If you want to become a real estate agent in Cerritos, California, the fastest path is to complete the state-required education, apply through the California Department of Real Estate (DRE), pass the salesperson examination, complete fingerprinting, and work under a licensed employing broker. A flexible California real estate pre-licensing course can help you complete the required education online while preparing for the state exam.
California Real Estate License Requirements

To qualify for a California real estate salesperson license, you generally must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
• Complete three required college-level real estate courses.
• Apply to the California DRE.
• Submit fingerprints and complete a background check.
• Pass the California salesperson licensing examination.
• Become affiliated with a California-licensed employing broker before conducting licensed real estate activities.

California does not require prior real estate sales experience for a salesperson license. The DRE’s official licensing guidance identifies the age, identification, education, examination, and fingerprinting requirements for applicants.(https://www.dre.ca.gov/files/pdf/Steps%20to%20Becoming%20a%20Licensed%20Real%20Estate%20Salesperson.pdf)
Required Education: 135 Hours

California requires applicants for a salesperson examination to complete three college-level courses:

1. Real Estate Principles
2. Real Estate Practice
3. One approved elective course

Each course must generally provide 45 hours of instruction, for a total of 135 hours. Approved electives may include subjects such as real estate finance, legal aspects of real estate, property management, appraisal, economics, or accounting.

Course providers must meet California’s statutory education requirements. Keep your certificates or transcripts because the DRE requires documentation of completed education when you apply.(https://www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/salesperson_exam_license.html)
Online Real Estate Courses for Cerritos Residents

Cerritos residents can complete qualifying pre-licensing education through an online provider rather than attending a traditional classroom. Online programs may offer:

• Self-paced lessons
• Digital textbooks and practice tests
• Mobile access
• Instructor support
• Progress tracking
• Exam-preparation materials

Before enrolling, verify that the provider’s courses satisfy California’s statutory requirements and that you will receive documentation acceptable to the DRE. An online California real estate pre-licensing course can be a practical option for people in Cerritos who are balancing work, family, or school.

Online education does not eliminate the state examination or fingerprinting requirements. It only changes how the required education is completed.
How to Apply for a California Real Estate License

Applicants can apply for the examination alone or use California’s combined examination and license application.
Option 1: Apply for the Exam and License Together

The combined process allows you to submit the salesperson examination and license application at the same time. The DRE identifies the combined application as form RE 435 and requires education documentation, the appropriate fees, and fingerprint-related materials.(https://www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/salesperson_exam_license.html)

The general steps are:

1. Complete the three required courses.
2. Gather course certificates or official transcripts.
3. Create an account through the DRE’s eLicensing system, if applying online.
4. Complete the salesperson examination and license application.
5. Upload or submit the required education documents.
6. Complete the Live Scan fingerprint process.
7. Pay the examination and license fees.
8. Wait for the DRE to process the application and authorize examination scheduling.
9. Schedule and pass the salesperson examination.
10. Affiliate with an employing broker so the license can be activated for practice.
Option 2: Apply for the Examination First

You may also apply to take the examination before applying for the license. After passing, you submit the salesperson license application and required documentation.

The DRE states that an examination application generally remains valid for two years. If the required steps are not completed within that period, the application and fee may lapse.(https://www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/ComboSales.html)
Background Check and Fingerprinting

California requires applicants to submit fingerprints for a criminal background check. California residents generally complete fingerprinting through a Live Scan service provider using the DRE’s Live Scan Service Request form, RE 237.

Fingerprint results must be received before the DRE can issue a license. A criminal record does not automatically mean an applicant will be denied, but applicants must disclose required information and should provide accurate, complete answers on the application.

The DRE advises that fingerprint processing fees are nonrefundable, including when an applicant does not pass the examination.(https://www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/salesperson_exam_license.html)

For someone in Cerritos, Live Scan locations may be available throughout southeast Los Angeles County and nearby communities. Use a provider familiar with California licensing submissions and follow the DRE’s instructions carefully.
California Real Estate Salesperson Exam

The California salesperson examination is administered under DRE rules. The salesperson exam generally consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, and applicants receive three hours to complete it. A passing score is 70 percent.

Exam topics include:

• Property ownership and land use controls
• Laws of agency
• Valuation and market analysis
• Financing
• Transfer of property
• Practice and disclosures
• Contracts
• Property management and leases
• Principles and duties of real estate
• California real estate law
• Common-interest developments
• Ethics and consumer protection concepts

The DRE provides examination information, application instructions, and candidate resources. Applicants should use the current DRE materials because exam procedures and testing arrangements can change.

A preparation course should reinforce both general real estate concepts and California-specific rules. Practice questions are useful, but they should supplement—not replace—the required education.
California Real Estate License Costs

The government fees for a salesperson applicant currently include:

| Item | Current DRE fee |
|---|---:|
| Salesperson examination application | $100 |
| Salesperson re-examination | $100 |
| Salesperson original license | $350 |
| Combined salesperson exam and license application | $450 |
| Fingerprint processing fee for California residents | $49 |

The DRE lists the combined exam-and-license fee at $450 and the original salesperson license fee at $350.(https://www.dre.ca.gov/licensees/fees.html) The $49 fingerprint processing fee is generally paid directly to the Live Scan provider by applicants who reside in California.(https://www.dre.ca.gov/licensees/fees.html)

Additional expenses may include:

• Pre-licensing course tuition
• Textbooks or digital study materials
• Exam-preparation products
• Travel to the examination location
• Brokerage, association, MLS, lockbox, marketing, or technology expenses after licensing

Course prices and brokerage expenses vary by provider and business model, so they should be compared separately from mandatory DRE fees.
How Long Does It Take to Get a License?

There is no single guaranteed timeline. The total time depends on:

• How quickly you complete the 135 hours of education
• How soon the DRE processes your application
• Fingerprint-processing time
• Examination appointment availability
• Whether you pass on the first attempt
• How quickly you select an employing broker

A self-paced student may complete the education faster than someone studying part time, but the DRE—not the course provider—controls application review and license issuance. Avoid relying on promises of a guaranteed license date.

The two-year application period is a firm consideration: the DRE states that applicants must complete the applicable requirements within the validity period or the application and fee may lapse.(https://www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/ComboSales.html)
Finding a Sponsoring or Employing Broker in Cerritos

Passing the exam does not mean you can independently conduct licensed real estate activities. A salesperson must be supervised by a California-licensed employing broker.

When evaluating brokerages in or around Cerritos, consider:

• Commission splits and transaction fees
• Training for new agents
• Mentorship and supervision
• Office and technology fees
• Lead-generation support
• Local market coverage
• Access to nearby areas such as Artesia, Norwalk, La Palma, Lakewood, Long Beach, and southeast Los Angeles County
• Expectations for prospecting, floor time, open houses, and marketing

A broker may help you submit or activate the license and should explain the brokerage’s compliance procedures. Ask for a written explanation of all recurring fees before signing an affiliation agreement.
First Renewal and Post-License Education

California salesperson licenses are generally issued for a four-year period. New licensees must complete the required continuing education before their first renewal.

The first renewal education requirement is generally 45 hours. It includes required California courses covering subjects such as ethics, agency, trust fund handling, fair housing, consumer protection, and other topics specified by the DRE. Requirements can differ depending on the licensee’s circumstances and the current renewal cycle.

Complete courses through a DRE-approved provider and retain completion records. The DRE provides the official renewal requirements and forms, so check its current guidance before your first renewal.
Continuing Education for Later Renewals

California real estate licensees generally must complete 45 hours of continuing education during each four-year renewal cycle. The required curriculum can include:

• Agency relationships and duties
• Ethics
• Trust fund handling
• Fair housing
• Risk management
• Consumer protection
• State and federal real estate law
• Elective real estate topics

Completing education alone does not automatically renew a license. The renewal application and fee must also be submitted to the DRE. The DRE lists the current on-time salesperson renewal fee as $350 and the late renewal fee within the permitted period as $525.(https://www.dre.ca.gov/licensees/fees.html)
Potential Earnings for Cerritos Real Estate Agents

Real estate sales income is not guaranteed. Many salespeople are paid primarily through commissions, and earnings can vary significantly based on transactions closed, market conditions, brokerage arrangements, business expenses, and the amount of time spent developing clients.

For broader regional context, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a mean annual wage of $71,110 for real estate sales agents in the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metropolitan area in its May 2023 wage data.(https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes419022.htm) This is an occupational average for the metropolitan area—not a guaranteed salary for a new Cerritos licensee—and it may include agents with substantially different experience levels and production.

New agents should budget for periods with little or no commission income and understand how splits, transaction fees, marketing costs, insurance, taxes, and association expenses affect take-home earnings.
Career Opportunities Near Cerritos

A real estate salesperson license can support several career paths in the Cerritos area, including:

• Residential home sales
• Buyer representation
• Leasing and rentals
• Relocation services
• New-construction sales
• Commercial real estate support
• Property management, where permitted and properly structured
• Investment-property transactions
• Referral-based real estate business
• Future advancement to a California broker license

Cerritos is part of the larger Los Angeles metropolitan real estate market, giving agents the potential to serve clients who move between nearby cities and communities. Local success typically depends on market knowledge, responsiveness, networking, ethical conduct, consistent prospecting, and the support provided by the employing broker.
Should You Get a California Real Estate License in Cerritos?

A California real estate license may be a good fit if you want a client-facing career with flexible scheduling and performance-based income. It requires more than passing a test: agents must build a pipeline, understand contracts and disclosures, follow advertising and agency rules, and continue their education.

For many Cerritos applicants, online education provides a convenient way to complete the required coursework before moving on to the DRE application, fingerprinting, and examination. Review the current requirements directly with the DRE and choose a brokerage that offers appropriate supervision and training.
Authoritative Sources

• California Department of Real Estate — Steps to Becoming a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
• California Department of Real Estate — How to Apply for the Salesperson Exam
• California Department of Real Estate — Combined Salesperson Examination and License Application
• California Department of Real Estate — Licensing Fees
• California Department of Real Estate — Licensing Forms
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Real Estate Sales Agents, Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim