Washington licensing
How to Get a Washington Real Estate License
Washington eligibility and application rules - minimum age, high school diploma, pre-licensing education, sponsoring broker, first renewal, and more - each cited to the Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.85.101 and dated.
Published by Freehold · First published 2026-08-11 · Sources last verified 2026-08-17 · Review method
Your licensing route
From eligibility to an active license
Exact order can vary by state process. Each state-specific rule appears below with its source.
- 01Confirm eligibility
Check age and any residency, education, or background conditions.
- 02Complete approved education
Use the regulator's approved-provider list where one is published.
- 03Apply and take the exam
Follow Washington's application order, then sit the configured salesperson exam.
- 04Activate your license
Complete any sponsorship or initial-license step that Washington requires.
| Requirement | Washington |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 |
| High school diploma | Required |
| Pre-licensing education | 90 hours |
| Sponsoring broker | One firm, supervised |
| First renewal | 90 further hours |
| Background check | Fingerprint-based state and FBI check |
| Education exemption | Substitution for equivalent college coursework |
| Broker experience | 3 years to reach managing broker |
| Exam provider | PSI |
Requirements change. Confirm with the Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.85.101 before enrolling or paying anything.
More on what counts as real estate school, state by state.
Each requirement, and where it comes from
Minimum age
The statute sets the minimum requirements directly: an applicant must be 18 years of age or older. Washington calls its entry-level license a broker's license, so this is the first license, not a second-stage one.
Source: RCW 18.85.101 - Broker's license, requirements, renewal, (1)(a) — verified 2026-08-11
High school diploma
A high school diploma or its equivalent is a statutory minimum requirement, not a course prerequisite imposed by a school.
Source: RCW 18.85.101 - Broker's license, requirements, renewal, (1)(b) — verified 2026-08-11
Pre-licensing education
Ninety hours of instruction in real estate, covering fundamentals (including three hours on fair housing and consumer protection) and practices. Each course must be completed within two years before you apply for the license examination, and each carries its own course examination on top of the license exam.
Source: RCW 18.85.101 - Broker's license, requirements, renewal, (1)(c) — verified 2026-08-11
Sponsoring broker
A broker is licensed to one firm at a time and is supervised by a designated or managing broker, so the license does not stand alone the way a California salesperson license can.
Source: RCW 18.85.101 - Broker's license, requirements, renewal, (3) — verified 2026-08-11
First renewal
The first renewal carries another 90 hours, prescribed to include real estate law with three hours on fair housing and consumer protection, plus advanced practices. Budget for it: the education cost does not end at licensure.
Source: RCW 18.85.101 - Broker's license, requirements, renewal, (2) — verified 2026-08-11
Background check
Applicants must furnish proof of honesty, truthfulness and good reputation and, unless the applicant is a corporation or limited liability company, complete a fingerprint-based background check through the Washington State Patrol and the FBI.
Source: RCW 18.85.171 - Applications, conditions, fees, (1)(a) and (1)(d) — verified 2026-08-17
Education exemption
The director may substitute the 90-hour instruction requirement if the applicant is otherwise and similarly qualified through equivalent educational coursework completed at an accredited institution of higher education, under guidelines the director sets by rule.
Source: RCW 18.85.141 - Substitution of educational requirements, Full text — verified 2026-08-17
Broker experience
Advancing beyond the entry-level broker license to a managing broker license requires a minimum of three years of licensed experience as a full-time real estate broker within the five years before applying for the managing broker exam.
Source: RCW 18.85.111 - Managing broker's license, requirements, renewal, (1)(c) — verified 2026-08-17
Exam provider
Washington's real estate exam is administered by PSI.
Source: PSI — Washington Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin, EXAMINATION SUMMARY TABLE — verified 2026-07-27
Once you are eligible
The Washington salesperson exam is 130 questions in 240 minutes, administered by PSI. Practice it free: Washington practice test · Washington exam prep · Washington broker exam · compare all 50 states
New to the whole process? How to become a real estate agent walks the five steps and what changes between states.
Washington licensing FAQ
How do you get a real estate license in Washington?
Meet Washington's eligibility rules, complete 90 hours, apply to the regulator, and pass the salesperson exam. On sponsoring broker, Washington's rule is: One firm, supervised. Each requirement is set out below with the provision it comes from.
What are the requirements for a Washington real estate license?
Washington requires you to be 18 or older and to complete 90 hours before sitting the salesperson exam, which is 130 questions in 240 minutes. Every figure on this page names the Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.85.101 page it came from and the date we checked it.
How much pre-licensing education does Washington require?
Ninety hours of instruction in real estate, covering fundamentals (including three hours on fair housing and consumer protection) and practices. Each course must be completed within two years before you apply for the license examination, and each carries its own course examination on top of the license exam.
Sponsoring broker — what does Washington require?
A broker is licensed to one firm at a time and is supervised by a designated or managing broker, so the license does not stand alone the way a California salesperson license can.
How do you become a real estate agent in Washington?
Becoming an agent in Washington is the license plus one more step: complete 90 hours, pass the 130-question salesperson exam, and then satisfy Washington's rule on sponsoring broker — One firm, supervised. A license you hold and a license you can practice under are not the same thing, and the difference is set out above with its source.
Nearby states
Licensing in more than one state? Each state's license requirements covers its own license law.
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