Complete three college-level real estate courses, pass the California salesperson exam, get fingerprinted, and get your license from the California Department of Real Estate (DRE). Filing the exam and license together costs $450 in DRE fees, plus $49 paid to the Live Scan fingerprint provider (DRE, Fees page, checked September 24, 2026).
There’s no Vallejo license. It’s one state license, good anywhere in California. Here’s the path from where you’re sitting to your first client, in order.
Can I get a real estate license in California?
Probably, if you’re 18 or older and honest on your application. The DRE says you must be at least 18 to be issued a license, applicants must be honest and truthful, and a criminal conviction may lead to denial (DRE, Requirements to Apply for a Real Estate Salesperson License, checked September 24, 2026).
If you’re not sure whether something in your past matters, ask before you pay for courses. The DRE is the one who decides, not us. If you have questions about a conviction, a lawyer who handles licensing can help.
Step 1: Which courses do I take?
Three courses, each at least 45 hours, from an accredited college or a private real estate school approved by the Real Estate Commissioner (DRE, Requirements page, checked September 24, 2026):
- Real Estate Principles
- Real Estate Practice. Since January 1, 2024, this course must cover implicit bias and fair housing, including a role-play where you act as both the consumer and the agent.
- One elective. Options on the DRE’s list include Legal Aspects of Real Estate, Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Appraisal, Property Management, Escrows and Common Interest Developments, among others.
Continuing education classes don’t count. Members of the California State Bar are exempt from the course requirement.
Where to take them near Vallejo. Solano Community College says its real estate program offers the courses required to qualify for the California salesperson exam and the broker exam. Its main campus is at 4000 Suisun Valley Road in Fairfield (Solano Community College, Real Estate program page, checked September 24, 2026). Online schools are an option too. Before you pay any school, confirm the course is approved using the DRE’s course search at dre.ca.gov.
Step 2: How do I apply for the exam?
Apply through the DRE’s eLicensing site or by mail (DRE, How to Apply for the Salesperson Exam page, checked September 24, 2026). You can apply for the exam alone, or for the exam and license together. Filing them together means one application and one payment.
Step 3: What does the license cost?
Here are the DRE’s salesperson fees, from its Fees page, checked September 24, 2026:
| DRE fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Exam and license filed together | $450 ($100 exam + $350 license) |
| Exam only | $100 |
| License only, after you pass | $350 |
| Rescheduling your exam (first time or after) | $40 |
| Retaking the exam | $100 |
| Live Scan fingerprints, paid to the provider by California residents | $49 |
| On-time license renewal | $350 |
The DRE says fees are nonrefundable (Business and Professions Code Section 10207). Course tuition is on top of all this and varies by school.
Step 4: What is the state exam like?
The salesperson exam is 150 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours. You need at least 70% to pass. On the electronic exam, you get your result when you finish (DRE, Taking the Exam page, checked September 24, 2026).
The DRE generally gives exams in Fresno, San Diego, the Los Angeles area, Oakland and Sacramento. From Vallejo, Oakland and Sacramento are the closest of those. You can’t request a specific building, but you can pick an available date and site in eLicensing, as late as 6:00 a.m. on exam day (DRE, How and Where Exams are Scheduled page, checked September 24, 2026).
Exam day basics, per the DRE:
- Bring a current driver’s license or state ID, a passport, or a U.S. military ID. No valid photo ID, no exam.
- Phones, bags, watches and study materials stay out of the room.
- Arrive 30 minutes early.
Didn’t pass? Wait for your result notice, then apply to retake it. The DRE says not to schedule a new date before you get your results.
Step 5: What happens after I pass?
You pick a responsible broker. The DRE lets you hold a salesperson license without one, but a salesperson without a responsible broker can’t do anything that requires a license (DRE, Requirements page, checked September 24, 2026). So choosing where you hang your license is the real start of your career.
Your license has to be renewed, too. Plan on DRE-approved continuing education before each renewal and the $350 on-time fee. Miss the date and the late fee is $525, if you renew within two years of expiration (DRE, Fees page, checked September 24, 2026).
What does it really cost to get going in Vallejo?
More than the state fees. Budget for these before your first closing:
- Course tuition. Varies by school. Get the total in writing before you enroll.
- DRE and fingerprints. $499 if you file together, from the table above.
- Getting set up with a broker. Ask your broker what dues and fees come with joining the local association and MLS, and get the list in writing.
- Your car. You’ll show homes all over south Solano, and some clients will be across the Carquinez Bridge. The Carquinez toll is $8.50 for a two-axle car in 2026, paid eastbound on the way back into Vallejo (Bay Area FasTrak, Carquinez Bridge page, checked September 24, 2026).
- Time with no paycheck. You usually get paid when a sale closes. Have savings to cover the stretch before your first one.
Nobody can honestly promise you an income in this business, and we won’t. And when clients ask about commission, the answer is always the same: commissions are negotiable between the client and the brokerage. They are not set by law.
How can a team help a new agent in Vallejo?
It gives you people to learn from while you’re doing it for real. You did the hard part getting licensed. Don’t let that work go to waste by trying to figure out your first deals alone.
On a good team you get leads to work, training on a schedule, a mentor you can call, and someone keeping your files on track. You still do the work. What changes is you’re never guessing alone.
Already licensed and comparing teams? Read what to look for in a real estate team to join in Solano County. It covers the questions to ask and what Vallejo will ask of you.
Questions people also ask
How much does it cost to get a California real estate license?
DRE fees are $450 when you file the salesperson exam and license together: $100 for the exam and $350 for the license, per the DRE Fees page, checked September 24, 2026. California residents also pay $49 to the Live Scan fingerprint provider. Courses cost extra and vary by school. Retaking the exam costs $100, and rescheduling costs $40.
Where can I take real estate classes near Vallejo?
Solano Community College says its real estate program offers the courses required to qualify for the California salesperson and broker exams, per its Real Estate program page, checked September 24, 2026. The main campus is at 4000 Suisun Valley Road in Fairfield. You can also use an online school. Check that any course is DRE-approved on dre.ca.gov first.
Where is the California real estate exam given near Vallejo?
The DRE generally gives salesperson exams in Fresno, San Diego, the Los Angeles area, Oakland and Sacramento, per its How and Where Exams are Scheduled page, checked September 24, 2026. From Vallejo, Oakland and Sacramento are the closest. You choose an available date and site in eLicensing, as late as 6:00 a.m. on exam day.
What score do I need to pass the California salesperson exam?
You need at least 70% on the 150-question salesperson exam, and you get 3 hours, per the DRE’s Taking the Exam page, checked September 24, 2026. If you take it electronically, you see your result when you finish. If you don’t pass, wait for your result notice before you apply to retake it. A retake costs $100.
Your next step
In a course now, or already passed? Let’s talk about your first year in Vallejo. The Davis Team offers new agents leads, training, support, mentorship and systems. See what joining looks like at whythedavisteam.com or call (510) 949-5525.
More on Vallejo: Living in Vallejo, CA · Vallejo market update
By Bill Davis, DRE #01880656, The Davis Team at eXp Realty, Vallejo, CA. Updated September 24, 2026.
Sources
- California Department of Real Estate, Requirements to Apply for a Real Estate Salesperson License: dre.ca.gov/Examinees/RequirementsSales.html (checked September 24, 2026)
- California Department of Real Estate, Fees: dre.ca.gov/Licensees/Fees.html (checked September 24, 2026)
- California Department of Real Estate, Taking the Exam: dre.ca.gov/Examinees/TakingExam.html (checked September 24, 2026)
- California Department of Real Estate, How and Where Exams are Scheduled: dre.ca.gov/Examinees/HowWhereScheduled.html (checked September 24, 2026)
- California Department of Real Estate, How to Apply for the Salesperson Exam: dre.ca.gov/Examinees/ApplySalesperson.html (checked September 24, 2026)
- Solano Community College, Real Estate program: solano.edu/academic-programs/real-estate.php (checked September 24, 2026)
- Bay Area FasTrak, Carquinez Bridge toll page: bayareafastrak.org (checked September 24, 2026)