1.2 Washington License Requirements

Broker License Requirements

To earn a Washington real estate broker license you must satisfy four pillars: age, education, examination, and background check.

1. Basic Eligibility

• Be at least 18 years of age
• High school diploma or GED is recommended but not statutorily required
• Have a Social Security or ITIN number and submit fingerprints

2. Pre-License Education (90 clock hours)

Complete 90 hours from a DOL-approved school. "Clock hour" means an instructional hour DOL recognizes — not a college credit:

Important: You must pass the exam within 2 years of completing the Fundamentals course, or that course expires and must be retaken.

3. The PSI Broker Examination

Trap alert: Passing is NOT "70% of the whole 140." You can earn 90 on national and 60 on state and still FAIL, because each part is scored independently and you must clear 70 on both. Retakes require paying the fee again; only the failed part(s) are retested if you passed one within the carryover window.

4. Background Check

After passing, submit fingerprints through DOL's approved fingerprint vendor. The FBI and Washington State Patrol (WSP) run a criminal-history check; results route directly to DOL. A license is not issued until the background check clears. A felony or crime involving dishonesty does not automatically bar licensure but triggers DOL review.

5. Application Deadlines

Worked example: Maria finishes her 90 hours in March 2026, passes both exam parts in May 2026, but does not apply for licensure. By June 2027 her exam result has lapsed (1-year application window), so she must re-test before she can be licensed — her education is still valid because the 2-year education window has not closed.

Honesty and Affiliation Notes

An applicant must disclose any criminal history and any prior license discipline in another state; falsifying the application is itself grounds for denial. A broker license is inactive until the applicant affiliates with a licensed firm, so passing the exam alone does not authorize practice.

Managing Broker License Requirements

The managing broker credential authorizes supervision and carries a higher bar.

Experience Requirement

3 years of active, full-time licensed-broker experience within the preceding 5 years. Part-time or inactive years do not count toward the three.

Additional Education (90 more clock hours)

Combined with the original 90 broker hours, a managing broker has completed 180 hours of qualifying education over their career.

The Managing Broker Exam (a different format)

The managing broker exam is simulation-based, not standard multiple choice:

Exam Tip: Note the contrast — broker exam = 70 to pass; managing broker exam = 75 to pass and uses case simulations. Mixing up the two passing standards is a frequent distractor.

Designated Broker

A designated broker is the single managing broker who runs and is accountable for a firm. They must already hold an active managing broker license and be registered with DOL as that firm's designated broker.

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Complete the required pre-license clock hours at a DOL-approved school
2. Reserve and pay for the PSI exam ($138.25)
3. Pass each required part to the applicable standard (70 broker / 75 managing broker)
4. Submit fingerprints through DOL's approved vendor for the FBI/WSP check
5. File the license application and pay the license fee within the application window
6. Affiliate with a licensed firm (brokers) before conducting any licensed activity

Representative Fees

Note: DOL adjusts fees by rule; always confirm the current fee schedule on dol.wa.gov before applying. Exam questions test the structure (who pays, when) more than the exact dollar figure.