If you are considering starting a real estate career in California. You will need to search for a California real estate license. To do California real estate license search, you must be at least 18 years old, complete the 135-hour pre-licensing education requirement with an approved school, be fingerprinted, and pass the California salesperson licensing exam. While the process to become a real estate agent is similar in most states. Each state has unique steps that must be compiled with. The steps that one needs to follow to become a California real estate agent are such as –
Step 1 – Meet the general requirement to prequalify
One of the crucial steps in getting a real estate license in California is passing the salesperson license exam. To qualify to take the California real estate exam. You need to follow these general requirements as listed by the DRE such as –
- Need to attain an age of at least 18 years of age
- Need to be a California resident
- Must be honest and truthful, as the conviction of a crime may outcome in the denial of a California real estate license. Failure to acknowledge any criminal violation or disciplinary action in an applicant’s entire history may also result in the denial of a real estate license.
Step 2 – Need to complete 135-hours of pre-licensing education
The state-required education courses for a California real estate license which are the combination of the following topics such as –
- Real estate principles (45 credit hours)
- Real estate practice (45 credit hours)
- 45 credit hours in an additional elective course as approved by the California Department of Real Estate
This is particularly crucial, as California requires you to take pre-licensing training from an approved course provider before you can even think about sitting for the exam. One can take pre-licensing training in California education both in-person and by way of real estate courses online.
Step 3 – Need to apply for the California salesperson exam
Once you have met the exam’s educational requirements, it is time to apply for the actual exam. You may apply for the salesperson examination by using the salesperson exam application or the combined salesperson examination and license application. It is highly recommended to choose for the combo application. The combined application endeavor you to apply for both the exam and license. One needs to pay all applicable fees at the same time. And if you have a clear criminal background, your real estate license will be issued immediately.
Once you have submitted your application, you need to wait around 4-6 weeks for your application to be processed. Once your application is approved, you will receive an examination schedule notice, allowing you to schedule a time for your examination. California has an e-licensing system that you will use to schedule your real estate examination and check on the status of your exam.
Step 4 – Need to pass the California salesperson licensing exam
During the real estate exam, you will be asked 150 multiple choice questions that cover California real estate laws, rules and regulations. You will be given 3 hours to complete the examination and need to score 70% or higher marks to pass the exam. This exam is qualifying in nature only, which means that a score is not reported unless you fail the test.
Step 5 – Need to find a sponsoring brokerage
At this point, it is crucial to note that to legally practice real estate in California. You will need to work under a supervising broker. Brokers are typically real estate companies who make sure that you are adhering to both legal and ethical standards in all interactions with clients and are liable for supervising their sales staff.
Step 6 – Need to complete your real estate license application
Once you have passed the exam, you will need to complete and submit the salesperson license application along with providing the applicable fees. As part of a background check, you will be required to be fingerprinted through a live scan fingerprint service provider in the state of California, which will customarily cost you anywhere between $70 and $80. Once you have completed the application for getting the California real estate license search, the Bureau of Real Estate will review your application for license approval.
Once your license has been endorsed, a copy will be provided to your sponsoring real estate broker. If you do not presently have a sponsoring broker. One gets a copy of the mail for the salesperson license with a non-working status.
Wrap Up
These are some of the steps by the benefit of which one can do a California real estate license search to get a real estate license in California.
