Real estate agents are licensed to help people buy, sell, and rent real estate and must work for a sponsoring broker or brokerage firm. Brokers have additional training and licensing requirements and can work independently or hire other real estate agents to work for them.
Real estate agents are required to work under a supervising real estate broker in California. Brokers, on the other hand, have the freedom to work under another broker, work completely independently, or build their own real estate companies full of real estate agents working under them.
A license may also be obtained by a person who does not immediately intend to be employed by a broker. However, a salesperson without an responsible broker may not perform acts requiring a real estate license.
A property manager in California does need a real estate license if they plan on engaging in real estate activities like soliciting tenants, negotiating leases, and collecting rents.
No, you don't need a license to wholesale real estate in California.
If you have a complaint against a licensed real estate agent or business, visit California DRE's website for details on How To File A Complaint, or call the California DRE Public Information Line at (877) 373-4542.
Complete 135 hours of real estate education. Pass the California Salesperson licensing exam. Complete a background check. Apply online for a Salesperson license with the California Department of Real Estate (DRE).
Depending on how fast you take your pre-licensing course, you can get your California real estate license in as little as 14.5 weeks. Some things will be in your control, but California Department of Real Estate (DRE) largely dictates how long things will take.
Completing the Required Real Estate Courses - 7.5+ Weeks You can speed things up a little bit by taking the courses at a DRE-approved private real estate school like AceableAgent. Online courses, like AceableAgent, are the quickest path, but the DRE has still mandated timeframes for completion.
It's possible to receive your pre-licensing education online. However, you must still take the California real estate license exam in person.