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Real Estate Agent
Some details on this page are not yet confirmed against an official source. See sources below or contact the licensing board to verify.
To get a Washington real estate license in 2026, you must complete 90 hours of Washington State Department of Licensing-approved pre-licensing education, pass a background check, take and pass the PSI Testing Excellence licensing exam, and find a sponsoring broker. Most applicants finish in 8–16 weeks and spend $626–$977 including course tuition.
Pre-License Hours
$477
Total Gov Fees
130
Exam Questions
3.5 hrs
Exam Time
Renewal Cycle
Reciprocity
CE Required
Renewal Fee
18 years old
Min. Age
Washington State Department of Licensing
Authority
⚠ Recent Changes in Washington
| Minimum Age | 18 years old |
| Education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Residency | Not required Non-residents may apply. Out-of-state fingerprinting available via mail. |
| Citizenship | SSN required Must have a valid Social Security Number. |
| Background Check | Required IdentoGO fingerprints to WSP/FBI. Fee: ~$42.80-$44.30. Must pass exam BEFORE fingerprinting. Processing: up to 14 business days. Must renew every 6 years. |
| Sponsoring Broker | Required Must affiliate with a licensed real estate firm to practice. |
Not sure if you need a real estate license? Check whether your state requires one.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Original License Fee Paid to: Washington DOL | |
Exam Fee (per attempt) Paid to: PSI Testing Excellence | |
Fingerprinting / Background Check Paid to: IdentoGO / Washington State Patrol | |
Total Estimated Government Fees | $477 |
Use our licensing cost calculator to estimate your total investment including education and exam fees.
See the full cost breakdown with our License Cost Estimator →
Education Requirements
Mostly verifiedTotal Hours Required
Provider Type
DOL-approved real estate schools (online and classroom) and community colleges
Required Courses
Coursework valid for 2 years. Must pass both exams within 2 years of completing first course.
See our picks for the best real estate programs in Washington.
Exam Details
VerifiedExam Provider
Total Questions
130
Total Time
210 min
Format
National (100 scored) + State (30 scored) + ~10 pretest, all MIXED together — questions are not separated by section.
Exam Sections
| Section | Questions | Time | Passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 100 | min | 70% |
| State (Washington) | 30 | min | 70% |
Retake Policy
Unlimited retakes within 2-year education validity window. Both sections must be passed within 6 months of each other or both must be retaken. $210 per attempt. One free reschedule available (must request at least 1 business day before exam).
Must apply for your license within 1 year of passing your final exam.
For study strategies and what to expect on test day, see our guide to passing the real estate exam.
Take Real Estate Fundamentals (60 hrs) and Real Estate Practices (30 hrs) from a DOL-approved school.
Estimated time: 2–10 weeks
Register via PSI online or call 855-746-8168. Pay $210 exam fee. Pass both National (70/100 = 70%) and State (21/30 = 70%) sections within 6 months of each other.
Estimated time: 1–3 weeks
Schedule via IdentoGO (in-state) or mail fingerprint cards (out-of-state). Cost: ~$45. Results in up to 14 business days.
Estimated time: 1–3 weeks
Apply online via SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account or by mail. Pay $233 license fee. Must apply within 1 year of passing exam.
Estimated time: 1–4 weeks processing
Must be affiliated with a licensed brokerage firm to practice as a broker.
Estimated time: 1–4 weeks
Renewal Details
Mostly verifiedRenewal Cycle
CE Hours
Renewal Fee
Deadline & Late Policy
Based on original license issue date, every 2 years. Renewal window opens 120 days before expiration.
First Renewal Notes
First renewal: 90 hrs (30 Advanced Practices + 30 RE Law + 3 Core + 6 Fair Housing + 21 elective). CE self-certified (only verified if audited).
Background check must be renewed every 6 years. Inactive licenses still require renewal application every 2 years but no CE required.
Regulatory Board
For a deeper dive into CE requirements and deadlines, see our real estate license renewal guide or compare deadlines across all 50 states.
See full CE requirements in Washington: Continuing education details →
Interstate Reciprocity
VerifiedHas Reciprocity
No
Type: Universal License Recognition
No formal reciprocity; education waiver possible. Any actively-licensed broker from any U.S. state (within last 6 months) may apply. Pre-licensing education is waived. Must pass WA state exam only. Requirements: license history letter, fingerprint background check, WA state exam ($210), license fee ($233). 6-month window to pass state exam after approval. License activated via SAW online invitation from firm.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Washington with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Real Estate Agent Schools in Washington
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Official Sources
Real Estate Agent requirements in Washington verified against Washington State Department of Licensing, April 2026.
All data on this page was verified against the following official sources. Last verified: 2026-04-02.
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