FIND THE ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS!!

Our frequently asked questions are organized to easily accommodate your area of interest. Select one of the links below to go directly to the questions pertaining to your individual Real Estate licensing status.

Just getting started with your Real Estate Career? Go to CALIFORNIA REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON’S LICENSE Questions and Answers.

Do you have an 18 MONTH CONDITIONAL LICENSE? Check these Questions and Answers regarding how we can help you convert to a full 4 Year Salesperson’s License.

Interested in becoming a REAL ESTATE BROKER? You may already qualify to begin the process.

Are you already licensed and needing to fulfill CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS to renew your license?

GENERAL QUESTIONS about our school.

CALIFORNIA REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON’S LICENSE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

How do I get started with my Real Estate Career?

Your first step in getting a California Real Estate Salesperson’s license is to meet the educational requirements and enroll with a school offering courses which have been approved by the California Department of Real Estate. We are a state of California approved school and all our courses have been extensively reviewed and Approved by the California Department of Real Estate. The Educational Requirements are that you must pass a DRE approved course in Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and a third approved course of your choosing prior to applying for the State Exam. Click here to review the options we offer, and thank you for choosing our school.

Are there other requirements for a California Real Estate License?

Besides taking a course in Real Estate Principles and passing the State Exam, the general requirements are that license applicants must be at least 18 years old and provide proof of legal presence in the United States. For a complete list of requirements, follow this link http://www.dre.cahwnet.gov/exm_sales.html
to the DRE website.

Are your courses approved by the State?

Yes, all of our courses have been extensively reviewed and approved by the California Department of Real Estate. We are also a State Of California Approved School. You may enroll with our school with full confidence that you will receive quality education with fully approved courses.

How difficult are your courses?

Our courses are not difficult to pass. The Final Exam for our courses consists of 100 multiple choice questions. Our Exams are all Open Book, and require only 60% to pass.

How difficult is the State Exam?

The State Exam is not easy, generally the state-wide pass rate hovers around 50%. A focused preparation is highly recommended.

How do I best prepare for taking the Real Estate Salesperson’s State Exam?

To prepare for passing the State Exam, we recommend two things.  First, as you complete the required coursework prior to applying for the State Exam, work through the material in the course textbooks with focus.  Use our Study Guide and the Chapter review information to learn the material, and re-test yourself until you have a good understanding.  Second, use our Exam Prep Materials to help you prepare for the State Exam.  The State Exam includes a wide range of information, some of which will not be found in your course textbooks.  Click here for State Exam Content from the CA DRE website.

What are the three courses required for a Real Estate Salesperson’s License?

You must successfully complete approved courses in Real Estate Principles and Real Estate Practice. There are options on the third course. We typically recommend Finance, Appraisal, or Legal as being the most relevant to preparing for the State Exam.

How much time do I have to complete your courses?

The California Department of Real Estate mandates that no statutory course may be completed in less than 18 days. If you are taking three courses, the minimum time to complete would be 54 days.  It is fine to work at a slower pace if that better fits your schedule. We give our students up to one year to complete a course.

What is the format of your courses?

Our school philosophy is that people going into Real Estate are typically either working another job at the same time they are studying, or are looking to start a new career in Real Estate as soon as possible. Either way, our correspondence format allows the student to work at their own pace, in the comfort of their home. You may complete our courses in as little as 18 days, or take up to a full year. Each course has the best text book we can find on the subject, a course specific Study Guide with assignments to test and enhance your understanding of the material. There are no assignments or quizzes to submit to the school. Once you have completed the coursework, you will take an open-book final exam, with a passing grade of 60% or better. After passing our final exam, we will issue you a Certificate of Completion, which serves as your proof with the Department of Real Estate for meeting the course requirement.

What is the difference between a Real Estate Salesperson’s License and a Broker’s License?

The Salesperson’s License permits you to work in a field of real estate only under the supervision of a Broker. The Broker’s License permits you to work independently, and represent yourself in real estate transactions. The Broker’s License also allows you to open your own office and hire sales agents to work under your supervision.

May I bypass the Salesperson’s License and go directly to getting a Broker’s License?

Yes, if you meet the qualifications. Check our Broker information page.

How long does it take to get a Sales License?

You should plan on a minimum of 75 days. The DRE requires that correspondence courses not be completed in less than 18 days per course.  So to complete the three courses will take a minimum of 54 days.  After completing the courses, you may apply to take the State Exam.  Availability of Exam Dates varies, but it will likely be between 2-5 weeks from the date of your State Exam Application.

Why should I choose your school for my Real Estate coursework?

We have been educating California Real Estate Professionals since 1990, and our years of experience allows us to provide High Quality Educating at a very reasonable price.  We go to great lengths to provide Top Quality Textbooks, and all our courses include a Study Guide to go with the text. Click here for our TEN GREAT REASONS TO USE OUR SCHOOL!

For other specific questions regarding Licensing, you may contact the California Department of Real Estate at (916) 227-0900 or view their website at: http://www.dre.cahwnet.gov/

BROKER’S LICENSE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What is the difference between a Real Estate Salesperson’s License and a Broker’s License?

The Salesperson’s License permits you to work in a field of real estate only under the supervision of a Broker. The Broker’s License permits you to work independently, and represent yourself in real estate transactions. The Broker’s License also allows you to open your own office and hire sales agents to work under your supervision. With a Broker’s License, you are also allowed to work under the supervision of another Broker.

Do I have to work as a Real Estate Salesperson before I can get a Broker’s License? What are the requirements for a Real Estate Broker’s License in California?

A Salesperson’s License is not required prior to getting a Broker’s License if you have a 4 year college degree from an accredited college in any field. Many of our students bypass the Sales License and go directly to attaining a Broker’s License.

The general requirement if you do not have a 4 year degree is that you must first work in a field of real estate for a minimum of two (2) years full-time (or 4-years part-time) during the 5-year period immediately preceding application for a broker’s license.

What are the educational requirements for a California Real Estate Broker’s License?

The DRE requires that Broker’s license applicants have completed 8 Statutory Courses prior to taking the Broker’s Exam. Visit our Broker’s License information page for complete details.

18 MONTH CONDITIONAL LICENSE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What is an 18 Month Conditional Real Estate License?

An 18 Month Conditional License is issued to new licensees who pass the State Salesperson’s Exam and apply for their license after completing only a course in Real Estate Principles. The Licensee is required to complete two additional statutory courses during their first 18 months for their license to remain valid.

What is required to convert my 18 month license to a Full 4 Year Salesperson’s License?

You must complete two additional courses, one on Real Estate Practice. There are options on the third course, most of our students find our course in Real Estate Finance to be the most helpful to their careers. Click here for details on our 18 Month Conversion Package.

What happens if I don’t complete the two additional courses in the 18 month period?

Your Conditional License will be automatically suspended by the Department of Real Estate, and you will not be able to work as a Real Estate Salesperson until you complete the courses.

How quickly can I complete the two courses?

The DRE mandates that no statutory course may be completed in less than 18 days. The minimum time to complete the two courses is 5 weeks. There are no exceptions. We highly recommend that you begin immediately.

Are your courses difficult to complete?

No. Our courses have multiple choice Open Book Final Exams, with a passing grade of only 60%. There are no assignments to hand in, and you work at your own pace. You have up to a year to complete our courses.

May I take the 2 additional courses prior to taking the State Exam?

Yes, in fact we highly recommend it. You will be far better prepared for the State Exam and not have to be concerned with taking more courses as you are launching your new career.

What happens after I successfully complete the two courses?

We will issue you Certificates Of Completion, you then attach them to DRE Form RE221 (Statutory Course Transcript Submittal, which may be downloaded from the DRE website). After completing the form you mail it to the DRE.

Why should I choose your school?

Conditional Licensees are often pressed for time because of the demands of their new career and the time deadline. Our Home Study Courses may be completed much faster (minimum of 15 days per course) than the same course in a classroom. There are no assignments or essays to be submitted. We feature quality courses with an Open Book Final Exam. Passing grade for the final is only 60%. Are Courses are very affordable, and back by our 15 years of experience in educating California Real Estate Professionals. All our courses include a quality textbook with your enrollment, great additions to your Real Estate Reference Library.

How do I get started converting my 18 month license to a full four year Real Estate Salesperson’s License?

Enroll today in our 18 month license conversion package. (click here for details)

LICENSE RENEWAL/CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

I have been licensed as a California Real Estate Salesperson for almost four years. What is required to keep my license active?

If this is your first license renewal, you are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education. This requirement is divided into four courses of three credit hours each including Agency, Ethics, Trust Fund Handling, and Fair Housing. We offer an “easy to complete” package that allows you to quickly fulfill the requirement and keep your license active. ( click here for details)

I have been licensed for four years as a California Real Estate Broker. What is required to keep my license active?

Broker’s are required to complete 45 hours of continuing education with their first, and subsequent (every four years) license renewals. For the first renewal, the courses must include 3 credit hour courses in Agency, Ethics, Trust Fund Handling, and Fair Housing, and plus an additional 33 hours which includes 18 hours of Consumer Protection and 15 hours of either Consumer Protection or Consumer Services. We offer an “easy to complete” package that allows you to quickly fulfill the requirement and keep your license active. This package meets all requirements for both the first renewal and subsequent renewals of your license. ( click here for details)

I have had my Salesperson’s license for 8 or more years. This is not the first time I have renewed my license. What are the continuing education requirements to keep my license active?

For your second and subsequent renewals, the Department of Real Estate requires Salespeople to complete 45 hours of continuing education. We offer an “easy to complete” package that allows you to quickly fulfill the requirement and keep your license active. This package meets all requirements for the renewal of your license. ( click here for details)

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Are your courses approved by the California Department of Real Estate?

Yes, all courses we offer have been examined, reviewed, and fully approved by the California Department of Real Estate. Additionally, we are a State of California Approved School.

How do your courses work?

Our School Philosophy is to tailor our courses to best serve the needs of our students. We find that our students typically fit into two categories:

1. Many of our students are in a big hurry to get started with their real estate career. Our correspondence style courses fit this need perfectly, as you may complete one of our statutory courses in 18 days (minimum time allowed by the California Department of Real Estate). Continuing Education requirements may be met even faster! Our course format offers the fastest time available to get started with you new career.
2. Alternatively, many of our students are working to advance their real estate career goals around an already busy schedule, and prefer the flexibility which allows them to study as time allows.  Our school format fits this scenario equally well. Our school is designed to allow you to study and learn at your pace, in the comfort of your home. There are no classes to attend (or miss as conflicts arise!), and no assignments to hand in. You choose your study time to fit your schedule.   We allow up to one year from your enrollment date to complete a course. We also don’t ask you to spend hours sitting at your computer…find a comfortable chair!

Our courses are all by correspondence. We provide you with the highest quality textbook available for the subject, a study guide to test and enhance your knowledge, and then you take an Open Book Final Exam, with a passing grade of only 60%. It’s as easy as that!

Please feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions. Thank you for your interest in our school.