California real estate license lookup and requirements
Open the official California real estate license search, browse 433,854 California license records in RELD, and pull the same data into your app through our REST API.
- Verify a single California agent → Official California license lookup (California Department of Real Estate)
- Want to get a California real estate license? → Apply through California Department of Real Estate
License counts in California
- Total licenses
- 433,854
- Active licenses
- 342,313
Official source
Official California license lookup
- Agency
- California Department of Real Estate
- Direct search URL
- https://www2.dre.ca.gov/PublicASP/pplinfo.asp
Use this link to verify a single California license against the official state source. RELD is a separate REST API product for teams that need repeatable search, verification, and compliance workflows.
Licensing agency
Application resources
Use official agency pages for current application rules, fees, education hours, testing, and renewal instructions.
Official California licensing requirementsCalifornia licensing requirements
- Pre-license education hours
- 135
- Exam required
- Yes
- Background check / fingerprinting
- Yes
- Minimum age
- 18
- Renewal cycle
- Every 4 years
- Continuing education hours
- 45
- License types
- Salesperson; Broker; Broker (Corporate / Officer)
Always confirm current rules with California Department of Real Estate before relying on these fields for eligibility, exam, fee, or renewal decisions.
License categories in California
- Salesperson
- Broker
- Broker (Corporate / Officer)
License attributes available for California
- Salespersons must be employed by a licensed California broker
- Three statutory courses required: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, plus one elective from CalDRE's approved list
- Fingerprinting and background check via Live Scan are required
What makes California different?
- California does not honor full reciprocity with other states — out-of-state licensees must still pass the California salesperson or broker exam.
- CalDRE's Public License Lookup (www2.dre.ca.gov/PublicASP/pplinfo.asp) is the only authoritative source for license status; third-party rosters can lag actual DRE data by weeks.
Top cities by license count
- Los Angeles — 18,894 licenses
- San Diego — 17,216 licenses
- San Jose — 9,014 licenses
- Irvine — 8,500 licenses
- San Francisco — 7,929 licenses
- Sacramento — 6,435 licenses
- Newport Beach — 4,769 licenses
- Long Beach — 4,416 licenses
- Fresno — 3,996 licenses
- Huntington Beach — 3,992 licenses
- Bakersfield — 3,686 licenses
- Riverside — 3,444 licenses
- Beverly Hills — 3,392 licenses
- Carlsbad — 3,250 licenses
- Rancho Cucamonga — 3,072 licenses
How to verify a real estate license in California
If you need to check the status of a single California agent right now, the official regulator lookup is the fastest path. If your team needs to verify licenses inside a product, CRM, onboarding flow, or compliance pipeline, RELD's REST API returns the same data as structured JSON with source attribution and refresh metadata.
Official California license lookup (California Department of Real Estate)
How to get a real estate license in California
Requirements vary by state. See our how-to guide for California for general steps and official application resources.
Related state license resources
FAQ
California licensing questions
How do I look up a real estate license in California?
Use the official California license lookup operated by California Department of Real Estate. RELD also exposes 433,854 California license records through a REST API for teams that need programmatic verification.
What is the official real estate license search site for California?
California Department of Real Estate runs the official California real estate license search. The link to that source is at the top of this page.
How often do real estate licenses renew in California?
California real estate licenses renew on a Every 4 years cycle. Confirm exact dates with California Department of Real Estate.
What continuing education is required in California?
California requires 45 continuing education hours per renewal cycle. Course content and approved-provider rules are set by California Department of Real Estate.
What license types exist in California?
California Department of Real Estate issues the following California real estate license types: Salesperson; Broker; Broker (Corporate / Officer).
What makes California different from other states?
California does not honor full reciprocity with other states — out-of-state licensees must still pass the California salesperson or broker exam. CalDRE's Public License Lookup (www2.dre.ca.gov/PublicASP/pplinfo.asp) is the only authoritative source for license status; third-party rosters can lag actual DRE data by weeks.
Interactive coverage map
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Live states and territories are shaded by active licensee records. The panel starts with network-wide totals; click a region to pin that jurisdiction's counts and refresh cadence.
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