StateLicensed

Real Estate Agent License Requirements in Washington

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
90 hrs
Upfront cost
$443
Exam
Washington Real Estate Broker Examination (state and national portions)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Washington State Department of Licensing

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, High school diploma or equivalent, pass a criminal background check. Applicants must be at least 18 with a high school diploma or equivalent, and must pass their exams before submitting fingerprints for a background check (processed by Washington State Patrol via IdentoGO in-state, or an equivalent out-of-state process). Fingerprint results are valid for 6 years and must be renewed to keep the license active. A new broker's license is not automatically active for practice; a real estate firm must invite the licensee to join before the license can be activated. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 90 hours of training at a state-approved program. Washington's entry-level real estate license is titled "Real Estate Broker" (the state renamed the salesperson tier decades ago; "Managing Broker" is the supervisory tier a Broker reports to). 90 hours of approved real estate education is required: a 60-hour Real Estate Fundamentals course and a 30-hour Real Estate Practices course. Broker's exams must be completed within 2 years of finishing this education. [1]

  3. 3

    Washington Real Estate Broker Examination (state and national portions)

    Pass the Washington Real Estate Broker Examination (state and national portions) (fee: $210). State and national exams must both be passed within 6 months of each other, or both must be retaken. The license application must be submitted within 1 year of passing the final exam. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Washington State Department of Licensing with the $233 application fee. [2]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Washington State Department of Licensing issues your Real Estate Broker for Washington.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $233
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] $233
Washington Real Estate Broker Examination (state and national portions) [2] $210
Late renewal (with penalty) [2] $273
Reinstatement (in addition to renewal fees) [2] $100

"Get your original license" and "Renew your license" are both $233, each including a mandatory $20 research fee, per DOL's real estate fee schedule. There is no separate license-issuance fee beyond this amount. The $210 exam fee (paid to PSI) is listed separately under exams.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 30 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Licenses renew every 2 years from the original issue date. For the FIRST active-license renewal, brokers must complete at least 90 hours of continuing education (30-hour Advanced Practices Course, 30-hour Real Estate Law Course, 3-hour Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate Course, plus 27+ hours of other approved CE), and must take the initial 6-hour Washington Real Estate Fair Housing course if not already completed. For ALL SUBSEQUENT active-license renewals, the requirement drops to at least 30 hours (3-hour Current Issues course + 27+ hours of other CE, plus the 3-hour Fair Housing refresher each cycle); at least 15 of those hours must be completed within 24 months of the renewal date. Inactive licenses do not require CE but must still be renewed every 2 years with a current fingerprint background check (which itself must be renewed every 6 years).

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Washington offers licensure by reciprocity for applicants at least 18 with a high school diploma/equivalent who have been actively licensed in good standing in another state within the preceding 6 months. Reciprocity applicants can apply for the same or a lesser license level than they currently hold, must submit an official License History document (not a copy of the license or a screenshot), and must still pass Washington's state exam (covering Washington-specific laws and rules) and complete a fingerprint background check -- the 90-hour pre-license education is not required for reciprocity applicants, but the state exam is.

Cost calculator

  • $233
  • $210
Total$443

Frequently asked questions

What is Washington's entry-level real estate license called?

"Real Estate Broker." Washington renamed the traditional salesperson tier to "Broker" years ago; the supervisory tier above it is "Managing Broker," and brokers perform brokerage services under a managing broker's supervision.

How many hours of pre-license education are required?

90 hours total: a 60-hour Real Estate Fundamentals course and a 30-hour Real Estate Practices course, both from DOL-approved providers.

How long do I have to pass both the state and national exams?

You must pass both within 6 months of each other, or you'll have to retake both. You then have 1 year from your final passing exam to submit your license application.

Can I get a Washington broker license if I'm already licensed in another state?

Yes, through the reciprocity path, if you've been actively licensed in good standing in another state within the preceding 6 months. You still need to pass Washington's state exam and complete a fingerprint background check, but the 90-hour pre-license education is not required.

How much continuing education do I need to renew my license?

Your first active-license renewal requires 90 hours of CE (including 30-hour Advanced Practices, 30-hour Real Estate Law, and 3-hour Current Issues courses). Every renewal after that requires at least 30 hours, including the 3-hour Current Issues course each cycle.

Sources

  1. [1] dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/real-estate-brokers/get-your-license-real-estate-brokers — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/real-estate-brokers/fees-real-estate — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/real-estate-brokers/renew-or-reinstate-your-license-real-estate-brokers — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/real-estate-brokers/get-your-license-real-estate-broker-license-reciprocity — accessed 2026-07-12