WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE EXAM
PRACTICE QUESTIONS – STATE WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
Section 1: Washington State Law & Licensing (Questions 1-20)
1. A real estate salesperson’s license is valid for how long in Washington State?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 4 years
Correct Answer: B) 2 years
Rationale: In Washington, real estate licenses (both salespersons and brokers) are issued for a two-year
term. Licensees must complete continuing education (CE) requirements before the expiration date to
renew.
2. According to Washington law, how many hours of continuing education (CE) are required for a
salesperson to renew their license for the first time?
A) 15 hours
B) 30 hours
C) 45 hours
D) 90 hours
Correct Answer: B) 30 hours
Rationale: All licensees must complete 30 hours of approved continuing education per renewal cycle. This
includes 3 hours of core (Washington law update) and 27 hours of elective courses.
3. The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) may deny a license application if the
applicant has been convicted of a crime. What standard does the DOL use to evaluate this?
A) A blanket ban on all felonies
,B) A "substantial relationship" test to the duties of a real estate broker
C) Only crimes involving moral turpitude
D) Only crimes committed in the last 5 years
Correct Answer: B) A "substantial relationship" test
Rationale: Washington uses a "substantial relationship" standard. The DOL will deny, revoke, or suspend
a license if the crime is substantially related to the functions of a real estate licensee (e.g., fraud, theft,
forgery).
4. Which of the following activities requires a real estate license in Washington?
A) An attorney handling a real estate transaction for a client
B) A property owner selling their own single-family home
C) A person holding a power of attorney selling a relative’s home for no compensation
D) A salaried employee of a property owner showing apartments to prospective tenants
Correct Answer: D) A salaried employee of a property owner showing apartments to
prospective tenants
*Rationale: Washington law exempts owners selling their own property, attorneys acting in their
professional capacity, and those with a power of attorney acting without compensation. However, a
salaried on-site manager is exempt only if they are the employee of the owner and the property is their
primary residence; otherwise, a license is typically required. If the employee is not the owner and is
compensated (salary), they generally need a license unless they fall under the specific residential
manager exemption (RCW 18.85). The question implies a standard apartment showing for a landlord,
which typically requires a license unless it’s the owner.*
5. Under the Washington Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA), a landlord must provide a tenant with how
many days’ written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy?
A) 3 days
B) 10 days
C) 20 days
D) 30 days
Correct Answer: C) 20 days
*Rationale: Under RCW 59.18.200, a landlord must give a tenant at least 20 days’ written notice to
terminate a month-to-month tenancy, with the termination date being the end of a rental period.*
6. The Washington Real Estate Commission (WREC) is comprised of how many members?
A) 3
B) 5
C) 7
D) 9
, Correct Answer: C) 7
Rationale: The WREC consists of seven members appointed by the Governor. Six are licensed brokers
(with at least 5 years of experience) and one is a public member not affiliated with the industry.
7. What is the statute of frauds requirement for a listing agreement in Washington?
A) It must be oral to be valid
B) It must be in writing and signed by the seller
C) It must be notarized
D) It must be recorded with the county
Correct Answer: B) It must be in writing and signed by the seller
Rationale: Washington law requires that listing agreements (employment contracts) be in writing and
signed by the seller to be enforceable.
8. A broker is holding earnest money. What is the maximum amount of time they have to deposit the
funds into a trust account or escrow?
A) By the next business day
B) Within 3 business days
C) Within 5 business days
D) Within 7 business days
Correct Answer: B) Within 3 business days
Rationale: Washington law mandates that earnest money be deposited into a trust or escrow account by
the end of the third business day following mutual acceptance of the offer.
9. Which of the following is a prohibited practice under Washington’s anti-discrimination laws?
A) Advertising a property as "adults only" if it is in a senior housing complex exempted by HUD
B) Requiring a credit check for all applicants
C) Steering families with children to a specific area of a complex
D) Refusing to rent to someone with a felony conviction
Correct Answer: C) Steering families with children to a specific area of a complex
*Rationale: Steering based on familial status (or race, color, etc.) is illegal discrimination under the
Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) and federal Fair Housing Act. While "adults only" is
allowed for bona fide 55+ or 62+ senior housing, steering families is not.*
10. A property manager must hold which type of license?
A) A managing broker license only
B) A real estate firm license
C) A real estate broker license (or be under a designated broker)
D) A property management permit
PRACTICE QUESTIONS – STATE WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
Section 1: Washington State Law & Licensing (Questions 1-20)
1. A real estate salesperson’s license is valid for how long in Washington State?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 4 years
Correct Answer: B) 2 years
Rationale: In Washington, real estate licenses (both salespersons and brokers) are issued for a two-year
term. Licensees must complete continuing education (CE) requirements before the expiration date to
renew.
2. According to Washington law, how many hours of continuing education (CE) are required for a
salesperson to renew their license for the first time?
A) 15 hours
B) 30 hours
C) 45 hours
D) 90 hours
Correct Answer: B) 30 hours
Rationale: All licensees must complete 30 hours of approved continuing education per renewal cycle. This
includes 3 hours of core (Washington law update) and 27 hours of elective courses.
3. The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) may deny a license application if the
applicant has been convicted of a crime. What standard does the DOL use to evaluate this?
A) A blanket ban on all felonies
,B) A "substantial relationship" test to the duties of a real estate broker
C) Only crimes involving moral turpitude
D) Only crimes committed in the last 5 years
Correct Answer: B) A "substantial relationship" test
Rationale: Washington uses a "substantial relationship" standard. The DOL will deny, revoke, or suspend
a license if the crime is substantially related to the functions of a real estate licensee (e.g., fraud, theft,
forgery).
4. Which of the following activities requires a real estate license in Washington?
A) An attorney handling a real estate transaction for a client
B) A property owner selling their own single-family home
C) A person holding a power of attorney selling a relative’s home for no compensation
D) A salaried employee of a property owner showing apartments to prospective tenants
Correct Answer: D) A salaried employee of a property owner showing apartments to
prospective tenants
*Rationale: Washington law exempts owners selling their own property, attorneys acting in their
professional capacity, and those with a power of attorney acting without compensation. However, a
salaried on-site manager is exempt only if they are the employee of the owner and the property is their
primary residence; otherwise, a license is typically required. If the employee is not the owner and is
compensated (salary), they generally need a license unless they fall under the specific residential
manager exemption (RCW 18.85). The question implies a standard apartment showing for a landlord,
which typically requires a license unless it’s the owner.*
5. Under the Washington Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA), a landlord must provide a tenant with how
many days’ written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy?
A) 3 days
B) 10 days
C) 20 days
D) 30 days
Correct Answer: C) 20 days
*Rationale: Under RCW 59.18.200, a landlord must give a tenant at least 20 days’ written notice to
terminate a month-to-month tenancy, with the termination date being the end of a rental period.*
6. The Washington Real Estate Commission (WREC) is comprised of how many members?
A) 3
B) 5
C) 7
D) 9
, Correct Answer: C) 7
Rationale: The WREC consists of seven members appointed by the Governor. Six are licensed brokers
(with at least 5 years of experience) and one is a public member not affiliated with the industry.
7. What is the statute of frauds requirement for a listing agreement in Washington?
A) It must be oral to be valid
B) It must be in writing and signed by the seller
C) It must be notarized
D) It must be recorded with the county
Correct Answer: B) It must be in writing and signed by the seller
Rationale: Washington law requires that listing agreements (employment contracts) be in writing and
signed by the seller to be enforceable.
8. A broker is holding earnest money. What is the maximum amount of time they have to deposit the
funds into a trust account or escrow?
A) By the next business day
B) Within 3 business days
C) Within 5 business days
D) Within 7 business days
Correct Answer: B) Within 3 business days
Rationale: Washington law mandates that earnest money be deposited into a trust or escrow account by
the end of the third business day following mutual acceptance of the offer.
9. Which of the following is a prohibited practice under Washington’s anti-discrimination laws?
A) Advertising a property as "adults only" if it is in a senior housing complex exempted by HUD
B) Requiring a credit check for all applicants
C) Steering families with children to a specific area of a complex
D) Refusing to rent to someone with a felony conviction
Correct Answer: C) Steering families with children to a specific area of a complex
*Rationale: Steering based on familial status (or race, color, etc.) is illegal discrimination under the
Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) and federal Fair Housing Act. While "adults only" is
allowed for bona fide 55+ or 62+ senior housing, steering families is not.*
10. A property manager must hold which type of license?
A) A managing broker license only
B) A real estate firm license
C) A real estate broker license (or be under a designated broker)
D) A property management permit
