Whether you’ve been thinking of selling houses in the vibrant city of Seattle, the historic capital of Olympia, or any of the picturesque towns within the Evergreen State, you’ve come to the right place. To get your real estate license in Washington State, you’ll need to complete a 90-hour prelicensing course. We’ve reviewed the top schools for you, factoring in important features like course design and format, value for money, ease of use, and more.
We can’t wait to help you start your exciting new career, so let’s jump in!
4 Best Real Estate Schools in Washington State
| Our Top Picks | Pricing From | Promo Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall: The CE Shop | $315 | TheClose35 - Save 35% |
| Best for Online: Colibri Real Estate | $341 | TheClose30 - Save 30% |
| Best School for Hybrid Study: Rockwell Institute | $489 | TheClose15 - Save 15% |
| Best School for Readers: OnlineEd | $235 | TheClose - Save 35% |
(Washington prelicensing package prices as of May 2023)
Real Estate Schools in Washington State: Helpful Info
Washington Real Estate Governing Body:
Washington Real Estate Commission
Prelicensing Requirements:
90 Hours
Post-licensing Requirements:
90 Hours Within the First Two Years
Continuing Education Requirements:
30 Hours Every Two Years
Every state has unique requirements to become a real estate agent, which is why we’ve compiled the most useful tips about Washington specifically. Here, your 90-hour prelicensing coursework consists of a 60-hour Real Estate Fundamentals Course and a 30-hour Real Estate Practices Course.
While other states may call their real estate agents salespeople, you’ll technically be a real estate broker when you get your license in Washington. To help you navigate the features of each school, we’ve outlined the different kinds of programs the schools on our list provide.
Prelicensing Courses
This is where your real estate career begins, and you’ll need to complete 90 hours of course materials before you are eligible to apply for a Washington broker license.
In addition to the required topics, prelicensing courses often include features like exam prep, study guides, and career resources. You’ll be able to choose between completing your course online or in person. Many students prefer the flexibility of learning online to accommodate their work and life schedules. Others prefer the accountability of an in-person class setting.
Exam Preparation
Exam preparation is an important part of the prelicensing process. It could mean the difference between passing your state license exam the first time and dealing with the headache of retaking it.
Many real estate schools offer exam prep, either included in their prelicensing packages or as a separate purchase. Typical exam prep materials include digital flashcards, practice questions, simulated exams, and study groups.
Post-licensing
Washington state is somewhat unique in that its post-licensing requirements are as long as the prelicensing ones. You’ll need to complete 90 hours of post-licensing coursework within the first two years of obtaining your license.
As a result, it’s important to take your time evaluating schools. Most of the institutions on our list also offer post-licensing, so we recommend choosing a school that’ll work for the long run.
Continuing Education
Your real estate education is ongoing, with 30 hours of required continuing education every two years in order to renew your license.
You’ll run into a variety of CE topics, so be sure to choose the classes that seem most relevant to you in your career. The CE Shop has long been offering CE nationwide with high student ratings for their quality design and instruction.
Your real estate education reaches beyond your initial broker license, so it’s important to choose the school that’s right for you. To get started, let’s take a look at our top school picks.
Best Overall Real Estate School in Washington State: The CE Shop
The CE Shop Offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam Prep
- Post-licensing
- Continuing Education
- Broker Prelicensing
With course offerings that range from the beginning of your real estate career to getting your broker’s license, The CE Shop is a one-stop shop for your real estate career. Where they shine most is their wide selection of engaging continuing education courses to keep you coming back every time you renew your license.
The CE Shop Pros | The CE Shop Cons |
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The CE Shop Pricing
The CE Shop offers four online prelicensing packages for prospective real estate agents in Washington.
- Course Only ($315): Get your prelicensing course as well as helpful tools like a study schedule, digital flashcards, real estate glossary, and business e-books.
- Standard Package ($399): On top of the Course Only Package, you’ll receive the Exam Prep Edge course and an exam pass guarantee.
- Value Package ($449): Enjoy everything in the Standard Package, and get The CE Shop’s business-building courses to help you forge your real estate career from the ground up.
- Premium Package ($709): In addition to all the features above, this package includes a 90-hour post-licensing package and three Washington real estate e-books.
(Washington prelicensing package prices as of May 2023)
BEST FEATURE: We love The CE Shop ‘s variety of continuing education courses, which stay current so you’re always learning about the most relevant topics to the industry. They offer useful classes including Diversity: Your Kaleidoscope of Clients and Roadmap to Success: Business Planning for Real Estate Professionals.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: If we had one wish, we’d appreciate it if The CE Shop offered live instructor support. Self-paced courses are great for motivated learners, but features like live study and Q&A sessions can go a long way when you’re stuck on part of the course.
BOTTOM LINE: With options for every stage of your real estate education, The CE Shop is a popular and trusted choice for those who are in it for the long haul.
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Best Real Estate School in Washington for Online: Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate Offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam Prep
- Continuing Education
Colibri Real Estate offers online self-paced courses in Washington and packs them full of helpful features. From exam prep to extra career resources, Colibri Real Estate’s 25-year experience in the real estate education sphere won’t leave you disappointed.
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Colibri Real Estate Pricing
In Washington, Colibri Real Estate offers four online prelicensing packages:
- The Basics ($341): Best for self-starters, this package includes your course, instructor support, and three real estate e-books.
- Exam Preparation ($441): Enjoy all the features of the Basics package, exam prep, and a Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee.
- Exam Preparation Plus ($484): This package includes everything from the exam prep package plus live Q&A with instructors, a real estate dictionary, an Exam Cram video and workbook, and access to a Live Exam Crammer Series.
- Ultimate Learning Package ($642): This top-tier package includes everything in previous packages plus a copy of the course textbook and a one-year membership in McKissock Learning to boost your real estate career.
(Washington prelicensing package prices as of May 2023)
BEST FEATURE: We love the extra career resources that come with Colibri Real Estate’s Ultimate Learning Package. Real estate coaching can be a helpful tool for new agents.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: Colibri Real Estate doesn’t offer post-licensing. Also, it is an online-only school with self-paced courses, so you won’t find livestream or in-person classes here. If that’s what you’re looking for, try checking out Colibri’s sister school, Rockwell Institute.
BOTTOM LINE: If you want an online-only school with a national footprint, you can’t go wrong with Colibri Real Estate.
Best Real Estate School in Washington for Hybrid Study: Rockwell Institute
Rockwell Institute Offers:
- Prelicensing
- Post-licensing
- Continuing Education
- Broker Prelicensing
Rockwell Institute has nearly 50 years of experience teaching real estate courses to prospective agents, and the company’s instructors are leading industry experts. They design their courses with students in mind, offering every option you’d want to make your learning efficient, convenient, and effective. Plus, they’re so confident about their exam cram course, they’ll refund your money if you don’t pass your exam the first time.
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Rockwell Institute Pricing
Rockwell Institute offers three comprehensive prelicensing packages with various levels of access to self-paced study, livestream classes, and in-person instruction.
- Online Self-paced Package ($489): You’ll get your prelicensing course in a self-study format, the Compucram course, a pass guarantee, hardcopy textbooks, and instructor support. This course now offers an audio option – where the student can listen and see the material highlighted as they go.
- Instructor-led Package ($649): Take your prelicensing course via scheduled livestream or in-person classes and get the same additional features from the above package.
- Ultimate Package ($779): This includes access to livestream and in-person classes, self-paced content to supplement your learning, and printed and online study flashcards. It also offers a Live Exam Crammer course, led by an instructor, in which you discuss and review exam questions and test-taking techniques.
(Washington prelicensing package prices as of May 2023)
BEST FEATURE: Rockwell Institute offers course formats for all learners, so you can cover all your bases as you work through your prelicensing course. They prepare you for your real estate exam so you can pass the first time. They also offer a free course demo, so you can try it before you buy.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: The only downside to Rockwell Institute’s packages is the steep prices, which are higher than those of the other schools on our list. However, be sure to check their website, as their packages are often on sale.
BOTTOM LINE: Rockwell Institute is a great option for anyone looking for a hybrid learning format to benefit from the best of both educational worlds. Those looking to pass the state exam on their first try and to have opportunities to land with a Managing Broker after they get their broker’s license might also consider Rockwell.
Best Real Estate School in Washington for Readers: OnlineEd
OnlineEd Offers:
- Prelicensing
- Post-licensing
- Continuing Education
OnlineEd is known for offering quality real estate instruction in Washington at an affordable price. Their courses include videos to help explain challenging concepts, along with useful practice tests and simulated exams to prepare you for your license exam. They’re the only school on our list that offers course material via EPUB format—perfect for e-readers and students on the go.
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OnlineEd Pricing
OnlineEd offers one prelicensing package in Washington packed with helpful features.
- Washington Real Estate Prelicense Training Package ($235): Enjoy your prelicensing course, e-book in PDF and EPUB formats, video content, practice questions, a test simulator, and online flashcards.
(Washington prelicensing package prices as of May 2023)
BEST FEATURE: OnlineEd keeps its prices low without skimping on the features needed most by real estate students. The course content is well-organized and created by leading real estate instructors, so you’ll have no problem grasping the material and getting through the course.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: OnlineEd doesn’t have the fanciest online interface. If you’re looking for a sharper user experience, consider Colibri Real Estate instead. But OnlineEd is perfect for readers who prefer a text-based approach to learning.
BOTTOM LINE: If you’re looking for quality instruction on a budget, OnlineEd is your best choice.
How We Selected the Best Real Estate Schools in Washington State
To ensure that we provide our readers the best options, our team of licensed real estate professionals, writers, and editors at The Close have come up with a methodology that involves scrutinizing each school according to pricing, ease of use, class format, mobile and web interface, instructor support, and more. Learn more about our overall methodology here.
Best Washington Real Estate Schools: FAQs
If you’re still unsure about the path forward, scroll down for answers to our most commonly asked questions below. Let us know in the comment section if there’s anything else we can answer for you!
How long does it take to get a real estate license in Washington?
Realistically, it takes most people four to six months to obtain a real estate license in Washington. How long it takes you to get your license depends on how long you take to complete your prelicensing course and study for the license exam. Administrative tasks like applying for your license or fulfilling your background check don’t usually end up taking much time. Check out our detailed timeline in this guide to getting your real estate license in Washington.
Most prospective real estate brokers work while they fulfill their prelicensing requirements, so it can take time to complete the 90-hour prelicensing course. Depending on your self-study skills, though, you can finish the course quicker. But we recommend taking the time you need to properly understand the concepts and study for your license exam.
Am I eligible to get my real estate license in Washington?
You are eligible to get your real estate license in Washington if you:
- Are at 18 years of age or older
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Are a permanent resident of the United States
Once you’ve satisfied these requirements, you can move on to your next step of taking a 90-hour prelicensing course, sitting for the state license exam, and applying for your real estate license.
How hard is the real estate exam in Washington?
Like any exam, you’ll need to prepare. But if you commit to your studies and take your time during the exam, you can pass on your first try.
The license exam consists of two portions featuring national and state-related real estate questions. You’ll have 3.5 hours to complete your exam, which you must do at one of Washington’s 12 PSI Testing Centers.
How do I pass the real estate exam in Washington?
Passing the real estate license exam isn’t a walk in the park, but you can do it with good study skills. If you’re anxious about the exam, or you feel like you need more practice, we recommend looking at real estate schools that offer exam prep. Exam prep packages are tailored to make sure you walk into your license exam with confidence.
How much does it cost to get a real estate license in Washington?
It costs about $850 to get your real estate license in Washington. There are fixed and variable costs to getting your Washington real estate license. Administrative costs like license fees are one-time costs that tend to be the same for every applicant. The fixed costs associated with getting your real estate license are:
- Broker license exam fee: $210
- Background check: $44.80
- Broker license application fee: $223
Your prelicensing course is the largest investment in the licensing process, and how much you’ll pay will vary depending on the package and school you choose. Bare-bones packages without flashy features will cost less, while in-person and livestream classes tend to cost more than online, self-paced classes.
How many Realtors are there in Washington?
According to the National Association of Realtors’ data, there are 21,208 Realtors in Washington. This is a very slight increase from the previous month, and a 4.45% decrease from this time last year.
How much do real estate agents make in Washington?
It all depends on the number of deals and the commission splits, but according to Indeed.com, the average real estate agent in Washington makes $103,350 each year, which is 8% above the national average. Agents with 10 or more years of experience may make almost $19,000 more a year.
What’s the average home price in Washington?
According to Zillow, home values in the state of Washington decreased 1.5% over the past year, reaching $562,936. Home values have also dropped 4.6% in Seattle, with the average price at $850,175.
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Bringing It All Together
We hope we’ve made your decision that much easier when it comes to choosing a Washington real estate school. We’re here to provide you with the resources, strategies, and advice that will help you reach your real estate career goals. Have additional thoughts or questions? Leave us a comment below!
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