Washington requires 18+ candidates to complete 90 hours of state-approved pre-license education, pass a two-part PSI exam, clear a background check, and apply through the Department of Licensing to earn a real estate broker license. This checklist walks through every requirement, fee, and deadline in order — from your first course to your first renewal.
Washington also uses its own titles: the entry-level license is a Broker (a "salesperson" or "agent" in most other states), the supervisory level is a Managing Broker, and the person holding ultimate responsibility for a firm is the Designated Broker. Knowing which license you're chasing — and which 2026 rules apply to it — makes the rest of this checklist much easier to follow.
- 90 hours of pre-license education (60-hour Fundamentals + 30-hour Practices) is required before you can sit the PSI exam.
- You need a 70 scaled score on both the National and State exam portions, then must apply within one year of your final passing score.
- A background check, fingerprinting, and firm affiliation are required before your license activates — an Interim License can bridge up to 45 days.
- First renewal requires 90 hours of continuing education; every renewal after that only needs 30 hours.
- Upgrading to Managing Broker requires 3 years of experience, 90 more hours of coursework, and a 75 scaled score on the Managing Broker exam.
Washington's license titles differ from most states — here's how they map to terminology you may already know.
Step 1: Meet Basic Eligibility Requirements
Candidates for a Washington real estate broker license must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Hold a high school diploma or equivalent (like a GED).
- Answer background and criminal history questions honestly on the application.
There's no college degree requirement and no Washington residency requirement — you can start your pre-license education the same week you decide to pursue the license.
Step 2: Complete 90 Hours of Pre-License Education
New brokers must complete 90 hours of state-approved education, split into two courses:
- Real Estate Fundamentals (60 hours): Property ownership, contracts, financing, and real estate math.
- Real Estate Practices (30 hours): Business operations, practical application, and current Washington regulations.
Agency Law Note: The Practices course now covers the 2024 Washington Real Estate Brokerage Relationships Act. Firms must sign a written brokerage services agreement with clients before, or as soon as reasonably possible after, providing services — and compensation alone no longer creates an agency relationship.
Critical Deadline: Washington enforces a strict two-year education freshness rule. You must pass your exam and apply within two years of finishing your 90 hours, or your certificates expire and you must retake the courses.
Step 3: Pass the Washington Real Estate Licensing Exam
Once your school submits your course completion, register for the exam through PSI, the state's exam administrator. The exam has two portions:
- National Portion: 100 questions on general real estate concepts.
- State Portion: 30 questions on Washington laws and practices.
You need a 70 scaled score on both portions to pass. Critical Deadline: if you pass one portion but fail the other, you have a six-month window to pass the failed section — miss it, and you retake the entire exam.
Next step: Every requirement above starts with the 90-hour education requirement. The Gold Broker Pre-License package bundles the required Fundamentals and Practices courses with exam prep built specifically for the PSI exam — self-paced, DOL-approved, and priced starting at $309 so you can move through steps 2 and 3 without switching schools.
Step 4: Background Check, Application, and Fees
Washington requires a criminal history background check through IdentoGO. Schedule an appointment, pay the fee, and submit your prints to the Washington State Patrol and the FBI.
21-Day Rule: if the FBI rejects your fingerprints for poor image quality, you have 21 days from the rejection notice to resubmit without paying the fee again. 6-Year Cycle: background checks are valid for six years, so every third two-year renewal you'll submit new fingerprints.
Once you've passed both exam portions and submitted fingerprints, apply for your license online through the SecureAccess Washington portal, run by the Washington State Department of Licensing. Critical Deadline: you have exactly one year from the date you pass your final exam section to apply, or your exam results expire.
Current Fee Table
Fees include a mandatory $20 research fee funding the Washington Center for Real Estate Research.
| License Type | Original Application | Renewal Fee | Late Renewal (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker | $233.00 | $233.00 | $273.00 |
| Managing Broker | $330.00 | $330.00 | $370.00 |
| Firm License | $304.00 | $304.00 | — |
(The PSI exam fee is currently $210 per attempt. Reinstating a canceled license carries an additional $100 penalty.)
Step 5: Affiliate With a Firm and Activate Your License
Your license stays inactive until you join a licensed real estate firm. A Managing Broker or Designated Broker must invite you through the online portal, and your license activates once you accept.
The Interim License Provision
Washington offers an Interim License for new brokers eager to start working right away. If you passed your exam, submitted fingerprints, applied online, and paid fees, your signed passed-score report acts as a temporary license once your Designated Broker signs it. This lets you work legally for up to 45 days while your official license processes.
Keeping Your License: Renewal and CE Requirements
Washington broker licenses renew every two years, but the hours required change depending on whether it's your first renewal.
The 90-Hour First Renewal Requirement
For your first active license renewal, you must complete 90 hours of post-licensing education:
- 30 hours: Advanced Real Estate Practices
- 30 hours: Real Estate Law
- 3 hours: Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate (CORE)
- 27 hours: Approved electives
Subsequent Renewals
For every renewal after your first, you need 30 hours of continuing education every two years:
- 3 hours: CORE curriculum
- 3 hours: Washington Real Estate Fair Housing
- 24 hours: Approved electives
License Reinstatement for Lapsed Licenses
Miss your renewal date and your license expires. You get a one-year late renewal window at the standard fee plus a late penalty ($273 total for brokers). Licenses expired beyond one year are officially canceled; to restore one, apply for reinstatement within two years of cancellation, pay a $100 penalty, finish missing CE, and meet the state's other reinstatement conditions.
If any of these deadlines already snuck up on you, our guide to common mistakes that delay getting licensed walks through how brokers usually lose track of them — and how to recover.
Upgrading to Managing Broker and Designated Broker
Ready to supervise other brokers or run your own firm? Here's how the entry-level Broker license compares to the Managing Broker upgrade.
| Requirement | Broker (Entry-Level) | Managing Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Experience required | None | 3 years full-time, active experience in the last 5 years |
| Additional education | 90 hours (Fundamentals + Practices) | 90 hours (Brokerage Management, Business Management, Advanced Law) |
| Exam passing score | 70 scaled score | 75 scaled score |
| Application fee | $233.00 | $330.00 |
Full breakdowns of the experience and coursework requirements are on our Washington managing broker requirements page, and our guide on becoming a Washington managing broker walks through the exam and application in more detail.
Becoming a Designated Broker
The Designated Broker holds ultimate responsibility for a firm. You must hold an active Managing Broker license, secure firm approval, and apply through the state portal — there's no extra fee for this designation.
Out-of-State Applicants: Washington Real Estate License Reciprocity
Washington recognizes equivalent experience for applicants holding an active license in good standing, in the same or greater capacity, in another state.
If you meet this standard:
- You do not need to complete the 90 hours of pre-license coursework.
- You do not need to take the National portion of the licensing exam.
- You do need to take and pass the Washington State law portion of the exam.
First-Time Broker Costs and Deadlines at a Glance
A first-time applicant in 2026 can expect these approximate costs:
- Pre-license education (90 hrs): roughly $300–$450
- PSI exam fee: $210 per attempt
- Fingerprinting (IdentoGO): per vendor schedule
- State license fee: $233
- Estimated total: $743–$893, plus fingerprinting
And the deadlines worth writing down:
- Two-year freshness: pass the exam and apply within two years of finishing education.
- Six-month window: pass the second exam half within six months of passing the first.
- One-year deadline: apply for your license within one year of passing your final exam section.
- 21-day rule: resubmit rejected fingerprints within 21 days of notice.
- 45-day interim: the interim license is valid for 45 days after completing your application.
Your Washington real estate licensing journey at a glance — six steps from applicant to active broker.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the basic requirements for a Washington real estate license?
You must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or GED, complete 90 hours of state-approved pre-license education, pass the two-part PSI exam with a 70 scaled score on each portion, clear a background check, and affiliate with a licensed firm.
How many hours of pre-license education does Washington require?
Washington requires 90 clock hours total: a 60-hour Real Estate Fundamentals course and a 30-hour Real Estate Practices course. Both must come from state-approved providers, and your completion certificates stay valid for two years while you finish the exam and application.
How long does it take to get a Washington real estate license?
Most students finish the 90-hour course in 2–3 months while working around a job, then add exam scheduling, background check processing, and application review. Start to active license typically runs 3–6 months, though motivated students who study full-time can move faster.
How much does a Washington real estate license cost in total?
Budget roughly $743–$893 for a first-time license: $300–$450 for pre-license education, $210 for the PSI exam, $233 for the state license fee, plus fingerprinting costs charged separately by IdentoGO. Renewal and CE costs come later and are separate from this initial total.
Can I start working before my official license is issued?
Yes. Washington's Interim License lets you work for up to 45 days once you've passed the exam, submitted fingerprints, applied online, paid your fees, and had your signed passed-score report countersigned by your Designated Broker.
Ready to Start Your Washington Real Estate License?
Your new career starts with one course. The Gold Broker Pre-License package is self-paced, DOL-approved, and starts at $309 — most students finish in 2–3 months around their current job. For the full picture of every requirement in one place, bookmark our Washington real estate license requirements page.
Questions? Call us at 425-775-2313 — a real person picks up.
Washington real estate license requirements for 2026: 90 hours of education, exam scores, fees & deadlines. Start your Gold Broker course today.
