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Understand how to become a Washington real estate broker, including the 90-hour education requirement, broker exam, fingerprinting, application steps, fees, and choosing a managing broker.
By Leap Real Estate Team | 7 minutes read
In Washington, the entry-level real estate credential is called a broker license. That means you can start working in real estate as a broker under a managing broker and the brokerage’s designated broker.
If your goal is to get in the game fast, a flexible Washington real estate license course can help you clear the education requirement and move on to the exam.
To qualify, you must:
Washington’s Department of Licensing (DOL) keeps the official approval list for schools and courses. Always confirm the current approval status before enrolling.
Washington requires 90 clock hours of approved pre-licensing education:
The material usually covers contracts, agency, financing, property ownership, fair housing, real estate law, and Washington-specific brokerage rules.
A class certificate does not equal a license. You still need the exam, fingerprints, and application approval.
Online courses work well if you want to start quickly and study around your schedule. Before enrolling, make sure:
For a current option, review Leap’s Washington pre-licensing course, then compare it with the DOL’s approval details.
Once your education is done, sign up with PSI, Washington’s testing vendor. You can schedule online or by phone.
You must pass:
Washington requires those two scores to be earned within six months of each other. If not, you’ll have to retake both.
The DOL’s current fee schedule lists the exam fee at $210, including retakes. Confirm pricing before booking, since fees can change.
Use the official PSI outline when studying. Prep materials from schools can help, but they do not replace the exam content guide.
Washington wants fingerprints after you pass the exam.
If you’re in Washington, you’ll typically use IdentoGO through the DOL’s process. If you’re out of state, follow the DOL’s instructions for card-based or alternative submission.
Fingerprinting has its own fee. Check the vendor’s current price when you schedule.
The fingerprint-based background check is required for a new broker license, and fingerprints generally need renewal every six years while you stay active. A criminal history does not automatically mean denial, but accuracy matters—disclose everything properly and contact the DOL if you need guidance.
After the exam and background-check results are in, submit your broker application through Washington’s licensing system or paper process.
Current DOL-listed broker fees include:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---:|
| Broker examination | $210 |
| Broker examination retake | $210 |
| Original broker license | $233 |
| Printed license mailed by DOL | $5 |
The original license fee includes a mandatory $20 research fee. Education, exam prep, fingerprinting, travel, and business setup costs are separate.
You must apply within one year of passing your final exam.
In Washington, you usually begin by affiliating with a brokerage and working under a managing broker. That’s how you activate your licensed career.
When comparing brokerages, ask about:
The right brokerage can help you ramp up faster. Read the agreement carefully before you sign.
If you’re still comparing schools, you can also revisit this Washington pre-licensing course and see whether the format fits your launch timeline.
There’s no single official timeline. Your pace depends on how fast you finish school, how quickly you schedule the exam, how soon fingerprints are processed, and how complete your application is.
A practical timeline looks like this:
The real deadlines to watch are the six-month exam window and the one-year application deadline.
Typical costs may include:
Because school pricing and fingerprint fees vary, build your budget from current provider quotes.
Your first active renewal has extra education requirements. Before that renewal, you must complete at least 90 hours of continuing education, including:
Washington also requires an initial six-hour Washington Real Estate Fair Housing course if it has not already been completed under the applicable rules.
Check the DOL’s current renewal rules before choosing classes, since timing can affect what counts.
Washington broker licenses renew every two years.
After the first renewal, you generally need 30 hours of continuing education each cycle, including:
At least 15 hours must be completed within the 24 months before renewal. Washington may also allow up to 15 hours from the prior 48 months if those hours were not already used.
After the initial fair-housing course, brokers must complete the 3-hour Washington Real Estate Fair Housing course at each renewal.
Real estate income varies. Pay depends on commission structure, market activity, experience, brokerage terms, expenses, and how much you work.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a national median annual wage of $54,300 for real estate sales agents in May 2023. That is only a national benchmark, not a Washington earning guarantee.
Plan for startup and ongoing costs such as:
Ask brokerages for real examples of how pay works when deals close—and when they don’t.
A Washington broker can build a career in areas like:
If you want to advance later, becoming a Washington managing broker generally requires at least three years of full-time active broker experience within the previous five years plus 90 hours of approved managing-broker education.
Before you start, make sure you have:
For the most current rules, fees, and processing details, verify everything with the Washington State Department of Licensing.
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