How To Become a Real Estate Agent in Washington

Working as a Washington real estate agent can be a rewarding career. However, like many careers, proper education and licensing are necessary to sell real estate in Washington.

Before you can begin this career venture, you have to obtain a real estate broker license issued by the Washington State Department of Licensing. Aspiring agents have to meet education requirements to apply for the license to ensure they’re ready to sell real estate in Washington.

Understanding the intricacies of these requirements is essential to ensure you comply with all state licensing guidelines. In your quest to discover how to be a successful real estate agent, it’s important to understand real estate license requirements by state, including those in Washington, detailed in this guide.

Getting Your Real Estate License in Washington

If you’re looking to sell real estate in Washington, you’ll need to obtain a real estate broker license through the Washington State Department of Licensing.

In Washington, individuals who want to sell real estate or who act on behalf of a real estate firm should obtain a real estate broker’s license. Obtaining this license requires several steps, including the following:

• Meeting age and education requirements
• Completing pre-licensure real estate education
• Passing real estate exams
• Submitting fingerprints for a background check
• Submitting real estate broker license application form and paying fees

Once you complete these steps and secure your Washington real estate broker license, you’ll be ready to work with buyers and sellers in the state to help them purchase property.

Core Standards for Real Estate License Eligibility

Securing a real estate broker license in Washington is a multi-step process that begins with meeting basic requirements and enrolling in core real estate courses to secure the knowledge needed to pass the real estate broker exam.

The Department of Licensing’s guidance on applying for a broker license,¹ in addition to this guide, can answer many questions about the basic standards and processes for securing your Washington license.

Stipulated Age and Core Education Requirements

In order to apply for a real estate license in Washington, you must be at least 18 years old.

The answer to “Do you need a high school diploma to be a real estate agent?” is yes. In Washington, the state requires all applicants for its real estate broker license to have a high school degree or equivalent, such as a GED.

It’s essential to make sure both of these requirements are met before you learn how to get your real estate agent license in Washington.

Note that you don’t have to have a real estate degree to apply for a license, but you do have to complete the pre-licensure coursework established by state guidelines.

Prescribed Pre-License Course Duration

Education is an essential element of securing your real estate certification in Washington.

The Department of Licensing requires applicants to complete 90 hours of pre-approved Washington real estate license courses. These courses must include a 60-hour course in Real Estate Fundamentals and another 30-hour course in Real Estate Practices.

The Department of Licensing’s course search can help you find eligible courses.² The online search includes a variety of fields, allowing you to narrow your results to those courses that count toward the required 90 hours.

Select real estate as the program and pre-licensing as the course type to view all eligible courses. You can further focus your search by including the course name, your preferred school or provider, and the clock hours.

Then, you can review the available online real estate classes to select ones that meet your requirements, delivery type, and location.

Each course includes information on its name, course provider or school, delivery method (such as live lecture or distance education), and number of hours. Course topics vary and include Real Estate Fundamentals and Real Estate Practices.^3,4

You can then register through the provider or school of your choice to complete the course and meet these state-based guidelines.

Price of Real Estate School Pre-Licensing Program

Aspiring real estate agents in Washington can expect to pay for the courses required to earn their license

Using the Department of Licensing’s course search linked above is the best way to find approved real estate courses. All courses listed in this database are approved by the state Department of Licensing and count toward the 90-hour pre-licensing course requirement.

You can complete these courses in two ways.

First, you may choose to enroll in an approved real estate school pre-licensing program and complete all of these course requirements through this program.

The Gateway School of Real Estate is one example of an accredited real estate pre-licensing program approved by the state.⁵ Individuals can enroll in their pre-licensing program for $575 to complete their required 90 credit hours.

Students may also choose to complete these required hours on a course-by-course basis. They may even choose to take courses from different schools.

For example, Kaplan Real Estate Education offers courses individually or as a package.⁶ The 30-hour Real Estate Practices course costs $189, the 60-hour Real Estate Fundamentals course costs $239, and the 90-hour package is available for $249.

Enrolling in a complete program may offer some cost savings.

Fundamental Real Estate Background Examination (Fingerprint Location Information)

As a part of the real estate pre-licensure requirements, aspiring agents must submit their fingerprints for state and national background checks.

If you live in Washington, the state Department of Licensing recommends scheduling your fingerprint appointment through IdentoGO by IDEMIA,⁷ an authorized partner of the state.

IdentoGO Centers throughout the state can collect your fingerprints to begin the background check process. You can book an appointment online by selecting the Department of Licensing as the agency type.⁸

Then, choose real estate brokers and managing brokers as the reason for fingerprinting. After entering your zip code, you can select a convenient location and book your appointment.

A complete list of Washington IdentoGO Centers is available online,⁹ searchable by city, state, or zip code. The IdentoGO by IDEMIA site also processes the required background check.

Fees for fingerprinting and background checks include $10.05 for fingerprints and $34.75 for background checks for a total of $44.80.¹⁰

If you’re applying for a Washington state real estate license and currently live out of state, you have other options to complete your fingerprinting. Visit a local law enforcement office or private fingerprinting company to secure your fingerprint card.

The agency should write the real estate ORI number (WA9210100Z) in the ORI box. Fees for fingerprinting may vary by agency.

Then, you can use the IdentoGO website to complete the fingerprint and background check process, choosing Digital Fingerprinting including all necessary information, and paying the required $34.75 background check fee.

After completing the background check request, the original fingerprint card should be mailed to the address below.

IdentoGO
Card Scan Department – Washington Program
340 Seven Springs Way, Suite 250
Brentwood, TN 37027-8030

More information on out-of-state fingerprinting is available through the state Department of Licensing.¹⁰