Introduction
California is the land of opportunity and if you are an aspiring real estate agent, the Golden Gate state is brimming with exciting growth opportunities.
Whether you want to work with a brokerage firm or start your own real estate industry in the future, California is one of the most popular and sought-after real estate markets in the U.S.
Historically, California has attracted the attention and interest of homebuyers, skilled migrants and real estate investors due to its pleasant climate, strong economy and a booming job market.
The Golden Gate state is popularly known as a real estate paradise as it is home to the world’s best organizations, big tech companies, great weather and relatively less taxes.
With an average median home price of $800K and above, housing prices in California continue to rise year-on-year which are a testament to the state’s rising popularity.
Imagine earning between 5 to 6 percent of commission on selling a home worth hundreds and thousands of dollars in value! It is no surprise then the top real estate agents in CA can make $120K to $150K annually.
Does this make you already excited about starting your real estate career and enjoying a profession where you can make a six-figure income?
If yes, you should start preparing for getting a California real estate license first as it is the most important step in building a successful career.
The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) allows only licensed and skilled individuals to work with clients and engage in a real estate transaction.
To obtain your license, you must meet the state specific qualifying education and licensing requirements and prove your eligibility.
One of the important steps of completing your licensing journey is completing mandatory pre licensing education in California.
As per the Department of Real Estate in California, all applicants are required to complete 135 hours of pre license education to become eligible for a sales associate license.
In this article, we are going to give you details about completing a California real estate license course and gain the required skills and knowledge to work in the industry.
The need for completing pre licensing education in California
Many aspiring professionals often wonder whether completing pre license education is merely a mandatory requirement to be completed or a useful step for career growth.
Pre licensing education is a culmination of the industry rules, state and federal laws and the key principles of real estate principles in a structured curriculum.
The purpose of pre licensing education is to equip students with the fundamental knowledge of working in the real estate industry
Completing pre licensing courses will give you the confidence and training required to work in a competitive industry like real estate.
Education will prepare you to enter the industry with the required knowledge and skills.
Plus, it will show your commitment to clients who would want to rely on your expertise and skills for buying and selling real estate.
Like most states, if you want to work legally in real estate, you must obtain a state approved license first.
Put simply, you must take your education seriously and choose the right education provider to complete 135 hours of pre licensing course credits.
The curriculum of pre licensing education is divided into three courses worth 45 hours each.
The first two mandatory courses are – Principles of Real Estate and Real Estate Practice.
The third course can be an elective of your choice and you can pick from such as:
- Real Estate Finance
- Real Estate Appraisal
- Property Management
- Legal Aspects of Real Estate
- and Real Estate Office Administration
Completing these introductory courses will give you the knowledge and understanding to navigate the industry and complete the tasks and duties expected from you.
Luckily in California, you can choose from numerous real estate colleges and course providers and select the one most suitable for your learning needs.
Ideally, you should choose an education provider which offers up-to-date, comprehensive courses and training material to give you an in-depth understanding of the courses.
Another important factor to keep in mind is to find a course which can be completed in a self-paced manner. This will give you more flexibility to learn at your own desired time.
Depending on whether you want to learn in a classroom-based environment or enroll in an online California real estate license course, you must only choose a state approved real estate education provider.
When it comes to the cost of completing pre license education, the fee varies on many factors such as the type of learning package, medium of content delivery among others.
However, as a general estimate, it should cost anywhere between $200 to $600 and some real estate schools also offer a ‘pay when you pass’ guarantee to students.
If you are looking for a recommendation, you can explore RealEstateU to learn from certified instructors and approved curriculum.
Click here to learn more about the various course packages and learning plans to suit your learning needs and get ready to take your steps into the exciting world of real estate.
