Reviewed by Casa Academy on August 2, 2026.
California licenses real estate salespersons through the Department of Real Estate (DRE). DRE administers a single combined salesperson exam: 150 multiple-choice questions in three hours, with a 70% pass mark (at least 105 correct). DRE lists $100 for an exam-only application, $350 for the original salesperson license, or $450 for the combined exam-and-license application; confirm live fees on dre.ca.gov before you apply.
National practice for $49. State-specific exam prep is not available for this jurisdiction yet.
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Unlike states that split national and state law into separate sittings, California uses a single three-hour salesperson exam with 150 multiple-choice questions. Each question has four answer choices (A through D). DRE requires a 70% passing score, which means at least 105 correct answers. Exams are administered electronically at DRE-approved centers in Fresno, the Los Angeles vicinity, Oakland, Sacramento, and San Diego. Arrive about 30 minutes early with valid photo identification. DRE publishes immediate pass or fail results for electronic exams; successful candidates are not given a numeric score.
DRE organizes the salesperson examination into seven official content areas. The percentages are study-planning weights, not a promise that every test form will contain the same number of questions from each category.
License exams test how California statutes, commission rules, and candidate bulletins interact. Use the Statutes and regulations links on this page for primary sources, then confirm live fees and outlines with the regulator before you schedule.
California salesperson candidates must satisfy DRE's education and application requirements in addition to passing the exam. Review the current DRE instructions before applying because forms, fees, and processing rules can change.
Build a study plan around DRE's seven areas, giving extra time to Practice of Real Estate and Agency because they combine for more than 40% of the outline. Drill California-specific disclosure workflows, trust account rules, and fair housing obligations alongside national finance and valuation concepts. Use timed 150-question sessions so three hours feels familiar on test day. For interactive national-topic reps, start the free national practice test on this page. It does not cover California state-law items, so keep DRE outlines and your pre-licensing course materials as the authority for California statutes and forms.
Study these official statute, rule, and regulator sources for this jurisdiction. Confirm current text before exam day.
You must be at least 18 years old, complete Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and one approved elective, submit the DRE application and required documents, pass the salesperson examination, and complete the fingerprint process for licensure. DRE requires candidates to qualify for and pass the exam within two years after it receives the original application.
Difficulty depends on your preparation, but the scope is broad. The 150-question salesperson exam covers seven content areas, and DRE requires at least 70% correct. A practical study plan gives the most time to Practice of Real Estate and Disclosures, Agency, Ownership, and Valuation because those areas carry the largest published weights.
Under the current 150-question format and 70% passing standard, you need at least 105 correct answers. That means you can miss up to 45 questions and still meet the passing threshold.
DRE does not limit the number of attempts during the two-year period after it receives your original application. After a failed attempt, wait for the result before requesting another date through eLicensing. If the two-year application period expires, you must submit a new application, requalify, and pay the required fee.
DRE tests Property Ownership and Land Use Controls, Laws of Agency and Fiduciary Duties, Property Valuation and Financial Analysis, Financing, Transfer of Property, Practice of Real Estate and Disclosures, and Contracts. DRE updates the outline when laws and industry practices change.
No. California administers one combined salesperson examination covering national real estate principles and California-specific law. The current test contains 150 multiple-choice questions and allows three hours.
DRE currently lists $100 for the salesperson exam-only application, $100 for each re-examination, and $350 for the original salesperson license. A combined exam-and-license filing is $450 due to DRE (exam + license), with the $49 fingerprint processing fee paid separately to Live Scan for California residents (out-of-state applicants follow the RE 206 fingerprint instructions). Confirm https://www.dre.ca.gov/licensees/Fees.html and RE 206 before submitting payment.
Not yet. Casa Academy does not currently sell a California state question bank. The free practice test and paid plans offers on this page use the national exam prep product only. National practice helps with shared principles and math, but it does not replace California statute, disclosure, and DRE outline study for the state-law content inside the combined exam.
Casa Academy helps students prepare to pass real estate licensing exams for California and other states. We build practice tests, study plans, and exam prep for national and state exams — with clear disclosures when a state product is not yet available.
If official requirements or exam scheduling guidance change, this page should change too. The current review date for this version is August 2, 2026.