Upgrade to California Broker
About Online Self-Paced
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 Real Estate Finance Course
To apply for a California Real Estate Salesperson’s license, you need to complete three courses (135 credit hours): Real Estate Principles (45 hours), Real Estate Practice (45 hours), and one ad...
45-Hr. CA Real Estate Principles Course
To apply for your California Real Estate Salesperson’s license, you first need to complete 135 credit hours of required education: Real Estate Principles (45 hours), Real Estate Practice (45 hou...
45-Hr. CA Real Estate Practice Course (SB1495 Compliant)
To apply for your California Real Estate Salesperson's license, you first need to complete 135 credit hours of required education: Real Estate Principles (45 hours), Real Estate Practice (45 hou...
California Real Estate Pre-Licensing Course: CA Broker Exam Prep Edge
Exam Prep Edge is an intuitive online study experience that will help you gain the edge in acing your exam. This program covers the complete California Broker real estate licensing exam. It provides y...
Your Path to Becoming a Licensed Agent
Follow these 5 simple steps to start your real estate career in California
Accumulate 2 Years of Active Salesperson Experience
DRE Core Requirement
Document 2 years of full-time active experience as a California salesperson within the last 5 years. Your sponsoring broker verifies your experience on DRE form RE 226.
Complete 8 DRE Broker Qualifying Courses
45 Hours Each — 360 Total
Work through Fortune Academy's 8 DRE-approved broker qualifying courses. Each 45-hour course has a proctored final exam.
Full DRE broker curriculum.
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 if expired. DRE processing: 6–10 weeks.
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. Fortune Academy's broker exam prep is included.
Begin Operating 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.
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
How do I upgrade from a California salesperson to a broker?
To upgrade from CA salesperson to broker: accumulate 2 years of full-time active experience as a licensed salesperson (within the preceding 5 years), complete 8 DRE-approved broker qualifying courses (45 hours each), pass the PSI California broker exam, and apply to DRE for broker licensure.
How many qualifying courses does a California broker need?
CA DRE requires 8 college-level broker qualifying courses: 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 (Property Management, Office Administration, Escrow, Mortgage Loan Brokering, etc.).
How much experience do I need to become a California broker?
CA DRE requires 2 years of full-time active experience as a licensed California salesperson within the 5-year period preceding broker application, OR equivalent experience (attorney, 4-year college degree with real estate major/minor, or equivalent).
Can I take California broker qualifying courses online?
Yes. Fortune Academy's 8 broker qualifying courses are 100% online, self-paced, and DRE-approved. Each 45-hour course has a proctored final and minimum 18-day enrollment period per DRE rules.
How much does a California broker license cost?
Expect total costs around $1,400–$2,200 for broker upgrade: Fortune Academy's 8-course qualifying package, the $95 DRE broker exam fee, the $300 DRE broker license fee, Live Scan fingerprinting (if expired), and surety bond (if running own brokerage).
What is the California broker exam like?
The PSI California broker exam is 200 multiple-choice questions, 4 hours, requiring 75% to pass. Significantly broader and more advanced than the salesperson exam — covers brokerage operations, supervision, commercial RE, and advanced California law.
What can a California broker do that a salesperson cannot?
California brokers can: run their own brokerage (not work under another broker), employ salespersons, hold escrow trust funds, supervise property management, operate a mortgage loan origination business. Salespersons must work under a broker and cannot hold trust funds or operate independently.
Does Fortune Academy help with the California broker application?
Yes. Fortune Academy provides step-by-step support for DRE's Broker Examination Application (RE 400B), experience verification (RE 226), and Live Scan coordination. Our licensed CA broker advisors are available 24/7.