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How to get your license: Managing brokers

Who needs a license?

Anyone who:

  • Acts on behalf of a real estate firm to perform real estate brokerage services under the supervision of a designated broker,
  • and
  • Who may supervise other brokers or managing brokers licensed to the firm.

Steps to licensure

  1. Meet the requirements:
  2. Apply to take an exam.
  3. After getting approved, schedule and pass the exams through PSI.
  4. Submit fingerprint background check.
  5. Receive notification from us that we got your exam results before you apply for a license. Don’t apply for a license before you get the notification with directions.
  6. When both background and exam results are on record, and before 1 year has passed, apply for license.

Requirements to upgrade to managing broker

You must:

  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
  • Provide proof you have at least 3 years of full-time experience as an active real estate broker.
  • Have current fingerprint-based background results on file (due every 6 years).
  • Complete 90 hours of approved real estate education within 3 years before applying for the exam. This education must include:
    • 30 hours of brokerage management
    • 30 hours of business management
    • 30 hours of advanced real estate law
    • You must complete your education within 3 years before applying for the exam.
    • Visit the Course Search for a list of approved real estate education.

If you are approved to upgrade, your approval will expire when the oldest of the 3 course completion dates reach 3 years.

Requirements under alternate qualifications

You must:

  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
  • Complete 90 hours of approved real estate education. This education must include:
    • 30 hours of brokerage management.
    • 30 hours of business management.
    • 30 hours of advanced real estate law.
    • You must complete your education within 3 years before applying for the exam.
  • Qualify under 1 or more of the 6 alternative qualification experiences listed in WAC 308-124A-713 . You must have gained this experience within the last 6 years.
  • Be ready to upload a cover letter asking to take this exam. The letter must state what alternative method you believe you qualify under and why.
  • Be ready to upload your resume reflecting the required experience.

If you get approved for the Alternate Managing Broker exam, you get 1 chance to pass both exams. If you don’t pass both exams, you must gain the required experience to upgrade or qualify by reciprocity.

Apply to take the exam online

  1. Login or sign up to start your application.
  2. After you receive approval from us, wait 4 business days before trying to schedule your exam with PSI.

Apply online

How to apply for license after exam passed

  • Receive notification from us that passing exam results are on file.
  • Have documents ready to upload for the legal background questions if needed.
  • Login or sign up to start your application. You must use Google Chrome set as the default browser and allow pop-ups.
  • If you don’t see the “Your To-Do’s” section on the Home Page:
    • Don’t apply for license if you don’t see the “Apply for License” button in the “Your To-do’s” section. We haven’t received your exam results yet.
    • If you see a reminder to submit fingerprints and you already did, then we haven’t received results yet. It can take 14 business days to reach us from WSP. You can’t proceed until they are on file.
    • If it’s been more than 14 business days since you submitted your fingerprints and more than 4 business days since you passed your exam(s) and the Your To-Do’s is still missing, contact us at realestate@dol.wa.gov.
      • Please send 1 email only!
      • Include the TCN number issued by IdentoGo and the date submitted.
  • When you see the “Your To-Do’s” section with an “Apply for License” button, click the button to apply.
    • Don’t use any other button outside of the Your To-Do’s section. They are for exam applications.
  • Pay your fees online.
    • You must pay both the licensure fee and the $10 research fee. If you uncheck either fee, we won’t issue you a license until you have paid in full.
  • After you get your license, a firm can invite you to join them to activate your license. You must log-in to accept their invitation.
  • See directions on how to print your license.

License expiration

  • Your managing broker's license will expire 2 years after it's issued.
  • The fingerprint background check results will expire 6 years from the date we receive them.
    • Be sure to re-submit prints before they expire. Allow enough time for us to get your results.
    • If your results expire you won’t be able to:
      • Join a firm.
      • Re-activate after being inactive.
      • Renew your license.

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