How to Get Your Real Estate License in Washington

Overview: Washington Real Estate License Requirements

Washington calls its entry-level real estate professionals real estate brokers. A Washington broker may perform real estate brokerage services under the supervision of a managing broker and the brokerage’s designated broker.

If you want to get started quickly, a flexible Washington real estate license course can help you complete the required education and prepare for the exam.

Before applying, 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 the required fingerprint-based background check after passing the examination.
Apply for the license within one year of passing your final examination.
Affiliate with a Washington brokerage if you want to practice with an active license.

The Washington DOL maintains the official list of approved real estate education providers. Course availability, delivery format, prices, and schedules can change, so confirm that a provider and course are currently approved before enrolling.

Step-by-Step Summary

Confirm that you meet Washington’s age and education prerequisites.
Complete 90 clock hours of approved broker education.
Create an account with PSI, Washington’s examination vendor.
Schedule and pass both the national and state portions of the broker exam.
Complete fingerprinting and the required background check through IdentoGO or follow DOL instructions for an out-of-state submission.
Submit your broker license application and required fees.
Select or affiliate with a sponsoring brokerage so you can begin practicing.
Complete the continuing education required for your first renewal.

Step 1: Complete the Required 90 Hours of Education

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

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 education generally covers subjects such as real estate law, agency relationships, contracts, financing, property ownership, fair housing, brokerage operations, and Washington-specific practice rules.

A course certificate alone does not grant a license. You must still pass the required examination, complete the background-check process, and apply to the DOL.

Online Washington Real Estate Courses

Online education can be a convenient option for students who need flexible scheduling. Before enrolling, verify:

The school is approved by the Washington DOL.
The course includes the required 60-hour Fundamentals and 30-hour Practices components.
The provider explains attendance, identity-verification, testing, and course-completion rules.
The course certificate will be accepted for the Washington broker examination application.
The course is current and has not expired or been replaced.

Leap offers Washington pre-licensing education through its Washington pre-licensing course. Review the course page for the current format, tuition, included materials, and enrollment details, and confirm any regulatory questions with the Washington DOL.

Step 2: Register for the Washington Broker Exam

After completing the required education, register with PSI, the examination provider identified by the Washington DOL. You can schedule the exams online or by telephone.

Washington requires applicants to pass both:

The national portion of the broker exam
The Washington state portion of the broker exam

The DOL states that the two portions must be passed within six months of each other. If that deadline is missed, both portions must be retaken.

The current DOL fee schedule lists the examination fee as $210, including for an examination retake. Confirm the amount with the DOL or PSI before scheduling because fees and testing procedures may change.

What the Exam Covers

The national portion typically tests general real estate principles and practices. The Washington portion focuses on state-specific laws, regulations, licensing requirements, and business practices.

Use the current PSI candidate information and examination content outline when preparing. Course providers may offer practice questions or exam-preparation materials, but those materials do not replace the official examination information.

Step 3: Complete Fingerprinting and the Background Check

You must pass the examination before submitting your fingerprints for the broker-license background check.

Applicants inside Washington generally schedule fingerprinting through the DOL’s electronic fingerprinting vendor, IdentoGO. Applicants outside Washington should follow the DOL’s instructions for submitting fingerprints, which may involve fingerprint cards and special processing requirements.

The fingerprinting and background-check provider charges a separate fee. The DOL’s license fee schedule identifies the licensing charges but does not establish one universal fingerprinting price for every applicant; verify the current amount when scheduling.

Washington requires a fingerprint-based background check for a new broker license. Fingerprint results must generally be renewed every six years while maintaining an active license. A criminal record does not necessarily mean automatic denial, but applicants should disclose information accurately and contact the DOL if they need guidance about eligibility or required documentation.

Step 4: Submit the Washington License Application

After the DOL has the required examination and background-check results, submit the broker license application. Washington allows online licensing through its professional licensing system, and the DOL also provides a paper application option.

The current DOL fee table lists the following broker charges:

| Item | Current listed fee |
|---|---:|
| Broker examination | $210 |
| Broker examination retake | $210 |
| Original broker license | $233 |
| Printed license mailed by the DOL | $5 |

The original license fee includes a mandatory $20 research fee. Course tuition, textbooks, exam-preparation products, fingerprinting, travel, and optional business expenses are separate costs.

You must apply within one year after passing your final exam. If your application is incomplete, includes inaccurate information, or requires additional review, issuance may take longer.

Step 5: Choose a Sponsoring Brokerage

A Washington broker typically begins a career by affiliating with a real estate firm and working under the supervision of a managing broker. The brokerage provides the structure through which the broker conducts licensed activities.

When comparing sponsoring brokerages, ask about:

Commission splits and transaction fees
Monthly desk, technology, or administrative fees
Training and mentoring
Lead-generation support
Contract and compliance review
Errors-and-omissions insurance
Office, transaction-management, and marketing systems
Expectations for independent contractors or employees
Geographic coverage and specialty markets

The financial arrangement can differ substantially between firms. Review the independent-contractor agreement, employment agreement, or fee schedule carefully before affiliating.

If you do not yet have a brokerage, ask the DOL how an issued license will be held or activated while you evaluate your options. Licensing status and affiliation procedures can change, so verify the current process directly with the Washington DOL.

For help choosing a program that fits your schedule, compare options like this Washington pre-licensing course before you enroll.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Washington Real Estate License?

Washington does not publish one guaranteed completion time for every applicant. The timeline depends on course pace, exam availability, preparation time, background-check processing, application completeness, and DOL processing.

A realistic planning sequence is:

Education: Several weeks to several months, depending on whether you study full-time or part-time.
Exam preparation and scheduling: Varies based on readiness and PSI appointment availability.
Fingerprinting: Scheduled after passing the exam; processing time can vary.
Application review: Depends on whether the DOL receives all required information and whether additional review is needed.

The official deadlines matter more than an advertised calendar estimate: the education and examination requirements must be completed within the applicable periods, both exam portions must be passed within six months of each other, and the license application must be submitted within one year of passing the final exam.

Washington Real Estate License Costs

The total cost depends on the school and personal circumstances. Common expenses include:

Approved 90-hour education tuition
Textbooks or digital course materials
Examination fee: $210
Fingerprinting and background-check fee
Original broker license fee: $233
Optional printed license fee: $5
Travel, parking, or equipment costs
Optional exam-preparation materials
Brokerage, marketing, association, and technology expenses after licensing

The DOL’s listed original broker license fee includes the $20 research fee. Because education and fingerprinting prices vary, calculate the total using the provider’s current tuition and the vendor’s current fingerprinting quote rather than relying on an outdated estimate.

For a convenient starting point, review Leap’s Washington pre-licensing course, then compare the course details with the DOL’s approved-course information.

First-Renewal and Post-License Education

Washington imposes additional education requirements for a broker’s first active-license renewal.

Before the first renewal, an active broker must complete 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

The required first-renewal education must begin after the broker’s initial license date. Washington also requires an initial six-hour Washington Real Estate Fair Housing course if the broker has not already completed it under the applicable rules.

Because course timing and fair-housing requirements can depend on a broker’s licensing history, verify the exact first-renewal requirements with the DOL before selecting classes.

Ongoing Continuing Education

Washington broker licenses renew every two years.

After the first renewal, an active broker generally 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 hours of other approved continuing education

At least 15 hours must be completed within the 24 months before the renewal date. Washington may allow up to 15 additional hours from the preceding 48 months if those hours were not already used for an earlier renewal.

After completing the initial six-hour fair-housing course, the DOL states that brokers must complete the three-hour Washington Real Estate Fair Housing course at each renewal.

Renewal and continuing-education rules may be updated. Check the DOL renewal page before each renewal cycle.

Potential Earnings in Washington Real Estate

Real estate income is variable. Brokers may be paid through commissions, referral fees, or other arrangements, and earnings can fluctuate with transaction volume, market conditions, experience, brokerage terms, business expenses, and whether the broker works full-time or part-time.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a national median annual wage of $54,300 for real estate sales agents in its May 2023 occupational wage data; this is a national benchmark, not a guarantee for Washington brokers. Washington labor-market data has also reported wages for real estate sales agents and brokers, but figures can reflect a particular year and methodology and should not be treated as an individual income forecast.

New brokers should budget for periods with few or no closings. Expenses may include:

Transportation and mileage
Marketing and advertising
Phone and internet service
Association and listing-service dues
Brokerage fees
Transaction fees
Insurance and professional services
Continuing education
Taxes and bookkeeping

Ask each brokerage to explain its compensation plan using realistic examples, including what happens when a transaction does not close.

Career Opportunities for Washington Brokers

A Washington broker can build a career in several areas, including:

Residential buyer representation
Residential listing services
New-construction sales
Relocation services
Property investment and acquisitions
Commercial real estate
Land and rural property
Luxury or waterfront property
Leasing and tenant representation
Property management-related roles, where separately permitted
Real estate teams and referral networks

Some specialties require additional training, experience, or compliance procedures. A broker who wants to advance to Washington managing broker generally needs at least three years of full-time active broker experience within the previous five years and 90 hours of approved managing-broker education, including brokerage management, business management, and advanced real estate law.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Enrolling in a course without confirming current Washington approval.
Assuming course completion automatically grants a license.
Waiting too long to schedule the exam after completing education.
Forgetting that both exam portions must be passed within six months of each other.
Submitting fingerprints before passing the exam, contrary to the DOL’s process.
Missing the one-year deadline to apply after passing the final exam.
Underestimating fingerprinting, brokerage, marketing, and renewal expenses.
Treating national salary data as a promise of Washington income.
Failing to track first-renewal education requirements.
Giving inaccurate or incomplete information on the application or background-check forms.

Final Checklist

Before beginning, confirm that you:

Are at least 18.
Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Have selected 90 hours of currently approved Washington education.
Understand the school’s tuition, format, completion rules, and refund policy.
Know how to register with PSI.
Have budgeted for the $210 exam fee, $233 original broker license fee, fingerprinting, and education.
Have a plan for passing both exam portions within six months of each other.
Know how you will complete fingerprinting after passing the exam.
Have researched potential sponsoring brokerages.
Have recorded your license date and future renewal requirements.

Washington licensing rules, fees, examination procedures, and continuing-education requirements can change. For a final eligibility or application decision, verify the current requirements directly with the Washington State Department of Licensing.

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