Washington Real Estate License

To become a real estate agent or broker in the state of Washington, you will need to obtain a Washington real estate license. This article describes the licensing process, including how long it will take to get a license.

The time it takes to become a real estate agent in Washington State

The time it will take you to receive your Washington real estate license mainly depends on the time that you will get to finish pre-licensing education. Also, passing the state licensing exam and the background check take some time.

On average, all these steps will take you from four to six months altogether. If you manage you accelerate the process, you will have the license sooner.

How do I get a real estate broker’s license in Washington State?

Main qualifications

Before you enter the real estate industry in the state of Washington, you must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma (or its equivalent).

Register as a student

In the first place, you should start the studying process by registering as a student. When you are on the page, click on the “Portals” tab and then on the “Washington Student User” option. Afterwards, repeat the registration steps.

The reason for this is that your course provider will be able to submit your transcripts electronically.

Complete pre-licensing education

In the state of Washington, you must complete 90 hours of approved pre-licensing education, which consists of the following classes and hours:

• A 60-hour course in Real Estate Fundamentals
• A 30-hour course in Real Estate Practices

Note that you must complete pre-licensing two years before you apply for the exam.

Prior to finishing the course, there will be a final course exam and you must pass it to receive the Certificate of completion.

Click here to find approved pre-licensing courses in the state of Washington.

Take the broker’s exam

The next step is to take the Washington real estate license exam. Follow this link to register for the exam and pay the $138.25 fee for each examination attempt.

Please note that you will not be able to schedule an exam appointment unless the course provider sends your Certificate of completion to the testing vendor.

The exam contains 130 questions, which cover both National (100 questions) and State (30 questions) sections.

For the whole test, you will have 3.5 hours. Use this time wisely and get 70 and 21 of the section questions correct to pass the exam.

Background check and fingerprinting

You cannot receive the license until you complete background check and fingerprinting. To start the process electronically, use this link and schedule an appointment for fingerprinting.

The fee for the fingerprinting service is $42.80.

It is important to know that past criminal offenses, felonies or judgments can prevent you from getting the Washington real estate license. Thus, you should request a hearing or provide additional documents for such cases.

Apply for the real estate license

As long as you fulfill the initial requirements, you are already to apply for the license. You can quickly apply online and pay the $146.25 license fee.

Contact Information

Washington Real Estate Commission
PO Box 3917
Seattle, WA 98124-3917
Phone: (360) 664-6488