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Real estate license · California

California real estate exam practice test

As of October 26, 2026, California requires three college-level courses before the salesperson exam: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice and one elective from the DRE’s list.

The California Department of Real Estate gives salesperson candidates 3 hours to answer 150 multiple-choice questions.

A California salesperson candidate passes by answering at least 70% of the questions correctly, and the DRE shows the actual score only to candidates who fail (per dre.ca.gov, checked on Oct 26, 2026).

Updated Oct 26, 2026Rules checked against dre.ca.govHow we check
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California real estate exam at a glance

Scored on the exam
150 questionssource, Oct 26, 2026
To pass
70% correctsource, Oct 26, 2026
Exam time
3 hourssource, Oct 26, 2026
Exam fee
$100source, Oct 26, 2026
Minimum age
18source, Oct 26, 2026

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Free California real estate practice test: 10 questions

OneTryPass wrote these questions from California law, the commission's rules and the exam vendor's handbook. Pick an answer to see if you got it; each explanation names the section it comes from.

  1. Agency and brokerage

    Question 1. A California listing agent is about to sign a listing agreement with a homeowner. When must the agent hand the seller the agency relationship disclosure form?

    Show answer

    Answer: B. Before entering into the listing agreement

    Civil Code section 2079.14 requires the seller’s agent to give the seller the "Disclosure Regarding Real Estate Agency Relationship" form before entering into the listing agreement, and to get a signed acknowledgment of receipt.

    From 2026 Real Estate Law: Pertinent Excerpts from the California Codes (California DRE) · Civil Code §2079.14, Listing and Selling Agents Shall Provide Copy of Disclosure

  2. Agency and brokerage

    Question 2. A California broker is a dual agent. The buyer privately says she would pay more than her offer. What may the broker tell the seller?

    Show answer

    Answer: D. Nothing about it without the buyer’s express permission

    Under Civil Code section 2079.21, a dual agent may not disclose confidential information obtained from the buyer without the buyer’s express permission, and the statute names the buyer’s willingness to pay more than the offered price as an example.

    From 2026 Real Estate Law: Pertinent Excerpts from the California Codes (California DRE) · Civil Code §2079.21, Dual Agent – Listing Price/Selling Price

  3. Disclosures

    Question 3. Under California Civil Code section 1710.2, a seller’s agent does not have to disclose an occupant’s death on the property if it happened more than how long before the buyer’s offer?

    Show answer

    Answer: B. Three years

    Section 1710.2 says a death on the property, and the manner of death, is not a material fact requiring disclosure when it occurred more than three years before the offer. The agent still may not lie in response to a direct question about deaths on the property.

    From 2026 Real Estate Law: Pertinent Excerpts from the California Codes (California DRE) · Civil Code §1710.2, Disclosure of Death or AIDS

  4. Disclosures

    Question 4. A California seller hands the Transfer Disclosure Statement to the buyer in person after the buyer’s offer is signed. How long does the buyer have to terminate the offer?

    Show answer

    Answer: A. Three days after delivery

    Civil Code section 1102.3 gives the buyer three days after delivery in person, or five days after delivery by mail, to terminate the offer with a written notice to the seller or the seller’s agent.

    From 2026 Real Estate Law: Pertinent Excerpts from the California Codes (California DRE) · Civil Code §1102.3, Delivery of Disclosure Statement

  5. Disclosures

    Question 5. What does California Civil Code section 2079 require of a listing broker selling a house with one to four units?

    Show answer

    Answer: C. A reasonably competent and diligent visual inspection, and disclosure of what it reveals

    Section 2079 requires the broker to conduct a reasonably competent and diligent visual inspection of the property and to disclose to the prospective buyer all facts materially affecting its value or desirability that the investigation would reveal.

    From 2026 Real Estate Law: Pertinent Excerpts from the California Codes (California DRE) · Civil Code §2079, Duty to Inspect and Disclose

  6. Licensing rules

    Question 6. A California salesperson receives a buyer’s deposit check on a Monday. Unless it goes to the owner or into a neutral escrow, it must be in the broker’s trust account no later than:

    Show answer

    Answer: D. Three business days after receipt

    Commissioner’s regulation 2832 requires trust funds to be placed with the owner, in a neutral escrow depository or in the broker’s trust account no later than three business days after the broker or the broker’s salesperson receives them.

    From 2026 Real Estate Law: Regulations of the Real Estate Commissioner (California DRE) · Cal. Code of Regulations, title 10, §2832, Trust Fund Handling

  7. Licensing rules

    Question 7. How long must a California broker keep listings, deposit receipts, canceled checks and trust records from a transaction?

    Show answer

    Answer: B. Three years

    Business and Professions Code section 10148 sets three years, counted from the closing date, or from the listing date if the transaction never closes.

    From 2026 Real Estate Law: Business and Professions Code, Division 4 (California DRE) · Business and Professions Code §10148, Retention of Records

  8. The license exam

    Question 8. What does the California real estate salesperson exam look like?

    Show answer

    Answer: B. 150 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours

    The DRE gives salesperson candidates 3 hours for 150 multiple-choice questions, each with four answer choices, and requires at least 70% correct. The 200-question, 4-hour exam is the broker exam.

    From Taking the Exam - DRE · Time

  9. Pre- and post-licensing education

    Question 9. Which courses must a California applicant complete before taking the salesperson exam?

    Show answer

    Answer: A. Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice and one elective from the DRE list

    The DRE requires three college-level courses: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice and one more from its list, such as Legal Aspects of Real Estate or Real Estate Finance. Continuing education does not count toward them.

    From Requirements to Apply for a Real Estate Salesperson License - DRE · Course Requirements

  10. Contracts and offers

    Question 10. A printed California listing form for a single-family home sets the broker’s commission. What must appear right before the compensation clause?

    Show answer

    Answer: C. A notice that commissions are not fixed by law and may be negotiable

    Business and Professions Code section 10147.5 requires a notice, in at least 10-point boldface type, that the amount or rate of commissions is not fixed by law and may be negotiable. The rate itself may not be preprinted in the form.

    From 2026 Real Estate Law: Business and Professions Code, Division 4 (California DRE) · Business and Professions Code §10147.5, Commission Agreement Notice

California real estate exam questions people ask

How many questions are on the California real estate salesperson exam?

There are 150 multiple-choice questions, each with four answer choices, and you get 3 hours. The DRE’s RE 425 outline spreads them over seven subject areas; practice of real estate and disclosures carries the most weight at about 25%, followed by agency law and fiduciary duties at about 17%.

The DRE runs the test itself, on screen, at sites in Fresno, La Palma, Oakland, Sacramento and San Diego. Once approved, you can grab an open seat in eLicensing until 6:00 a.m. on test day.

Sources: Taking the Exam · Examination Description, RE 425 (California DRE, Rev. 6/25) · How and Where Exams are Scheduled

What courses do you need before the California salesperson exam?

Three college-level courses: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice and one elective, such as Legal Aspects of Real Estate, Real Estate Finance or Property Management. Every DRE-approved course runs at least 45 hours, and continuing education classes do not count.

Since 2024 the Practice course has to cover implicit bias and fair housing, including a role-play in which you act as both the consumer and the agent. Members of the California State Bar skip the coursework.

Source: Requirements to Apply for a Real Estate Salesperson License

When does a California agent give you the agency disclosure form?

A seller’s agent hands the seller the "Disclosure Regarding Real Estate Agency Relationship" form before the listing agreement is signed. A buyer’s agent gives it to the buyer as soon as practicable before the buyer-broker representation agreement and the offer are signed.

If one brokerage represents both sides, it is a dual agent and cannot pass along price-related confidences, such as a buyer’s willingness to pay more, without that party’s express permission.

Source: 2026 Real Estate Law: Pertinent Excerpts from the California Codes (California DRE)

Every California licensing rule we checked

Each line is one rule from an official page — the California Department of Real Estate, California law or the exam vendor's handbook — with the date we read it.

License exam
The California Department of Real Estate gives salesperson candidates 3 hours to answer 150 multiple-choice questions. source, Oct 26, 2026
A California salesperson candidate passes by answering at least 70% of the questions correctly, and the DRE shows the actual score only to candidates who fail. source, Oct 26, 2026
The California DRE exam outline (RE 425) puts about 25% of the exam on real estate practice and disclosures and about 17% on agency law and fiduciary duties. source, Oct 26, 2026
Pre-licensing education
California requires three college-level courses before the salesperson exam: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice and one elective from the DRE’s list. source, Oct 26, 2026
Each pre-license course approved by the California Department of Real Estate runs at least 45 hours. source, Oct 26, 2026
Since January 1, 2024, the Real Estate Practice course a California applicant submits must include implicit bias and fair housing components, with a role-play exercise. source, Oct 26, 2026
Who can apply
The California Department of Real Estate issues a salesperson license only to applicants who are 18 or older. source, Oct 26, 2026
A California salesperson applicant needs a Social Security number or an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). source, Oct 26, 2026
Members of the California State Bar do not have to take the college-level courses for the salesperson exam. source, Oct 26, 2026
California license applicants who live in the state pay a $49 fingerprint processing fee directly to the Live Scan provider. source, Oct 26, 2026
Exam vendor
The California DRE gives the salesperson exam in an electronic format at sites in Fresno, La Palma, Oakland, Sacramento and San Diego. source, Oct 26, 2026
Qualified California examinees can book an open exam seat in the DRE’s eLicensing system as late as 6:00 a.m. on the day of the exam. source, Oct 26, 2026
Fees
The California Department of Real Estate charges $100 for the salesperson exam and $100 for each re-examination. source, Oct 26, 2026
Filing California’s combined salesperson exam and license application costs $499: $100 for the exam, $350 for the license and $49 for fingerprints. source, Oct 26, 2026
If you fail
A California candidate may take the exam any number of times within two years of filing the original application; after that, a new application and fee are required. source, Oct 26, 2026
The California DRE tells candidates who fail to wait for their results before applying for a new exam date. source, Oct 26, 2026
After you pass
After passing the exam on the exam-only route, a California applicant downloads the license application from eLicensing and submits it with the fees and Live Scan fingerprints. source, Oct 26, 2026
A California salesperson without a responsible broker may not perform acts that require a real estate license. source, Oct 26, 2026
California salesperson licenses last four years, and renewing one requires 45 clock hours of continuing education completed during the four years before renewal. source, Oct 26, 2026

The full California pack

The free questions above are a sample. The pack is the whole question bank, practiced the way the app below shows.

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California real estate practice pack

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Refunds: Full refund within 7 days of purchase, no questions asked.

OneTryPass is not affiliated with the California Department of Real Estate. Licensing rules are free at dre.ca.gov.

California real estate exam FAQ

Who gives the California real estate exam?

The California Department of Real Estate gives it directly, in an electronic format at its exam sites. The DRE approves an exam-only application in about 2 to 4 weeks; after that you schedule through eLicensing. Source: official pages "Taking the Exam" and "Steps to Becoming a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson or Broker (California DRE)", checked on Oct 26, 2026.

How much does a California real estate salesperson license cost?

The exam is $100, the license is $350 and fingerprint processing is $49. Filing the exam and license together costs $499 up front, and the DRE says that combined fee is not refundable, even if you fail. Source: official page "Exam, Licensing and Petition Fees, RE 206 (California DRE, Rev. 7/26)", checked on Oct 26, 2026.

Can I work as soon as I get my California license?

Only under a responsible broker: a salesperson without one may not do anything that requires a license. The license lasts four years, and renewing it takes 45 clock hours of continuing education. Source: official pages "Requirements to Apply for a Real Estate Salesperson License" and "2026 Real Estate Law: Business and Professions Code, Division 4 (California DRE)", checked on Oct 26, 2026.

Are these the real California real estate exam questions?

No. OneTryPass writes its own practice questions from California law, the commission's rules and the exam vendor's candidate handbook, and each question names the section it comes from so you can check the rule. Exam vendors do not publish their live questions.

Is OneTryPass affiliated with the California Department of Real Estate?

No. OneTryPass is an independent practice site. Licensing rules and the candidate handbook are free on the California Department of Real Estate and exam vendor websites, linked on this page.

Where this information comes from

Every rule on this page comes from the California Department of Real Estate, California statutes and rules. OneTryPass reads each page, writes the rule in plain English and records the date. A rule that passes its re-check date leaves this page on its own until it is read again.

How often each kind of rule is read again: license exam, 120 days; pre-licensing education, 180 days; who can apply, 180 days; exam vendor, 180 days; fees, 90 days; if you fail, 180 days; after you pass, 180 days.

Something wrong on this page? Tell us at [email protected] and include the link to the official page that changed. See how we check.