District of Columbia 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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District of Columbia exam format and requirements
| Fact | Value | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulator | District of Columbia Real Estate Commission (Occupational and Professional Licensing Administration; bulletin cites DCRA/DCOPLA) Bulletin updated 6/3/2026 refers to DCOPLA support and the 'Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs' address (1100 4th St SW) - agency naming in the bulletin may lag recent DC reorganization. | Official source | Link |
| Exam provider | PSI Services LLC DC test site at 1100 4th St SW plus PSI centers nationwide. | Official source | Link |
| National-portion questions | 80 General portion: 80 items (80 points). Unscored experimental-question wording not found in the DC bulletin. | Official source | Link |
| State-portion questions | 30 Salesperson State portion: 30 items (broker: 40). | Official source | Link |
| Exam time (minutes) | 210 General 120 min + State 90 min = 210 min (combo). | Official source | Link |
| Passing score | 75% on each portion Bulletin: 'You need to score a minimum of 75% correct to pass' (also states a minimum 75 percent on the DC law exam). | Official source | Link |
| Exam fee (USD) | $79 $79 regardless of taking one or both portions; valid one year from payment; non-refundable. | Official source | Link |
| Pre-licensing hours | 60 60-hour salesperson pre-licensing education; also a 3-hour DCREC-approved DC Fair Housing course required for licensure. | Official source | Link |
| Languages | English No other exam language is listed in the official handbook/bulletin; English-only is inferred from silence. | 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 1.9 minutes each (210 minutes ÷ 110 questions). Practice at that pace.
- Both portions count: you must reach the pass mark on each portion — a strong national score does not make up for a weak District of Columbia score.
- 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: Two-thirds of the 30-item DC law portion is 'statutory requirements governing activities of licensees'. Fail one portion = retake only that portion, but pass within 6 months of the first attempt; apply for license within 6 months of passing. The Commission's own DC law study material is the ONLY commission-supplied prep source. DC salespersons must be affiliated with a DC broker; licenses expire Aug 31 of odd year…
State-portion topics published for District of Columbia
- Duties and powers of the Real Estate Commission (20%, 6 items)
- Licensing requirements (13%, 4 items)
- Statutory requirements governing activities of licensees (67%, 20 items) - advertising/technology, broker-salesperson relationship, commissions, disclosure/conflict of interest, documents, monies, fair housing/ADA, tenant's right to purchase, agency, property disclosures (historic preservation, common-interest communities), environmental/sustainable energy, DC regulations
Sample District of Columbia practice questions
Original questions written from the law, each with an explanation and a citation. District of Columbia-specific questions are coming soon; these samples come from the national portion.
A comparable sold for $300,000, and the seller paid $9,000 of the buyer's closing costs as a concession that the appraiser concludes the market reflects dollar for dollar. The appraiser should treat the cash-equivalent price as:
- $309,000
- $300,000
- $9,000
- $291,000
Answer: D. Seller concessions mean the buyer did not really pay the full stated price in cash-equivalent terms, so the appraiser reduces the sale price for them: $300,000 - $9,000 = $291,000. Ignoring the concession overstates the property's value.
Topic: Valuation & Market Analysis · Source: The Appraisal of Real Estate (Appraisal Institute), sales comparison approach
An investor divides an income property's first-year pre-tax cash flow by the cash equity she invested. The resulting measure is commonly called the:
- Capitalization rate
- Gross rent multiplier
- Loan-to-value ratio
- Cash-on-cash return
Answer: D. Cash-on-cash return, which appraisers call the equity dividend rate, equals annual pre-tax cash flow divided by the equity invested. Unlike the capitalization rate, it reflects financing, because cash flow is measured after debt service.
Topic: Property Management & Specialty Areas · Source: Appraisal Institute, The Dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal (7th ed. 2022), "equity dividend rate"
In a two-party mortgage transaction, what are the borrower and the lender called?
- Mortgagee and mortgagor
- Trustee and trustor
- Vendor and vendee
- Mortgagor and mortgagee
Answer: D. The borrower who gives the mortgage is the mortgagor, and the lender who receives it is the mortgagee. A common memory aid is that the mortgagor 'gives' the mortgage and the mortgagee 'gets' it.
Topic: Real Estate Finance · Source: Restatement (Third) of Property: Mortgages (Am. Law Inst. 1997)
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Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the District of Columbia real estate exam?
The District of Columbia exam format we found is 80 national questions plus 30 District of Columbia questions (110 in total) in 210 minutes. Confirm in the official handbook before exam day.
What is the passing score for the District of Columbia real estate exam?
75% on each portion (Official source).
How much does the District of Columbia real estate exam cost?
The exam fee we found is $79, paid to PSI Services LLC. Fees change, so check the current handbook.
How many pre-licensing hours does District of Columbia require?
60 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.
Official sources for District of Columbia
- Regulator: District of Columbia Real Estate Commission (Occupational and Professional Licensing Administration; bulletin cites DCRA/DCOPLA)
- Exam provider: PSI Services LLC
- 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.