How to Get a Real Estate License in Washington (2026): Cost & Steps

What a Washington real estate license costs

Exams, state and national

$210

Fingerprints and background checks

$54

Original license

$233

Required fees, total

$497.00

Washington also asks for a six-hour fair housing course before your first renewal if you haven’t taken it. See the state’s renewal page.

Build your Washington startup budget

Sources: Washington State Department of Licensing: get your license, real estate brokers (90 hours, steps, exam and application deadlines); Washington State Department of Licensing real estate fees ($210 exams, $233 license and renewal); Washington State Department of Licensing fingerprinting and background checks ($54 fingerprints and background checks); Washington State Department of Licensing renewal page (two-year renewal, continuing education); PSI Washington real estate candidate handbook ($210 exams, question counts, passing scores). Fees and rules checked October 10, 2026. Exam and background-check prices can change, so confirm the total when you book.

Who can get a Washington broker license

Most people call it a real estate agent license. In Washington the first license you get is a broker license, and it lets you work for a real estate firm under a managing broker. Running a firm as a managing broker is a separate license that needs experience first.

The Washington State Department of Licensing says you need to be at least 18, have a high school diploma or equivalent, finish the 90 hours of courses and pass both exams. You also have to pass a fingerprint-based background check. If it shows a conviction, the department reviews your record case by case.

Already licensed in another state? The department has a separate reciprocity exam for some applicants. Check its exam page before you pay for courses.

The steps, in order

1. Take the 90 hours of courses. Finish a 60-hour Real Estate Fundamentals course and a 30-hour Real Estate Practices course. You have to apply for and complete your exams within two years of finishing them.

   Compare Washington real estate courses and Colibri packages for the 90-hour education, current tuition and exam-support options.

   Complete your 90-hour Washington prelicensing course online with Colibri Real Estate. Compare course packages and current prices, including options with extra exam preparation.

   See Washington real estate courses

   We may earn a commission if you enroll through this link.

2. Register with PSI and book your exams. Your school sends your completion records to PSI, and you can’t register until it does. You pay $210 when you sign up. You can book online or by phone at 855-746-8168. The national part has 100 questions in 150 minutes and the Washington part has 30 questions in 90 minutes. You need a scaled score of 70 on each part.
3. Pass both exams within six months of each other. If you don’t, you have to retake both. Example: pass the state exam on March 1 and you have until September 1 to pass the national one.
4. Get fingerprinted. After you pass, book through IdentoGO and pay $54. Don’t apply for your license before the department tells you it has your exam results.
5. Apply online and pay $233. The department emails you a link, usually within 72 hours of passing. You have one year from your last passing exam to apply.

What Washington agents earn

Median pay, Washington agents on payroll

$79,130

Middle half earns

$63,010–$100,360

Top 10% earn over

$114,090

Washington agents on payroll

5,150

The bottom 10% of Washington payroll agents earn under $48,680. The national median is $52,830. The first active renewal adds significant education time beyond prelicensing. Include that tuition with your office and insurance costs, then compare the income retained from a transaction after the broker's split and other deductions.

Source: U.S. Labor Department pay survey, May 2025, Washington real estate sales agents. Covers agents on a payroll only. Checked October 10, 2026.

Choose a managing broker and budget the substantial first renewal

During Fundamentals and Practices, meet managing brokers and ask how the office trains a newly licensed broker on real transactions. Request an example of the first-month schedule and a breakdown of every charge attached to a closing.

Coordinate affiliation with the exam-result email and license application. Washington’s first active renewal includes at least 90 hours of education after licensing, so make that coursework part of the office onboarding discussion. Decide when you will study and how client appointments will be covered on course days.

Set up your Washington agent business

Register the business and organize payments

Set up the financial and registration side with the managing broker’s approval of the entity and commission-payee arrangement. The Washington LLC guide explains Washington LLC formation and ongoing administration. ZenBusiness can prepare the filing for that structure while you focus on licensing and the first client appointments.

Arrange errors and omissions (E&O) insurance

Choose E&O with your planned services and brokerage arrangement in mind. Request E&O quotes from Simply Business, then compare the covered work and deductible with the office’s policy. Save the insurance documents and reporting contact alongside your transaction-review process.

Keep business records from day one

Create a first-renewal education budget distinct from the 90 prelicense hours already completed. Track course dates, office charges and business receipts, and keep the later fingerprint-renewal reminder with the license records.

See Washington business registration and tax requirements for the wider registration and tax checklist.

Use a manageable market to build reliable service

Choose a local area where the managing broker can support your early appointments. Practice a consultation and offer discussion using real listings, then ask for supervised opportunities to help clients. Record the next action after every conversation so your follow-up remains consistent while you complete first-term coursework.

Resources for preparing client conversations

• what homeowners insurance costs by state
• the cost of renting versus owning
• state comparison of agent and brokerage businesses
• mortgage lock-in study
• Plan your first client conversations and follow-up

Renew every two years and plan for the 90-hour first renewal

Washington licenses renew every two years for $233. The date your first license is issued sets your renewal dates, every two years after that.

Your first active renewal needs at least 90 hours of continuing education: a 30-hour Advanced Practices course, a 30-hour Real Estate Law course, a 3-hour Current Issues course and at least 27 hours of other approved courses. You have to start those hours after you are first licensed. Later renewals need at least 30 hours, including the 3-hour Current Issues course. You also renew your fingerprint-based background check every six years. See the state’s renewal page for current rules.

Washington agent questions