If you’ve worked in California real estate for a while, you know there are financial advantages to earning a broker license. Real estate brokers in California can still serve their own clients while simultaneously collecting desk fees and up to 50% of the commissions of the agents working for them.

They can also take on a leadership role at a brokerage or open their own, coaching and mentoring other agents and profiting from their success. But first, let us help you pursue your California real estate broker license by walking you through the requirements and the steps you’ll need to follow.

What Are the California Real Estate Broker License Requirements?

To be eligible for a real estate broker license in California, you must be:

  • 18 years old
  • A California resident
  • Honest and truthful

In addition, you must be either an experienced real estate agent or have related experience or education. The state of California requires that broker applicants have one of the following:

  • Spent at least two out of the last five years as a full-time, licensed agent (or the equivalent as a part-time agent)
  • Two years of unlicensed equivalent experience
  • A four-year degree in real estate

Applicants who have not been active, licensed real estate agents are still eligible for the broker exam, provided they have met the experience requirements.

Let’s explore the four steps involved, and then we’ll answer frequently asked questions about becoming a licensed real estate broker in California.

How to Get a California Real Estate Broker License in 4 Steps

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How to Get a California Real Estate Broker License in 4 Steps
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Complete Education Requirements
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Complete License Application
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Pass the Broker Exam
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Pass a Background Check

Becoming a California real estate broker shouldn’t be as intimidating of a process as becoming a real estate agent. After all, you already have experience in the industry and know others who have taken this leap in their careers. Here’s a breakdown of each step in the process.

1. Complete 360 Hours of California Real Estate Broker License Courses

To become a real estate broker in California, you need to complete 360 course hours through an institution of higher learning accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or a private real estate school approved by the California Real Estate Commission, such as Allied Real Estate School.

The prelicensing and continuing education courses that you took to earn and keep your California real estate license can’t be used toward your 360 hours to become a broker.

Each college-level California real estate broker license course is 45 hours in length. Here’s what they cover:

  • Real estate practice
  • Legal aspects of real estate
  • Real estate finance
  • Real estate appraisal
  • Real estate economics (or accounting)

You’ll also have to choose three from this list of elective classes:

  • Real estate principles
  • Business law
  • Property management
  • Escrow
  • Real estate office administration
  • Mortgage loan brokering and lending
  • Advanced legal aspects of real estate
  • Advanced real estate finance
  • Advanced real estate appraisal
  • Computer applications in real estate
  • Common interest developments

As you know from earning your agent license, learning this material won’t be a walk in the park. This makes choosing the right California real estate school crucial to your success. We recommend that you take your California real estate broker license courses through Allied Real Estate School.

Why? Allied Real Estate School is one of the only national online schools to offer all 360 hours of classes you need to become a California broker. In addition, the online courses are expertly designed, and the company provides live support if you require additional help.

Explore the course requirements and sign up today to get your California real estate broker license by visiting the Allied Real Estate School website.

Related Article
6 Best Online Real Estate Schools in California (CA) in 2024

2. Complete the California Broker Exam & License Application

In this step, you’ll be applying for the broker exam ($95) and broker license ($300) at the same time. This application requires you to provide your personal contact details and answer a series of yes-or-no questions about any criminal history you may have.

You’ll also be required to submit documentation to prove that you have completed your broker course and work experience requirements, along with the $395 application fee.

You can choose to have the government agency schedule the test for you, or you can check the box on the application allowing you to schedule it yourself.

Related Article
Real Estate Broker vs. Agent: A Head-to-Head Analysis

3. Pass the California Real Estate Broker License Exam

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Quick Facts
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Cost

$95

schedule

Time to Complete

4 hours

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Format

Computer-based, 200 multiple-choice questions

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Passing Grade

75%

This is it! If you want to be more confident before the exam, you may want to brush up with some test prep classes. Some exam prep packages already include workbooks, digital flashcards, and practice exams that you can use to retain information more easily. But if you need some extra help, consider a separate test prep class from a provider such as Kaplan.

Check out Kaplan’s test prep for the California broker exam

On exam day, you should bring one of the following to the testing center:

  • Current state-issued driver’s license or identification card
  • U.S. passport or passport issued by a foreign government
  • U.S. military identification card

The California real estate exam testing sites are located in the following cities:

  • Los Angeles
  • Fresno
  • Oakland
  • Sacramento
  • San Diego

We recommend that you arrive 30 minutes early to the testing site. Visit the state of California’s Department of Real Estate page to learn more about the exam and review the list of items that aren’t permitted in the exam room (including everyday items like calculators, pens, and cell phones).

You’ll learn whether you passed or failed immediately upon completing the broker exam. If you didn’t pass, you can retake the exam as many times as necessary, as long as you’re successful within two years of filing your initial application.

Related Article
The Average Real Estate Broker Salary for Every State

4. Pass a Background Check

Once you’ve completed your application and passed your exam, you’ll need to submit your fingerprints at a Live Scan fingerprint location. Then, you must wait for the state to process your application and complete your background check. Visit the state’s website for current processing times.

Once you have your California broker license, you’ll be free to open your own real estate brokerage and grow your business. Are you excited? You should be!

Related Article
How to Start a Real Estate Brokerage in 2024 (Without Going Broke)

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate Broker License in California?

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Quick Facts
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California Real Estate Governing Board:

California Department of Real Estate

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Class Hours Required:

360 Hours

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Education Costs:

$429 to $479

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Total Estimated Costs:

$1,122

It costs approximately $1,000 to obtain a real estate broker license in California. This is probably similar to what you paid to earn your real estate license when you first entered the profession.

Sample California Real Estate Broker License Costs

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Classes (360 hours)
$429 (through Allied Real Estate School)
Exam prep (optional)
$199 (through Kaplan)
Broker license application & exam registration
$395
Fingerprinting
$49
Total Costs
$923-$1,122

(California real estate broker license costs as of July 2023)

Pursue your California real estate broker’s license by enrolling in courses with Allied Real Estate School!

Do Real Estate Brokers Make Good Money in California?

According to The Close’s salary information database, a broker in California makes an average of $81,710. While a real estate agent only makes commissions when they assist with the purchase or sale of a property, a broker may have more sources of income.

A California real estate broker may collect desk fees and a percentage of the commissions of the real estate sales agents working under them. Additionally, some real estate brokers receive income from the ownership of businesses like title companies or mortgage companies.

Finally, some real estate brokers enjoy an uptick in the number of clients because of their demonstrated experience and advanced licensure. Homeowners facing high-dollar real estate transactions may put more trust in a real estate broker to guide them through a home sale or purchase.

California Real Estate Broker License FAQs

Still have questions? We have the answers! Keep reading to learn more about the time commitment and financial benefits of becoming a broker, as well as information about license reciprocity between California and other states. If you have other questions, we would love to hear them in the comments section of this article.





More Career Resources From The Close

We hope you feel confident enough to take the first steps to advance your real estate career. ​​Now that you’ve learned how to get a California real estate broker license, it’s time to become laser-focused on passing your California real estate broker license exam. We’re here to help you achieve your real estate career goals!

The Close offers plenty of career resources for new brokers and real estate professionals at every stage of their career. You can subscribe to our newsletter to get our latest articles delivered directly to your inbox. And if you want to connect with real estate agents across the country, join our Facebook Mastermind Group.