Frequently asked questions
Let’s Make the
Next Step Easier.
Straightforward answers to common questions about studying with CES.
Can I Study at My Own Pace?
Yes. The online correspondence courses combine independent textbook study with online quizzes and final examinations. Course completion remains subject to applicable minimum study periods and enrollment terms.
Which Courses Are Included?
The three-course package includes Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and Legal Aspects of Real Estate. Each course is 45 hours.
Are Live Classes Available?
Live classes are currently postponed. Contact CES for updates on the next session before making plans to attend.
Can I Visit the Office?
Yes, by appointment only. Office hours are Tuesday–Friday, 10 AM–3 PM. Call 510-223-2636 to arrange your visit.
Does Completing the Courses Give Me a License?
No. Course completion is an education step. You must also meet California Department of Real Estate eligibility, examination, and application requirements.
How Do Existing Students Sign in?
Use the CES Student Portal with your email and dashboard password for purchases and available resources. Prelicense courses use a separate platform; CES emails those credentials after manual enrollment. Contact the office if you need help.
More Questions and School Policies
What Will It Cost Me to Get My California Real Estate License
The online three-course package costs $299. Individual courses cost $125 each. Textbook shipping is included in both the individual-course and $299 package prices. The exam fee is $100.00 for Salesperson/agent and $150.00 for Broker. The licensing fee is $350.00 for Salesperson/agent and $450 for Broker Fees - DRE
What are the Qualifications for becoming a Real Estate Agent?
Your first step in getting a California Real Estate Salesperson’s license is to meet the educational requirements and enroll with a school offering courses which have been approved by the California Department of Real Estate. We are a state of California approved school and all our courses have been extensively reviewed and Approved by the California Department of Real Estate. The Educational Requirements are that you must pass a DRE-approved course in Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice,
and a third approved course of your choosing prior to applying for the State Exam.
Requirements to Obtain Your California Salesperson License
1. Must be at least 18 years of age.
2. Register for and complete 135 hours of required education. In order to apply for the California Real Estate License Exam, the state requires you to complete 135 hours of DRE-approved college level real estate courses. We offer two education options that fulfill the 135-hour requirement.
3. Apply for your Salesperson Exam/License Application, including fingerprinting and background check.
4. Take the California Salesperson License Exam. To pass the California Salesperson License Exam you will need a score of 70% or better.
Once you have completed your required education, you can apply for your license exam.
Do I already qualify to take Real Estate Brokers exam?
If You Meet Any of the Following Criteria:
2 Years Demonstrated Full Time Experience as a Licensed Real Estate Agent
You have a four-year college degree with a major or minor in real estate.
You have two (2) full years of experience within the last five (5) year period as an escrow officer, title officer, loan officer, or loan underwriter in a capacity directly related to the financing or conveying of real property, or experience as a real property appraiser
.
How do I take the course exams? How do the online, open-book exams work? How do I obtain my course certificates?
CES currently sets up course enrollment manually after payment. CES will email the separate course-platform login credentials when enrollment is arranged. Your CES dashboard login is separate. In California, it is a state requirement that you wait a minimum of 18 days before having access to your first exam and 18 days before each subsequent exam. Our course exams are online, open-book exams. Simply score 60% or better out of 100 multiple choice questions and you will receive immediate notification that you passed. You will be able to print out your course certificate immediately after you have passed your exam.
How many questions are on the state exam?
How much time do I have to complete the state exam?
May I bring a calculator or notes to the state exam?
The California State Exam has 150 multiple choice questions, and you have 3 hours to complete them. Do not bring notes or a personal calculator into the examination room. Review the DRE’s current examination rules before attending.
What If I Fail the California Real Estate Exam
You Can Retake the Salesperson/Agent Exam for $100.00 and the Broker Exam for $150.00
My license expired do I have to take the prerequisite courses again?
If your license expires, you may renew on a late basis for up to two years following the expiration date. NOTE: Activities requiring a license cannot be performed while the license is expired. Late renewal fees are 150% of on-time fees. Also, all continuing education courses must be completed within 4 years of the date the late renewal application is filed.
Prelicensing Courses Requirements and Time Frame(Online and Live Class)
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO COMPLETE THE COURSES?
The MAXIMUM time we allow for completion of the course is 1 year from the date of enrollment.
Your timeline depends on course completion, examination scheduling, and DRE application processing. A fixed completion or licensing date is not guaranteed.
Time to Complete
Since our courses are done by home-study, how quickly you complete the program is up to you. However, the California Department of Real Estate has certain minimum time of completion guidelines:
Minimum Time Needed
The minimum time to complete courses according to the Department of Real Estate (DRE) is 2 1/2 weeks (18 calendar days) per course from the date you receive your material.
Number of Courses Minimum Completion Time
1 Course 2 1/2 Weeks
2 Courses 5 Weeks
3 Courses 7 1/2 Weeks
Maximum Time Allowed
The maximum time allowed for completion of your course is 1 year from the date of enrollment. Completion of the course means taking and passing the course final examination.
Once you have successfully completed the qualifying pre-license course final exams, we will send you an official Course Completion Certificate along with an application for the state exam. From the day you mail your application to the DRE, it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to get a state exam test date. This waiting period can vary depending on how many applicants are applying for the state exam at any given time.
Typical Time Line:
1. Finish three courses: 7 1/2 weeks minimum (Of course you may progress at your own pace)
2. Apply for your examination and license. Processing times vary; check the current DRE timeframes.
WHAT IF I CAN'T COMPLETE THE COURSE(S) IN A YEAR?
If you do not pass the final exam on the first try, DRE allows you one re-take immediately. If you fail a second time, Please note that A student who fails the re-examination cannot receive credit for the course. The student is not barred from enrolling and completing the same course but must retake the course and pass the final examination to complete the course and receive a course completion certificate. Be aware that the questions on the re-take exam will be completely different from the questions on the original final exam.
WHAT IS CONSIDERED A PASSING SCORE?
In order for you to pass this course, you will be required to take and pass 15 online chapter quizzes and an online final examination (100 multiple-choice, 2.5 hours, 60% or better to pass, all are open-book).
WHAT HAPPENS IF I FAIL A COURSE FINAL EXAM?
If you should fail the course final examination, you are allowed to immediately retake it. If you fail the retake exam, you will have to repeat the course and wait 18 days before you are able to take the exam again.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I COMPLETE THE COURSE?
If you are enrolled in more than one course, we will email one course completion certificate at the conclusion of your last course, showing all courses completed. If you would like individual completion certificates or otherwise need your completion certificates prior to finishing all the courses in the package, we would be happy to issue your certificates immediately upon request.
Completion of a course includes taking and passing the course final examination. The final examination must be taken no later than the last day of the course enrollment period.
How long is my California Real Estate Pre-license course certificate valid?
The California Real Estate Pre license course certificates are good for life. There is no expiration date and no deadline required to be met before you apply to take the California State Exam.
Requirements to Apply for a Real Estate Salesperson License
This license is required of individuals who conduct licensed real estate activities as described in the Real Estate Law under the supervision of a licensed broker. A license may also be obtained by a person who does not immediately intend to be employed by a broker. However, a salesperson without an employing broker may not perform acts requiring a real estate license.
Completion of three college-level courses is required to qualify for a real estate salesperson examination:
1. Real Estate Principles,
2. Real Estate Practice,
3. One Course From the Following List:
Real Estate Appraisal
Property Management
Real Estate Finance
Real Estate Economics
Legal Aspects of Real Estate
Real Estate Office Administration
General Accounting
Business Law
Escrows
Mortgage Loan Brokering and Lending
Computer Applications in Real Estate
Common Interest Developments
Note: Effective January 1, 2024, any real estate practice course submitted for purposes of qualifying to take a real estate license exam, must include components on implicit bias and fair housing. Additionally, the fair housing component must include an interactive participatory component where the applicant role plays as both the consumer and the real estate professional.
You Can Find the Full Details of the Sales Requirements by Visiting Www.DRE.CA.Gov
To obtain a real estate salesperson license in California, you must first qualify for and pass a written examination. Those who pass the examination are provided a license application, which must be submitted to and approved by the CA DRE.
Live Real Estate Class
What is the difference between taking the live class and the online course?
The live class program was designed to assist students who are on the fast track to completing the prerequisite courses. Live program students meet weekly with instructors in an interactive classroom to thoroughly review terms to understand in order to be prepared for the state exam. The program supports completion of 135 hours of pre-license education. Future schedules have not been announced. Completion depends on the student and their ability to keep up with the suggested reading schedule and timetable for completion of each course. With our online courses the student studies independently at their own pace and they have a year to complete the courses.
What happens if I do not finish all my courses?
If you are unable to complete all your courses you have the option to attend a different live program to finish.
What happens if I cannot make it to every class meeting for the accelerated program ?
90% Class attendance is a prerequisite requirement for the live class. If class attendance is not met a certificate of completion will not be issued.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I COMPLETE THE COURSE?
If you are enrolled in more than one course, we will email one course completion certificate at the conclusion of your last course, showing all courses completed. If you would like individual completion certificates or otherwise need your completion certificates prior to finishing all the courses in the package, we would be happy to issue your certificates immediately upon request.
Completion of a course includes taking and passing the course final examination. The final examination must be taken no later than the last day of the course enrollment period.
Can I enroll in a course in person?
In Person enrollment is available by appointment. Please contact our office to schedule 510-223-2636
WHAT IS YOUR REFUND POLICY?
Online and Textbook Policy
If for any reason you decide to cancel your enrollment, we will issue a refund (less a $50 registration fee and shipping & handling) if cancellation occurs by midnight of the 5th business day after the date of enrollment. No refund will be issued after the above mentioned time period. If you paid by credit card, your account will be credited within 30 days. All textbooks, if ordered, must be returned to the school, in good and usable condition*, within 5 days of the date of cancellation. If you do not return the material supplied by the school within this 10-day period, the school may keep an amount out of what you paid that equals the price of the textbooks for the course. Textbooks are $50 each. The school will refund any amount over that as provided above.
*Good and usable condition means that the textbook is unmarked and undamaged by shipping. It shall be the student's responsibility to package and ship the course material in such a manner as to assure compliance.
Live Class Refund Policy
Our live class program is nonrefundable. If for whatever reason you are unable to attend a session you can reschedule to a different time at no charge. You may also transfer the class to someone else as long as the class has not started.
Crash Course Refund Policy
This course is nonrefundable. If you do not pass the course or are unable to attend the scheduled session you are allowed to attend another session at no additional cost.
I have questions about my course, who can help me?
Email: Admin@Cesrealestateschool.Com
Currently enrolled students with questions about reprinting a certificate, locating/tracking materials, or requesting a transfer, please contact our Customer Support team via email at admin@cesrealestateschool.com or via phone: 510-223-2636
For questions about accessing or viewing your courses, or assistance with online education, our Technical Support team is available to assist you by phone or email. If you require immediate assistance, please call. Emails will be responded to promptly and always within 24 hours from being sent.
Have Additional Questions?
We encourage you to contact one of our friendly Customer Service Representatives at 510-223-2636 with any questions.