California is home to the world’s best companies and organizations, amenities, quality of life and an inviting culture which attracts buyers and investors from across the country.
Working in California real estate can be a lucrative profession, especially if you are someone who wants financial independence with professional autonomy.
Real estate agents in California can earn as high as $150K in annual income while enjoying a stable work-life balance and the freedom to find their own clients.
Click here to learn more about what it takes to start a prosperous career in California’s booming real estate landscape.
As a real estate agent, you will be responsible for working with clients and helping them buy and sell properties in CA.
Since California is home to some of the hottest real estate markets in the country such as – San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Beverly Hills among others, you can reap the benefits of the strong demand for residential and commercial properties.
However, to achieve this goal and unlock the benefits of working in real estate, you must prove your eligibility to work as a professional.
To do so, you must obtain a CA real estate license by meeting the various state and federal license requirements for aspiring professionals.
Getting a license requires you to complete a series of steps and if you are not sure about how to proceed, this article will answer all your questions.
After reading this article, you will have complete clarity on how to pursue a career in CA real estate and achieve your goal of working with clients.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
In California, you are required to fulfill a pre-established set of state laws and license requirements, in addition to the federal license regulations.
The Department of Real Estate (DRE) in California requires aspiring professionals to meet the minimum eligibility requirements to qualify for a salesperson or a broker’s license.
As per the DRE, you must meet the following requirements to prove your eligibility:
- Age: You must be 18 years of age or older
- Citizenship: You must be a legal resident of the state of California
- Education: You must have a high school degree or GED equivalent
If you fulfill the basic statutory requirements, you can proceed to complete the next steps.
California Pre License Education Requirements
Like other states, California also requires aspiring real estate agents and brokers to complete minimum education to qualify for a license.
In California, you must complete 135 hours of DRE approved pre license education, also known as qualifying education to become eligible for a salesperson license.
The purpose of pre license education is to give you the knowledge of real estate principles, practices and industry standards.
Additionally, you will also learn about your duties and responsibilities as a licensed professional and understand how to work with clients and represent their interests.
As a student, you have the choice to decide whether you want to learn in an in-person, real-world college environment or complete your pre license coursework from an online real estate school.
Generally, students prefer the convenience of online pre license courses as they can be completed from anywhere on any device which saves a lot of time and cost.
Passing the California Real Estate License Exam
After completing your education, you will be eligible to apply for the California salesperson license exam.
As per the DRE in CA, to obtain your salesperson license, you must pass the state license exam and prove your knowledge and competence.
The exam is a closed-book, multiple choice questions test which covers questions based on both state as well as federal topics.
The salesperson license test consists of 150 multiple choice questions and you will get 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete the questions.
You can schedule the exam at any of the state approved Pearson VUE centers in CA and to pass the test, you must score at least 75 percent or above,
Complete Background Verification
The California DRE requires aspiring real estate professionals to undergo a thorough background verification, before approving their application and proving good moral conduct.
The law requires you to submit an electronic scan of your fingerprints taken at a state approved live scan vendor to the department for review.
To complete this step, you will need to fill the Live Scan Service request form and pay a one time charge of $49 for the fingerprint verification fee.
After completing all the above steps, you can submit your license application to the DRE for review and approval.
Find Employer Sponsorship
If you complete all the steps discussed above successfully, you will receive your license within a few weeks.
However, to work with clients and earn commissions, you need to activate your license by submitting your employer sponsorship details.
In California, newly licensed salespersons are required to work under the supervision of state licensed brokers to learn the workings of the trade.
To complete this step, you must find a sponsoring broker or a brokerage firm who will be willing to hire you.