guarantee, there is almost no risk. However, we couldn’t find reviews for Real Estate Exam Scholar on other sites. For a similar exam prep course with many positive online reviews, try PrepAgent.
Pricing
- Real Estate Salesperson Exam Prep Course: $39
- Real Estate Broker Exam Prep Course: $49
Visit Real Estate Exam Scholar
Kaplan: Best Instructor-led Exam Prep Courses
Kaplan
What We Like
- Instructor-led courses available
- Assessment tests before and after the course
- Extremely in-depth course material
What's Missing
- Exam prep flashcards and study aids require additional fee
- Budget-friendly prices
Additional Features
- Most course format variety: live online, on-demand, and self-paced study
- California exam prep courses can be purchased individually
- Includes beginning and ending assessments of your understanding in all topics
- Individual prep course for real estate math
- Large online question bank (QBank) and flashcards
- Real estate terms and conditions audio file
- Customer review rating of 4.2 out of 5
Kaplan is one of the best accredited online real estate schools. In addition to prelicensing and license renewal courses, it has a wide variety of exam prep packages to help aspiring agents in California study for and pass their real estate licensing exam. Kaplan offers live, instructor-led, and on-demand video courses as well as a package with study tools.
You can choose to work through Kaplan’s all-inclusive program or purchase individual components based on your needs. As one of the most well-respected sources of real estate education nationwide, you can be sure you’ll receive comprehensive exam prep knowledge from Kaplan, as with any of their products.
Customer Reviews
Reviewers on ActiveRain and Trustpilot indicate that Kaplan’s on-site course and online review materials were key to passing their real estate exam. A few users commented that the cost of the course is higher than other exam prep options. If you need a more affordable choice, try Real Estate Exam Scholar.
Pricing
- OnDemand Salesperson Exam Prep: $199
- OnDemand Broker Exam Prep: $199
- Live Online Salesperson Exam Prep: $199
- Live Online Broker Exam Prep: $199
- Real Estate Study Package: $99
- Salesperson Drill and Practice QBank: $59
- Real Estate Flashcards: $39
- Real Estate Math Course: $29
- California Real Estate Terms and Definitions Audio: $24
CompuCram: Best Interactive Study Tools
CompuCram
What We Like
- California-specific material
- Money-back guarantee
- Readiness indicator
What's Missing
- Budget-conscious pricing
- Instructor access
Additional Features
- Dynamic practice tests
- Unlimited simulated exams
- Accessible on all devices
- Interactive flashcards, matching, and fill-in-the-blank questions
- Questions written by real estate experts
- Free practice test before signing up
- Discounts offered
- Six months of course access
- Customer review rating of 4 out of 5
CompuCram is a real estate platform dedicated exclusively to exam prep, which is why it offers California-specific as well as national materials. With CompuCram, you receive unlimited simulated exams and work through interactive study tools to get familiar with the content and questions that will be on the licensing exam.
Notably, CompuCram has an exam readiness indicator. It lets aspiring real estate agents and brokers know when they are ready to take the licensing exam based on a pre-assessment practice test and continuous exam practice. If you’re seeking the most engaging study tools, CompuCram is the ideal choice.
Customer Reviews
CompuCram reviews noted that the platform is easy to use and that the readiness indicator made them feel confident when they took the California real estate exam. Although some students weren’t as enthusiastic as others about the platform, there are no online reviews for CompuCram under 4 stars. However, if you’d prefer to take an exam prep course from an instructor, try CA Realty Training.
Pricing
- National and California Real Estate Salesperson Exam Prep: $89
- National and California Real Estate Broker Exam Prep: $89
The CE Shop: Best Topical Exam Prep Course
The CE Shop
What We Like
- California-specific content
- One year of course access
- Interactive dashboard to gauge your preparedness
What's Missing
- Instructor-led materials
- Video and audio components
- Budget-friendly pricing
Additional Features
- Initial assessment of progress
- Study California-specific topics
- Unlimited practice exams
- 71% national pass rate
- Discounts offered
- Support available 7 days/week
- Customer review rating of 4.7 out of 5
The CE Shop is a national online real estate school offering aspiring and current agents the education needed to obtain or renew their license or prepare for the real estate licensing exam. The real estate exam prep course is called Exam Prep Edge. It’s unique in how it guides you through various California real estate exam topics until you are fully equipped for the exam. Plus, it’s equipped with technology that gauges your readiness as you go through the course.
Customer Reviews
The CE Shop has more than 6,000 reviews on Trustpilot, most of which are overwhelmingly positive. Students said the study materials are comprehensive while still being easy to follow, and they loved that Exam Prep Edge highlighted specific topics to review. A few unhappy customers noted that it’s difficult to extend your course access. For a more affordable program with a tool to gauge your exam readiness, try CompuCram.
Pricing
- Exam Prep Edge for California Salesperson: $119
- Exam Prep Edge for California Broker: $119
