Yes—if you’re taking a California real estate pre-licensing course, the final course exam is typically proctored, especially for DRE-approved programs. That proctoring helps verify your identity and keeps the final exam compliant with California education requirements. Separately, the California state licensing exam is also proctored, but by the testing provider, not your course school. Start your journey with LEAP's California real estate pre-licensing course.

For California, the bigger picture is the full pre-licensing path: you must complete the required education, then pass the state exam before applying for your salesperson license. Many online schools offer flexible study schedules, but they may still require a live proctor, webcam monitoring, or a scheduled exam session at the end of the course. So “online” does not always mean “unproctored.”

Timing and cost can vary by school format. Self-paced courses are often cheaper and more flexible, but proctored finals may require you to book a time or use specific technology. Live classes may build the exam into the schedule. It’s worth checking whether the course fee includes exam retakes, proctoring fees, and access length, since those details can affect your overall budget and study plan.

If you’re just getting started, a California pre-licensing course can help you understand the state’s requirements and prepare for both the course final and the licensing exam. A good next step is to review a California-specific program, such as the pre-licensing option here: California real estate pre-licensing course