Educational Requirements
To qualify for a real estate license the candidate requires to take three courses namely the Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice and one additional course before the candidate can take the licensing exam. Some options for the additional course are Real Estate Appraisal, Real Estate Management, and Real Estate Finance. The courses must be college level from an accredited school.
Once the candidate passes the exam conducted by the Department of Real Estate for the State of California, he can apply for his license. This application for the license includes a complete background check by the Department of Justice.
California Real Estate License Types
The State of California recognizes three basic real estate licenses
- Real Estate Salesperson License
- Real Estate Brokers License
- Real Estate Corporation License
Real Estate Salespersons License
To qualify for a salesperson license the candidate must be over 18 years of age, a legal resident of the United States with no criminal record. Fingerprints and a $56 fingerprint fee are also needed. No prior experience is required for a salespersons license, but the candidate is required to complete a 3-semester unit or four quarter unit course in Real Estate Principles before taking the licensing exam. The candidate should apply by mail to the Department of Real Estate, California for the salesperson exam and must submit a completed salesperson exam application form and a check of $25 payable to the DRE.
Once the candidate passes the exam the necessary forms are sent to the candidate to receive the license.
The additional two courses must be completed within 18 months of issue of the license.
Real Estate Brokers License
An applicant for a real estate brokers license must be over 18 years of age, provide proof of legal residence in the United States, a fingerprinting fee of $56 and fingerprints. Out of State applicants must file Consent to Service of Process (RE 234) with the DRE. Candidates for a real estate brokers license also need a minimum of 2 full years, full time during the past five years as a real estate salesperson.
Applying to brokers license required eight approved college level courses Continuing courses do not satisfy this particular requirement. These courses must be of 3 semester units or 4 quarter units and must be completed before appearing for the brokers exam.
Real Estate Corporation License
A Corporation can be licensed as a real estate broker through one or more of its officers who are brokers or have qualified for a broker’s license prior to receipt of application. All activities of the officers under this license must be performed only on behalf of the Corporation.
The officer is required to have completed all requirements needed for a broker’s license. For an appropriate fee the license issued to a Corporations designated officer entitles the officer to conduct licensed business on behalf of the Corporation.
Requirement for a Corporation Brokers License
- Completed Corporation License Application
- Corporation Background Statement (RE 201)
- A Live Scan Service Request (RE 237)
- Certificate of Status or Articles of Incorporation
- Branch Office Application (RE 203)
- Certified Copy of Fictitious business address.
California Real Estate License Renewal
A license needs to be renewed four years after it has been issued, taking into account new regulations passed by the California Department of Real Estate (DRE). For a real estate license renewal the licensee must fulfill the continuing educational requirement. A special form confirming the attendance of the licensee at the required courses must accompany the real estate license renewal application.
First Renewal
A real estate salesperson renewing his license for the first time after issue should complete four separate 3-hour courses one in each of the mandatory subjects, namely ethics, agency, trust fund handling and fair housing.
Thus a total of 12 hours of continuing education is required to renew a real estate salespersons license.
A real estate broker renewing his license for the first time after issue of the license should have completed 45 hours of continuing education during the previous 4 years.
The 45 hours are divided as:
- 12 hours of mandatory courses consisting of 4 separate 3-hour courses in each of the mandatory subjects.
- 18 hours of courses designated as Consumer Protection courses.
- 15 hours of a Consumer Services course.
Subsequent California Real Estate License Renewals
For subsequent renewals after the first renewal, the salesperson or broker must have completed a total of 45 hours of continuing educational course during the previous 4 years, which includes a 6-hour combined survey course including the mandatory course subjects. Another 18 hours of consumer protection course and 15-hours of consumer service course.
Further from July 2007 onwards new legislation requires an additional 3-hour risk management course as one of the mandatory courses.
California Real Estate License Online
For people pressed for time and with other commitments, online license courses are a boon. Online schools offer the convenience of home study at your own free time. They provide all educational materials, support and student assistance.
All real estate courses are approved by the California Department of Real Estate.
The Allied Real Estate School is another accredited online school for real estate license courses.
Sarah Roberts, a mother of two, is now a licensed practicing real estate broker, who took her online broker courses while working as a salesperson in a real estate firm. She studied in the evenings and after the children were in bed for the courses required for the broker licensing exam. The study material was complete and helpful and provided enough tests and preparation for the exam. Sarah swears by these online education courses which helped her up her career ladder.
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