DRE Agent Licensing Kit - Licensing checklist, State Exam Training Guide and Study Tips

Sep 15, 2026

DRE Agent Licensing Kit provides a structured licensing checklist and training roadmap for becoming a California real estate sales agent. It covers required education courses, online and print delivery timelines, 54-day pacing with a 1-year completion window, open-book course exams and pass requirements, and obtaining fingerprints via live scan requests. It also explains DRE exam application options, fees, mail submission steps, processing timelines, eLicensing scheduling, and study preparation for the state exam, including exam length, format, locations, and topic coverage.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryForms

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Licensing checklist

Education and course exams

Live Scan fingerprints

State exam application and licensing

State exam preparation and exam facts

DRE Agent Licensing Kit Licensing checklist, State Exam Training Guide and Study Tips Licensing checklist Use this checklist to streamline your sales agent licensing process. 􀀻 EDUCATION: 3 courses required 3 courses are required: real estate Principles, Practice and Legal Aspects (elective) . ▪ first tuesday courses are homestudy correspondence courses. ▪ You receive the materials in print and online. ▪ Online access is immediate; printed books arrive within 5-7 business days. 􀂅 study your materials ▪ 3 courses in 54 days. ▪ You have 1 year from enrollment to complete the courses. ▪ To check your comprehension, take quizzes online or from your printed books. 􀂅 pass your course exams ▪ All course exams are open book. ▪ Each course exam has 100 multiple choice questions. ▪ You have 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete each exam. ▪ You have unlimited exam attempts during your 1-year enrollment period. ▪ 60% passing score for each exam. ▪ Print all your Certificates of Completion. [firsttuesday.us](firsttuesday.us | 951.781.7300 | 3474 Niki Way)[ | 951.781.7300 | 3474 Niki Way](firsttuesday.us | 951.781.7300 | 3474 Niki Way), Riverside, CA 92507 􀂅 GET YOUR FINGERPRINTS scanned ▪ Fill out and sign 3 copies of RE 237 ( Live Scan Service Request) . ▪ Hand all 3 copies of RE 237 to a Live Scan service provider. ▪ Pay a $20-$40 Live Scan Rolling Fee and a $49 fingerprint processing fee to the Live Scan service provider. 􀂅 Apply for the agent state exam and license You may either: • apply for the State Exam and license at the same time to cut processing time; or • apply to take the State Exam first and, on passing the exam, apply for the license. For details visit [firsttuesday.us/agentalt](firsttuesday.us/agentalt). DRE processing time: 3-6 weeks. After you apply, you have 2 years to pass the State Exam. • Fill out and sign RE 435 (Salesperson Exam/License Application) . • Pay the $305 exam and licensing fee by check payable to “Department of Real Estate” or by credit card using RE 909 (Credit Card Payment) . • Mail RE 435, 1 copy of RE 237, the exam and licensing fee payment and your 3 Certificates of Completion issued by first tuesday to: Department of Real Estate Examination Section PO Box 137001 Sacramento, CA 95813-7001 You will receive an email or letter from DRE clearing you for the State Exam. Schedule your State Exam date and location by opening an eLicensing account at [dre.ca.gov](dre.ca.gov). 􀂅 Prepare forthe State Exam ▪ Read the State Exam Study Guide and Study Tips. ▪ Study your State Exam Prep Book.* ▪ Take the interactive practice exams.* ▪ Review the online memory-sorting flash card app.* ▪ Watch the Online Video Crash Course with its math component.* ▪ You may want to attend a live State Exam Prep course.* * Premium study tools, not included in all packages 􀂅Take Your State Exam ▪ Take only your current government-issued photo ID into the room – nothing else. ▪ Receive your exam results immediately on completion. When you pass, you will receive your real estate sales agent license. Additional Services To start your career off on the right track use these FREE first tuesday services: ▪ Find a broker using first tuesday’s Broker Search. ▪ Develop your income and expense expectations for your first year using the Agent's Income Data Sheet. [RPI Form 504] ▪ Stay ahead by reading the first tuesday Journal. ▪ Download real estate forms and FARM letter templates—FREE. ▪ Reference the Realtipedia, our 17-volume real estate library. Access these first tuesday services at [firsttuesday.us/ftbenefits](firsttuesday.us/ftbenefits). The State Exam training Guide The guidance presented on this page informs you about • the scope of the State Exam variables you will encounter when taking the State Exam • the ratio of State Exam questions allocated to each of seven real estate topics the exam covers, and • topical

FAQs

How many education courses are required and how are they delivered?

Three courses are required. Courses are firsttuesday homestudy correspondence formats delivered with materials in both print and online, with immediate online access and printed books arriving in about 5–7 business days.

What are the key rules for the course exams?

Course exams are open book, each includes 100 multiple-choice questions, and you have 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete each exam. You can attempt exams unlimitedly during your 1-year enrollment period, with a 60% passing score required for each.

What is the process and timeline for applying for the state exam and license?

You can apply for the State Exam and license together to reduce processing time, or apply for the exam first and apply for the license after passing. DRE processing time is 3–6 weeks, and after you apply you have 2 years to pass the State Exam; exam scheduling is done through a dre.ca.gov eLicensing account.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Jordan Avery