Becoming a real estate professional in Burien starts with meeting Washington’s statewide broker-licensing requirements. A Washington-approved pre-licensing course—such as Leap Real Estate’s Washington Pre-Licensing Course—can help you complete the required education and prepare for the licensing exams while studying from Burien.

Washington Real Estate License Requirements

Washington issues a real estate broker license, rather than a separate city-specific license for Burien. To qualify, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Complete 90 clock hours of approved real estate education.
• Pass both the national and Washington state portions of the broker examination.
• Complete a fingerprint-based background check.
• Apply for the license through the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL).

These requirements apply throughout Washington, including Burien and the surrounding Puget Sound region.

Step 1: Complete 90 Hours of Approved Education

The required 90 hours consist of:

• 60 hours of Real Estate Fundamentals
• 30 hours of Real Estate Practices

The Fundamentals curriculum must also include instruction in fair housing and consumer protection issues.

Courses must be approved by the Washington real estate program. Before enrolling, confirm that the provider and course appear in the Washington DOL’s approved education resources.

A Washington pre-licensing program can help organize the required subjects into a structured study plan. Leap Real Estate’s Washington Pre-Licensing Course is one option for students who want to complete the required coursework online.

Step 2: Choose an Online or In-Person Course

Washington permits prospective brokers to choose among approved education providers and course formats. Online education may be convenient for Burien students who work full time, have family responsibilities, or prefer self-paced study.

When comparing online real estate schools, look for:

• Washington DOL-approved courses.
• Clear completion requirements and attendance policies.
• Access to instructors or academic support.
• Practice questions and exam preparation.
• A process for reporting completed education to the state.
• Transparent tuition and refund policies.

An online course does not eliminate the state’s other requirements. Students must still pass the required examinations, complete fingerprinting, submit an application, and meet all DOL procedures.

Step 3: Pass the Washington Broker Examinations

After completing the required education, you must pass both portions of the Washington broker examination:

• The national portion.
• The Washington state portion.

The Washington DOL states that applicants must apply for and complete the required broker examinations within two years after completing their real estate education courses.

Use your course materials to review topics such as contracts, agency relationships, property ownership, financing, real estate mathematics, Washington license law, and brokerage practices. A dedicated exam-preparation program can be useful because passing the course final and passing the state licensing examination are separate steps.

Step 4: Complete Fingerprinting and the Background Check

You must pass the examination before submitting fingerprints for the required background check.

Washington uses IdentoGO for electronic fingerprint appointments in the state. The fingerprinting provider charges a separate fee for fingerprint collection and the background checks required for the license type.

Applicants should schedule fingerprinting promptly after passing the exam because the background-check process is a separate part of the application. A criminal record does not automatically establish the outcome of an application; the DOL reviews licensing information under its applicable rules and procedures.

Fingerprint-based background-check results must generally be renewed every six years for licensees.

Step 5: Apply for the Washington Broker License

Once you have completed the education and examination requirements and submitted your fingerprints, apply through the Washington DOL’s licensing system. The application requires payment of the applicable licensing fee.

The DOL’s official licensing page should be checked immediately before applying because fees, application procedures, processing requirements, and payment methods can change. The available official materials identify fees for renewals, but they do not establish a single current total for every new-license applicant’s education, examination, fingerprinting, and application expenses.

Your total cost may include:

• Tuition for the 90-hour pre-licensing education.
• Course materials or exam-preparation fees.
• National and state examination fees.
• Fingerprinting and background-check fees.
• The initial broker-license application fee.
• Business or association costs after licensing.

Because education providers and testing services may charge different amounts, compare the current provider and DOL fee schedules before budgeting.

Step 6: Work With a Sponsoring Brokerage

A newly licensed Washington broker generally begins a career under the supervision of a licensed real estate firm and managing broker. Before choosing a brokerage, ask about:

• Training for newly licensed brokers.
• Commission splits and transaction fees.
• Desk, technology, marketing, and administrative fees.
• Lead-generation programs.
• Mentorship and transaction review.
• Office locations serving Burien, Seattle, Kent, Renton, and nearby communities.
• Whether the brokerage supports residential, commercial, relocation, or property-management-related business.

The sponsoring brokerage is a career and supervision decision separate from the statewide education and examination requirements. Review the current DOL instructions for the exact affiliation or license-activation procedure that applies to your application.

How Long Does It Take?

Washington does not establish one universal timeline for every applicant. Completion time depends on:

• How quickly you complete the 90-hour education.
• Course scheduling and provider policies.
• Examination appointment availability.
• Whether you pass both exam portions on the first attempt.
• Fingerprint and background-check processing.
• Application processing by the DOL.
• Whether additional information is requested.

The clearest state deadline is that the required broker examinations must be completed within two years after the applicant completes the real estate education courses.

For a practical plan, finish the education first, schedule the examination as soon as you are prepared, complete fingerprinting after passing, and submit the application with all requested information.

Post-License Education and the First Renewal

Washington requires substantial education for the first active renewal of a broker license. The first renewal requires at least 90 clock hours started after the date the broker was first licensed.

The first-renewal education includes:

• A 30-hour Advanced Practices Course.
• A 30-hour Real Estate Law Course.
• The required core or current-issues content.
• At least 27 additional hours of approved continuing education.

The first-renewal requirement is different from the initial 90-hour pre-licensing requirement. New brokers should track the date their license is issued and enroll only in courses that satisfy the applicable post-license or continuing-education rules.

Ongoing Continuing Education

Washington real estate broker licenses must be renewed every two years.

After the first renewal, an active broker generally must complete at least 30 clock hours of approved continuing education for each renewal cycle. At least 15 hours must be completed within the 24 months before the renewal date, and up to 15 unused hours may be carried forward from the prior 48 months if they were not previously used.

The continuing-education program includes required core and fair-housing content. Washington law requires three hours of fair-housing education for active renewals, subject to the special first-cycle rules that may apply to licensees who did not previously complete the required six-hour training.

A broker who maintains an inactive license does not have to complete continuing education to renew the inactive license, but the license still must be renewed and other requirements may apply before returning to active status.

Potential Costs of Maintaining a License

Licensees should plan for recurring expenses, including:

• Biennial renewal fees.
• Approved continuing-education courses.
• Periodic fingerprint-based background checks.
• Brokerage or association fees.
• Technology, marketing, transportation, and business expenses.

The DOL’s published renewal form lists a broker renewal fee of $223 and a late-renewal fee of $263 for the form’s stated fee schedule. Confirm the current amount with the DOL before renewing because official fees may be updated.

Potential Earnings in Burien

Real estate broker income is not guaranteed and can vary significantly. Earnings may depend on:

• Number and value of closed transactions.
• Commission agreements.
• Brokerage splits and transaction fees.
• Local housing-market conditions.
• Lead generation and repeat business.
• Experience, specialization, and work schedule.
• Whether the broker focuses on residential sales, leasing, relocation, investment property, or commercial real estate.

Because compensation varies by individual production and business arrangement, a single salary figure would not reliably represent what a newly licensed Burien broker can earn. New professionals should create a financial plan that accounts for licensing costs, marketing, transportation, taxes, and potentially uneven income during the first year.

Career Opportunities Near Burien

A Burien real estate license can support several career paths, including:

• Residential buyer representation.
• Residential listing and seller representation.
• Leasing and rental-property services, where permitted by the brokerage and applicable law.
• Relocation services for clients moving within the Puget Sound area.
• Investment-property sales.
• New-construction sales.
• Commercial real estate.
• Property-management-related work, subject to the applicable licensing and brokerage requirements.
• Future advancement toward a Washington managing broker license after meeting additional qualifications.

Burien’s location in the central Puget Sound area may allow brokers to build business across nearby South King County communities and the broader Seattle metropolitan region. That is local career context, not a separate Burien licensing standard; the license itself is issued under Washington’s statewide system.

How to Choose a Real Estate School

Before enrolling, compare each school’s:

• Washington approval status.
• Delivery format.
• Tuition and included materials.
• Course-completion deadlines.
• Instructor access.
• Exam-preparation resources.
• Student support and technical assistance.
• Refund and transfer policies.

Leap Real Estate’s Washington Pre-Licensing Course is one online option to consider when completing the state-required education. Confirm the school’s current course details and approval information before purchase.

Suggested Licensing Checklist

• Confirm that you are at least 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Enroll in 90 hours of Washington-approved broker education.
• Complete the 60-hour Fundamentals and 30-hour Practices courses.
• Finish the education within the provider’s required timeframe.
• Schedule and pass both portions of the broker examination within two years of completing education.
• Submit fingerprints through the approved Washington process after passing the test.
• Apply to the Washington DOL and pay the applicable fees.
• Select a brokerage and complete the required affiliation or activation steps.
• Track first-renewal education requirements from the date your license is issued.
• Complete continuing education and renew the license every two years.

Authoritative Sources

• Washington State Department of Licensing, “Get your license: Real estate brokers.”
• Washington Revised Code, RCW 18.85.101, broker-license requirements and renewal education.
• Washington State Department of Licensing, “Renew or reinstate your license: Real estate brokers.”
• Washington Revised Code, RCW 18.85.211, continuing-education requirements.
• Washington Administrative Code, WAC 308-124A-785, first active broker renewal requirements.
• Washington Administrative Code, WAC 308-124A-790, subsequent active renewal requirements.