How to get a California real estate license
California real estate salesperson exam requirements: hours, vendor, national vs state portions, and how to prepare for the licensing exam — from the official commission.
- Salesperson hours
- 135 (three 45-hour courses: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, plus one elective)
- Broker requirement
- 8 statutorily-required college-level courses (far more than the 135 salesperson hours) + 2 years full-time licensed salesperson experience within last 5 years (or equivalent unlicensed experience, or a 4-year degree with RE major)
- Exam vendor
- State-administered by the California DRE itself, with PSI contracted for item development/gap analysis and as exam proctor
- Exam structure
- Salesperson exam: 150 questions, 3 hr 15 min. Exam covers both national real estate concepts and California-specific law; DRE uses raw scoring (not a scaled score) but does not clearly publish separately-scored national/state sub-scores the way PSI-vendor states do
- Passing
- 70% for Salesperson exam; 75% for Broker exam
Some California details were ambiguous on the official site when we researched this (July 2026) — double-check specifics with the commission before you rely on them.
Preparing for the California exam
PrepTempo's Salesperson and Broker courses cover the national portion — property, contracts, financing, agency, and practice — which is the same in California and the larger share of the exam. Study your California state-law portion from the commission on top of the core.
California real estate license FAQ
How many hours are required for a California real estate license?
135 (three 45-hour courses: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, plus one elective)
What does the California real estate salesperson exam cover?
Salesperson exam: 150 questions, 3 hr 15 min. Exam covers both national real estate concepts and California-specific law; DRE uses raw scoring (not a scaled score) but does not clearly publish separately-scored national/state sub-scores the way PSI-vendor states do
How do I become a realtor in California?
Complete required pre-license education (135 (three 45-hour courses: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, plus one elective)), pass the licensing exam (State-administered by the California DRE itself, with PSI contracted for item development/gap analysis and as exam proctor; Salesperson exam: 150 questions, 3 hr 15 min. Exam covers both national real estate concepts and California-specific law; DRE uses raw scoring (not a scaled score) but does not clearly publish separately-scored national/state sub-scores the way PSI-vendor states do), meet any broker affiliation rules, and apply through the California real estate commission. PrepTempo covers the national exam portion with free sample questions and free Chapter 1.
Official sources
Educational information only, researched July 2026 — not legal or licensing advice. Requirements change; confirm with the California real-estate commission. PrepTempo is not affiliated with any state commission or exam vendor.