How To Get Your Real Estate License In California

Do you want to become a real estate agent and get your California Real Estate License? Colibri Real Estate has taught thousands of aspiring real estate agents in California, and we make it easy for you to get up to speed on the California real estate license requirements.

35 Mandatory Hours
10 Elective Hours
45 Total Hours
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Here's what you need to renew your California Real Estate license

The information below is a summary of the minimum requirements set forth by the California Department of Real Estate. For a more detailed requirements breakdown, please see the board's site.
If you hold Real Estate licenses in multiple states, please make sure to check each state's requirements.

California : Salesperson First Time Renewal (Continuing Education)

Total Hours Required: 45
Mandatory Hours: 35
Elective Hours: 10

Online Info

New Renewal Requirements Effective January 1, 2023:
A salesperson renewing for the first time must complete a total of 45 clock-hours of approved continuing education courses, which includes:
• Four separate three-hour courses in the following subjects: ethics, agency, trust fund handling, risk management; and
• A three-hour course in fair housing, which must include an interactive participatory component during which the applicant shall role-play as both a consumer and real estate professional; and
• A two-hour course in implicit bias training
• A minimum of 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses; and
• The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses.

Online Limitations

Licensees may complete final examinations for a maximum of 15 credit hours per 24-hour period.
Correspondence has a study time of only 8 hours per day (24-hour day) - Study time starts once the student has access to the course materials.  

Online correspondence in CA means the exam must be taken online.

There are no limits on the number of hours allowed to be taken online.

A timing mechanism is also required for all online courses to ensure that courses cannot be completed in less time than the approved credit hours.
You will only be allotted 1 minute per question on the final exam. For example, a 10 question final exam must be completed within 10 minutes.

The state will allow for only TWO attempts on the final exam before requiring the course be retaken. This is a requirement by the California Department of Real Estate.

All offerings shall require completion within one year from the date of registration.

Roster

Roster Required: no
Roster Process: No roster required.
Roster Sent: Every 0 days

Governing Agency

Name: California Department of Real Estate
Phone: 8773734542
Fax:
Website: https://www.dre.ca.gov/
Address: 651 Bannon Street, Suite 500 Sacramento, CA 95811
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California : Second and Subsequent Renewals (Continuing Education)

Total Hours Required: 45
Mandatory Hours: 27
Elective Hours: 18
Renewal Cycle in Months: 48
License Expiration Date: Varies
Education Cycle in Months: 48
Next Education Due Date: Varies

Online Info

New Renewal Requirements Effective January 1, 2023:
For all subsequent renewals after January 1, 2023, licensees must complete a total of 45 hours of continuing education, which must include the following:
• One nine-hour survey course covering the seven mandatory subjects ( (ethics, agency, fair housing, trust fund handling, risk management, management and supervision, and implicit bias training)) OR licensees can choose to take each of the mandatory subjects separately; and
• A minimum of 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses; and
• The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses.

Online Limitations

Licensees may complete final examinations for a maximum of 15 credit hours per 24-hour period.
Correspondence has a study time of only 8 hours per day (24-hour day) - Study time starts once the student has access to the course materials. 

Online correspondence in CA means the exam must be taken online.

There are no limits on the number of hours allowed to be taken online.

A timing mechanism is also required for all online courses to ensure that courses cannot be completed in less time than the approved credit hours.
You will only be allotted 1 minute per question on the final exam. For example, a 10 question final exam must be completed within 10 minutes.

The state will allow for only TWO attempts on the final exam before requiring the course be retaken. This is a requirement by the California Department of Real Estate.

All offerings shall require completion within one year from the date of registration.

Roster

Roster Required: no
Roster Process: No roster required.
Roster Sent: Every 0 days

Governing Agency

Name: California Department of Real Estate
Phone: 8773734542
Fax:
Website: https://www.dre.ca.gov/
Address: 651 Bannon Street, Suite 500 Sacramento, CA 95811
Shop Courses

California : Broker First Time Renewal (Continuing Education)

Total Hours Required: 45
Mandatory Hours: 38
Elective Hours: 7

Online Info

New Renewal Requirements Effective January 1, 2023:
A real estate broker who is renewing for the first time on or after January 1, 2023, must complete a total of 45 clock-hours of approved CE courses, which includes:
• Five separate three-hour courses in the following subjects: ethics, agency, trust fund handling, risk management, management and supervision; and
• A three-hour course in fair housing, which must include an interactive participatory component during which the applicant shall role-play as both a consumer and real estate professional; and
• A two-hour course in implicit bias training; and
• A minimum of 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses; and
• The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses.

Online Limitations

Licensees may complete final examinations for a maximum of 15 credit hours per 24-hour period.
Correspondence has a study time of only 8 hours per day (24-hour day) - Study time starts once the student has access to the course materials. 

Online correspondence in CA means the exam must be taken online.

There are no limits on the number of hours allowed to be taken online.

A timing mechanism is also required for all online courses to ensure that courses cannot be completed in less time than the approved credit hours.
You will only be allotted 1 minute per question on the final exam. For example, a 10 question final exam must be completed within 10 minutes.

The state will allow for only TWO attempts on the final exam before requiring the course be retaken. This is a requirement by the California Department of Real Estate.

All offerings shall require completion within one year from the date of registration.

Roster

Roster Required: no
Roster Process: No roster required.
Roster Sent: Every 0 days

Governing Agency

Name: California Department of Real Estate
Phone: 8773734542
Fax:
Website: https://www.dre.ca.gov/
Address: 651 Bannon Street, Suite 500 Sacramento, CA 95811
Shop Courses

Good to know

Other facts and insights about completing your CE

Note: This license renewal information is provided as a convenience only and is subject to change at any time. It's ultimately the responsibility of the licensee to be sure that he or she is meeting all requirements for each license and corresponding renewal period.

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