How to get a District of Columbia real estate license
District of Columbia 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
- 60
- Broker requirement
- 135 hours pre-licensing education, 2 years' experience as licensed salesperson immediately preceding application, plus 3-hour DC Fair Housing and 3-hour Property Management courses
- Exam vendor
- PSI
- Exam structure
- Salesperson: General (national) portion 80 scored questions/120 minutes + State (DC) portion 30 scored questions/90 minutes, scored separately; Broker exam structured similarly (national + DC-specific)
- Passing
- 75% on both the National and State (DC) portions for the Broker exam; salesperson passing standard likely the same 75% cut score but not confirmed with full certainty — verify via PSI DC candidate handbook
Some District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia exam
PrepTempo's Salesperson and Broker courses cover the national portion — property, contracts, financing, agency, and practice — which is the same in District of Columbia and the larger share of the exam. Study your District of Columbia state-law portion from the commission on top of the core.
District of Columbia real estate license FAQ
How many hours are required for a District of Columbia real estate license?
60
What does the District of Columbia real estate salesperson exam cover?
Salesperson: General (national) portion 80 scored questions/120 minutes + State (DC) portion 30 scored questions/90 minutes, scored separately; Broker exam structured similarly (national + DC-specific)
How do I become a realtor in District of Columbia?
Complete required pre-license education (60), pass the licensing exam (PSI; Salesperson: General (national) portion 80 scored questions/120 minutes + State (DC) portion 30 scored questions/90 minutes, scored separately; Broker exam structured similarly (national + DC-specific)), meet any broker affiliation rules, and apply through the District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia real-estate commission. PrepTempo is not affiliated with any state commission or exam vendor.