To pass your California real estate broker license exam, most states require a minimum overall score of at least 70%, or a minimum number of exam questions answered correctly. But beware—the process to earn your California real estate broker license includes much more than passing the exam.
Pre-licensing Requirements
Before you can schedule your California real estate broker license exam, you’ll need to complete your state-approved pre-licensing coursework. This educational requirement can be anywhere from 40 to 120 credit hours, depending on each state’s individual licensing criteria. In some states, pre-licensing fingerprinting and criminal background checks are also a condition of earning your California real estate broker license.
Additional Factors to Consider
Having a California real estate broker license allows you to operate legally as a real estate agent, providing various services in the competitive market.
Understanding the requirements for a California real estate broker license can help streamline your journey towards becoming a licensed professional.
Once you have your California real estate broker license, you will have the opportunity to advance your career by taking on additional responsibilities.
By meeting the requirements for your California real estate broker license, you can ensure you are prepared for success in the field.
Obtaining your California real estate broker license opens up a range of opportunities within the real estate market.
Succeeding on your California real estate broker license exam is crucial to kickstart your career in this thriving industry.
As you prepare for your California real estate broker license exam, make sure to familiarize yourself with the topics covered.
Each state has its own criteria for obtaining a California real estate broker license, so it is important to stay informed.
If you’re already a licensed real estate agent in good standing, you may be able to earn an additional license without completing the pre-licensing coursework requirements for that state. This is called real estate reciprocity, and varies depending on the agreements between states:
-Full reciprocity: Currently-licensed agents skip the general real estate pre-licensing coursework and take classes on state-specific laws and requirements before taking (and passing) the state exam.
-No reciprocity: Currently-licensed agents must complete all pre-licensing coursework and pass the state exam before obtaining the new state license.
Taking the Exam
State requirements for real estate pre-licensing courses and education vary, as do the length of the exam and score requirements. What qualifies as a passing score varies by state, and may be determined by either the cumulative percentage of correct answers or the number of correct answers per exam section.
Note that some states require licensees to complete additional coursework hours (not included in the chart below) after passing the license exam and before practicing real estate.
Just as aspiring real estate professionals must navigate the specific educational and exam prerequisites of their state.| State | Course Hours | Exam Questions | Passing Score |
| Alabama | 60 | 140 | 70% |
| Alaska | 40 | 120 | 75% |
| Arizona | 90 | 180 | 75% |
| Arkansas | 60 | 125 | 70% |
| California | 135 | 150 | 70% |
| Colorado | 168 | 154 | 60 national/53 state |
| Connecticut | 60 | 110 | 70% |
| Delaware | 99 | 120 | 70% |
| District of Columbia | 60 | 110 | 75% |
| Florida | 63 | 100 | 75% |
| Georgia | 75 | 152 | 72% |
| Hawaii | 60 | 130 | 70% |
| Idaho | 90 | 120 | 70% |
| Illinois | 90 | 140 | 75% |
| Indiana | 90 | 125 | 75% |
| Iowa | 60 | 120 | 84% |
| Kansas | 60 | 110 | 70% |
| Kentucky | 96 | 130 | 75% |
| Louisiana | 90 | 135 | 56 national/40 state |
| Maine | 55 | 120 | 75% |
| Maryland | 60 | 110 | 70% |
| Massachusetts | 40 | 120 | 70% |
| Michigan | 40 | 115 | 70% |
| Minnesota | 90 | 120 | 75% |
| Mississippi | 60 | 120 | 56 national/30 state |
| Missouri | 48 | 140 | 70 national/30 state |
| Montana | 60 | 133 | 80% national/70% state |
| Nebraska | 66 | 150 | 70 national/38 state |
| Nevada | 90 | 120 | 75% |
| New Hampshire | 40 | 140 | 56 national/28 state |
| New Jersey | 75 | 110 | 70% |
| New Mexico | 90 | 130 | 75% |
| New York | 75 | 75 | 70% |
| North Carolina | 75 | 140 | 71 national/29 state |
| North Dakota | 90 | 140 | 75% |
| Ohio | 120 | 120 | 70% |
| Oklahoma | 90 | 130 | 75% |
| Oregon | 150 | 130 | 75% |
| Pennsylvania | 75 | 110 | 75% |
| Rhode Island | 45 | 120 | 70% |
| South Carolina | 60 | 110 | 56 national/21 state |
| South Dakota | 116 | 157 | 75% |
| Tennessee | 90 | 120 | 70% |
| Texas | 180 | 125 | 56 national/21 state |
| Utah | 120 | 130 | 70% |
| Vermont | 40 | 136 | 56 national/23 state |
| Virginia | 60 | 120 | 56 national/30 state |
| Washington | 90 | 130 | 70% |
| West Virginia | 90 | 150 | 75 national/38 state |
| Wisconsin | 72 | 140 | 75% |
| Wyoming | 54 | 132 | 75% |
Contact us to learn more about the steps required to successfully achieve your California real estate broker license.
At Agent Real Estate Schools, we provide resources to help you navigate the process of obtaining a California real estate broker license.
KEY:
Full reciprocity
Partial reciprocity
No reciprocity
Keep in mind that passing the exam is only one component of your license . Most states also require real estate agents to follow a professional and ethical code of conduct, which may include completing annual or bi-annual continuing education courses to keep up with changes in the real estate profession. Let’s Get Started
Ready to start your career in real estate? Check out the guide to getting your license to learn more about our process, and find out what sets our schools apart from the rest. We also invite you to participate in a live webinar Career Day session to discuss your new career with our instructors, who currently work as agents in the field. To find out more about becoming a real estate agent, contact Agent Real Estate Schools. Reach us at (858) 329-0999 or email us at [email protected].