Frequently Asked Questions

Aren't all schools the same? What makes your school different from the others?
You will find that most schools offer similar study materials and put you through a similar study process. What sets our school apart from all the others is the quality of our programs as this is what we have specialized in for the past 60 years. Due to the experience of our head instructor and owner who for the past 35 years taught the classes, debriefed the students and wrote all the course materials, you'll find our program to be much easier to understand and much more focused as to what you'll need to know when taking your State Exam.

Common feed-back we have received from students who after attending other school's progams and failing their exam, have shared the fact with us that after taking their state exam, felt the questions simply were not as closely related to the materials that they had been studying. That is why it is very important to use a "top quality," "time-tested" program.

What is your Pass rate?
We are probably one of few schools that doesn't quote a pass rate. It's actually a matter of maintaining our integrity! The fact is, in the past, we made the effort to do so and found it impossible finding many students had either moved or did not respond to our inquiries. Don't be fooled by schools quoting 98% and 99% pass rates (Keep in mind the failure rate on the State Exam for all applicants statewide is consistently around 50%). Think about it, no matter how good a program is, not every student is going to properly study or be ready for their exam. We know we have the highest pass rate because, based on researching what our competition has to offer, our programs remain far superior!

Most real estate license schools offer money-back guarantees to students should they fail their State Exam, usually based on the second try (not the first). Or they may allow their students to "in lieu" of the refund re-attend the program at no charge. If refunds are paid, in most instances, registration fees are taken out, leaving the student with very little of the original amount to recover. We are now one of the few, if not, the only school that offers a 100% Money- back Guarantee if failing on the first attempt. We are proud to say since we started offering this guarantee we have not had even one request for a refund. That should also tell you a little about our pass rate!

How fast can I get the sales license in my hands?
You can get a license in as little as 3-4 months. The specific time frame is based on completing three prerequisite courses (California Real Estate Principles, Practice and an elective course), which can be completed in a minimum of 7-1/2 weeks. After applying for a testing date, it will generally takes an additional 4 to 6 weeks before you'll be taking your State Exam.

Both myself and my spouse would like to participate in your program. Can we share the materials?
Absolutely! You may share all the preparation materials. However, each of you would need to separately complete the prerequisite courses entitled California Real Estate Principles, Practice and an elective course. The Department of Real Estate requires the proof of completion of these courses in order to apply for and receive a testing date for the State Exam.

Where are the testing sites for the State Exam and how often are the exams held?
The testing sites in California are currently located in Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno, Los Angeles and San Diego. Tests are usually given 2-3 days out of each week.

What is the difference between a Sales Agents License and Brokers License?
The Sales Agent License will allow you to work in the Real Estate field as an agent. However your license must be placed with a Broker in order for it to become active.

The Brokers license will allow you to work independently and represent yourself in a transaction. It will also allow you to open up an office and hire sales agents.

What Real Estate fields would I be able to work in once I receive my license?
The license will allow you to represent brokers in a vast area of real estate activities; Examples: Home sales, commercial property, industrial properties, leasing, property management, subdivision property, mortgage loan brokering, business opportunity sales, etc.

How difficult is it to find work after I received my license?
Usually not difficult at all. You will find that most brokerages are consistently looking for new agents. In fact, once you apply to take the state exam your name is put on a public list which is subscribed to by many of these companies. As a result we have found that most of our students receive letters from most of the major franchises asking them to come in for an interview.

What is the typical pay structure for Sales Agents and how much does the average person make?
Sales Agents normally work on a commission basis. The standard commission on the sale of a home is 6%. The beginning salesperson usually splits the commission 50/50 with their Broker. Sales Agents working in the field can earn as little as nothing or in the MILLIONS! It's ultimately up to you. No matter who you are or what your background, there is an unlimited opportunity to earn income. We estimate that the average salesperson probably earns between $30,000 to $50,000 per year.

Is the California License valid in other states and visa versa?
Each state has its own license requirements! Therefore it would be necessary to contact the state where you are interested in being licensed in order to determine their requirements. On occasion, a state may accept some of your real estate education in California. Usually not!

What are the requirements to be eligible to take the State Exam?
You must be 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen. Anyone with a criminal record may not be eligible. You will need to contact the Dept. of Real Estate for more details http://www.dre.ca.gov

How much study time is needed to prepare for the state exam?
We estimate about 60 hrs study time for the Sales Exam and 90-120 hrs study time for the Brokers Exam.

Do you need to be sponsored by a company or broker in order to start the licensing process or obtain a license?
NO Sponsor is needed.

What is the passing grade for the State Exam?
The passing grade is 70%. You will be given 3 1/4 hours to take the test.

Once you pass the State Exam , what are the fees to obtain the actual license?
Sales Agent License: To take State Exam: $25, Fingerprinting: $51, License $120.
Broker License:  To take State Exam $50, Fingerprinting: $51, License $165.