California Real Estate License Requirement
Salesperson
To obtain a real estate salesperson license, you must first qualify for and pass a written examination. Those who pass the examination are provided a license application which must be submitted to and approved by the CalBRE.
This license is required of individuals who conduct licensed real estate activities as described in the Real Estate Law under the supervision of a licensed broker. A license may also be obtained by a person who does not immediately intend to be employed by a broker. However, a salesperson without an employing broker may not perform acts requiring a real estate license.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
- Age: You must be 18 years of age or older to be issued a license.
- Residence: Proof of Legal Presence in the United States is required. If you are not a California resident, see Out-of-State Applicants.“Important notice regarding changes in legal presence requirements for licensure effective January 1, 2016”
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Honesty: Applicants must be honest and truthful. Conviction of a crime may result in the denial of a license. Failure to disclose any criminal violation or disciplinary action in an applicant’s entire history may also result in the denial of a license. For further information, see Avoid Potential Denial of Your License Application (RE 229)
and Application Eligibility Information (RE 222) .
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Successful completion of three college-level courses is required to qualify for a real estate salesperson examination:
- Real Estate Principles, and
- Real Estate Practice, and
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One course from the following list:
- Real Estate Appraisal
- Property Management
- Real Estate Finance
- Real Estate Economics
- Legal Aspects of Real Estate
- Real Estate Office Administration
- General Accounting
- Business Law
- Escrows
- Mortgage Loan Brokering and Lending
- Computer Applications in Real Estate
- Common Interest Developments
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Members of the California State Bar are statutorily exempt from the college-level course requirements. Evidence of admission to practice Law in California must be furnished, such as a photocopy of both sides of a California State Bar membership card.
Also, applicants who submit evidence of having completed the eight statutory college-level courses required for the broker examination and license are eligible to take the salesperson examination without submitting further evidence of experience or education.
Continuing education offerings do not satisfy the college-level course requirements for this examination.
Courses must be three semester-units or four quarter-units at the college level. Courses must be completed at an institution of higher learning accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or by a comparable regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, or by a private real estate school which has had its courses approved by the California Real Estate Commissioner.
Courses completed through foreign institutions of higher learning must be evaluated by a foreign credentials evaluation service approved by the Bureau of Real Estate. See Examination Applicant Foreign Education Information (RE 223) .
Copies of official transcripts are generally acceptable evidence of completed courses. Transcripts of equivalent courses submitted as substitutes for the college-level courses listed above must be supported by an official course or catalog description in order to be evaluated for equivalency.
Continuing Education
Real estate salespersons renewing an original license for the first time, must complete 45 clock hours of CalBRE-approved continuing education consisting of:
- Five separate three-hour courses in the following subjects: Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, Fair Housing, and Risk Management; and
- A minimum of 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses; and
- The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses.
BROKERS RENEWING FOR THE FIRST TIME
Real estate brokers renewing an original license for the first time must complete 45 clock hours of CalBRE-approved continuing education consisting of:
- Five separate three-hour courses in the following subjects: Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, Fair Housing, and Risk Management;
- A minimum of 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses; and
- The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses.
BROKERS RENEWING FOR THE FIRST TIME (EFFECTIVE 1/1/2016)
Real estate brokers renewing an original license for the first time with an expiration date on or after 1/1/2016 or who are renewing on a late basis on or after 1/1/2016 must complete 45 clock hours of CalBRE-approved continuing education consisting of:
- Six separate three-hour courses in the following subjects: Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, Fair Housing, Risk Management, and Management and Supervision; and
- A minimum of 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses; and
- The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses.
SALESPERSONS AND BROKERS – SECOND & SUBSEQUENT RENEWALS
For subsequent renewals, all real estate brokers and salespersons must complete 45 clock hours of CalBRE-approved continuing education consisting of:
- Either 15 hours of continuing education courses in the following subjects: Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, Fair Housing, and Risk Management ORone eight-hour survey course that covers the five mandatory subjects (Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, Fair Housing, and Risk Management);
- A minimum of 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses; and
- The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses.
SALESPERSONS AND BROKERS – SECOND & SUBSEQUENT RENEWALS (EFFECTIVE 1/1/2016)
For subsequent renewals, all real estate brokers and salespersons with an expiration date on or after 1/1/2016 or who are renewing on a late basis on or after 1/1/2016 must complete 45 clock hours of CalBRE-approved continuing education consisting of:
- One eight-hour survey course covering the six mandatory subjects (Ethics, Agency, Fair Housing, Trust Fund Handling, Risk Management, and Management and Supervision) OR licensees can choose to take each of the mandatory subjects separately; and
- A minimum of 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses; and
- The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses.
EQUIVALENT ACTIVITY PETITION INFORMATION
Notice: Pursuant to Regulation 3011.4 you may be able to receive continuing education credit for courses that have not been approved by the CalBRE for continuing education (CE). Real estate related course work completed at a college or university, including junior colleges, that are not used to satisfy the prerequisite courses for the real estate salesperson or broker license may qualify for CE credit. See RE 332 for more information on the CE Equivalent Activity Petition Process.
