CALIFORNIA REAL ESTATE STATE-SPECIFIC EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS - 100% VERIFIED - LATEST 2026/2027 GUARANTEED PASS
1. Who appoints the California Real Estate Commissioner? ANSWER The
Governor.
2. What is the minimum age to apply for a California real estate salesperson
license? ANSWER 18 years old.
3. How many hours of pre-licensing education are required for a California
salesperson? ANSWER 135 hours (three 45-hour courses).
4. What is the minimum age to apply for a California real estate broker
license? ANSWER 18 years old.
5. How many years of real estate experience are required to apply for a
broker license? ANSWER Two years within the last five years.
6. What is the passing score for the California salesperson exam? ANSWER
70% (105 out of 150 questions).
7. What is the passing score for the California broker exam? ANSWER 75%
(150 out of 200 questions).
8. How long do you have to pass the exam after completing pre-licensing
courses? ANSWER Two years.
9. What is the exam fee for the California salesperson exam? ANSWER $100.
10. What entity administers the California real estate licensing exam?
ANSWER Pearson VUE, under contract with the Department of Real Estate
(DRE).
11. What does DRE stand for? ANSWER Department of Real Estate.
12. What was the former name of the DRE? ANSWER Bureau of Real Estate
(BRE), before that it was the Department of Real Estate.
13. Who is the chief executive officer of the DRE? ANSWER The Real Estate
Commissioner.
,14. What is the Real Estate Commissioner's primary duty? ANSWER To
enforce the Real Estate Law and protect the public.
15. How many members are on the Real Estate Advisory Commission?
ANSWER Ten members.
16. Who appoints the members of the Real Estate Advisory Commission?
ANSWER The Governor.
17. What is the term length for Real Estate Advisory Commission members?
ANSWER Four years.
18. What is the purpose of the Real Estate Advisory Commission? ANSWER
To advise the Commissioner on matters relating to real estate regulation.
19. What is the Real Estate Law found in? ANSWER Division 4 of the Business
and Professions Code.
20. What is the main purpose of the Real Estate Law? ANSWER To protect
the public from fraud, incompetence, and dishonesty in real estate
transactions.
21. What is a real estate license required for? ANSWER Performing acts for
compensation that require a license (selling, leasing, negotiating, etc.).
22. What is the penalty for practicing real estate without a license in
California? ANSWER It is a misdemeanor, punishable by fine and/or
imprisonment.
23. Can an unlicensed assistant show property? ANSWER No, showing
property requires a license.
24. What activities can an unlicensed assistant perform? ANSWER
Secretarial, clerical, and administrative tasks; answering phones; scheduling
appointments; preparing promotional materials (with broker approval).
25. Can an unlicensed assistant hold an open house? ANSWER No, holding an
open house requires a license.
26. Can an unlicensed assistant negotiate terms? ANSWER No.
27. What is required on all real estate advertisements in California? ANSWER
The broker's name or licensed DBA name (and license number for certain types
of ads).
, 28. What is the penalty for false or misleading advertising? ANSWER
Disciplinary action by the DRE, including license suspension or revocation.
29. What is the maximum commission a broker can charge? ANSWER There
is no statutory maximum; it is negotiable.
30. Can a salesperson receive a commission directly from a client? ANSWER
No, commissions must be paid to the employing broker.
31. Can a salesperson be paid by a broker other than their employing broker?
ANSWER Only with the written consent of their employing broker.
32. What is the requirement for a broker to operate under a fictitious
business name? ANSWER The name must be recorded with the county
recorder, published in a newspaper, and the DRE must issue a license in that
name.
33. How long must a broker keep transaction records? ANSWER Three years
from the date of closing or listing expiration.
34. How long must a broker keep trust account records? ANSWER Three
years.
35. What is the minimum amount of the California Real Estate Recovery
Fund? ANSWER $500,000 maintained by the DRE.
36. What is the maximum claim from the Recovery Fund per transaction?
ANSWER $50,000 per transaction.
37. What is the maximum aggregate claim from the Recovery Fund per
licensee? ANSWER $250,000 per licensee.
38. Who can file a claim against the Recovery Fund? ANSWER Persons who
have obtained a final judgment against a licensee for fraud, misrepresentation,
or deceit in a real estate transaction.
39. What happens to a licensee's license if the Recovery Fund pays a claim?
ANSWER The license is automatically suspended until the licensee repays the
fund plus interest.
40. What is the purpose of the Recovery Fund? ANSWER To reimburse
members of the public who have suffered financial loss due to a licensee's
dishonest acts.
ANSWERS - 100% VERIFIED - LATEST 2026/2027 GUARANTEED PASS
1. Who appoints the California Real Estate Commissioner? ANSWER The
Governor.
2. What is the minimum age to apply for a California real estate salesperson
license? ANSWER 18 years old.
3. How many hours of pre-licensing education are required for a California
salesperson? ANSWER 135 hours (three 45-hour courses).
4. What is the minimum age to apply for a California real estate broker
license? ANSWER 18 years old.
5. How many years of real estate experience are required to apply for a
broker license? ANSWER Two years within the last five years.
6. What is the passing score for the California salesperson exam? ANSWER
70% (105 out of 150 questions).
7. What is the passing score for the California broker exam? ANSWER 75%
(150 out of 200 questions).
8. How long do you have to pass the exam after completing pre-licensing
courses? ANSWER Two years.
9. What is the exam fee for the California salesperson exam? ANSWER $100.
10. What entity administers the California real estate licensing exam?
ANSWER Pearson VUE, under contract with the Department of Real Estate
(DRE).
11. What does DRE stand for? ANSWER Department of Real Estate.
12. What was the former name of the DRE? ANSWER Bureau of Real Estate
(BRE), before that it was the Department of Real Estate.
13. Who is the chief executive officer of the DRE? ANSWER The Real Estate
Commissioner.
,14. What is the Real Estate Commissioner's primary duty? ANSWER To
enforce the Real Estate Law and protect the public.
15. How many members are on the Real Estate Advisory Commission?
ANSWER Ten members.
16. Who appoints the members of the Real Estate Advisory Commission?
ANSWER The Governor.
17. What is the term length for Real Estate Advisory Commission members?
ANSWER Four years.
18. What is the purpose of the Real Estate Advisory Commission? ANSWER
To advise the Commissioner on matters relating to real estate regulation.
19. What is the Real Estate Law found in? ANSWER Division 4 of the Business
and Professions Code.
20. What is the main purpose of the Real Estate Law? ANSWER To protect
the public from fraud, incompetence, and dishonesty in real estate
transactions.
21. What is a real estate license required for? ANSWER Performing acts for
compensation that require a license (selling, leasing, negotiating, etc.).
22. What is the penalty for practicing real estate without a license in
California? ANSWER It is a misdemeanor, punishable by fine and/or
imprisonment.
23. Can an unlicensed assistant show property? ANSWER No, showing
property requires a license.
24. What activities can an unlicensed assistant perform? ANSWER
Secretarial, clerical, and administrative tasks; answering phones; scheduling
appointments; preparing promotional materials (with broker approval).
25. Can an unlicensed assistant hold an open house? ANSWER No, holding an
open house requires a license.
26. Can an unlicensed assistant negotiate terms? ANSWER No.
27. What is required on all real estate advertisements in California? ANSWER
The broker's name or licensed DBA name (and license number for certain types
of ads).
, 28. What is the penalty for false or misleading advertising? ANSWER
Disciplinary action by the DRE, including license suspension or revocation.
29. What is the maximum commission a broker can charge? ANSWER There
is no statutory maximum; it is negotiable.
30. Can a salesperson receive a commission directly from a client? ANSWER
No, commissions must be paid to the employing broker.
31. Can a salesperson be paid by a broker other than their employing broker?
ANSWER Only with the written consent of their employing broker.
32. What is the requirement for a broker to operate under a fictitious
business name? ANSWER The name must be recorded with the county
recorder, published in a newspaper, and the DRE must issue a license in that
name.
33. How long must a broker keep transaction records? ANSWER Three years
from the date of closing or listing expiration.
34. How long must a broker keep trust account records? ANSWER Three
years.
35. What is the minimum amount of the California Real Estate Recovery
Fund? ANSWER $500,000 maintained by the DRE.
36. What is the maximum claim from the Recovery Fund per transaction?
ANSWER $50,000 per transaction.
37. What is the maximum aggregate claim from the Recovery Fund per
licensee? ANSWER $250,000 per licensee.
38. Who can file a claim against the Recovery Fund? ANSWER Persons who
have obtained a final judgment against a licensee for fraud, misrepresentation,
or deceit in a real estate transaction.
39. What happens to a licensee's license if the Recovery Fund pays a claim?
ANSWER The license is automatically suspended until the licensee repays the
fund plus interest.
40. What is the purpose of the Recovery Fund? ANSWER To reimburse
members of the public who have suffered financial loss due to a licensee's
dishonest acts.
