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Taking the Exam

Time
Format
Method
Acceptable Forms of Identification
Exam Room Security
Conduct Penalties
Notification of Examination Results
Re-taking the Examination


Time

Salesperson: 3 hours 15-minutes. 150 multiple choice questions.

Broker: 5 hours, administered in a 2 1/2-hour morning session and a 2 1/2-hour afternoon session. 200 multiple choice questions (100 in each session).

Format

Examinations conducted in Sacramento and San Diego are currently offered in pencil and paper format.

Examinations conducted in Fresno, La Palma, and Oakland are currently offered in an electronic format; however, exam format may be subject to change.

Method

The examinations are given in a multiple-choice format. Answers are selected from four choices (see description of salesperson or broker examination content).

Acceptable Forms of Identification
To be admitted into an examination, you must show a valid form of photo identification issued within the past 5 years. Only the following forms of photo identification will be accepted:
  • Current state-issued driver's license or DMV identification card
  • U.S. Passport or Passport issued by a foreign government
  • U.S. Military identification card

You will not be admitted into the examination without a valid form of photo identification as listed above.

Exam Room Security
For security reasons, the following items are NOT permitted in the examination room:
  • backpacks
  • briefcases
  • suitcases
  • food
  • drinks
  • study materials
  • portable computers
  • PDAs (personal digital assistants)
  • programmable calculators

Pencils and basic calculators WILL be provided for your use; therefore, use of a personal calculator will not be allowed.

You cannot inspect your book or answer sheet after the examination session has ended (Section 1798.40(e) of the California Civil Code).

Cell phone use is prohibited during the examination and while out on break from the examination. All cell phones must be turned off and placed out of sight once you enter the exam room.

The Department of Real Estate and its employees will not be liable or responsible for the loss or damage of any personal belongings that are brought to a real estate examination. If personal belongings are brought to the examination, such items may not be taken by the examinee to the desk where the examination will be completed. They will be placed in a storage area apart from the owner. The storage area will not be operated or monitored by the Department.

Conduct Penalties
  1. Business and Professions (B&P) Code Section 123 provides that it is a misdemeanor for any person to engage in any conduct which subverts or attempts to subvert any licensing exam or administration of an exam.
  2. Subversion of an exam includes, but is not limited to, the unauthorized reproduction of any actual examination; paying or using professional or paid examination takers for the purpose of reconstructing any portion of an examination; using any actual examination questions or material for the purpose of instructing or preparing applicants for examination; and other specified conduct which violates the standard of examination administration.

    B&P Code Section 123(b) further provides that, in addition to any other penalties, a person found guilty of violating this section shall be liable for the actual damages sustained, not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and the costs of litigation.
  3. Business and Professions Code Section 496 provides that a license may be denied, suspended, revoked or restricted on grounds that an applicant or licensee has subverted or attempted to subvert any licensing examination.
Notification of Examination Results

If you took a pencil and paper examination, examination results and/or related correspondence will be mailed to you, normally within five business days after your examination. You can also check your examination results through the eLicensing online system, or through the Interactive Voice Response system by calling toll free at 1-877-373-4542. Please wait at least five business days after you have completed your examination before calling.

If you took an electronic examination, your results were provided to you upon completion of the exam. Additional correspondence may be mailed to you, normally within five business days after your examination.

To pass the examination, you must correctly answer at least
  • 70% of the questions (Salespersons), or
  • 75% of the questions (Brokers)

Since the examination is qualifying in nature, examinees who pass are not informed of their final score.

You will be notified of the actual score, and the percentage of questions answered correctly in each of the subject areas, only when unsuccessful. HOWEVER, the overall score cannot be obtained by averaging the percentages. Those who do not receive a passing grade may apply to re-take the examination.

Re-taking the Examination

You may apply to re-take the examination after notification of failure of a prior test.

Do NOT submit a new application and fee or otherwise attempt to obtain a new examination date prior to receiving the results of this examination. You must wait until you receive your results before re-applying for a new test date. Failure to follow these instructions will cause your exam record to be flagged and your test results to be withheld while additional fees are assessed. Further, rescheduling prior to receiving the results of this exam can cause any new dates obtained to be changed, delayed, or cancelled.

If you fail an examination, you may apply to re-take the examination using the eLicensing online system (to expedite processing) or your Examination Result Notice (RE 418A, Salespersons or RE 418B, Brokers).

If you are unable to locate your Examination Result Notice, you may use a Salesperson Examination Change Application RE 415A Denotes a PDF Document or a Broker Examination Change Application RE 415B Denotes a PDF Document to apply to re-take the examination. These forms must not be submitted until after the results of the examination have been released, or the fee will be forfeited.

There is no limitation on the number of examinations you may take during the two-year period following the date of the filing of your original application. If you wish to take additional examinations after the two-year period, you will be required to submit a new application, requalify by meeting all statutory requirements, and the appropriate fee.