6 Best Online Real Estate Schools in California in 2023
This article is part of a larger series on How to Become a Real Estate Agent.
California requires a significant number of education hours to become a real estate agent or upgrade to a broker license. Thus, it’s necessary to find schools with the best online real estate courses and flexibility to fit your schedule and learning needs. The best online real estate schools in California offer high-quality education for aspiring agents and brokers through various course options, learning formats, and interactive materials.
We identified the six best online real estate schools in California based on pricing, features, reviews, and the quality of education.
- California Realty Training: Best California-specific licensing education for all stages of your real estate career
- Colibri Real Estate: Best for aspiring agents seeking a self-paced learning environment for prelicensing education
- Kaplan: Best for experienced agents looking to upgrade to a broker license
- The CE Shop: Best continuing education (CE) for agents and brokers who need to complete license renewal education
- California School of Real Estate: Best for aspiring agents needing a California-focused licensing exam guide and learning materials
- Aceable Agent: Best real estate license course in California for its text-based learning format for agents seeking their initial license or experienced agents who need CE
Best Online Real Estate Schools in California at a Glance
Schools | Education Provided & Starting Price | Learning Formats | Pass Guarantee | Customer Support |
---|---|---|---|---|
Prelicensing: $154 Broker licensing: $75 CE: $59 Exam prep: $50 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat | |
Prelicensing: $129 Broker licensing: $319 CE: $19 Exam prep: $99 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat | |
Visit Colibri Real Estate - Use Promo Code: FSB25 for 25% off | ||||
Prelicensing: $179 Broker licensing: $93 CE: $19 Exam prep: $29 |
| ✕ | Phone, email, and live chat | |
Visit Kaplan - Use Promo Code: Kapre5 for 5% off | ||||
Prelicensing: $139 Broker licensing: $115 CE: $19 Exam prep: $135 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat | |
Visit The CE Shop - Use Promo Code: FSB30 for 30% off | ||||
Prelicensing: $169 Broker licensing: $79 CE: $69.50 Exam prep: $79 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat | |
Prelicensing: $179 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat | |
Visit Aceable Agent - 25% off, no promo code required |
Things you need to know before enrolling for your California real estate license education: Along with education requirements, 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 help you get started.
California Realty Training: Best for All Stages of Licensing
Pros
- Accommodates multiple learning styles
- One year to complete coursework
- Affordable individual courses
- Pass the state exam guarantee
Cons
- Only a 14-day refund policy
- Videos don’t cover all of the textbooks
- No post-licensing
Our Expert Opinion on California Realty Training
California Realty Training is the best California online real estate school for its salesperson and broker prelicensing, continuing education, and exam prep tools. Students can meet all of their real estate licensing education requirements in one place through California Realty Training.
The school provides course formats to suit multiple learning styles, including livestream, self-paced, and on-demand programs. Students benefit from direct instructor assistance, and its courses can be taken on any device so that students can complete modules from anywhere there’s Wi-Fi access.
A walk-through of California Realty Training student’s dashboard (Source: California Realty Training)
- Accreditation: California Department of Real Estate (DRE).
- Refund/cancellation policy: Students have 14 days to cancel for a refund, less a $30 administration fee.
- Pass guarantee: A minimum score of 80% on five consecutive 150-question practice exams. You must take the state exam within five days from the last practice exam with a minimum score of 80%.
- Customizable e-books: Allows you to highlight, search, make notes, and draw.
- Job assistance: Provides student job assistance with select brokerages.
- Exam logs: Contains a score breakdown, helping students know which topics they should focus on.
California Realty Training has excellent reviews, with a score of 4.9 out of 5. Students raved about the instructors, especially the crash course review for exam prep. One student noted that he loved the platform’s setup and complete-as-you-go feature, which increased his confidence while taking the state exam.
On the other hand, one student wished that California Realty Training offered an in-person program rather than online and that they included an audio version of the book for students who prefer listening over reading. If you’re looking for study aids that include audio and video lessons, consider Colibri Real Estate.
Salesperson prelicensing education to become a real estate agent is provided in three tiered packages, each adding features as the price increases, and broker prelicensing is available as individual classes or one package. For students who need to renew their licensing, there are two CE packages for the same price, and the exam prep is offered as crash courses with online, self-paced, and livestream formats.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $154 to $399 |
|
Broker Prelicensing | $75 to $270 |
|
Continued Education | $59 |
|
Exam Prep | $50 to $175 |
|
Visit California Realty Training
Colibri Real Estate: Best for Self-paced Prelicensing Education
Pros
- Post-licensing resources through Career Hub
- Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee
- A variety of course formats
Cons
- No live instruction
- Pass guarantee is not in the Basic package
- No physical school to visit for support
Our Expert Opinion on Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate online real estate classes include livestream, on-demand, and self-paced to accommodate different learning needs. It claims its position as one of the best online California real estate schools for its self-paced real estate prelicensing classes, giving students the flexibility to work at their own pace and six months to complete.
Its CE packages are customizable and are offered through its partnership with McKissock Learning, a leading online continuing education program. With the Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee, if students don’t pass the licensing exam on the first try, Colibri will reimburse the original cost of either the prelicensing package or exam prep.
Real estate coaching program (Source: Colibri Real Estate)
- Accreditations: Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) and International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC).
- Refund/cancellation policy: Students have 30 days from purchase to cancel for a full refund.
- Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee: Send us your exam failure notice, and they will reimburse the original cost of a full prelicensing or exam prep package. Additional terms and conditions apply.
- Real estate coaching and training: Exclusive free career training and coaching through Buffini & Company.
- Smart Bites: Colibri Real Estate’s teaching methodology to aid students in knowledge retention.
- Learning Management System (LMS): Allows students to navigate their dashboard and track progress quickly.
- Course access: Enables students to extend their course access at a cost for up to 60 days.
Colibri Real Estate has a 4.1 out of 5 customer satisfaction rating. Students appreciated the flexibility of its self-paced online real estate courses and found them simple to follow and comprehend. According to one user, the representatives were helpful if you have questions, and students were assigned a teacher for specific real estate questions.
However, some users complained that the learning materials have many typos, differ from the final exam, and are outdated. It does not provide in-person training, and some people find it easier to grasp real estate concepts in a classroom setting. If that sounds like you, consider Kaplan, which includes livestream classes and interactive study groups in nearly all its packages.
Read how our experts feel about Colibri Real Estate in our Colibri Real Estate Review.
Prelicensing and exam prep offer tiered package pricing, with each upgrade packed with additional features. Continuing education can be taken as solo classes, or students can purchase a package or CE Plus membership.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $129 to $449 |
|
Broker Prelicensing | $319 to $399 |
|
Continued Education* | $19 to $99 |
|
Exam Prep | $99 to $219 |
|
*Offered through McKissock Learning
Kaplan: Best for Upgrading to a Broker License in California
Pros
- Multiple course formats
- Free course demo
- Variety of packages available, including individual broker courses
Cons
- Does not offer budget-friendly pricing
- Lacks 24/7 live customer service
- No pass guarantee or 1:1 coaching and training
Our Expert Opinion on Kaplan
Kaplan offers the best online real estate courses in California for students who want to upgrade to their broker license. Courses are available as livestream, on-demand videos, or self-paced online classes to support busy schedules and learning preferences.
Various course packages are offered, and students can combine classes and class formats to create a truly customized learning experience. Livestream classes allow California students to interact with others, providing their peers with an excellent networking opportunity while satisfying state licensing requirements.
Kaplan’s real estate online continuing education course demo (Source: Kaplan)
- Accreditations: ARELLO, IDECC, and DRE.
- Kaplan faculty: Includes practicing real estate brokers, attorneys, appraisers, mortgage experts, certified public accountants (CPAs), writers of real estate literature, and advisers on pending real estate legislation.
- Refund/cancellation policy: Eligible for a refund within 30 days of purchase.
- Virtual classroom exam proctoring: Allows students to take the final exam in Kaplan’s virtual classroom on the student’s LMS platform.
- Course access and extension policy: Allows students up to six-month course access and extend course up to 90 days for an additional fee.
Kaplan has a 4.5 out of 5 customer satisfaction rating. Multiple reviewers praised the expertise of the instructors, stating that the multiple memory aides, explanations, and analogies are captivating. They said it helped them retain the necessary points to pass their state exam.
One student was unhappy with the platform and said it had glitches that can reset what you’re working on. Another student reported that the curriculum doesn’t match what is on their state exam. Another student stated that the courses are expensive for what you receive. Check out Colibri Real Estate or The CE Shop if you want lower pricing.
Read how our experts feel about Kaplan in our Kaplan Review.
Kaplan offers complete 135-hour salesperson prelicensing courses with tiered pricing and 360-hour broker prelicensing programs. It provides numerous continuing education choices in various course formats and six exam prep options, each for the salesperson or broker prelicensing practice.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $179 to $499 |
|
Broker Prelicensing | $93 to $839 |
|
Continued Education | $19 to $144 |
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Exam Prep | $29 to $199 |
|
The CE Shop: Best Continuing Education for License Renewal
Pros
- CE for every stage of licensing
- Self-paced format
- Student forum
Cons
- No livestream or on-demand video learning format
- No direct instructor access
- No 1:1 coaching, training, or mobile app
Our Expert Opinion on The CE Shop
The CE Shop is the best online real estate school in California for its customizable education. It provides self-paced courses via The CE Shop’s LEAP 2.0 platform, which can be accessed 24/7. It includes interactive activities and a student forum for live conversations with other course participants.
It offers salesperson and broker prelicensing and first, second, and subsequent customizable continuing education when students are ready to renew their licenses. Its cutting-edge exam prep tools, with its Exam Prep Edge, help students ace their prelicensing exam. It is only offered as a self-paced study program, but students have indirect access to instructors for guidance.
The CE Shop Exam Prep Edge (Source: The CE Shop)
- Accreditation: ARELLO.
- Refund/cancellation policy: No refunds for any reason.
- Custom LEAP 2.0 platform: Provides intuitive dashboards that gauge students’ competency.
- Free trial: Five-day free trial on selected prelicensing courses.
- Exam prep edge: Includes a free initial assessment and complete exams.
- State-approved curriculum: Developed by highly experienced and knowledgeable real estate professionals.
Users find The CE Shop platform intuitive and easy to navigate, and students love the self-paced class format. Another user noted that the course content and setup are conducive to a practical learning experience. As a result, The CE Shop acquired a 4.2 out of 5 customer review rating.
Other students reported having issues with customer service communication. A student claimed that the support team hadn’t responded when she asked for assistance and asserted that the platform deleted many exams she took even though she bought extensions. If you’re looking for a school with highly rated customer service representatives and access to online trainers, check out California Realty Training.
Read how our experts feel about The CE Shop in The CE Shop Review.
The CE Shop salesperson prelicensing courses are offered as four different tiered packages, each adding features as the price increases. Its broker prelicensing is provided as three 115-hour packages, two of which are mandatory. Its continuing education options include first, second, and subsequent renewal with customizable packages or individual classes. The Exam Prep Edge is available for both salesperson and broker prelicensing.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $139 to $469 |
|
Broker Prelicensing | $115 to $135 |
|
Continued Education | $19 to $75 |
|
Exam Prep | $135 |
|
California School of Real Estate: Best California-focused Licensing
Pros
- Flexible class hours
- Affordable course pricing
- 99% pass rate
- Guaranteed career placement
Cons
- No post-licensing courses
- Livestream learning format not available
- Does not offer interactive study groups or career assistance
Our Expert Opinion on California School of Real Estate
California School of Real Estate offers the best California-focused real estate license courses to prepare students for the salesperson and brokers exams. Each self-paced course can be completed in as little as 2.5 weeks. If students haven’t taken the course finals by the end of 7.5 weeks, they can take all three finals at once within a year from enrollment.
Its courses are self-paced and on-demand, with access to instructors for assistance. The program is accessible on any device and offers 24/7 customer support by phone, email, and chat. Its “POWERPREP ONLINE” exam prep videos allow students to fast forward, rewind, or view any video portion as needed.
Accessibility from all devices (Source: California School of Real Estate)
- Accreditation: DRE.
- Refund/cancellation policy: Proof of cancellation must be received within 10 days from the date the returned materials are received. When the school receives the materials, the course fee paid will be refunded within seven days, minus a 20% fee. Damaged materials will result in further deductions.
- Money-back guarantee: Provides a 200% double your money-back guarantee if you fail the exam.
- Accessibility: California School of Real Estate interface is available on all devices.
- Instructor access: Provides a free consultation with the head instructor and one-on-one coaching and training.
- Add hardcopy versions: Includes an exam review guide booklet, practice testing booklet with 900 Q&As, and lightning review CD.
California School of Real Estate has a 4.8 out of 5 rating, showing that users are satisfied and love the highly experienced and knowledgeable instructors. Students also praise the affordable course pricing and flexible class hours that enable them to study anywhere, at any time.
Some students are unhappy, stating that the materials are outdated and don’t match the exam. Other students say that they wished the programs had more comprehensive features. If you wish to have all the features mentioned earlier, consider Kaplan for its comprehensive licensing courses, learning formats, and study aids.
There are three single-priced options: salesperson prelicensing, continuing education, and exam prep. The broker prelicensing is offered as individual classes with decreasing prices as you buy more classes (up to eight).
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $169 |
|
Broker Prelicensing | $79 to $320 |
|
Continued Education | $69.50 |
|
Exam Prep | $79 |
|
Visit California School of Real Estate
Aceable Agent: Best Self-paced & Text-based Prelicensing & CE Courses
Pros
- Budget-friendly pricing
- Career mentors available seven days a week
- Downloadable PDF format
Cons
- No comprehensive post-licensing and continuing education courses
- No interactive study groups
- No package variety or individual courses available for purchase
Our Expert Opinion on Aceable Agent
Aceable Agent is one of the best California online real estate schools for self-paced and text-based prelicensing courses. It’s packed with information and designed for students who need to fit learning around busy schedules. It includes real-world scenarios and practical coursework that real estate licensees can apply daily in their real estate careers.
It provides comprehensive and affordable prelicensing education that includes instructor support. Two of its three packages offer a no-pass guarantee and a real estate exam prep book. Its top package includes private tutoring, live webinars, and a weekly Q&A.
Example of Aceable Agent pop-up questions (Source: Aceable Agent)
- Accreditation: DRE,
- Refund/cancellation policy: 30 days from the date of purchase.
- Interactive learning: Includes advanced video technology that keeps students engaged and helps them retain information better,
- Mastery tracking feature: Tracks course progress and identifies areas for improvement,
- Slide-based lessons: Allows students to move through the materials quickly, answer course questions, watch videos, and pause when necessary,
- Student support: Provides a student concierge team and private tutoring,
Aceable Agent has a 4.9 out of 5 rating for the organization and convenience of courses. Customers liked that they could be completed anywhere. One student said that Aceable Agent provides a highly engaging and stimulating presentation of course material, which helped them keep their focus.
A few customers didn’t enjoy the supplemental materials included in the course. One user reported that the review handouts did not cover some vital material for the exam, so if you’re looking for more robust downloadable content, look at The CE Shop.
Read how our experts feel about Aceable Agent in our Aceable Agent Review.
Aceable Agent offers three tiered prelicensing courses. Its simple and affordable packages provide three options, including the 135-hour courses to fulfill California real estate prelicensing requirements.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $179 to $399 |
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How We Evaluated the Best Online Real Estate Schools in California
The best online real estate schools in California help agents complete 135 hours of prelicensing education, 45 hours of continuing education (CE), and 360 hours of broker coursework approved by the California Department of Real Estate (DRE). We examined course features, cost, type of education, support, and customer reviews to rank the best online real estate schools in California.
Through our research, we found California Realty Training, with a score of 4.88 out of 5, to be the overall best California real estate license course provider. It earned this score due to its variety in course formatting, reasonable pricing, and career assistance.
To arrive at our unbiased score of the best real estate courses in California, we evaluated the following criteria:
25% of Overall Score
Consists of various formatting and learning styles for each course to meet the specific needs of the agent as well as ease of course accessibility.
20% of Overall Score
Pricing is based on the cost and availability of pre- and post-licensing, continuing education courses, and exam prep for each online institution.
15% of Overall Score
The availability of each level of education for different stages of licensure. This would include pre- and post-licensing, continuing education courses, broker prelicensing, and exam prep.
15% of Overall Score
Extending services past licensure, such as coaching and training and career assistance. Also, whether the provider offers pass or refund guarantees for its courses.
10% 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.
5% of Overall Score
We looked into the convenience and attainability of customer service for technical support and instructor assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
California real estate school costs depend on which program you choose and the features it offers to its students. For prelicensing education, you can expect to pay from $129 to $499.
An online real estate course can be completed in under a month, depending on the type of learning you choose. If you take scheduled in-person or livestream courses, it will depend on the course schedule. Online self-study courses can be completed at your own pace.
Many online real estate prelicensing courses require a minimum score of 70% on the final practice exam to receive your completion certificate. Some may require a score of 80% or higher. This is for your benefit so that you will be prepared for the state exam.