Becoming a Principal Broker in Oregon
Who becomes a principal broker in Oregon?
In Oregon, the principal broker is the supervisory license — the level you need to run your own brokerage or supervise other licensees. (Oregon does not use the term "managing broker.") To qualify, you must have at least three years of active real estate license experience, then complete the required education and pass the principal broker exam. This is not for current principal brokers who only need their standard continuing education.
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Get Notified →What's required to become an Oregon principal broker?
To qualify for the principal broker license you must:
- Have 3 years of active Oregon real estate license experience
- Complete the 40-hour Brokerage Administration and Sales Supervision (BASS) course
- Pass both sections of the principal broker exam (75% each)
- Pay the $300 nonrefundable application fee
What does a principal broker do?
A principal broker supervises a real estate brokerage: they are responsible for the conduct of the associated brokers under them, control the brokerage's clients' trust accounts, and ensure the office complies with Oregon license law (ORS 696). It's the license you need to own or manage a brokerage in Oregon rather than work under someone else.
What's on the Oregon principal broker exam?
Like the broker exam, the principal broker exam is administered by PSI and has a national portion and an Oregon state portion. The state portion emphasizes brokerage supervision, trust-account handling, and the duties a principal broker owes. You must score at least 75% on each portion, scored independently.
Do I need an Oregon broker license first?
Most principal broker applicants are already licensed Oregon brokers and simply add the 40-hour BASS course. If you don't already hold an Oregon broker license, you must complete the broker pre-license education (150 hours) and the BASS course before qualifying.
How do continuing education requirements differ for principal brokers?
Principal brokers also complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years, including the 2-hour Fair Housing course and 2-hour LARRC. At their first active renewal, principal brokers take the Principal Broker Advanced Practices (PBAP) course instead of the broker version.
Can I retake the exam if I fail?
Yes. There's no limit on attempts. If you pass one portion and fail the other, you only retake the portion you failed (within the allowed window). Each attempt requires paying the exam fee again.
The easiest way to meet the BASS requirement
Our Oregon principal broker package is being built to deliver the full 40-hour BASS course plus the tools to prepare for the exam in one place. Join the Oregon notify list and we'll let you know the moment it's available.
