With all the magnificent properties across Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Long Beach, Malibu, and Palm Springs, it’s easy to get excited about a real estate career in California. The process of getting a California real estate license is more straightforward than you might think, which means you’re only a few months away from a flexible career with excellent income potential. Follow these four easy steps, and you’ll be launching your California real estate career in no time.
How to Become a Real Estate Agent in California
There are four steps in the process to become a real estate agent in California. To be eligible for a license, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a Social Security number or an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN)
Wondering if getting your license is the right move? Check out this e-book from Colibri Real Estate to learn more about making the switch.
Let’s explore the four easy steps and then we’ll answer frequently asked questions like “How long does it take to become a real estate agent in California?”
1. Complete a 135-hour Prelicensing Course
To become a real estate agent in California, you need to complete 135 course hours through a state-approved real estate school. Your classes will cover the following:
- Legal aspects of real estate
- Real estate principles
- Real estate practice
You’ll need the help of a highly rated California real estate school to get through this weighty material. Most people choose a real estate school based on the cost and the educational format of the course. Here are the most popular options.
In-person Classes
Wherever you live in California, you should be able to find a real estate school that meets in person during regularly scheduled sessions.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Livestream Classes
These classes occur at scheduled times and are broadcast over Zoom (or another video conferencing tool). If you prefer to access your pre-license classes online, but you enjoy a live class that takes place in real time, we recommend Allied Real Estate Schools.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At-Your-Own-Pace Online Classes
Online real estate classes are extremely popular for those wanting to become real estate agents in California. The course material may be presented in a series of slides, videos, and interactive content.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If completing online classes appeals to you, we recommend Aceable Agent. Aceable Agent is a favorite in the online real estate education space because of their self-paced courses that you can consume on your mobile device. It’s the go-to school for aspiring California agents who are on the go.
6 Best Online Real Estate Schools in California (CA) in 2024
2. Apply for & Pass the California Real Estate Exam
Cost:
$60
Time to Complete:
3 hours
Format:
Computer-based, 150 multiple-choice questions
Bring to the Testing Center:
Two valid forms of ID
Passing Grade:
70%
The next step is to complete the California Department of Real Estate’s Salesperson Examination Application form. The form asks for your address, Social Security number (or ITIN), and driver’s license number, so make sure you have those handy.
There’s a $60 fee for your exam application. You’ll need to wait for your application to be processed to receive the date, time, and location of your exam (or you can check the box asking to schedule the test on your own).
The California real estate exam testing sites are located in the following cities:
- Los Angeles
- Fresno
- Oakland
- Sacramento
- San Diego
You should arrive 30 minutes early at the testing site. Visit the State of California’s Department of Real Estate page to review the types of government-issued identification they will accept, and their lengthy list of items you’re prohibited from bringing to the exam room (including common items like calculators, pens, and cell phones).
After completing the multiple-choice exam, you’ll immediately learn whether you passed or failed. If you don’t pass, you’ll be given a detailed score report that will help you prepare for the retake. You can retake the exam as many times as you’d like within two years following the date you sent in your original exam application.
Free Real Estate Practice Exam + 7 Hacks to Help You Ace Your Licensing Test
3. Join a California Real Estate Brokerage
The State of California requires that you work under a broker after passing the real estate salesperson exam. A broker has received additional training, has worked successfully in the industry for a minimum period of time, and has passed the broker’s license exam. Finding a broker to work under will feel like applying for a job.
In your broker interviews, you’ll want to ask about the split (or how you and the brokerage will divide the commissions). You’ll find that some brokerages will ask for a 50-50 split on commissions. Usually, brokerages that offer an even split will not charge monthly desk fees.
As a commissioned salesperson, your income entirely depends on your abilities and effort. Some brokerages may offer you 70% of your commissions, which may rise to 100% after you’ve met a specific sales goal (or a cap) for the year. It takes time to launch your new business, so some new agents choose to start part time so they can still bring in additional revenue as they’re learning the ropes.
Can You Be a Part-time Real Estate Agent? (+ Free Guide & Videos)
4. Complete the Licensing Process
You’ll need to complete the California License Application Form to get licensed as a real estate agent in California. The form asks for additional background information and requires a $245 fee. You’ll also need to locate and visit a live scan fingerprint service provider as a part of your background check, which costs an additional $45.
Then, you wait for your license application to be processed. The State of California publishes the current wait times on their website. While you’re waiting for the wheels of bureaucracy to turn, you can set up your social media accounts to promote your new business and research how other agents have succeeded in this exciting industry.
How to Become a Successful Real Estate Agent (6 Simple Strategies)
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in California?
It costs approximately $800 to $1,200 to get your real estate license in California, including your prelicensing education. Some of the costs are fixed, such as the state’s licensing and exam fees, while others vary.
While you don’t need a college degree to become a real estate agent in California, you must complete a state-specific licensing process. The price of the required 135-hour prelicensing courses (and optional exam prep materials) will vary depending upon the provider you choose.
| Prelicensing Classes (135 hours) | Starting at $179 (through Aceable Agent) |
| California Real Estate License Exam Fee | $60 |
| License Fee | $245 |
| Fingerprinting Fee | $45 |
| NAR Membership | $150 |
| MLS Membership | $144 – $542 (CRMLS) |
| Total Costs | $785 – $1,200 |
(Sample California real estate license costs as of May 2023)
Click on any Aceable Agent link on our website and save 25% off the cost of your prelicensing education.
How Much Do Agents in California Make?
According to Indeed, real estate agents make an average of $103,483 in California.
Keep in mind that real estate agents don’t make a salary—they’re paid solely on commissions. However, since the prices of California homes are some of the highest in the country, you might not have to sell too many to make a comfortable living.
California Housing Prices
Your commission is based on the sales price of a home. Here are some of the average home prices in each region of the state.
Average California Home Prices by Region & Typical Commissions per Sale
| Region | ||
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Bay Area | ||
| San Francisco (proper) | ||
| Napa | ||
| Los Angeles | ||
| Orange County | ||
| San Bernardino | ||
| San Diego | ||
| Monterey | ||
| Santa Barbara |
(Source: Zillow Home Values, May 2023)
FAQs
Still have questions? Get answers to common questions about how to become a real estate agent in California below.
Is the California real estate exam hard?
The California real estate exam pass rate was about 58% in the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the last year that the state reported this data. That means that nearly half of the people who took the test didn’t pass. This illustrates how important it is to study for the exam.
What if I have a real estate license from another state?
California does not have reciprocity with any other state that would allow you to skip any of the requirements to obtain a California real estate license.
However, if your out-of-state real estate school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or a comparable regional accrediting agency, you might be able to use some of those credits toward your prelicensing education requirements.
On the other hand, if you have your real estate license in California, you can work as an agent in one of these states without going through the entire licensing process:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- Virginia
- Washington
[Related article: Real Estate License Reciprocity & Portability: A State-by-State Guide)
How long does it take to become a real estate agent in California?
It takes about four months to become a California real estate agent, depending upon the amount of time you need to complete the prelicensing classes and how much of a backlog there is in the licensing office.
Can I get my California real estate license online?
Unfortunately, you’ll need to go to one of the exam testing sites to complete your California real estate salesperson exam. But the good news is that you can complete the required 135-hour classwork from the comfort of home.
What are the pros & cons of becoming a real estate agent in California?
For many people, the ups and downs of a real estate career and the fluctuating income can be stressful. Unlike a salaried position, it requires careful planning, budgeting, and financial management.
However, there are many upsides to working as a commissioned real estate professional. Having a flexible schedule is a big trade-off for many people who gravitate to this career, in addition to having a huge earning potential.
While you may have to give up some nights and most weekends, you’ll earn commission on every property that you help your clients buy, sell, or lease, and you’ll be helping people make one of the most significant financial decisions of their lives.
Here’s what real estate agent Jon Gomez of Fast Real Estate in the San Francisco Bay Area had to say about the professional’s biggest challenge, and why it’s essential to keep a positive attitude:
“If I had to pick one thing as the most difficult part of becoming a real estate agent, it would be maintaining faith in yourself that you’re going to be successful. Faith that you’re on the right path, and that the actions you’re taking every day will lead to that success. So much of what we do doesn’t show results in the short term, and it can be easy to veer off course, let doubt creep in, or talk yourself out of the career you knew you would thrive in. Even years down the road, after experiencing success, I sometimes still find myself turning to that blind faith to get me through the valleys in between the peaks.”
More Career Resources From The Close
Subscribe to our newsletter and join our Facebook Mastermind Group. You’ll get the latest news, actionable real estate strategies, and insight from (and for) the world’s best real estate agents.
