California Real Estate Practice Exam

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.

• Practice of Real Estate and Disclosures: approximately 25%
• Laws of Agency and Fiduciary Duties: approximately 17%
• Property Ownership and Land Use Controls and Regulations: approximately 15%
• Property Valuation and Financial Analysis: approximately 14%
• Contracts: approximately 12%
• Financing: approximately 9%
• Transfer of Property: approximately 8%

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.

• Be at least 18 years old before the salesperson license is issued.
• Complete Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and one approved elective. Private-school versions of these three college-level courses generally total 135 hours.
• Submit the salesperson examination or combined examination-and-license application with proof of education and the required fee.
• Qualify for and pass the salesperson examination within two years after DRE receives the original application.
• Complete Live Scan fingerprinting or the approved out-of-state fingerprint process for the license application.
• Pay the current DRE fees. DRE lists $100 for an exam-only application, $350 for the original salesperson license, or $450 for the combined exam-and-license application. Fingerprint and service-provider charges are separate.

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. When you want interactive reps today, use Casa Academy's free practice tool with the Florida demo disclosure visible on every launch.