How to Get Your Real Estate License in Spokane, Washington

Starting a real estate career in Spokane begins with meeting Washington’s statewide broker-licensing requirements. A structured Washington real estate pre-licensing course can help you complete the required education and prepare for the state and national licensing exams while studying around work or family responsibilities.

Washington Real Estate License Requirements

To qualify for a Washington real estate broker license, 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 the Washington state and national broker examinations.
Complete the required fingerprint-based background check.
Submit a license application and pay the required fees.
Work with a licensed Washington brokerage after receiving your license if you want to practice actively.

The Washington Department of Licensing refers to the entry-level license as a real estate broker license. In everyday conversation, this is often called a real estate salesperson or agent license.

Complete the Required 90 Hours of Education

Washington requires 90 hours of approved pre-licensing education consisting of:

A 60-hour Real Estate Fundamentals course.
A 30-hour Real Estate Practices course.

The courses must be completed through education approved by the Washington Department of Licensing. Students should confirm that a school and its courses appear on the state’s approved education list before enrolling.

A course provider may also impose its own attendance, testing, identity-verification, and completion requirements. Keep your course-completion certificates because they may be needed during the licensing process.

Online Real Estate Course Options

Spokane students can choose among several formats, depending on the provider’s approval and delivery method:

Fully online, self-paced coursework.
Live online classes with scheduled instructors.
Traditional classroom instruction.
A combination of online and live instruction.

An online program can be useful for students who work full time, live outside central Spokane, or need a flexible schedule. Leap Real Estate’s Washington pre-licensing course is one option to evaluate alongside other state-approved providers.

Before registering, compare:

Whether the provider is approved for Washington education.
Whether both required courses are included.
Course access length and completion deadlines.
Instructor support and exam-preparation materials.
Technology, attendance, and final-exam requirements.
Tuition and refund policies.

Course tuition is set by the education provider and is separate from state licensing and examination fees.

Apply for the Washington Broker Examinations

After completing the required education, you must apply for and complete the broker examinations within two years of completing the courses.

Washington uses PSI to administer the broker exams. Candidates create a PSI account, follow the registration instructions, select an available testing appointment, and pay the examination fee.

The examination process includes:

A national broker examination.
A Washington state broker examination.
Separate passing requirements for the applicable exam portions.
Retesting when a candidate does not pass a required portion.

The Washington Department of Licensing identifies the current broker examination fee as $210, including the fee listed for a retake. Exam scheduling rules, available locations, identification requirements, and testing procedures should be confirmed in the current PSI candidate materials before test day.

How to Prepare for the Exam

A strong study plan should include:

Reviewing key concepts from Real Estate Fundamentals.
Studying Washington-specific laws and practices.
Practicing real estate math.
Learning contract, agency, financing, and property-ownership terminology.
Taking timed practice questions.
Reviewing missed questions rather than memorizing answers.

Passing a course final does not guarantee passing the state licensing examination. Schedule the exam only after you can consistently perform well on both national and Washington-specific practice material.

Complete Fingerprinting and the Background Check

Washington requires a fingerprint-based background check for a real estate broker license. The Department of Licensing instructs applicants to pass the required test before submitting fingerprints.

Applicants in Washington schedule electronic fingerprinting through the state’s designated vendor. The fingerprint and background-check charges are separate from the examination and license-application fees. The Department of Licensing currently lists a total of $45.05 for the state and national background checks for real estate brokers and managing brokers.

The department also requires an application number before fingerprinting and background-check processing can begin. Because background-check results can take time to process, applicants should follow the department’s sequence carefully and use the current instructions when scheduling.

A criminal record does not automatically establish whether an applicant will receive a license. The Department of Licensing evaluates licensing matters under applicable law, so applicants with concerns about prior conduct should contact the department or obtain qualified legal advice rather than assume the outcome.

Submit the License Application

After completing the education, examinations, and required background-check steps, submit the broker license application to the Washington Department of Licensing. The application requires the applicable license fee and any required supporting information.

The current original broker license fee is $233, and the listed original-license fee includes a mandatory $20 research fee. This amount does not include:

Pre-licensing course tuition.
Examination fees.
Fingerprinting and background-check charges.
Optional study materials.
Transportation or other personal expenses.

Fees can change, so confirm the amount on the Department of Licensing fee page when you apply.

How Long Does It Take?

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

How quickly you complete the 90-hour education requirement.
Whether you study online or attend scheduled classes.
Your exam preparation and appointment availability.
Whether you pass both exam portions on the first attempt.
Fingerprint and background-check processing.
Application review and any requests for additional information.

A student who studies consistently and passes the examinations promptly may finish sooner than someone studying part time or repeating an exam. The state’s two-year deadline for completing the required broker examinations after education is completed provides an outer time limit for that part of the process.

Find a Sponsoring Brokerage

Washington applicants should plan to select a brokerage before practicing real estate. A newly licensed broker generally works under the supervision of a managing or designated broker at a real estate firm.

When evaluating Spokane brokerages, ask about:

Training for newly licensed brokers.
Commission and fee structures.
Mentoring and transaction support.
Desk, technology, and marketing fees.
Lead-generation programs.
Listing and buyer-agent opportunities.
Compliance procedures.
Office culture and availability of managing-broker guidance.

The best brokerage is not necessarily the one advertising the highest commission split. New brokers often benefit from practical supervision, contract review, transaction systems, and consistent training.

Costs to Budget For

The known state and examination charges include:

| Expense | Current listed amount |
|---|---:|
| Broker examination | $210 |
| Original broker license | $233 |
| Fingerprint and state/national background checks | $45.05 |
| Pre-licensing education | Varies by provider |

The listed examination charge applies to the broker exam and is also listed for a retake. Education-provider tuition varies, and applicants should verify all charges directly with the school. Additional costs may include transportation, optional exam preparation, business cards, association membership, multiple-listing-service access, errors-and-omissions coverage, marketing, and brokerage fees.

First Renewal and Post-License Education

Washington imposes enhanced education requirements at a broker’s first active-license renewal. The first renewal requires at least 90 hours of continuing education, including:

A 30-hour Advanced Practices Course.
A 30-hour Real Estate Law Course.
A 3-hour Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate Course.
At least 27 additional hours of approved continuing education.

These first-renewal requirements are different from the initial 90-hour pre-licensing requirement. Students should plan for the first renewal education early because it is substantially more extensive than the standard education required at later renewals.

Continuing Education After the First Renewal

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

After the first renewal, an active broker must complete at least 30 hours of continuing education for each renewal period, including:

A 3-hour Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate Course.
At least 27 additional hours of approved continuing education.
At least 15 hours completed within the 24 months before the renewal date.

The department permits certain education completed within the preceding 48 months to count toward a renewal when the hours were not already used for a previous renewal.

A broker with an inactive license generally does not need to complete continuing education to maintain the inactive license, but renewal and fingerprint requirements still apply. Continuing education is required before practicing again when applicable.

Career Opportunities in Spokane

A Washington broker license can support several real estate career paths in the Spokane area, including:

Residential buyer representation.
Residential listing representation.
New-construction sales.
Relocation services.
Property investment and small multifamily transactions.
Commercial real estate.
Land and rural-property transactions.
Property management-related roles, subject to applicable laws and licensing requirements.
Transaction coordination, leasing, or brokerage support positions.

Spokane-area professionals may serve clients in the city, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Airway Heights, Cheney, Medical Lake, and surrounding communities. Local specialization can help a new broker develop a clearer market identity, but licensees must still comply with Washington law wherever they conduct licensed activity.

Useful local knowledge may include:

Neighborhood-level pricing and inventory patterns.
Commuter and employment corridors.
New construction and development activity.
Rental and investment-property considerations.
Rural, acreage, and land-use issues.
Local disclosures, municipal processes, and permitting considerations.

Potential Earnings

Real estate income is not guaranteed and can vary significantly. A broker’s earnings may depend on transaction volume, commission arrangements, brokerage fees, market conditions, experience, business expenses, specialization, and the number of clients generated.

The Washington Department of Licensing establishes licensing requirements but does not publish a guaranteed income figure for Spokane brokers. Because no authoritative source establishes a reliable earnings figure for every Spokane licensee, prospective students should treat salary estimates cautiously and ask brokerages for transparent information about typical expenses, splits, caps, fees, and the time required to build a client base.

New brokers should prepare for uneven income, especially during the early stages of business development. A realistic budget may need to cover education, licensing, marketing, transportation, technology, association or MLS expenses, and personal living costs while a pipeline develops.

A Practical Spokane Licensing Checklist

Confirm that you meet the age and education prerequisites.
Enroll in 90 hours of Washington-approved pre-licensing education.
Complete the 60-hour Real Estate Fundamentals course.
Complete the 30-hour Real Estate Practices course.
Retain proof of course completion.
Register with PSI for the national and Washington examinations.
Pass both required exam portions within the applicable deadline.
Obtain the application number required for fingerprinting.
Schedule and complete fingerprinting and background checks.
Submit the broker license application and required fees.
Interview Spokane-area brokerages.
Choose a sponsoring or supervising brokerage before practicing.
Plan for first-renewal education and the recurring two-year renewal cycle.

Final Considerations

Getting a real estate license in Spokane requires completing Washington’s statewide process rather than a separate Spokane licensing program. The most important early decisions are choosing approved education, preparing thoroughly for both exam portions, budgeting for state and provider costs, and selecting a brokerage that offers meaningful support.

For students who prefer flexible study, online Washington pre-licensing education can be a convenient starting point. Confirm the provider’s current approval, course inclusions, tuition, and completion policies before enrolling.

Authoritative Sources