California Salesperson Licensing exam
2026 questions and rationales answers
1. What is the minimum age required to be issued a California real estate salesperson license?
A. 16
B. 17
C. 18
D. 21
Rationale: California requires an applicant to be at least 18 years old to be issued a salesperson
license.
2. Which agency administers California real estate salesperson licensing?
A. California Secretary of State
B. California Department of Real Estate (DRE)
C. California Department of Labor
D. California Franchise Tax Board
Rationale: The California Department of Real Estate administers real estate licensing and
enforcement.
3. How many college-level courses are generally required to qualify for the California
salesperson examination?
A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. Eight
Rationale: Salesperson applicants generally must complete three required college-level courses.
4. Which course is required for every California salesperson examination applicant?
A. Real Estate Economics
B. Real Estate Principles
,C. Accounting
D. Property Management
Rationale: Real Estate Principles is one of the two specifically required courses.
5. Which other course is specifically required for a salesperson applicant?
A. Real Estate Finance
B. Real Estate Appraisal
C. Real Estate Practice
D. Business Law
Rationale: Real Estate Practice is the second specifically required course.
6. Which of the following may satisfy the third required salesperson course?
A. English Composition
B. U.S. History
C. Real Estate Finance
D. Biology
Rationale: Real Estate Finance is one of the DRE-approved elective subjects.
7. Which is NOT generally one of the approved subjects for the third salesperson course?
A. Property Management
B. Real Estate Appraisal
C. Legal Aspects of Real Estate
D. Physical Education
Rationale: The third course must be from a subject approved by the DRE.
8. Beginning January 1, 2024, qualifying Real Estate Practice courses must include instruction
concerning:
A. Construction management only
B. Property taxation only
, C. Implicit bias and fair housing
D. Agricultural management
Rationale: DRE requires qualifying Real Estate Practice courses to include implicit-bias and fair-
housing components, including an interactive component for the fair-housing portion.
9. A California salesperson normally performs licensed activities under the supervision of:
A. An appraiser
B. An escrow officer
C. A licensed real estate broker
D. A title insurer
Rationale: A salesperson performs licensed real estate activities under a responsible broker.
10. Can a salesperson obtain a license without immediately being employed by a broker?
A. No, never
B. Yes, but the salesperson cannot perform acts requiring a real estate license without a
responsible broker
C. Yes, and the salesperson may independently conduct transactions
D. Only if the salesperson owns property
Rationale: A license may be issued without immediate broker employment, but licensed
activities cannot be performed without a responsible broker.
11. Which statement about an applicant's honesty and truthfulness is correct?
A. They are irrelevant if the applicant passes the exam.
B. Only financial honesty matters.
C. Applicants must be honest and truthful.
D. Only brokers must meet this requirement.
Rationale: Honesty and truthfulness are general licensing requirements.
12. A criminal conviction automatically guarantees denial of a California salesperson license.
2026 questions and rationales answers
1. What is the minimum age required to be issued a California real estate salesperson license?
A. 16
B. 17
C. 18
D. 21
Rationale: California requires an applicant to be at least 18 years old to be issued a salesperson
license.
2. Which agency administers California real estate salesperson licensing?
A. California Secretary of State
B. California Department of Real Estate (DRE)
C. California Department of Labor
D. California Franchise Tax Board
Rationale: The California Department of Real Estate administers real estate licensing and
enforcement.
3. How many college-level courses are generally required to qualify for the California
salesperson examination?
A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. Eight
Rationale: Salesperson applicants generally must complete three required college-level courses.
4. Which course is required for every California salesperson examination applicant?
A. Real Estate Economics
B. Real Estate Principles
,C. Accounting
D. Property Management
Rationale: Real Estate Principles is one of the two specifically required courses.
5. Which other course is specifically required for a salesperson applicant?
A. Real Estate Finance
B. Real Estate Appraisal
C. Real Estate Practice
D. Business Law
Rationale: Real Estate Practice is the second specifically required course.
6. Which of the following may satisfy the third required salesperson course?
A. English Composition
B. U.S. History
C. Real Estate Finance
D. Biology
Rationale: Real Estate Finance is one of the DRE-approved elective subjects.
7. Which is NOT generally one of the approved subjects for the third salesperson course?
A. Property Management
B. Real Estate Appraisal
C. Legal Aspects of Real Estate
D. Physical Education
Rationale: The third course must be from a subject approved by the DRE.
8. Beginning January 1, 2024, qualifying Real Estate Practice courses must include instruction
concerning:
A. Construction management only
B. Property taxation only
, C. Implicit bias and fair housing
D. Agricultural management
Rationale: DRE requires qualifying Real Estate Practice courses to include implicit-bias and fair-
housing components, including an interactive component for the fair-housing portion.
9. A California salesperson normally performs licensed activities under the supervision of:
A. An appraiser
B. An escrow officer
C. A licensed real estate broker
D. A title insurer
Rationale: A salesperson performs licensed real estate activities under a responsible broker.
10. Can a salesperson obtain a license without immediately being employed by a broker?
A. No, never
B. Yes, but the salesperson cannot perform acts requiring a real estate license without a
responsible broker
C. Yes, and the salesperson may independently conduct transactions
D. Only if the salesperson owns property
Rationale: A license may be issued without immediate broker employment, but licensed
activities cannot be performed without a responsible broker.
11. Which statement about an applicant's honesty and truthfulness is correct?
A. They are irrelevant if the applicant passes the exam.
B. Only financial honesty matters.
C. Applicants must be honest and truthful.
D. Only brokers must meet this requirement.
Rationale: Honesty and truthfulness are general licensing requirements.
12. A criminal conviction automatically guarantees denial of a California salesperson license.
