1.2 DC License Requirements

The District of Columbia sets distinct education, examination, and background requirements for salesperson, broker, and property manager licenses. Master these for the state portion.

Salesperson License Requirements

1. Age and Legal Requirements

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Hold a high school diploma or equivalent (GED).
• Be able to read, write, and understand English.
• Not have had a real estate application denied within the past year (exam failure excepted).
• Satisfy good-moral-character / background requirements.

2. Education Requirements

Complete 60 hours of pre-license education at a DCREC-approved school:

Topics include real estate law, interests and ownership, legal descriptions, titles, liens, taxes, encumbrances, listing and advertising, appraisal, finance, closings, and the professional code of ethics.

3. Examination

Critical correction: The passing score is 75% on each portion, not 70%. At 75%, you need 60 of 80 scored general items and roughly 23 of 30 scored state items. Each portion is scored independently.

Trap: Candidates who fail one portion and pass the other retake only the failed portion, but it must be passed within 6 months of the first attempt. Otherwise both portions must be retaken.

4. Application Process

Note: The completed application and fees must be received within 6 months of passing the exam, and the salesperson must affiliate with a sponsoring DC broker before the license is active.

Broker License Requirements

A DC broker must meet higher standards than a salesperson:

Experience

Two consecutive years of active experience as a licensed salesperson immediately preceding the application.

Education

Complete 135 hours of broker-level education:

Broker Examination

Correction: The broker exam has a 40-item state portion (120 items total), not 30. The general portion remains 80 items.

Property Manager License

DC requires a separate Property Manager license to manage property for others for compensation:

Application Timeline

1. Complete education at a DCREC-approved school.
2. Schedule and pass the PSI exam (75% each portion).
3. Affiliate with a sponsoring DC broker (salespersons).
4. Submit the application within 6 months of passing; pay $295.
5. Complete background requirements if requested.
6. Receive the license through the DCREC online system.

Exam Tip: Distinguish the three exams by item count — salesperson 110 (80+30), broker 120 (80+40), property manager 80 (60+20) — all requiring 75% on each portion.

Test-Day Logistics

PSI delivers the exam by computer at a test center (out-of-state PSI sites are available via an out-of-state testing request). Plan around these rules:

Math you must memorize: PSI does not display 43,560 square feet per acre or 5,280 feet per mile at the center — commit them to memory. When a question requires proration, it will state whether to use a 360- or 365-day year and whether the closing day belongs to the buyer or seller.

Endorsement, Reciprocity, and Out-of-State Applicants

DC separates two paths for already-licensed agents:

Both paths require a 3-hour DCREC-approved Fair Housing course and an original Letter of Certification dated within 90 days from the home jurisdiction. The home jurisdiction's national exam standards must have been substantially equivalent to DC's at the time of original licensure. Endorsement applicants may waive pre-license education and the experience requirement, but the Commission reviews each application individually.