Take three college-level real estate courses, pass the state salesperson exam, get your license and go to work under a licensed broker. The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) runs every step, and its fees come to $450 if you file the exam and license applications together, plus a $49 Live Scan fingerprint fee paid to the fingerprint provider (DRE, Fees page, checked September 25, 2026).
Nothing about the license is special to Antioch. What you do with it here is. Here’s the whole path, step by step.
Who can get a California real estate license?
You must be 18 or older to be issued a license, and applicants must be honest and truthful. The DRE says a criminal conviction may lead to a denied license. If you live outside California, the DRE has a separate out-of-state page (DRE, Requirements to Apply for a Real Estate Salesperson License, checked September 25, 2026).
Which courses do I have to take?
Three college-level courses before you can sit for the exam (same DRE page):
- Real Estate Principles.
- Real Estate Practice. The DRE says this course must include parts on implicit bias and fair housing, including a role play where you act as both the consumer and the agent.
- One more course from DRE’s list, such as Real Estate Appraisal, Property Management or Real Estate Finance.
Each course must be three semester units or four quarter units at the college level. Continuing education classes don’t count. The DRE’s Education Course Availability page lists course offerings.
How much does it cost?
DRE fees, from its Fees page (checked September 25, 2026):
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Salesperson exam only | $100 |
| Salesperson license only | $350 |
| Exam and license filed together (form RE 435) | $450 |
| Live Scan fingerprints, paid to the provider | $49 |
| Re-taking the exam | $100 |
Course tuition and books are on top of that, and they vary by school. Budget for them before you enroll.
What is the exam like, and where do I take it?
Three hours, 150 multiple-choice questions, and you need 70% to pass (DRE, Taking the Exam page, checked September 25, 2026). The DRE’s exam sites include the Elihu M. Harris State Office Building at 1515 Clay Street, Room 703, in Oakland (DRE, Exam Sites page, checked September 25, 2026). Your schedule notice tells you which site you’re assigned.
From Antioch, BART works for Oakland. BART’s schedule shows the weekday morning trip from Antioch station to 12th St. Oakland City Center at 61 minutes, $7.30 on an adult Clipper card, with trains every 20 minutes (BART schedule and fare data for Tuesday, October 6, 2026, checked September 25, 2026). Leave early on exam day. You don’t want to sprint up Clay Street.
What happens after I pass?
You get licensed, then you pick a broker. If you filed the combined exam and license application, the license side is already in. Either way, the DRE says a salesperson works under the supervision of a licensed broker, and a salesperson without a responsible broker can’t do anything that needs a license (DRE, salesperson requirements page, checked September 25, 2026).
So choosing where you hang your license is the first real career decision you make. Our separate answer on choosing a real estate team in Antioch lays out the questions to ask.
What’s it like to start out as an agent in Antioch?
Busy market, real competition. Redfin shows 252 Antioch homes sold in August 2026, at a median sale price of $595,106 and a median of 21 days on market. 62.3% sold above list, and 29.6% of listings had a price drop (Redfin, Antioch housing market page, August 2026, checked September 24, 2026).
That tells you two things. There are enough sales here to learn fast. And sellers need someone who can price, because the market punishes a wrong number. Most new agents struggle with the same things: finding people to talk to, following up, and knowing what to say when a client asks a hard question. Nobody earns a paycheck just by passing the exam, and we won’t tell you what you’ll make.
How can a team help a new Antioch agent?
It shortens the learning curve. On a team, you’re never figuring it out alone. The Davis Team offers agents leads, training, support, mentorship and systems. Ask to see how each one works before you decide, and compare it with any other option you’re looking at. Start at whythedavisteam.com.
Questions people also ask
How long does it take to get a real estate license in California?
It depends mostly on your courses. You need three college-level courses of three semester units or four quarter units each, then you pass a three-hour, 150-question exam with 70%, per DRE pages checked September 25, 2026. Exam dates and application processing add time, and the DRE posts current processing times on its website. Plan for several months.
How much does it cost to become a real estate agent in California?
DRE charges $100 for the salesperson exam and $350 for the license, or $450 filed together on form RE 435. California residents also pay a $49 Live Scan fingerprint fee to the provider, per the DRE Fees page checked September 25, 2026. Course tuition and books are extra and vary by school, so price those separately.
Where is the closest real estate exam site to Antioch?
The DRE lists an exam site at the Elihu M. Harris State Office Building, 1515 Clay Street, Room 703, in Oakland, per its Exam Sites page checked September 25, 2026. Your schedule notice names your site. From Antioch station, BART’s weekday trip to 12th St. Oakland City Center is scheduled at 61 minutes, $7.30 on Clipper.
Do I need a broker to work as a real estate agent?
Yes. The California DRE says a salesperson works under the supervision of a licensed broker, and a salesperson without a responsible broker may not do anything that requires a license, per its salesperson requirements page checked September 25, 2026. You can hold a license without a broker, but you can’t practice until you have one.
Your next step
Studying for the exam or just licensed? Let’s talk about your first 90 days before you pick a broker. See what joining looks like or call (510) 949-5525.
More for Antioch agents: How to choose a real estate team to join · Living in Antioch, CA
By Bill Davis, DRE #01880656, The Davis Team at eXp Realty, Antioch, CA. Updated September 25, 2026.
Sources
- California DRE, Requirements to Apply for a Real Estate Salesperson License: dre.ca.gov/Examinees/RequirementsSales.html (checked September 25, 2026)
- California DRE, Fees: dre.ca.gov/Licensees/Fees.html (checked September 25, 2026)
- California DRE, Taking the Exam: dre.ca.gov/Examinees/TakingExam.html (checked September 25, 2026)
- California DRE, Exam Sites: dre.ca.gov/Examinees/ExamSites.html (checked September 25, 2026)
- BART, official schedule and fare data for Tuesday, October 6, 2026: api.bart.gov (checked September 25, 2026)
- Redfin, Antioch housing market page, August 2026: redfin.com/city/588/CA/Antioch/housing-market (checked September 24, 2026)