How to Get Your Real Estate License in Des Moines, Washington

If you want to become a real estate broker in Des Moines, Washington, the process starts with state-approved education, followed by the Washington broker examinations, fingerprint-based background screening, and a license application. A structured option such as the Washington real estate pre-licensing course from Leap Real Estate can help you complete the required education before moving on to the exam and licensing steps.

Washington Real Estate License Requirements

Washington uses the title real estate broker for the entry-level real estate license. To qualify, you must:

Be at least 18 years old.
Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Complete 90 hours of approved real estate education.
Pass both the national and Washington state portions of the broker examination.
Complete the required fingerprint-based background check.
Submit a license application and pay the applicable fees.

These are statewide requirements and apply to prospective brokers in Des Moines, Tacoma, Seattle, and other Washington communities.

Step 1: Complete 90 Hours of Approved Education

Before applying for a Washington broker license, you must complete 90 clock hours of approved education. The coursework must include:

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

The courses must be approved by the Washington State Department of Licensing. The Department maintains a course-search resource that prospective students can use to verify whether a school and course are approved.

Your education is not an unlimited credential. Washington requires you to apply for and complete the broker examinations within two years after completing the required education.

What the Coursework Covers

Approved pre-licensing education generally prepares students for subjects tested on the national and state examinations, including real estate principles, contracts, agency relationships, Washington law, finance, property ownership, fair housing, and professional practice. The exact curriculum and delivery format depend on the approved school.

Students should retain course completion certificates and confirm that the school reports or provides the documentation needed for the examination and application process.

Online Course Options

Online education can be a practical option for a Des Moines resident who needs flexibility around work, family, or other responsibilities. Available formats may include:

Self-paced online courses
Instructor-supported online classes
Livestream or virtual classroom instruction
Traditional in-person classes

The Washington Department of Licensing’s approved-course search should be used to verify current course approval before enrolling.

One option is the Leap Real Estate Washington pre-licensing course. Compare each provider’s approval status, course format, student support, exam-preparation resources, completion deadlines, and tuition before selecting a program.

Step 2: Register for and Pass the Broker Examination

After completing the required education, create an account with PSI, Washington’s examination service provider, and schedule the broker examination. The exam includes:

A national portion
A Washington state portion

You must pass both portions. Washington requires the state and national portions to be passed within six months of each other; otherwise, both examinations must be retaken.

The Department of Licensing currently lists the broker examination fee as $210, including a retake fee of $210. Examination fees are separate from tuition, fingerprinting charges, and licensing fees.

How to Prepare

A sensible study plan includes:

Reviewing the Fundamentals and Practices course material.
Using practice questions to identify weak areas.
Studying Washington-specific laws and procedures separately from national concepts.
Learning formulas involving finance, prorations, commissions, and closing calculations.
Scheduling the exam only after consistently passing practice tests.

If you fail one portion, verify the current retake rules and scheduling requirements with PSI before registering again.

Step 3: Complete Fingerprinting and the Background Check

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

Washington uses an electronic fingerprinting vendor for applicants located in the state. You must schedule an appointment and pay the vendor’s fingerprinting and background-check charges. The fingerprint fee is separate from the Department of Licensing application and license fees.

Fingerprint results are not permanent. Washington requires fingerprint-based background-check results to be renewed every six years.

A criminal record does not automatically establish whether an applicant will receive or be denied a license. Applicants with potentially disqualifying history should review the Department of Licensing’s requirements and provide complete, accurate information.

Step 4: Apply for the Washington Broker License

After the examination results and background-check information are available, submit the Washington real estate broker license application. The Department accepts applications through its licensing process and also provides a paper application option.

You must apply within one year after passing your final examination.

The current Department of Licensing fee schedule lists the original broker license fee as $233. The listed fee includes a mandatory $20 research fee. Applicants should confirm the amount at the time of application because fees can change.

Basic Cost Breakdown

Your total investment will depend on the school and fingerprint vendor, but the state-listed broker-related charges include:

| Expense | Current listed amount |
|---|---:|
| Broker examination | $210 |
| Broker examination retake | $210 |
| Original broker license | $233 |
| Fingerprinting and background check | Vendor fee; verify current amount |
| Pre-licensing education | Varies by approved school |

The cost of the 90-hour course is not fixed by the Department’s broker license fee schedule. Confirm tuition, books, technology charges, exam-preparation costs, and refund policies directly with the school.

Step 5: Choose a Sponsoring Broker

Washington requires a newly licensed broker to work with a real estate firm and managing broker rather than operate independently as a new licensee. A sponsoring or supervising brokerage provides the business structure, supervision, policies, transaction systems, and practical support needed to begin practicing.

Before selecting a brokerage in or near Des Moines, compare:

Commission and compensation structure
Desk, technology, transaction, and administrative fees
Training and mentorship
Lead-generation support
Office and remote-work policies
Listing and transaction systems
Geographic service area
Requirements for meeting clients and attending office activities
Access to experienced managing brokers

The sponsoring brokerage is a career decision, not a substitute for the state licensing process. Confirm with the Department of Licensing and the brokerage how affiliation is recorded and how a license becomes active with that firm.

How Long Does It Take?

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

How quickly you complete the 90-hour education requirement
The school’s schedule and course format
Examination availability
Whether you pass both exam portions on the first attempt
Fingerprint appointment and processing times
Application processing
How quickly you secure a sponsoring brokerage

A student using a flexible online program may progress at a different pace from a student attending scheduled classes. Build extra time into your plan for examination retakes, fingerprint appointments, document corrections, and brokerage interviews.

The state deadlines still apply: complete the exams within two years of finishing the education, pass both exam portions within six months of each other, and apply within one year of passing the final exam.

First-Renewal and Post-License Education

Washington’s first renewal requirements are more extensive than the regular continuing-education requirement. Before the first renewal of an active broker license, you must complete 90 clock hours of approved education that began after the date you were first licensed.

The first-renewal education must include:

A 30-hour Advanced Practices course
A 30-hour Real Estate Law course
The required Washington residential real estate current-issues course
Additional approved continuing education as required by Washington rules
Required fair-housing education, depending on the courses already completed

These courses are commonly described as post-license or first-renewal education. They must be started after initial licensure; pre-license hours generally cannot be reused to satisfy this first-renewal requirement.

Plan for this education immediately after receiving the license rather than waiting until the renewal deadline.

Continuing Education After the First Renewal

After the first renewal, an active Washington broker generally must complete at least 30 clock hours of approved continuing education for each two-year renewal period.

The continuing-education requirements include:

At least 30 total hours
A 3-hour Washington residential real estate current-issues course
At least 27 additional hours of approved education
At least 15 hours completed within the 24 months before the renewal date
The required Washington fair-housing course structure described by the Department of Licensing

Washington requires active licenses to be renewed every two years. Fingerprint-based background-check results must also remain current on the state’s schedule.

Because course requirements and prescribed topics can change, check the Department of Licensing’s renewal guidance before enrolling in continuing education.

Working as a Real Estate Broker in Des Moines

Des Moines is a local market within Washington’s broader real estate system. The state license allows a broker to practice under Washington law, while the broker’s daily business is shaped by local neighborhoods, property types, commuting patterns, employers, schools, waterfront and residential demand, and nearby communities.

A new broker may serve clients in Des Moines and other parts of the region if the brokerage permits that service area and the broker complies with Washington law. Local career preparation should include:

Learning Des Moines neighborhoods and surrounding communities
Building relationships with lenders, inspectors, contractors, and title professionals
Understanding local property taxes, permitting, zoning, and municipal processes
Studying comparable sales and neighborhood-level market data
Developing a compliant marketing and referral strategy
Joining professional and community organizations
Creating a realistic plan for lead generation and transaction expenses

State licensing rules should not be confused with local market conditions. The Department of Licensing establishes the license requirements, while brokerages and the local market influence how a new broker finds clients and conducts business.

Potential Earnings

Real estate broker income is usually commission-based and can vary substantially. Earnings depend on transaction volume, commission arrangements, market conditions, brokerage fees, business expenses, experience, specialization, and the amount of time spent prospecting and serving clients.

No single official salary figure accurately predicts what a newly licensed broker in Des Moines will earn. Prospective students should request a written explanation of compensation, splits, fees, training costs, and expected business expenses from each brokerage they consider.

It is also wise to maintain financial reserves while building a client pipeline. Licensing does not guarantee transactions or income.

Career Opportunities

A Washington broker license can support several career paths, including:

Residential buyer representation
Residential listing and sales
Relocation services
New-construction sales
Property investment and acquisition
Commercial real estate, subject to appropriate experience and brokerage support
Leasing and tenant representation
Property-management-related work where separately permitted
Referral-based real estate services
Advancement toward managing-broker licensure

A managing broker license is a later-stage credential. Washington requires applicants for that license to provide at least three years of full-time active broker experience within the previous five years and complete 90 hours of specified managing-broker education, including brokerage management, business management, and advanced real estate law.

A Practical Des Moines Licensing Checklist

Confirm that you meet Washington’s age and education prerequisites.
Enroll in 90 hours of approved education.
Complete the 60-hour Fundamentals and 30-hour Practices courses.
Use an approved online or classroom provider, such as the Leap Real Estate Washington course.
Register with PSI after completing the education requirement.
Pass both the national and Washington portions of the broker exam.
Schedule fingerprinting after passing the examination.
Submit the license application and required fees.
Select a sponsoring brokerage and managing broker.
Begin the 90-hour first-renewal education after receiving the license.
Track the two-year renewal cycle and future continuing-education requirements.

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