How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Washington
The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) sets the requirements to become a real estate agent in Washington. The requirements include completing the required education in a real estate school approved by the Washington DOL.
Here's what you need to know :
1) Licensing Requirements in Washington
2) License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements
3) Income Potential
4) Real Estate Schools
How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Washington
1) Real Estate Agent Licensing Requirements in Washington
To be a real estate agent in Washington, you MUST be licensed by the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL).
To obtain your real estate license so that you can practice as a real estate agent in Washington, you must:
i) Satisfy the minimum requirements requirements to apply for the real estate exam:
- be 18 years or older.
- complete a 60 hour course in Real Estate Fundamentals at a real estate school approved by the Washington DOL. The 60 hours must be completed within 5 years prior to applying for the exam.
ii) Receive a stamped and signed Candidate Examination Document from the real estate school upon completion of the course .
iii) Use that Document to schedule the real estate exam. There is currently a $138.25 examination fee.
iv) Pass the Washington Salesperson Exam. The exam is administered on a computer, is 4 hours long with 2.5 hours for the general section and 1.5 hours for the state section.
v) Apply for your Washington real estate license. Upon passing the exam, you'll receive an Application for Real Estate License. This form must be completed and signed by the applicant and employing licensed real estate broker. There is a $146.25 fee to obtain the license.
2) License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements
The Washington real estate license must be renewed every 2 years in order to continue practicing as a real estate agent in Washington. There is currently a $146.25 fee to renew the salesperson license.
There is also a continuing education requirement that must be met. You must complete 30 hours of approved real estate education to renew the license. The 30 hours must include a 3 hour core curriculum (current issues in Washington residential real estate).
If you are a real estate agent in Washington renewing your license for the first time, you must also complete a 30-hour course in real estate practices, for a total of 60 hours.
3) Income Potential
Real estate agents are generally paid based on a percentage of the sales price. The seller may pay 4 to 7% of the sales price as the fee and that will usually be split 50/50 between the seller and buyer's broker. In Washington, the median home price is approximately $230,000. Assume that the fee is 6%, the buyer's and seller's broker is each paid 3% or $6900.
This fee is then split further between the broker and agent. Generally, for starting agents, the split is 50/50. So in this case, the agent will end up receiving $3450 for the transaction.
There is no limit as to how much an agent can make in a year - the sky's the limit.Based on Washington's median home price and the above example, a real estate agent in Wisconsin can make about $34,500/year by selling 10 houses a year. By selling one house per week, the real estate agent in Washington will have a salary of $179,400!
4) Real Estate Schools
The first step to becoming a real estate agent in Washington is to take the required classes at an approved real estate school. These schools may offer classes in a traditional classroom or via distance learning which allows you to complete the classes in the comfort of your own home.
School status may change so it is best to call the DOL at 360.664.6505 prior to signing up for a class.
Below are real estate schools in Washington that are currently approved by the Washington DOL to offer Real Estate Fundamentals:
| School Name | Phone Number |
| A+ INSTITUTE | (509) 465-4343 |
| ALLIED BUSINESS SCHOOLS INC | (888) 751-2283 |
| ALPHA REAL ESTATE SCHOOL | (425) 664-6200 |
| AMERICAN SCHOOL OF REAL ESTATE EXPRESS, LLC | (314) 205-1685 |
| BELLINGHAM REAL ESTATE SCHOOL LLC | (360) 676-4050 |
| BUCKLEY-ENUMCLAW REAL ESTATE SCHOOL | (360) 829-1044 |
| C21 ALL STARS ACADEMY OF REAL ESTATE | (360) 658-5555 |
| C21 GOLD PLAZA REAL ESTATE SCHOOL | (360) 574-5060 |
| C21 NO HOMES REALTY, INC TRAINING CENTER | (360) 794-4442 |
| C21 REAL ESTATE CENTER | (425) 775-8525 |
| CHICAGO TITLE INSURANCE CO SCHOOL OF RE | (206) 628-5621 |
| COLDWELL BANKER EXPERT REAL ESTATE SCHOOL | (360) 892-8200 |
| CONTINUING-ED-ONLINE.ORG | (206) 523-9801 |
| DAVID HUTTON REAL ESTATE SCHOOL | (360) 647-0262 |
| DEARBORN FINANCIAL PUBLISHING, INC. | (312) 836-4400 |
| GARY MANN REAL ESTATE SCHOOL | (509) 765-3463 |
| GENESIS SEMINARS INC | (253) 922-6337 |
| KAPLAN REAL ESTATE SCHOOLS | (312) 894-0320 |
| LARRYCHRISTENSEN.COM A REAL ESTATE SCHOOL | (253) 852-3470 |
| LEXINGTON.NET INC | (800) 774-1170 |
| MCCLOUD SEMINARS | (360) 281-2086 |
| MULTI SCHOOL OF REAL ESTATE | (253) 852-2063 |
| MYKUT REAL ESTATE SCHOOL | (800) 605-6645 |
| NORTHSTONE INSTITUTE | (425) 837-4700 |
| OCEAN SHORES REAL ESTATE SCHOOL | (360) 289-1000 |
| OLYMPUS REAL ESTATE SCHOOL | (360) 459-2380 |
| ONE SOURCE | (253) 284-3880 |
| PROSCHOOLS | (503) 297-1344 |
| PRUDENTIAL NORTHWEST PROPERTIES INSTITUTE OF TRNG | (360) 687-4942 |
| RE/MAX, EQUITY GROUP REAL ESTATE SCHOOL | (360) 882-6000 |
| REAL ESTATE AWARENESS SEMINARS | (509) 422-1234 |
| REAL ESTATE USA REAL ESTATE SCHOOL & RESOURCE CNTR | (253) 565-7272 |
| RED CARPET SCHOOL OF REAL ESTATE | (206) 523-5080 |
| ROCKWELL INSTITUTE | (425) 747-7272 |
| SEATTLE SCHOOL OF REAL ESTATE | (253) 859-7440 |
| TAPE ED | (425) 775-2313 |
| THE ACADEMY LLC | (253) 584-9300 |
| THE LONES GROUP | (360) 527-8904 |
| THEREALESTATESCHOOL.NET | (425) 882-1127 |
| TRAIN AGENTS INC | (866) 687-5557 |
| WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE ACADEMY | (206) 366-6762 |
| WASHINGTON SQUARE REAL ESTATE SCHOOL | (253) 874-9497 |
| WASHINGTONS BEST | (888) 910-5452 |
Also check out information on how to become a real estate appraiser in Washington