Fingerprint Requirements

An applicant for any real estate license must submit one set of classifiable fingerprints, acceptable to the State Department of Justice (DOJ). An applicant may be fingerprinted after applying for examination or after passing the examination. Fingerprint processing fees are not refunded if applicants do not pass the examination. Social security numbers are required on examination applications to ensure fingerprint reports are received by the DRE.

Fingerprints must be submitted electronically through the DOJ's Live Scan Program which takes and transmits fingerprints to the DOJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) using the Live Scan Service Request (RE 237) form. An original license will not be issued until a report from the DOJ and the FBI is received and screened by the DRE.

To be fingerprinted, take the Live Scan Service Request (RE 237) to a participating live scan service provider. There is a $49 fingerprint processing fee and also a live scan service fee which should be paid directly to the live scan provider (not to the DRE). After the live scan service provider takes the fingerprints, submit a copy of the Live Scan Service Request (RE 237) with Part 3 completed to the DRE.

If you do not reside in California, you may be fingerprinted either at a live scan service provider in California by following the process explained above or out-of-state using two FBI Applicant Fingerprint Cards (FD-258).* Take the FBI Applicant Fingerprint Cards to a local law enforcement agency for completion and submit them directly to DRE, along with the completed license application, the license application fee, and the $49 fingerprint processing fee (combined payment of exam/license and fingerprint fees is acceptable).

*To request fingerprint cards visit https://dre.ca.gov/AskDRELicensing and select Fingerprint Questions or Issues, or call (877) 373-4542.