California real estate agents must take 135 hours of prelicensing education, so it’s important that you maximize your investment of time and money by choosing the right course provider. We evaluated several of the leading online real estate courses in California with specific criteria like price, course offerings, study aids, and customer support.
After research, we found that the top six online real estate courses in California are:
- Real Estate Express: Best overall for aspiring agents who want the best value for prelicensing courses
- The CE Shop: Great for agents and brokers who want extensive and affordable continuing education course offerings
- Aceable Agent: Aspiring agents who prefer a pass guarantee
- Kaplan: Students who prefer live online or in-person courses
- California Association of Realtors: Ideal for future agents who want the most affordable packages
- Allied Real Estate Schools: Best for determined students who want a fast track to getting their real estate license
Online real estate courses can provide aspiring California agents and brokers with the necessary prelicensing and continuing education credits via the web or mobile app. Take our California online real estate course quiz to decide on the best education provider for you.
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How We Evaluated Online Real Estate Courses for California
To determine the best online courses and become a real estate agent in California, we considered a wide variety of features that help current and aspiring agents get the most out of their education.
Based on our evaluation, we determined Real Estate Express to be the best online real estate course for California overall. It got a total score of 4.19 out of 5, claiming the top spot. It does not only offer all of the courses necessary to earn and upgrade a real estate license in California, but also offers continuing education courses to support you in your career as an agent—all at a reasonable price point.
The criteria we used to evaluate the online real estate courses include:
25% of Overall Score
Choosing to get or upgrade your real estate license requires an investment, so we looked for schools that provided the best value with a free demo, free trial, bundle pricing, individual course pricing, and a money-back guarantee.
25% of Overall Score
We chose schools that offer different levels of real estate education, including prelicensing, exam prep, post-licensing, continuing education (CE), additional certifications, and professional development.
15% of Overall Score
Since there are many different types of learning styles, we rated the real estate schools according to the variety of course formats they have available: courses can be text-based, include on-demand webinars, video lessons, live instruction, or mobile-friendly.
20% of Overall Score
We checked to see how long each school provides access to your online courses, and favored schools with built-in note taking and progress tracking tools.
10% of Overall Score
It’s important to have access to customer support and tech support when you are taking an online course. We evaluated the hours and communication channels of each school, looking for the availability of live chat, phone support, and 24/7 email support.
5% of Overall Score
By reading through the additional features from each school as well as unbiased customer reviews, we rated each school’s standout features, value for the money, popularity, and ease of use.
Real Estate Express
PROS
- On-demand courses
- Includes instructor support and study aids like e-books and flashcards
- User-friendly dashboard
CONS
- Does not offer students live online courses or in-person classes
- Does not offer individual salesperson prelicensing courses
- Continuing education courses only available through sister site
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4.20 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Course offerings | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Course formats | 3.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Study aids and access | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Help and support | 4.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Rating | 4.25 | OUT OF | 5 |
Real Estate Express is a real estate education and exam prep company with California prelicensing education, a la carte practice exams, and license upgrades. This online real estate school is our top pick and great for most aspiring real estate agents because it offers the best value and widest variety of options for prelicensing course packages.
Real Estate Express Pricing
- Prelicensing Basics: $83.30
- Exam Preparation (includes prelicensing course): $157.50
- Exam Preparation Plus: $244.30
- Ultimate Learning: $314.30
- Exam Prep Master: $99, available for purchase separately
For a limited time, Real Estate Express is offering 25% off prelicensing education and exam prep products. Just use promo code “FSB25” at checkout.
Real Estate Express Features
- Wide variety of course options and features
- All courses include instructor support
- Upper-level packages include instructor support, real estate dictionary, e-books, question and answer (Q&A) sessions, and one-year professional development membership
- Exam prep option includes 10 practice exams and five final exams
- Pass or don’t pay guarantee
- Built-in note taking and progress tracking tools
- Student support is available during business hours
The CE Shop
PROS
- Affordable course options
- Over 25 individual course options
- 30-day money-back guarantee
CONS
- No exam prep courses or study aids
- No professional development courses
- No video or audio components
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.21 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Course offerings | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Course formats | 4.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Study aids and access | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Help and support | 4.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Rating | 4.63 | OUT OF | 5 |
The CE Shop is an online career school offering courses for California real estate agents. This provider stands out because of industry-specific continuing education (CE) courses available. For that reason, The CE Shop is best for real estate professionals looking for a variety of high-quality continuing education courses to maintain their license.
The CE Shop Pricing
- Prelicensing packages: Range from $129 to $169
- Agent and Broker CE packages: Range from $25 to $69
- Individual CE courses: Range from $19 to $39
- 5-day free trial
- Frequent discounts offered
- Money-back guarantee
The CE Shop Features
- Text-based courses
- Individual CE courses for first-time renewals and subsequent renewals for real estate agents and brokers
- 96% student satisfaction rate
- 91% student pass rate
- Mobile-friendly
- Includes progress tracking and study tips
- Customer support is available via phone, email, and online chat seven days a week
Aceable Agent
PROS
- 12 months of course access
- All course material is downloadable
- One of the most affordable options
CONS
- No California CE courses
- No prelicensing package variety
- No audio or video components
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 2.81 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Course offerings | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Course formats | 3.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Study aids and access | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Help and support | 4.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Rating | 3.38 | OUT OF | 5 |
Aceable Agent is a real estate education provider that offers California prelicensing and professional development training. It’s known for in-depth and easy-to-use course material, which makes Aceable Agent the best choice for aspiring real estate agents to get a pass guarantee.
Aceable Agent Pricing
- Salesperson prelicensing package: $119
- Training courses: Range from $79 to $247
Aceable Agent Features
- One year of course access
- Guarantee that you’ll pass the exam within three tries
- Instructors accessible via email during business hours
- Courses are in PDF form and are downloadable on any device
- Customer support available by phone, live chat, and email during business hours
Kaplan
PROS
- Live online and in-person courses
- A la carte exam prep study tools
- Largest variety of course options
CONS
- No professional development courses
- No tuition assistance or payment plans
- Student support team can be slow to respond
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 0.61 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Course offerings | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Course formats | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Study aids and access | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Help and support | 3.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Rating | 4.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
Kaplan is an online real estate education provider offering prelicensing and CE courses. In addition to standard on-demand courses, the school offers live online and classroom-based courses. These course delivery options make it best for students who prefer to learn with an instructor in real time.
Kaplan Pricing
- Prelicensing courses: Range from $179 to $949
- Individual courses: Range from: $93 to $459
- Exam prep courses: Range from $24 to $199
- Continuing education courses: Range from $19 to $144
- Practice question bank: $59
- Flashcards: $39
- On-demand math course: $29
- Terms and definitions audio guide: $24
Kaplan Features
- Only option on this list to offer live online and in-person courses
- Widest variety of course format options
- Widest variety of course types and prices
- Extensive study aids available for individual purchase
- Exam prep courses include two practice exams
- Real estate instructors available by email
- 24/7 tech support via phone and email
California Association of Realtors
PROS
- Affordable course and package options
- Free license renewal packages
- Extensive resources for agents and brokers
CONS
- Base package doesn’t include instructor support
- No audio or video components
- No note-taking or progress tracking features
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.64 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Course offerings | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Course formats | 2.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Study aids and access | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Help and support | 3.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Rating | 2.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
California Association of Realtors (CAR) is a state-wide association created to support California real estate professionals. It offers an affordable prelicensing package and one license renewal package for free. CAR is the best choice for aspiring and current real estate agents who want the most affordable course that meets the requirements.
California Association of Realtors Pricing
- Prelicensing packages: Range from $99 to $249
- Free license renewal package
- Free sales and marketing course for new agents
California Association of Realtors Features
- Upper-level prelicensing courses include instructor access, state exam prep module, state test simulator, and online flashcards
- Silver prelicensing package includes REALTOR Code of Ethics Course
- Wide range of designations and certifications available
- Extensive California real estate market data
- Free online webinars offered frequently
- Diversity and inclusion groups, courses, and communities
- Customer service available by phone and email
Allied Real Estate Schools
PROS
- 40+ live webinars per month
- Live instructor access
- Additional study aids
CONS
- No individual exam prep courses
- Money-back guarantee only available on upper-level plans
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 2.91 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Course offerings | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Course formats | 1.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Study aids and access | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Help and support | 4.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Rating | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 |
Allied Schools is a partner of Real Estate Express, which focuses on offering California real estate prelicensing and continuing education. With instructor-led live webinars and fast-track prelicensing courses, this is the best choice for aspiring agents who want the best chance to learn and take the exam quickly.
Allied Real Estate Schools Pricing
- Agent prelicensing courses: Range from $188 to $348
- Continuing education packages: $68.95
- CE membership: $92
- Individual CE courses: Range from $18 to $99
- Broker licensing courses: Range from $68 to $429
- Frequent discounts offered
- Pass or don’t pay guarantee with some packages
Allied Real Estate Schools Features
- All courses and packages include access to live webinars with instructors
- Courses include practice exams, downloadable e-books, digital flashcards, and a real estate dictionary
- Courses can be accessed online from any device
- 30 individual CE course topics
- Customer support is available by phone and email during business hours
Bottom Line
California online real estate courses can help you become an agent, a broker, maintain your license, or gain new skills. When deciding on which school is the best choice for you, make sure you look for an accredited real estate school that fits your goals and learning style.
After careful consideration, we determined that Real Estate Express is the best online course provider in California because it provides the most value at its price point.
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