Steps to Become a San Diego Licensed Real Estate Agent

Steps to Become Licensed

Below are the steps to obtain your real estate sales agent license using a combined exam and license application. This is the fastest and most efficient way to obtain your license. For an alternative method that is slower but requires less money upfront, see Separate Exam and License.

1. EDUCATION: 3 COURSES REQUIRED

3 courses are required: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice and Legal Aspects of Real Estate (elective).

2. STUDY YOUR MATERIALS

You have 1 year from enrollment to complete each course.
To check your comprehension, take the quizzes at the back of the books.

3. PASS YOUR COURSE EXAMS

All course exams are open book.
Each course exam has 100 multiple-choice questions.
You have 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete each exam.
You have unlimited exam attempts during your 1-year enrollment period.
60% passing score for each exam.
Upon passing your exam, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. Retain this for your state exam application.

4. GET YOUR FINGERPRINTS SCANNED

Fill out and sign 3 copies of RE 237 (Live Scan Service Request).
Hand all 3 copies of RE 237 to a Live Scan service provider. See a Google Map of local Live Scan service providers, or see a list of locations from the CA State Attorney General’s website.
Pay the Live Scan Rolling Fee and the fingerprint processing fee to the Live Scan service provider.

5. APPLY FOR THE AGENT STATE EXAM AND LICENSE

Examination and License applications can be submitted ONLINE through eLicensing or by MAIL.
Typical DRE processing time: 3-8 weeks.

IF APPLYING ONLINE:

Learn about the Salesperson Examination and License Application Process.
Then go to the eLicensing online system and select “Applying for an exam or exam/license and don’t have an eLicensing account.”
Create a user profile and continue with the Online Application process.

IF APPLYING THROUGH MAIL:

- - Fill out and sign RE 435 (Salesperson Exam/License Application).
  - Pay the exam and licensing fee by check payable to the “Department of Real Estate” or by credit card using – RE 909 (Credit Card Payment).
  - Mail RE 435, 1 copy of RE 237, the exam and licensing fee payment, and copies of your 3 Course Certificates of Completion to:

Department of Real Estate
Examination Section
PO Box 137001
Sacramento, CA 95813-7001

Once your application has been processed and all qualifications have been met, you will receive an e-mail notifying you that you may schedule your exam date through the DRE eLlcenslng system dre.ca.gov. You may check for available State Exam Dates.

6. PREPARE FOR THE STATE EXAM

- - Attend a live State Exam Prep course (not required but highly recommended):
    - Review your three textbooks
    - Review the State Exam Prep Class handout
    - Review State Exam Study Guide
    - Take Practice Exams
    - Review Flashcards
    - Review terms and definitions
    - Review math study guides
    - Review exam taking tips

7. TAKE YOUR STATE EXAM

- - Check out information for the San Diego Electronic Exam Center.
  - Take only your current government-issued photo ID into the testing room – nothing else.
    You will receive your exam results immediately on completion.
  - After you have passed the examination, your license number will be issued at the exam site.
  - License certificates can be printed online using the DRE eLlcenslng system.
  - Now CELEBRATE!!!

Separate Exam and License

Below are the steps to obtain your real estate sales agent license using separate exam and license applications. This method is slower, but requires less money upfront by not including the license fee with the exam fee. For a faster method of obtaining a license, see the “Steps to Become Licensed” section.

1. EDUCATION: 3 COURSES REQUIRED

3 courses are required: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice and Legal Aspects of Real Estate (elective).

2. STUDY YOUR MATERIALS

You have 1 year from enrollment to complete each course.
To check your comprehension, take the quizzes at the back of the books.

3. PASS YOUR COURSE EXAMS

All course exams are open book.
Each course exam has 100 multiple choice questions.
You have 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete each exam.
You have unlimited exam attempts during your 1-year enrollment period.
60% passing score for each exam.
Upon passing your exam, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. Retain this for the future license exam application.

4. APPLY FOR THE AGENT STATE EXAM

You may either:
- Apply to take the State Exam first and on passing the exam, apply for the license, or
- Apply for the State Exam and license at the same time to cut processing time. See
  “Steps to Become Licensed” – Combined License and Exam Application for more details.
DRE processing time: 3-8 weeks.
After you apply, you have 2 years to pass the State Exam
Fill out and sign RE 400A (Salesperson Examination Application).
Pay the exam fee by check or credit card using – RE 909 (Credit Card Payment).
Mail RE 400A, your payment for the fee, and copies of your 3 Course Certificates of Completion to:

Department of Real Estate
Examination Section
PO Box 137001
Sacramento, CA 95813-7001

You will receive an email or letter from DRE clearing you for the State Exam. Schedule your State Exam date and location by registering for an eLicensing account at dre.ca.gov. You may check for available State Exam Dates.

5. PREPARE FOR THE STATE EXAM

Attend a live State Exam Prep course (not required but highly recommended):
- Review your three textbooks
- Review the State Exam Prep Class handout
- Review State Exam Study Guide
- Take Practice Exams
- Review Flashcards
- Review terms and definitions
- Review math study guides
- Review exam-taking tips

6. TAKE YOUR STATE EXAM

Take only your current government-issued photo ID into the testing room – nothing else.
You will receive your exam results immediately on completion.

7. GET YOUR FINGERPRINTS SCANNED

Fill out and sign 3 copies of RE 237 (Live Scan Service Request).
Hand all 3 copies of RE 237 to a Live Scan service provider.
Pay the Live Scan Rolling Fee and the fingerprint processing fee to the Live Scan service provider.

8. APPLY FOR YOUR LICENSE

DRE processing time: 3-8 weeks.
You have 1 year after passing the State Exam to apply for your license.
DRE will send an RE 202 (Salesperson License Application) to you for completion.
Send the completed RE 202, one copy of RE 237, and pay by check or credit card using – RE 909 (Credit Card Payment), to:
Department of Real Estate
Examination Section
PO Box 137002
Sacramento, CA 95813-7002
An e-mail will be sent to you once your license has been Issued. License certificates can be printed online using the DRE eLlcenslng system.
Now CELEBRATE!!!

What if I Don't Pass?

What if I Don’t Pass The State Exam?

If you do not pass the State Exam with a 70% or greater, you may apply to retake the examination.

Apply to retake the State Exam using the eLicensing online system

You may attempt the State Exam an unlimited number of times during the two-year period following the date of filing your original application.

The cost to retake the State Exam is the same cost as the original attempt.

Tip: You will be informed of your final score and the percentage of questions answered correctly across each of the seven topical areas covered on the State Exam. Use this feedback to focus your retest preparation on the areas where you obtained the weakest scores.