In this guide you’ll learn all the details you need to know to get your license and become a real estate agent in California.
You’ll learn the basic real estate licensing requirements in California, information about the exam including pass rates and test prep, reciprocity rules, county by county breakdowns of the most expensive real estate in California, and more.
Okay, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s start at the beginning.
Basic California Real Estate Licensing Requirements
Getting a real estate license in California is a little tougher compared to other states. You need a total of 135 classroom hours of commission-approved pre-licensing courses. In comparison, to get a license in Florida, real estate licenses require applicants to complete only 63 hours of courses. Here’s a quick breakdown of the real estate licensing requirements in California.
Pre-licensing Courses Required in California
In order to get a real estate license in California, you will need to complete 135 hours of real estate pre-licensing courses that will cover:
- Real Estate Principles (45 hours)
- Real Estate Practice (45 hours)
- California Business Law and Real Estate Math (45 hours)
California Real Estate Exam Information
While the California Real Estate License exam has a higher passing rate (49-60 percent) than other states, you should still take studying for the test seriously.
If you’re looking for help in studying for the test, we recommend Real Estate Exam Scholar’s Exam prep course. They offer top-notch exam prep for an affordable price. Even better, they also offer a money back guarantee if you don’t pass on the first try.
Visit Real Estate Exam Scholar
California Pre-Licensing Exam Questions
- Total of 150 multiple-choice questions (to be completed in 3 hours and 15 minutes)
What to Bring to the Exam
- 2 valid forms of identification with signatures. One ID must be a government-issued Photo ID
- Confirmation number when the test reservation was made.
Passing Score
You must earn a score of 70% or higher to pass the California Real Estate Exam
Pass Rate
49-60%
California Real Estate License fee
$245
Exam Fee in California
$60.00
Education Requirements
You need to have at least a high school diploma or GED in order to apply for a license in California.
Age
Applicants must be at least 18 of age or older
Residency
Any U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted alien can apply.
Exemptions
Any active member of the California Bar who is in good standing and qualified under the real estate license law is exempt from taking the real estate prerequisite course.
Criminal Background
Applicants who have an existing criminal record may still apply for a real estate license. It would be best if applicants were to include their criminal history along with the necessary documents related to the conviction, if any, on their application. After submitting your fingerprints, your application will be forwarded to the Division of Criminal Justice Information Systems and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Upon investigation, each applicant will be considered on their own merits.
Processing Time
Due to mandatory wait periods, it takes 5-6 months from education to license in hand.
Online Real Estate Schools in California
While taking your real estate pre-licensing course in person can be helpful, online courses are much cheaper and offer the exact same courses. Career WebSchool is a solid choice.
California Real Estate License Reciprocity and Portability
If you plan on working in states besides California, then you need to know the real estate license reciprocity and portability laws for California.
- Reciprocity: California doesn’t have reciprocity with any other state.
- Portability: Physical Location
To learn more about real estate license portability in California, check out our guide on real estate license reciprocity and portability here.
How to Choose the Right Real Estate Company to Work For in California
Let’s face it. Choosing the right brokerage to work for in any state isn’t easy. In order to make your choice a little bit easier, check out our in-depth guide on choosing the right real estate company to work for.
Once you’ve finished reading the guide, check out our buyer’s guide comparing Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Century 21 here.
If you’re curious about which California brokerages are the most successful, check out Real Trends list of the top real estate brokerages in California for 2017 below.
San Francisco
| Real Estate Brokerage | Sales Volume (2016) |
|---|---|
| Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage/Sotheby’s International Realty/Climb/NRT | $21,741,542,000 |
| Alain Pinel Realtors | $11,179,788,519 |
| Pacific Union International -John Aaroe Group | $7,648,235,565 |
| Intero Real Estate/HomeServices | $6,537,708,779 |
| Sereno Group | $2,801,000,000 |
Los Angeles
| Real Estate Brokerage | Sales Volume (2016) |
|---|---|
| Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage/Sotheby’s International Realty/NRT | $15,360,816,000 |
| Keller Williams - Forward Management | $5,475,318,335 |
| Rodeo Realty | $4,997,890,000 |
| First Team Real Estate | $4,845,344,000 |
| RE/MAX Estate Properties | $4,452,000,000 |
*Data from Real Trends Market Leaders 2017
California Counties with Highest Average Listing Price and Highest Median Sales Price 2017
Let’s face it, higher listing prices mean higher commission checks! To get a sense of which counties offer the best opportunities for big bucks in California check out this sales data from Trulia’s California home price page below (week ending June 21):
| County | Average List Price | Median Sales price |
|---|---|---|
| San Mateo | $2,198,355 | $1,172,500 |
| Santa Barbara | $1,862,255 | $508,500 |
| Marin | $1,848,557 | $970,000 |
| San Francisco | $1,568,399 | $1,239,500 |
| Santa Clara | $1,277,434 | $155,000 |
| Monterey | $1,255,111 | $542,500 |
| Orange | $1,110,097 | $666,000 |
| Los Angeles | $1,074,760 | $553,500 |
| San Diego | $906,907 | $529,000 |
| Ventura | $888,496 | $560,750 |
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