Real estate exam requirements by state
The core real estate exam requirements are the same idea everywhere: be at least 18, finish your state’s pre-licensing education and get approved by the state agency before you test. The details differ. Texas requires 180 classroom hours, California three college-level courses, Washington 90 hours and New York 77 hours, and each state sets its own deadlines and background checks.
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Real estate exam requirements that most states share
Texas, California, Washington and New York all set the minimum age at 18. Education comes next, and you must usually finish it before the agency lets you test. A background check with fingerprints is standard, and to work after you pass you need a sponsoring or supervising broker.
There is no national rule set. If you plan to move, check the new state’s commission: hours, courses and exam portions do not automatically transfer.
Source: Texas Real Estate Commission — Sales agent. Checked 19 October 2026.
Texas: 180 hours, fingerprints and a sponsoring broker
TREC requires sales agent applicants to be 18 or older, a US citizen or lawfully admitted alien, and to meet its qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness and integrity. You must complete 180 classroom hours in six 30-hour courses: Principles of Real Estate I and II, Law of Agency, Law of Contracts, Promulgated Contract Forms and Real Estate Finance.
Fingerprints must be on file with the Texas Department of Public Safety. After you meet the requirements and pass the exam, TREC issues an inactive license; you need a sponsoring broker before you can practise.
Source: Texas Real Estate Commission — Sales agent. Checked 19 October 2026.
California: three college-level courses
California’s DRE requires salesperson applicants to be 18 or older and to complete three college-level courses: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice and one elective from a list that includes Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Appraisal, Legal Aspects of Real Estate, Property Management and Escrows.
Once the DRE receives your application, you have two years to qualify for and pass the exam; otherwise the application expires. Broker applicants need eight college-level courses and at least two years of full-time licensed salesperson experience within the last five years, or the equivalent.
Source: California DRE — Instructions to License Applicants (RE 4). Checked 19 October 2026.
Washington and New York
Washington requires broker applicants to be at least 18, to have a high school diploma or equivalent, and to complete 90 hours of approved education: a 60-hour Real Estate Fundamentals course and a 30-hour Real Estate Practices course. You pass the test first and then submit fingerprints for the background check.
New York requires salesperson applicants to be 18, to complete 77 hours of approved qualifying education and to be sponsored by a New York licensed real estate broker. Passed exam results are valid for two years.
Source: Washington DOL — Get your license: Real estate brokers. Checked 19 October 2026.
Deadlines after the exam
Requirements do not end on exam day. In New Mexico, the 90 hours of pre-licensing courses must have been completed within the three years before application, and fingerprints are required for all new applications, including license upgrades. California gives you two years from application, New York keeps passed results valid for two years.
Missing a deadline usually means repeating the exam, so plan your application and license filing together.
Source: New Mexico Real Estate Commission — Licensing, Registration and Renewal. Checked 19 October 2026.
After you meet the requirements
Once you are approved to test, preparation decides the rest. Certsqill’s real estate exam practice questions are expert-developed, explain every answer option and track a readiness score per content area.
Real Estate Exam requirements: questions people ask
What are the real estate exam requirements?
Usually a minimum age of 18, your state’s pre-licensing education and approval from the state agency; a background check and sponsoring broker follow. Details vary by state. Checked 19 October 2026.
How many hours do I need before the real estate exam?
It depends on the state: 180 classroom hours in Texas, 90 in Washington and New Mexico, 77 in New York, three college-level courses in California. Checked 19 October 2026.
Do I need a college degree for the real estate exam?
None of the requirement pages checked (Texas, California, Washington, New York) lists a degree. Washington asks for a high school diploma or equivalent; California asks for three college-level courses, not a degree. Checked 19 October 2026.
Do I need a sponsoring broker before the exam?
Texas issues an inactive license until a broker sponsors you; New York requires sponsorship by a licensed broker for the license. Checked 19 October 2026.
How long do I have to pass the real estate exam?
California: two years from application. New York: passed results stay valid for two years. Texas: three attempts within one year of applying. Checked 19 October 2026.
