California real estate exam
Format, passing score, fees and what to study — compiled from the official candidate handbook and state sources, with a link and a confidence level for every fact. Last verified 2026-10-31.
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California exam format and requirements
| Fact | Value | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulator | California Department of Real Estate (DRE) | Official source | Link |
| Exam provider | California DRE (state-administered, proctored at DRE exam sites: Fresno, La Palma, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego; electronic format) DRE runs its own exams; no PSI/Pearson. (Automatic fetch of this page succeeded.) | Official source | Link |
| National-portion questions | Not found in the sources we checked Not applicable: California has one combined exam (no separate national portion). | Official source | Link |
| State-portion questions | 150 Single exam of 150 multiple-choice questions (4 options). DRE does not state how many are unscored. | Official source | Link |
| Exam time (minutes) | 180 Salesperson: 3 hours, 150 questions (broker: 4 hours, 200 questions). Arrive 30 minutes early. | Official source | Link |
| Passing score | 70% of questions correct (about 105 of 150) DRE: 'examinees must correctly answer at least 70 percent of the questions' (broker 75%). The 105/150 figure is arithmetic. | Official source | Link |
| Exam fee (USD) | $100 Salesperson Examination (exam only) $100 as of July 1, 2024; re-examination $100; rescheduled exam $40. Original license is a separate $350 (combo exam+license $450). | Official source | Link |
| Pre-licensing hours | 135 DRE requires three college-level courses (Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, plus one elective such as Appraisal/Finance/Property Management); DRE states each DRE-approved course is a minimum of 45 hours. 3… | Secondary source | Link |
| Languages | English DRE states the law requires 'appropriate knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and spelling'; exam is English only. | Official source | Link |
| Active licensees | 291609 Licensee population, June 2026: 291,609 salespersons and 116,784 brokers (408,393 total); 303,470 salespersons in June 2025 (declining ~4%/yr). DRE does not split active/inactive in this table. | Official source | Link |
| New licensees / year | 15647 COMPUTED: sum of the 12 monthly 'Original Salesperson' licenses issued, July 2025-June 2026 (1,221; 1,251; 1,364; 1,363; 964; 1,295; 1,350; 1,237; 1,450; 1,404; 1,365; 1,383). Not a figure DRE prints as an annual tota… | Secondary source | Link |
“Official source” = read in a state agency page or the exam provider’s candidate handbook on 2026-10-31. Anything marked “Vendor claim” or “Not verified” should be confirmed before you rely on it. Fees and formats change.
What this means for your study plan
- Time per question: about 1.2 minutes each (180 minutes ÷ 150 questions). Practice at that pace.
- One combined exam: general real estate principles and California law are mixed together, so practice both together.
- Where people lose points: math word problems, wording traps (NOT/EXCEPT), and state rules that differ from the national rule. Our formula sheet covers the math.
- Good to know: California has no separate national/state split - the whole exam mixes California law (Business & Professions Code, Commissioner's Regulations) and general principles. Percentages are 'approximate' per DRE. Exam is closed-book, no calculators allowed in the room per DRE security list. Fee schedule changed July 1, 2024 (exam-only $60 -> $100); older sites still quote $60. Practice course must now include implicit-b…
State-portion topics published for California
- Property ownership and land use controls and regulations (~15%)
- Laws of agency and fiduciary duties (~17%)
- Property valuation and financial analysis (~14%)
- Financing (~9%)
- Transfer of property (~8%)
- Practice of real estate and disclosures incl. specialty areas (~25%)
- Contracts (~12%)
Sample California practice questions
Original questions written from the law, each with an explanation and a citation.
An agent tells homeowners that a family of a different ethnic background just bought on their street and that values and school quality will fall, urging them to list with her immediately. This conduct is
- permitted if she sincerely believes the statement about values is true
- grounds for discipline for soliciting on claimed decline tied to protected traits
- permitted if she makes the statement orally and does not put it in writing
- grounds for discipline only if a sale actually results from her statement
Answer: B. Section 10177(l) makes it grounds for discipline to solicit or induce the sale, lease, or listing of residential property on the basis of claimed loss of value, increased crime, or declining schools due to the entry of persons with protected characteristics.
Topic: Licensing & Regulatory Authority · Source: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 10177(l)
A seventeen-year-old who lives with his parents signs a contract to buy a used car with money from a summer job. Under Family Code § 6710, unless another statute provides otherwise, the minor
- may disaffirm it before majority or within a reasonable time after
- is bound unless a court approves the contract on the seller's petition
- may disaffirm it only with a parent's written consent and signature
- is bound once the contract is signed and the car has been delivered
Answer: A. Family Code § 6710 provides that, except as otherwise provided by statute, a contract of a minor may be disaffirmed by the minor before majority or within a reasonable time afterward (or by heirs or a personal representative if the minor dies within that period). Contracts relating to real property are treated separately: Family Code § 6701 states that a minor cannot make them at all.
Topic: State Contracts & Forms · Source: Cal. Fam. Code § 6710; see also § 6701(b)
Broker Lam has no system to see how many transactions her salespersons are handling or which licensed activities they perform. Which supervision element under 10 CCR § 2725 is she most clearly missing?
- county fictitious name registration for the brokerage
- bank reconciliation of the trust account each month
- regular reports on salespersons' licensed activities
- a fixed schedule of open houses for the office staff
Answer: C. Section 2725(g) calls for reasonable procedures to obtain regular and consistent reports of the licensed activities of salespersons and broker associates acting as salespersons.
Topic: State Agency & Brokerage Rules · Source: 10 CCR § 2725(g)
Try the full 20-question California quiz
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the California real estate exam?
Sources we checked describe a single combined exam for California of 150 questions. Confidence: Official source. Always confirm in the official candidate handbook.
What is the passing score for the California real estate exam?
70% of questions correct (about 105 of 150) (Official source).
How much does the California real estate exam cost?
The exam fee we found is $100, paid to California DRE (state-administered, proctored at DRE exam sites: Fresno, La Palma, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego; electronic format). Fees change, so check the current handbook.
How many pre-licensing hours does California require?
135 hours for the entry-level license, according to the sources below. Pre-licensing education must come from a state-approved school; GablePrep is exam prep and is not an approved course.
Guides for California
Official sources for California
- Regulator: California Department of Real Estate (DRE)
- Exam provider: California DRE (state-administered, proctored at DRE exam sites: Fresno, La Palma, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego; electronic format)
- Official candidate handbook / content outline
Independent exam prep. Not affiliated with any state real estate commission or testing provider. Not an approved pre-licensing course. Not legal advice.