California Broker Path
About Online Self-Paced
Choose Your Package
45-Hr. CA CE First-Time Sales Package
Salesperson- Mandatory 17-Hours
- Consumer Protection 19-Hours
- Consumer Service 9-Hours
Individual Courses
Not ready for a package? Purchase each course separately at your own pace. All courses are required for ca licensure.
45-Hr. CA CE First-Time Sales Package (renewals AFTER 1/1/23)
California Real Estate Continuing Education Course: (Management And Supervision) California Management And Supervision
Along with the risk, opportunity, and benefits of being a broker comes a sobering responsibility: supervising licensees who work independent and out of sight of the broker as they guide clients throug...
California Real Estate Continuing Education Course: (Risk Management) California Risk Management
Real estate and risk go hand in hand, and the more you know about potential risks, the better able you'll be to effectively manage those risks and minimize exposure. For yourself, for your clients...
California Real Estate Continuing Education Course: (Trust Funds) California Trust Fund Handling
Real estate professionals act as intermediaries in the transfer of funds entrusted by consumers in real estate transactions. This course covers processes and requirements involved in managing and a...
California Real Estate Continuing Education Course: (Consumer Protection) A Brief Introduction To Real Estate Finance
If a buyer who's not paying cash can't obtain financing, the transaction will fail. To provide the best service to consumers,it helps to have a clear understanding of the financing process, fr...
California Real Estate Continuing Education Course: (Consumer Protection) Growing Green: Environmental Awareness And Your Real Estate Practice (CA)
Whether you're representing a seller who's listing a high-efficiency home or working with a buyer to find one, it's important to be able to recognize a home's green features and the va...
California Real Estate Continuing Education Course: (Agency) California Agency
Agency refers to the type of relationship between a buyer or seller and a real estate licensee. Buyers and sellers enlist the assistance of a real estate professional to represent their interests and...
California Real Estate Continuing Education Course: (Ethics) California Ethics
Professional and ethical real estate professionals who adhere to a high set of standards are the foundation for restoring confidence and stability in an uncertain marketplace. The National Association...
Your Path to Becoming a Licensed Agent
Follow these 5 simple steps to start your real estate career in California
Meet the 2-Year Experience Requirement
Core DRE Experience
Compile 2 years of full-time active experience as a California salesperson within the last 5 years, OR equivalent qualifying experience (attorney, 4-year degree with real estate major/minor, etc.).
Complete 8 DRE Broker Qualifying Courses
45 Hours Each
Work through Fortune Academy's 8 broker qualifying courses — Real Estate Practice, Legal Aspects, Finance, Appraisal, Economics, plus three approved electives.
Full curriculum required by California DRE.
Submit Broker Application to DRE
Live Scan + Application Fees
File your Broker Examination Application (RE 400B) with DRE, pay the \$95 exam fee and \$300 license fee, and complete Live Scan fingerprinting if your prior prints have expired.
Pass the PSI California Broker Exam
200 Questions, 4 Hours
Schedule and pass the PSI California broker exam — 200 multiple-choice questions, 4 hours, 75% passing score. Advanced topics beyond salesperson level.
Begin Practicing as a California Broker
CE Continues Every 4 Years
Once DRE issues your broker license, you can run your own brokerage or operate as a broker-associate. California brokers follow the 45-hour CE cycle every 4 years to maintain licensure.
Meet Our Expert Instructors
Joseph F. Gobbett, Jr.
Licensed Broker, GRI
50+ YearsStarted his real estate career in Maryland in 1971. Training director, branch sales manager, and broker in charge of Rescom Realtors.
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Mark Davis-Cote
Licensed Broker, SFR
13+ YearsBA from URI, MBA from Webster University. Licensed salesperson since 2011, broker since 2016, SFR certified.
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Amanda Farnum
Licensed Real Estate Broker
17+ YearsAward-winning agent with experience across residential, commercial, foreclosures, and investments.
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Dale Clift
Real Estate Instructor
40+ YearsPassionate about real estate from age 20. Made it his goal to teach, train, and coach professionals across South Carolina.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our real estate courses
What courses are required to become a California real estate broker?
CA DRE requires 8 college-level broker qualifying courses (45 hours each): Real Estate Practice, Legal Aspects of Real Estate, Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Appraisal, Real Estate Economics or Accounting, and three from a list of approved courses (e.g., Property Management, Office Administration, Escrow, Mortgage Loan Brokering). Attorneys and some degree-holders receive partial waivers.
How much experience do I need to become a California broker?
CA DRE requires at least 2 years of full-time active experience as a licensed salesperson within the 5-year period immediately preceding broker application, OR equivalent experience and education (including a 4-year college degree with a major or minor in real estate).
Can I skip the salesperson license and go straight to broker in California?
In limited cases, yes. California allows candidates with 2 years of equivalent experience (real estate work, attorneys, certain degree-holders) to qualify for the broker exam without first holding a salesperson license. Most candidates still go through the salesperson path first.
Can I take California broker qualifying courses online?
Yes. Fortune Academy's CA broker qualifying courses are 100% online, self-paced, and DRE-approved. Each 45-hour course has a proctored final exam and minimum 18-day enrollment period per DRE rules.
How much does the California broker license cost?
Expect total costs around $1,200–$1,800 for broker licensure: Fortune Academy's qualifying course package, the DRE broker exam/license fee ($95 exam + $300 license combined), Live Scan fingerprinting (if expired), and potential surety bond costs if you run your own brokerage.
What is on the California broker exam?
The PSI California broker exam is 200 multiple-choice questions, 4 hours, requiring 75% to pass. It covers advanced topics including brokerage operations, supervision, commercial real estate, and California-specific broker law.
Do I need a separate broker license to run my own brokerage in CA?
Yes. California salespersons cannot operate independently — they must work under a licensed broker. Only brokers can run their own office, employ salespersons, and hold escrow trust funds. The broker license is a career advancement with significantly more authority and responsibility.
Does Fortune Academy help document California broker experience?
Yes. Fortune Academy provides templates and guidance for the DRE's Experience Verification form (RE 226). Our licensed CA broker advisors review your documentation before you submit to DRE.