Guides › Updated 2026-10-31
California Real Estate Salesperson Exam: Format and Passing Score
TL;DR. California runs its own salesperson exam through the Department of Real Estate (DRE). According to DRE (accessed 2026-10-31), it is one exam of 150 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours, you must answer at least 70 percent correctly, and the exam-only fee is $100. There is no separate national portion.
GablePrep is an independent study tool. We are not affiliated with the California Department of Real Estate, and we are not a pre-licensing course. This article summarizes DRE’s public pages so you can plan; DRE’s own site is the authority, and details can change.
How California’s exam is organized
Unlike the many states that split the test into a national and a state portion, California gives one combined exam. California law (including the Business and Professions Code and the Commissioner’s Regulations) and general principles are mixed together on the same test.
Per DRE:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | 150 multiple-choice questions, four options each |
| Time | 3 hours |
| Passing mark | At least 70 percent correct |
| Language | English |
| Delivery | DRE-run electronic exams at DRE sites |
DRE lists exam sites in Fresno, La Palma, Oakland, Sacramento and San Diego. Candidates are asked to arrive 30 minutes early. DRE does not state how many of the 150 questions are unscored, so we do not guess.
Understanding the passing score
DRE says examinees must correctly answer at least 70 percent of the questions. On a 150-question exam, 70 percent works out to about 105 correct answers. That conversion is simple arithmetic on our part, so rely on the percentage DRE publishes.
The content percentages DRE publishes are described as approximate, which is a reminder that you should study all topic areas rather than chase a favorite one.
Fees: exam, license and rescheduling
According to DRE’s fee schedule (accessed 2026-10-31):
- Salesperson exam, exam only: $100 (as of July 1, 2024)
- Re-examination: $100
- Rescheduled exam: $40
- Original license: $350, a separate fee
The exam-only fee rose from $60 in July 2024, and some older prep sites still quote the old price. If you see $60 elsewhere, trust DRE’s schedule.
Education requirement
DRE requires three college-level courses: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and one elective such as Appraisal, Finance or Property Management. DRE states each approved course is a minimum of 45 hours, so the total is commonly described as about 135 hours. That multiplication is ours, not a figure DRE prints, and college semester or quarter units also qualify, so check DRE’s requirements page for what applies to you.
Pre-licensing courses must now include implicit-bias and fair-housing components, per the research we reviewed, so make sure your provider is DRE approved.
Test-day notes
DRE describes the exam as closed book, and our notes show that calculators are not allowed in the room under DRE’s security list. Confirm this on DRE’s site before test day. If true, you need to do the math by hand, so practice that way. Our math formulas page lists the common calculations, and you should run them without a calculator at least a few times.
The law requires an appropriate knowledge of English, including reading, writing and spelling, and the exam is given in English only.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming there is a national portion. There is not. Prep material built around a national/state split may not match California’s single exam.
- Quoting an outdated fee. Budget from DRE’s current schedule, not an old blog post.
- Planning around a made-up unscored count. DRE does not state one, so answer every question carefully.
- Skipping timed practice. Three hours is a long sitting, and stamina matters as much as knowledge.
A practical study approach
- Read DRE’s exam content description first, so your study matches the exam.
- Practice in 150-question blocks at least once to build stamina for the full 3 hours.
- Spend extra time on California-specific topics, since they are woven through the exam rather than isolated.
- Review wrong answers by topic and revisit the weakest group within a day or two.
See our California state page for a broader overview. When you want practice, the free California quiz is a good start, and the GablePrep app offers longer sets and review.
Next step
Take the free California real estate quiz and see where your gaps are.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the California real estate salesperson exam?
According to the California DRE exam page (accessed 2026-10-31), the salesperson exam is 150 multiple-choice questions with four options each, and 3 hours are allowed. DRE does not say how many are unscored.
What percentage do you need to pass the California salesperson exam?
DRE states that examinees must correctly answer at least 70 percent of the questions. On 150 questions that is about 105 correct, but the 105 figure is our arithmetic, not a number DRE prints.
Is there a separate national portion in California?
No. California has one combined exam that mixes California law and general principles. The DRE runs the exam itself rather than a national testing vendor.
How much does the California salesperson exam cost?
DRE's fee page lists $100 for the salesperson exam only, effective July 1, 2024. The original license fee is separate at $350. Older websites may still quote $60.
Sources
- California DRE - taking the exam
- California DRE - salesperson exam content
- California DRE - fee schedule
- California DRE - salesperson license requirements
Independent exam prep. Not affiliated with any state real estate commission or testing provider. Not an approved pre-licensing course. Not legal advice. Facts verified on 2026-10-31; always confirm with your state’s official handbook.