What is the cost to get a California real estate license?
Here’s how the numbers break down:
Required Real Estate Courses – $200+
The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) requires that applicants be at least 18 years or older, and complete 135 hours of required Pre-Licensing education – which our course packages provide.
Pre-Licensing course tuition can range from $200 up to $700+ depending on the package, provider, and if you want self-study only or something with a live interactive component.
Exam Fee – $60
The first fee you’ll have to pay the DRE is for the exam. To reserve your spot on test day you’ll have to pay $60 for the salesperson exam.
Retaking and Rescheduling
It really pays to study and take an exam prep course prior to the exam. Re-examination will cost another $60 for the salesperson exam.
Need to reschedule your test? That will cost you another $15 the first time you reschedule, and another $30 if you have to reschedule again.
License Fee – $245
The license fee will be due either before or after you pass the exam - depending on whether you submitted the combined exam/license application form.
Live Scan Fee – $69
California requires that all real estate license applicants be fingerprinted by a participating live scan service provider prior to being approved for a license. The DRE doesn’t collect a fee for this service, but the live scan provider will.
The fee for live scan is $49 (processing fees from DOJ and FBI), plus $20-$40 charged by the live scan facility.
TOTAL – About $500
There you have it! To enjoy a lucrative real estate career in California, you’ll need to invest around $500 up front. We recommend you spend just a little bit more and include an exam prep class.
Miscellaneous Fees
Depending on how you intend to practice real estate, there may be additional professional fees such as:
- California Association of Realtors annual fee - $184
- National Association of Realtors annual fee - $185
- SDAR local dues annual fee - $134
If you wish direct access to the MLS, the San Diego MLS fees are $159 per quarter.
