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For Getting a License

In-Depth Instructions

Here we describe the exact steps you’ll need as you purchase, study for, and pass our courses and programs for Getting a LicenseIf you’re still confused about how to take our courses after reading the instructions below, please don’t hesitate to give us a call directly; our phone number is to the right.

  1. Purchase the Beginner Program. This program includes three online courses; Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and one elective of your choosing.
    1. You will choose your elective course when adding the Beginner Program to your online shopping cart.
    2. You will be able to choose any of the following courses as your elective; Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Appraisal, Legal Aspects of Real Estate, Real Estate Economics, Property Management, Mortgage Loan Brokering.
  2. Each course comes with an electronic textbook. You may request a printed textbook for an additional fee. The book(s)  will be mailed to you (via U.S. Postal Mail) after you purchase the Beginner Program.
  3. A DRE-mandated 18 day minimum study period is required from the date of purchase before you’re allowed to take the online exam for your first course (Real Estate Principles).
    1. During the 18 day minimum study period, you will need to log into the Student Portal to review the textbook material. If you ordered the printed textbook, simply review the textbooks that you receive in the mail.
    2. The Beginner Program must be completed in the following course order; Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and your chosen elective course.
  4. Log into the Student Portal to take the online exams. Each exam contains 100 multiple choice questions that must be completed within
    1. 100 minutes.
    2. You have an unlimited number of attempts to pass each course’s exam (passing is 60% or higher).
    3. There is no minimum study period between exam attempts (after the initial 18 day minimum study period).
    4. Note that while we can provide your exact score, you’re not allowed to see which answers you get wrong.
  5. From the date you pass an exam, the next 18 day minimum study period begins (each course has an 18 day minimum study period before the course’s exam).
  6. For next steps, please see the Follow Through section below.

Learn more about what’s included in the Beginner Program:

  1. Purchase the Broker Program. You must have a minimum of 2 years full-time licensed salesperson experience within the past 5 years in order to seek a broker license. View our page about Upgrading to the Broker Program.
  2. Each course comes with an electronic textbook. You may request a printed textbook for an additional fee. The book(s)  will be mailed to you (via U.S. Postal Mail) after you purchase the program.
    1. The Vocabulary of Real Estate (downloadable audio CD set) is free when you enroll in 3 or more courses, and since the Broker Program contains 8 courses, you may request the downloadable audio CD set.
  3. A DRE-mandated 18 day minimum study period is required from the date of purchase before you’re allowed to take the online exam for your first course (Real Estate Principles).
    1. During the 18 day minimum study period, you will need to log into the Student Portal to review the textbook material. If you ordered the printed textbook, simply review the textbooks that you receive in the mail.
    2. The Broker Program must be completed in the following course order; Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Appraisal, Legal Aspects of Real Estate, Real Estate Economics, Property Management, Mortgage Loan Brokering.
  4. Log into the Student Portal to take the online exams.
    1. Each exam contains 100 multiple choice questions that must be completed within 100 minutes.
    2. You have an unlimited number of attempts to pass each course’s exam (passing is 60% or higher).
    3. There is no minimum study period between exam attempts (after the initial 18 day minimum study period).
    4. Note that while we can provide your exact score, you’re not allowed to see which answers you get wrong.
  5. From the date you pass an exam, the next 18 day minimum study period begins (each course has an 18 day study period before the course’s exam).
  6. For next steps, please see the Follow Through section below.

Learn more about what’s included in the Broker Program:

  1. Please purchase the specific courses, materials, and live seminars you desire on our Custom Ordering page.
    1. If you buy any/all courses, please read the instructions below (steps #2 through #6).
    2. If you buy the Vocabulary of Real Estate (12 audio CD set), it will be mailed to you (via U.S. Postal Mail).
    3. If you register for the State Exam Prep Course live seminar, please show up (with a government-issued photo ID) at the date, time, and location you chose in checkout.
  2. Each course comes with a printed textbook, which will be mailed to you (via U.S. Postal Mail) after your purchase.
    1. Note that if you enroll in 3 or more courses, Vocabulary of Real Estate is free.
  3. A DRE-mandated 18 day minimum study period is required from the date of purchase before you’re allowed to take the online exam for your first course.
    1. During the 18 day minimum study period, you do not need to visit the website or the My Account section; simply review the textbook(s) that you receive in the mail.
    2. All the courses of your order must be completed in a specific order, based upon the ordering for the Broker Program (detailed above).
  4. Log into the Student Portal to take the online exams.
    1. Each exam contains 100 multiple choice questions that must be completed within 100 minutes.
    2. You have an unlimited number of attempts to pass each course’s exam (passing is 70% or higher).
    3. There is no minimum study period between exam attempts (after the initial 18 day minimum study period).
    4. Note that while we can provide your exact score, you’re not allowed to see which answers you get wrong.
  5. From the date you pass an exam, the next 18 day minimum study period begins (each course has an 18 day minimum study period before the course’s exam).
  6. For next steps, please see the Follow Through section below.

Learn more about what’s available for custom ordering:

Need Support?

Follow Through

The following applies to all orders for courses and programs within the Getting a License section;

  • You must pass the exams for all courses of a single order within one year of your purchase date. Failure to do so will require you to re-purchase the specific courses you did not complete.
  • When you have completed all your course, a combined certificate will be emailed to you automatically. It will be required by the DRE when you schedule a date to take your state exam.
  • It is your responsibility to follow up with the DRE to apply for a salesperson or broker license (whichever one applies to your situation).

For Further Information

Please visit the DRE’s website for further requirements and waiver possibilities, and contact them directly for answers on how they apply to your situation.

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For over three decades, Charlie Krackeler has been providing real estate and mortgage education in California, allowing real estate professionals to obtain and review licenses with ease.
(831) 348-0130charliekrackeler.help@gmail.com
Office Hours: M-F 9am - 2pm 
DRE Sponsor# 2617
Sponsor ID# S0338
(831) 348-0130charliekrackeler.help@gmail.com
134 Willet Circle, Watsonville, CA 95076
© 1991-2023 Charlie Krackeler Presents ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. DRE Sponsor# 2617
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