How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Washington
If you're dreaming of a career in real estate, the first step toward making your dream a reality is learning how to become a real estate agent in Washington state.
To practice a career in real estate, you need to earn the right kind of license. What are Washington's real estate license requirements? Keep reading to find out.
How To Get a Real Estate License in Washington
The basic steps for getting a real estate license are to complete your education, pass your exam, and submit a license application. Let's take a closer look at the steps for obtaining a real estate license in Washington.
Step 1: Meet Washington's Real Estate License Eligibility Requirements
Before you get your heart set on a real estate license, you need to make sure you meet the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL)'s basic real estate license requirements for a real estate broker's license.
To qualify for a broker's license, which is what the entry-level real estate license is called in Washington State, you need to:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a high school diploma or the equivalent
- Be able to pass a background check
If your record is less than spotless, you may still have a shot at earning your real estate license. You'll need to disclose your situation, and the DOL will decide on a case-by-case basis. They'll take into account the type of crime, level of conviction, the relationship of the crime to real estate practice, length of time since the conviction occurred, and whether you disclosed the conviction as required.
Step 2: Complete Washington's Real Estate License Education Requirements
All states require a certain amount of pre-license real estate education before you obtain an active license. In Washington State, you need to pass 90 hours of mandatory coursework, including:
You must complete these courses with an approved training vendor (like us) and submit your application within 2 years of course completion.
Many people find online coursework like ours to be an efficient and effective way of completing their mandatory real estate education while continuing on with their regular responsibilities. You can study whenever and wherever it's convenient, and the courses are self-paced, which means you can take your time with the hard stuff and breeze through the easy stuff.
Our premium education package is designed to help you pass your license exam on the first try. It includes:
- the 60-hour Washington Real Estate Fundamentals course,
- the 30-hour Washington Real Estate Practices course,
- a Washington Broker's Exam Prep course,
- a condensed study guide for the exam, and
- Unlimited practice questions based on the real exam
Step 3: Pass Your Washington Real Estate License Exam
Before your coursework is complete, you'll need to register as a student with PSI Testing Excellence – Washington state's testing vendor. That way, it's easy for your school to electronically submit your course completions.
At that point, you can schedule your exam with PSI.
It's best to take the exam while your course material is fresh. Washington requires you to pass the broker's exam within a year of course completion.
The exam is 3.5 hours long and divided into two separate portions: the national exam and the state exam. The national exam is 100 multiple-choice questions and deals with basic real estate concepts. The state portion is 30 multiple-choice questions on Washington real estate license law.
They're graded separately, so it's possible to pass one and fail the other. If that happens, you need to pass both portions within 6 months of one another.
Step 4: Submit Your Fingerprints for a Background Check
Before you submit your application, you need to submit fingerprints for state and national background checks.
In-state applicants can use Washington's electronic fingerprinting vendor. Out-of-state applicants need to be fingerprinted by local law enforcement or the private company of their choice.
Step 5: Submit Your Washington Real Estate License Application
You should wait to submit your application until you've heard from the DOL that your exam results have been received.
To apply for an active broker's license, you'll need to have a sponsoring brokerage already lined up to sign your application. It's important to choose the right sponsoring broker because it's where you'll start your career. Pay attention to how they intend to support you early in your career, as well as your compensation structure.
If you don't have a sponsoring broker yet, the other option is to apply for an inactive license. You can activate it later once you've secured a sponsor.
Further Your Real Estate Education with Us
As a state-approved real estate education provider, we can help you meet Washington's real estate license requirements, prepare to pass your exam, and help you meet the state's renewal requirements every 2 years.
Washington requires 60 hours of post-license coursework before your first renewal, including:
That's in addition to meeting the regular Continuing Education (CE) requirements of:
- a 3-hour Core course and
- 27 hours of additional approved CE
You can count on us to help you further your education and secure your license for years to come! Head to our website to get started today.
Steps to Get Your Real Estate License
Do you want to be a real estate agent in Washington? To do that, you must complete the steps below.
- Register with AMP: Before completing your course, you must register as a student with the testing vendor, Applied Measurements Professionals, Inc. (AMP).
- Successfully complete prelicense education: Complete 90 hours of approved prelicensing education online or in person within 2 years before applying for the exam.
- Schedule your exam: After your education information is submitted to AMP, schedule your exam online by phone or by mail.
- Pass the licensing exam
- Find a designated broker: Real estate brokers must be sponsored by a licensed designated broker. This broker’s office is where you’ll be working and learning. There is a section on the license application for employing firm information.
Then it’s time to apply for a real estate broker license. To apply for a license, you must:
- Complete the Real Estate License Application form.
- Submit the application with a check for the $146.25 broker fee, payable to the Department of Licensing.
- Submit fingerprints for state and national background checks
You don’t even have to leave your house to take and complete the education necessary to become a Washington broker. 360training.com, a leading online real estate license school since 1999, offers DOL-approved online prelicensing courses that meet the state requirements. 360training.com’s Washington 90 Hour Broker Premium Prelicense Package includes:
- WA Real Estate Fundamentals course
- WA Real Estate Practices course
- WA Broker Exam Prep
- Plus unlimited practice exams and study guides
After completing the pre-license course, you can return to your student profile page where your Certificate of Completion is available for printing.
How to Pass the Washington Real Estate Exam
Know What to Expect
Learn everything you can about the exam, process, rules, and the testing center beforehand. The testing company, AMP, provides a candidate handbook for licensed candidates that includes:
- Examination administration guidelines
- Exam rules
- Exam study materials
- Exam content outlines
- Sample questions
- Scheduling and registration procedures
There are two portions in the Washington Real Estate Broker Examination -- national and state -- and 3.5 hours is allowed to complete both portions. National and state questions will be mixed, not relegated to separate sections.
There are 100 multiple choice national questions. The state portion, which deals with Washington real estate license law, contains 30 multiple-choice questions.
Review What’s on the Test
Real estate licensing exams are extensive and require memorization. If you paid attention during your pre-license course, there should be few surprises because the exam covers the same subjects in the real estate course you had to complete.
The candidate handbook provides exam content outlines that tell you exactly what is on the test and how many questions per topic. Topics include:
- Agency Relationships and Contracts
- Real Property Ownership/Interest
- Finance
- Real Property
- Marketing Regulations (purchase and rental)
- Property Management
- Real Estate Calculations
- Washington statutes governing the licensing and activities of licensees
Use Exam Guides
Take advantage of the available materials to help you pass the exam. Exam preps or practice tests allow you to gauge your strengths and weaknesses and pinpoint sections you need to focus on. Taking the practice tests will also allow you to get familiar with the time allotted, the types of questions on the exam, and how questions are worded.
Remember to memorize the math formulas to solve common real estate calculations such as profit and loss, mortgage interest, down payments and commissions, and closing prorations.
While practicing, carefully read the question to determine exactly what is being asked. Regardless of the specific numbers and scenarios in the question, if you use the correct formula, then your answer should be correct.
Study Buddy
Sometimes, studying with a friend who is also preparing for the licensing exam will keep you motivated. Studying with others can be mutually advantageous. You help each other learn while holding each other accountable.
You will be motivated to not only do well on the exam, but to make sure that your friend does well, too. While you review the pre-license course materials, take notes and highlight key concepts. Use flashcards to quiz each other on major concepts. Study for 45 to 60 minutes before taking a break.
Get Plenty of Sleep and Fuel
It is important to maintain your health in general and specifically before taking an exam. Get eight hours of sleep for several days before the exam and eat a well-balanced meal. An empty stomach can be distracting.
Don’t take practice tests on the day of your real estate exam; it may increase your anxiety and tension. Remember to relax, breathe, and remain calm. Concentrate only on the material presented on the exam.
Be Thorough
Be aware of the time allotted and manage your time wisely, but don’t rush. Read every sentence and every word carefully. It’s much harder to answer correctly if you’ve misunderstood the question. It’s easy to overlook words such as “all” and “none” and mistake “is” and “if” for each other.
Test makers are also testing for attention to details and are aware of common mistakes and assumptions. They may include an answer that would be correct for the misconstrued question, so watch out
Don’t Forget the Details
It’s easy to miss details when you are overwhelmed taking a 130-question licensing exam. Ensure that your question number corresponds to the number on your answer sheet. One mistake will jeopardize the entire test, and you may not have time to fix it.
If you don’t know an answer, guess. Answer all of the questions and don’t leave any empty spaces on your answer sheet. Passing the Washington real estate exam is not as hard as you think if you are prepared, calm, and thorough. Commit to the steps above, and you should pass the test.
How to Get Your Real Estate License Renewed
Your real estate license will expire every two years. You must complete the required continuing education, pay a fee, and renew your license online or by mail. Washington broker continuing education requirements include:
- First renewal:
- 30–hour Advanced Practices Course
- 30–hour Real Estate Law Course
- 30 hours of approved continuing education, including a 3–hour Core Course
- Subsequent renewals: 30 hours of approved continuing education, including a 3–hour Core Course
The Current Real Estate Market
According to Glassdoor, the average salary range for a real estate agent in Washington state is $60,00 to $66,000, but this can vary quite a bit according to location and an agent’s motivation and hustle. A broker’s pay comes from a portion of commissions based on the sales price of completed transactions.
Washington Real Estate Commission
The mission of the Commission is to protect and promote the public interest, including the interests of regulated licensees and the interests of consumers, by the development and administration of the licensing laws and regulations.
National Association of REALTORS®
The largest professional association in the real estate industry, the National Association of REALTORS® was first organized in 1908. To become a member, you must be licensed in an individual state to sell real estate and join the local NAR association. A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who subscribes to a strict code of ethics known as the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. So there it is. A quick breakdown of what you need to do to get a real estate broker license in Washington. If you have any questions, visit the WA Department of Licensing web site. States periodically update their requirements, so it’s smart to visit the DOL website once in a while to stay up to date.
