DC REAL ESTATE STATE PORTION EXAM–COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE | PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS-RATIONALES |
EXAM PREP | DOWNLOAD INSTANT PDF | GUARANTEED PASS
|| LATEST EXAM 2026-2027
1. Which of the following regulatory bodies is primarily responsible for administering and
enforcing the real estate license laws in the District of Columbia?
A. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
B. District of Columbia Real Estate Commission
C. Washington Board of Realtors
D. District Department of Housing and Community Development
Answer: B
The District of Columbia Real Estate Commission is the statutory body empowered by the DC
council to issue licenses, regulate real estate licensees, and enforce the real estate licensing
laws.
2. An individual in the District of Columbia is negotiating leases for a commercial property
management firm as a regular salaried employee. Does this person need a real estate
license?
A. Yes, because they are engaging in leasing activities.
B. Yes, unless they are managing residential properties only.
C. No, because on-site regular salaried employees of a property owner or manager are typically
exempt when performing regular duties.
D. No, provided they do not collect security deposits.
Answer: C
DC real estate licensing law exempts regular, salaried employees of a property owner or
property manager who perform routine administrative leasing tasks within the scope of their
employment.
3. What is the composition requirement for the District of Columbia Real Estate
Commission?
A. Five members total, all holding active broker licenses.
B. Nine members, including brokers, salespersons, and consumer members.
C. Seven members representing various wards exclusively.
D. Eleven members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by Congress.
Answer: B
,The Commission consists of nine members appointed by the Mayor, typically comprising
licensed real estate brokers, salespersons, and public (consumer) members to ensure balanced
oversight.
4. A real estate salesperson in DC wishes to upgrade their license to a broker license. How
many years of active licensed experience as a salesperson are generally required by the DC
Real Estate Commission prior to application?
A. One year
B. Two years
C. Three continuous years within a specified recent timeframe
D. Five years without exception
Answer: C
DC licensing regulations require an applicant for a broker license to have held an active
salesperson license for a minimum of three years immediately preceding the application.
5. How many hours of pre-licensing education must a candidate for a DC real estate
salesperson license successfully complete before taking the licensing examination?
A. 30 hours
B. 60 hours
C. 90 hours
D. 135 hours
Answer: B
Prospective real estate salespersons in the District of Columbia must complete an approved 60-
hour pre-licensing educational course covering fundamental principles and DC-specific laws.
6. When a salesperson’s license is issued, who maintains custody of the actual physical or
electronic license certificate in the District of Columbia?
A. The salesperson at their personal residence
B. The principal broker with whom the salesperson is affiliated
C. The DC Real Estate Commission field office
D. The local jurisdiction's recorder of deeds
Answer: B
In the District of Columbia, the principal broker is responsible for maintaining and displaying
or managing the licenses of all salespersons affiliated with that brokerage.
,7. If a real estate licensee fails to renew their license by the designated expiration date, what
status does the license enter, and what is the timeframe allowed for late renewal without
retaking the exam?
A. Revoked immediately; no grace period.
B. Expired/Inactive; a specific reinstatement window (typically up to five years) is permitted
upon paying late fees and meeting continuing education requirements.
C. Suspended for 30 days automatically.
D. Forfeited; the licensee must restart pre-licensing education after 30 days.
Answer: B
Licenses that pass expiration enter a delinquent or expired status, but DC regulations allow
for a defined reinstatement period during which the licensee can renew by paying penalties
and completing overdue continuing education.
8. How many continuing education (CE) hours are required for a DC real estate licensee
during each two-year license renewal cycle?
A. 8 hours
B. 15 hours
C. 30 hours
D. 45 hours
Answer: B
DC licensees must complete 15 clock hours of approved continuing education during every
two-year licensing cycle, including mandatory core topics designated by the Commission.
9. A real estate brokerage operating in the District of Columbia must maintain a physical
office within the District unless:
A. They are an out-of-state virtual firm.
B. They maintain a reciprocal arrangement and a designated office in a contiguous jurisdiction
under specific conditions.
C. They handle exclusively commercial transactions.
D. They employ fewer than three agents.
Answer: B
DC regulations require a definite physical office location within the District, though specific
provisions allow reciprocal or border-state arrangements provided proper trust account and
supervisory controls are met.
10. When a brokerage closes or a principal broker changes their business address, within
how many days must the DC Real Estate Commission be notified?
, A. 5 days
B. 10 days
C. 15 days
D. 30 days
Answer: C
Licensees and principal brokers are required to notify the Commission of any change of
business address, email, or telephone number within 15 days of the change.
11. An unlicensed individual in the District of Columbia successfully procures a buyer for a
commercial building and demands a referral fee from the listing broker. Under DC law,
what should the broker do?
A. Pay the fee since commercial transactions have fewer licensing rules.
B. Refuse payment, as paying compensation to an unlicensed person for real estate brokerage
activities is illegal.
C. Pay a reduced finder's fee directly to the individual.
D. Put the funds in escrow until the individual passes an exam.
Answer: B
DC law strictly prohibits paying a commission, fee, or valuable consideration to any person for
performing real estate brokerage services if that person is not properly licensed.
12. Which of the following activities can a licensed real estate personal assistant legally
perform without holding a real estate license in DC?
A. Hosting a public open house and answering technical contract questions
B. Negotiating lease terms on behalf of a client
C. Typing contracts, assembling listing files, and scheduling routine maintenance inspections
D. Soliciting expired listings over the telephone
Answer: C
Unlicensed assistants may perform administrative, clerical, and secretarial duties, but they
cannot engage in core brokerage tasks such as hosting open houses, negotiating, or soliciting
clients.
13. In the District of Columbia, a real estate guaranty fund is established primarily for
which of the following purposes?
A. Providing low-interest mortgages to first-time homebuyers
B. Compensating members of the public who suffer monetary losses due to licensee fraud,
embezzlement, or misrepresentation
C. Funding the operational budget of the Real Estate Commission
GUIDE | PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS-RATIONALES |
EXAM PREP | DOWNLOAD INSTANT PDF | GUARANTEED PASS
|| LATEST EXAM 2026-2027
1. Which of the following regulatory bodies is primarily responsible for administering and
enforcing the real estate license laws in the District of Columbia?
A. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
B. District of Columbia Real Estate Commission
C. Washington Board of Realtors
D. District Department of Housing and Community Development
Answer: B
The District of Columbia Real Estate Commission is the statutory body empowered by the DC
council to issue licenses, regulate real estate licensees, and enforce the real estate licensing
laws.
2. An individual in the District of Columbia is negotiating leases for a commercial property
management firm as a regular salaried employee. Does this person need a real estate
license?
A. Yes, because they are engaging in leasing activities.
B. Yes, unless they are managing residential properties only.
C. No, because on-site regular salaried employees of a property owner or manager are typically
exempt when performing regular duties.
D. No, provided they do not collect security deposits.
Answer: C
DC real estate licensing law exempts regular, salaried employees of a property owner or
property manager who perform routine administrative leasing tasks within the scope of their
employment.
3. What is the composition requirement for the District of Columbia Real Estate
Commission?
A. Five members total, all holding active broker licenses.
B. Nine members, including brokers, salespersons, and consumer members.
C. Seven members representing various wards exclusively.
D. Eleven members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by Congress.
Answer: B
,The Commission consists of nine members appointed by the Mayor, typically comprising
licensed real estate brokers, salespersons, and public (consumer) members to ensure balanced
oversight.
4. A real estate salesperson in DC wishes to upgrade their license to a broker license. How
many years of active licensed experience as a salesperson are generally required by the DC
Real Estate Commission prior to application?
A. One year
B. Two years
C. Three continuous years within a specified recent timeframe
D. Five years without exception
Answer: C
DC licensing regulations require an applicant for a broker license to have held an active
salesperson license for a minimum of three years immediately preceding the application.
5. How many hours of pre-licensing education must a candidate for a DC real estate
salesperson license successfully complete before taking the licensing examination?
A. 30 hours
B. 60 hours
C. 90 hours
D. 135 hours
Answer: B
Prospective real estate salespersons in the District of Columbia must complete an approved 60-
hour pre-licensing educational course covering fundamental principles and DC-specific laws.
6. When a salesperson’s license is issued, who maintains custody of the actual physical or
electronic license certificate in the District of Columbia?
A. The salesperson at their personal residence
B. The principal broker with whom the salesperson is affiliated
C. The DC Real Estate Commission field office
D. The local jurisdiction's recorder of deeds
Answer: B
In the District of Columbia, the principal broker is responsible for maintaining and displaying
or managing the licenses of all salespersons affiliated with that brokerage.
,7. If a real estate licensee fails to renew their license by the designated expiration date, what
status does the license enter, and what is the timeframe allowed for late renewal without
retaking the exam?
A. Revoked immediately; no grace period.
B. Expired/Inactive; a specific reinstatement window (typically up to five years) is permitted
upon paying late fees and meeting continuing education requirements.
C. Suspended for 30 days automatically.
D. Forfeited; the licensee must restart pre-licensing education after 30 days.
Answer: B
Licenses that pass expiration enter a delinquent or expired status, but DC regulations allow
for a defined reinstatement period during which the licensee can renew by paying penalties
and completing overdue continuing education.
8. How many continuing education (CE) hours are required for a DC real estate licensee
during each two-year license renewal cycle?
A. 8 hours
B. 15 hours
C. 30 hours
D. 45 hours
Answer: B
DC licensees must complete 15 clock hours of approved continuing education during every
two-year licensing cycle, including mandatory core topics designated by the Commission.
9. A real estate brokerage operating in the District of Columbia must maintain a physical
office within the District unless:
A. They are an out-of-state virtual firm.
B. They maintain a reciprocal arrangement and a designated office in a contiguous jurisdiction
under specific conditions.
C. They handle exclusively commercial transactions.
D. They employ fewer than three agents.
Answer: B
DC regulations require a definite physical office location within the District, though specific
provisions allow reciprocal or border-state arrangements provided proper trust account and
supervisory controls are met.
10. When a brokerage closes or a principal broker changes their business address, within
how many days must the DC Real Estate Commission be notified?
, A. 5 days
B. 10 days
C. 15 days
D. 30 days
Answer: C
Licensees and principal brokers are required to notify the Commission of any change of
business address, email, or telephone number within 15 days of the change.
11. An unlicensed individual in the District of Columbia successfully procures a buyer for a
commercial building and demands a referral fee from the listing broker. Under DC law,
what should the broker do?
A. Pay the fee since commercial transactions have fewer licensing rules.
B. Refuse payment, as paying compensation to an unlicensed person for real estate brokerage
activities is illegal.
C. Pay a reduced finder's fee directly to the individual.
D. Put the funds in escrow until the individual passes an exam.
Answer: B
DC law strictly prohibits paying a commission, fee, or valuable consideration to any person for
performing real estate brokerage services if that person is not properly licensed.
12. Which of the following activities can a licensed real estate personal assistant legally
perform without holding a real estate license in DC?
A. Hosting a public open house and answering technical contract questions
B. Negotiating lease terms on behalf of a client
C. Typing contracts, assembling listing files, and scheduling routine maintenance inspections
D. Soliciting expired listings over the telephone
Answer: C
Unlicensed assistants may perform administrative, clerical, and secretarial duties, but they
cannot engage in core brokerage tasks such as hosting open houses, negotiating, or soliciting
clients.
13. In the District of Columbia, a real estate guaranty fund is established primarily for
which of the following purposes?
A. Providing low-interest mortgages to first-time homebuyers
B. Compensating members of the public who suffer monetary losses due to licensee fraud,
embezzlement, or misrepresentation
C. Funding the operational budget of the Real Estate Commission
