How to Get a DC Real Estate License (2026): Steps, Costs, Exam and Reciprocity

To get a DC real estate license, you finish a 60-hour course with a school approved by the DC Real Estate Commission (DCREC). Then you pass both portions of the PSI exam and apply to the Commission within six months.

The official fees are $79 for the exam, $65 to apply, $130 for the salesperson license and $60 for the Guaranty and Education Fund. Agents already licensed in Virginia or Maryland skip the 60 hours, take two 3-hour DC courses and sit only the DC portion of the exam.

The facts below come from the Commission's pages, the DC Code and PSI's DC bulletin. School prices and third-party claims are labelled. All were read on 27 October 2026.

Where I stand: I am a Realtor with Samson Properties, licensed in Virginia, DC, Maryland and West Virginia, and I run Jamil Academy, which sells training to agents. This guide is built from official pages and labelled third-party sources. The one product block near the end is my own.

What are the DC real estate license requirements?

Short answer: be at least 18, finish the 60-hour course, pass the national and DC portions of the exam, and apply within six months. The DC Code adds conditions on education, prior licenses and criminal history.

Sources: DC Real Estate Commission page, D.C. Code 47-2853.12 and D.C. Code 47-2853.172, read 27 October 2026.

A note on the high school rule

Section 47-2853.172 sits in the DC Code's part on real estate salespersons. But its text opens with "An applicant for licensure as a real estate broker." It is likely a drafting quirk. If you have no diploma or equivalent, ask the Commission before you pay for a course.

The same section also requires that you can read, write and understand English (my paraphrase).

What to have ready

The Commission's page lists three things for every applicant:

• "One 2"x2" passport-style photo (.jpeg format)"
• "Unexpired government-issued ID (e.g., driver's license)"
• "Debit or credit card to pay application, exam, or license fees"

The Fall 2026 newsletter adds that the application "must be submitted in the name that appears on the Government Issued ID."

Sources: DC Real Estate Commission page and DCREC's newsletter The Commentator, Fall 2026 issue (sent 30 September 2026), read 27 October 2026.

I found no residency, citizenship or Social Security number rule for salespersons, either way.

My view: the eligibility bar is low. The real work is the course, the exam and the six-month deadlines.

How do you get a real estate license in DC, step by step?

Short answer: take the 60-hour course, pass both PSI exam portions, then apply online to the Commission within six months. Agents licensed in another state follow a shorter path, covered further down.

• 1. Check you qualify. At least 18, with the education and record conditions in the DC Code.
• 2. Finish the 60-hour course with a DCREC-approved provider.
• 3. Register with PSI online or by phone on (855) 557-0616. The fee is $79.
• 4. Pass both portions of the exam, national and DC. You get your score as soon as you finish.
• 5. Retake a failed portion, if needed, within six months of your first attempt.
• 6. Apply to the Commission online within six months of passing, and pay the $65 application, $130 license and $60 fund fees.
• 7. Work under a licensed broker. PSI's bulletin says "All DC licensed Salespersons must be affiliated with a DC licensed Broker."

Sources: DC Real Estate Commission page, PSI's DC Real Estate License Examination Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 6/3/2026) and D.C. Code 47-2853.171, read 27 October 2026.

My view: start talking to brokers while you take the course. That way the broker question is settled before your six months start.

Which 60-hour course and approved school do you need?

Short answer: a 60-hour salesperson course from a provider the DC Real Estate Commission has approved. The official list marks each school as classroom or distance education.

The detailed course rules sit in DCMR 17-2606, effective 19 April 2013, per the DCMR Chapter 26 index. I could not read its full text.

The approved provider list

The Commission's list is titled "DCREC APPROVED PRELICENSING COURSES (2023 - 2025)." Its file name is dated 12 March 2025. I found no newer list on the Commission's page, which still links this one.

Source: DCREC approved prelicensing courses, 2023 to 2025, read 27 October 2026.

The list and the schools do not always agree. The list marks Colibri as classroom only. Colibri's own DC page says you can study "online at your own pace or in a virtual livestream setting." Ask the Commission or the school which format is approved.

As the list is labelled 2023 to 2025, confirm your school is still approved before you pay.

Course prices I could verify

Sources: perryrealestatecollege.com and colibrirealestate.com DC course pages, read 27 October 2026. Vendor prices, not official. Prices and promotions change.

Both schools showed promotions on 27 October 2026. Colibri's DC cost guide, modified 4 June 2026, says packages "typically range from $260 to $690."

For how to judge an online school beyond price, see my guide to choosing an online real estate school.

My view: the cheapest approved package is fine if you study well alone. Pay more only for exam prep you will actually use.

What is the DC real estate exam like?

Short answer: a computer exam run by PSI, with an 80-question national portion and a 30-question DC portion. You need at least 75% correct to pass. The fee is $79 whether you take one portion or both.

Source: PSI, DC Real Estate License Examination Candidate Information Bulletin, updated 6/3/2026, read 27 October 2026. PSI may add up to 10 unscored questions, with extra time.

PSI's bulletin says: "You need to score a minimum of 75% correct to pass."

What the DC portion covers

• Duties and powers of the Commission: 6 questions.
• Licensing requirements: 4 questions.
• Statutory requirements for licensee activities: 20 questions. Topics include advertising, agency, disclosure, fair housing and the ADA, and tenant purchase rights.

Before you book, work through a set of practice exam questions to find your weak areas.

Booking, fees and test day

• Fee: "The examination fee is $79 regardless if you are taking one portion or both portions." It is not refundable or transferable, and is valid for one year from payment.
• What to bring: two forms of ID, one a photo ID that "confirms their age as at least 18 years old." New applicants also bring their 60-hour course completion certificate.
• Cancelling: at least 2 calendar days before. "A voice mail message is not an acceptable form of cancellation."
• Results: "Your score will be given to you immediately following completion of the examination."

The bulletin does not mention remote or at-home testing, so do not plan on it.

Retakes and the six-month clock

The bulletin says: "Candidates who fail one portion of the examination and pass the other need retake only the portion they failed." It states no maximum number of attempts.

There is a time limit: "Any failed portion must be passed within six (6) months of the first examination attempt." The bulletin does not state a retake fee. I assume $79 per sitting, so confirm with PSI.

Pass rates and a fee warning

I found no published DC pass rate in PSI's bulletin, the Commission's page or its newsletters.

Colibri, in a June 2026 cost page, and LegalClarity, in July 2026, list the exam at "$61.50 per attempt." PSI's own bulletin, updated 3 June 2026, says $79. Use $79.

My view: book the exam within a few weeks of finishing the course. If you fail a portion, the six-month window is generous, but it starts at your first attempt.

How do you apply for your DC salesperson license?

Short answer: apply online through the DC licensing portal within six months of passing, and pay the $65 application, $130 license and $60 fund fees. The Commission's page has a "Click to apply for a license" link.

Source: DC Real Estate Commission page, read 27 October 2026.

The six-month deadline

The Commission says an applicant who has passed "shall submit an application for a license to the Commission with the required fees within six (6) months of passing the examination."

PSI's bulletin agrees. If you passed the portions on different days, count from the first pass to be safe.

Fees are not refundable. Citing D.C. Code 47-2853.10, the Commission says "application fees for initial licensing, certification, registration, renewal and reinstatement shall not be refundable."

Licenses are digital. The Fall 2026 newsletter says: "All licenses are issued digitally," and you view yours by logging in to your DC Access account.

Your broker

PSI's bulletin says: "All DC licensed Salespersons must be affiliated with a DC licensed Broker." The DC Code also defines a salesperson as someone employed by a licensed broker.

But the Commission's page lists no broker form for new applicants, and its fee list includes a $130 inactive status fee. I could not confirm whether you must name a broker when you apply, or can start as inactive. Ask the Commission if you have no broker yet.

Questions go to the Commission at 1100 4th Street, SW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20024, phone (202) 671-4500. I found no published processing time for new applications.

My view: gather your photo, ID and payment card before the exam. Then you can apply the same week you pass.

How much does a DC real estate license cost in 2026?

Short answer: $334 in official fees for one exam sitting, plus the course. With the course list prices I saw, that is about $634 to $1,014. That includes a $60 fund fee, explained below.

Sources: DC Real Estate Commission fee list, PSI DC bulletin (updated 6/3/2026) and school pages, read 27 October 2026.

The $60 Guaranty and Education Fund question

The Commission's fee list ends: "In addition, a fee of $60.00 shall be submitted for the Real Estate Guaranty and Education Fund included in the licensee fees." On its own, that wording is ambiguous.

DC law is clearer. Before receiving an original salesperson license, a person "shall pay, in addition to any other fees required under this subchapter," a sum set by the Mayor for the Fund.

Source: D.C. Code 42-1706, read 27 October 2026.

So I count the $60 as extra, making $190 to the Commission for the license. Check the total when you pay. The calculator lets you remove it.

Other fees you may meet later

Sources: DC Real Estate Commission fee list and The Commentator, Fall 2026 issue, read 27 October 2026.

What these totals leave out

Exam prep outside your course, Realtor dues, MLS fees and brokerage fees are not included, and I did not verify them. Virginia and Maryland agents pay the same official fees, plus two 3-hour DC courses I could not price.

My view: the official fees are small next to the course. Compare what each package includes, not just the headline price.

What will your DC license cost? Try the calculator

Short answer: $634 with a $300 course, one exam sitting and the $60 fund fee. Choose your path, enter your course price and exam sittings, and the total and a rough timeline update.

The timeline uses only the weeks you enter, because DC publishes no processing time.

How the calculator counts

• Path: new applicants pay for the 60-hour course. Virginia and Maryland agents, and agents from other states, pay for two 3-hour DC courses instead.
• Exam: $79 for each sitting, whether you take one portion or both. PSI does not state a retake fee, so $79 per retake is my assumption.
• Timeline: your course weeks, plus your wait until exam day, plus your gap between attempts for each retake.
• Maryland salespersons licensed before 1996: choose the endorsement path, as PSI's bulletin places them there.

My view: run it with two sittings. If you pass first time, you finish under budget.

How long does it take to get a DC real estate license?

Short answer: it depends mostly on how fast you finish 60 hours of study and pass the exam. DC sets deadlines for each step, but the Commission publishes no processing time.

I found no official rule on how fast you may finish the 60 hours, and could not read DCMR 17-2606.

Deadlines that apply

Sources: DC Real Estate Commission page and PSI DC bulletin (updated 6/3/2026), read 27 October 2026.

My view: treat the course and the exam as one project. A long break after the course usually means relearning material before exam day.

Do you need a background check or fingerprints?

Short answer: I found no official DC source that requires fingerprints or a background check for a salesperson license. Some schools and guides say one is required, so confirm with the Commission.

Neither fingerprints nor a background check appears on the Commission's page, in PSI's bulletin, or in D.C. Code 47-2853.12 and 47-2853.172. I also could not read the full text of the DC regulations on licensing.

LegalClarity, in an article published 5 July 2026, says "Applicants must complete a fingerprinting and criminal background check" and gives a cost of $42 to $75. Colibri's DC cost page, modified 4 June 2026, lists "Criminal background check: $50 to $75."

Neither cites a DC rule, so the calculator's background check field starts at $0.

What DC law says about convictions

DC's general licensing law requires that an applicant "Has not been convicted of an offense that is directly related to the occupation." Whether an offense is directly related is decided under section 47-2853.17(c-1)(2).

Section 47-2853.12(n)(1) adds: "A person may petition a board at any time" for a decision on whether a record disqualifies them.

Source: D.C. Code 47-2853.12, read 27 October 2026.

My view: if you have a record, use that petition route first. It costs less than finding out after the exam.

Does DC have real estate license reciprocity?

Short answer: yes, for Virginia licensees and most Maryland licensees. Everyone else licensed elsewhere uses a similar endorsement path. Both skip DC's 60-hour course but take the DC portion of the exam and two 3-hour DC courses.

PSI's bulletin names three reciprocity groups:

• "BROKERS OR SALESPERSONS CURRENTLY LICENSED IN VIRGINIA."
• "BROKERS CURRENTLY LICENSED IN MARYLAND."
• "SALESPERSONS CURRENTLY LICENSED IN MARYLAND (From 1996 to Present)."

Maryland salespersons licensed before 1996, and licensees from any other state, apply by endorsement. Both groups register for the state exam only.

Source: PSI DC bulletin, updated 6/3/2026, read 27 October 2026.

What the Commission asks for on each path

Source: DC Real Estate Commission page, Real Estate Salesperson section, read 27 October 2026.

On the letter, the Commission warns: "Pocket cards and license copies are not accepted."

Where the sources disagree

PSI's bulletin lists only the 3-hour DC Fair Housing course for reciprocity applicants. The Commission's page lists Fair Housing and Property Management, plus a "Property Management Continuing Education Certificate."

PSI also says endorsement applicants "may be allowed to waive prelicensing education requirements". I have followed the Commission's page, as it is the licensing body. Confirm the course list with the Commission before you enroll.

PSI asks endorsement applicants to send more with the application: CE certificates from the last two years, a resume or biography and a description of their pre-licensing course. PSI says some of this does not apply to Maryland salespersons.

Sources: PSI DC bulletin (6/3/2026), DC Real Estate Commission page and DCREC course requirements, 2023 to 2025, read 27 October 2026.

What DC law says

D.C. Code 47-2853.12(b) says a board "shall waive the requirements for passage of an examination" for someone licensed elsewhere with standards "at least as high." But (c)(1) lets it require a District law exam.

Source: D.C. Code 47-2853.12, read 27 October 2026. The detailed rule, DCMR 17-2611, could not be read.

My view: if you already hold a Virginia or Maryland license, adding DC is mostly two short courses and one exam portion. The 90-day letter is the step most likely to trip you up.

Licensed in Virginia or Maryland? How to add a DC license

Short answer: take the two 3-hour DC courses, pass the DC portion of the PSI exam, get a fresh certification letter from your home state and apply within six months. The steps below put them in a workable order.

The steps, in a sensible order

• 1. Check your group. Maryland salespersons licensed before 1996 use endorsement; other Virginia and Maryland licensees use reciprocity.
• 2. Take the two DCREC-approved courses: 3 hours of Fair Housing and 3 hours of Property Management.
• 3. Register with PSI for the "Broker or Salesperson state exam only." The fee is still $79.
• 4. Bring your Virginia or Maryland license and your original DC Fair Housing certificate to the test, as PSI requires, and pass the DC portion.
• 5. Order your certification letter from your home state's commission, so it is dated within 90 days when you apply.
• 6. Apply to the DC Commission within six months of passing, with the same Commission fees as new applicants.

Sources: PSI DC bulletin (6/3/2026) and DC Real Estate Commission page, read 27 October 2026.

Still working toward your first license? Read my step-by-step Virginia licensing guide or my guide to getting a Maryland real estate license, which also covers Maryland's own reciprocity rules.

Going the other way: DC agents adding Virginia or Maryland

If another state asks for proof of your DC license, the Fall 2026 newsletter says you now request a Letter of Certification online through DC Access.

"The fee is $30.00," and requests are "processed in 14 business days." Order it close to when you apply, in case the other state has its own date limit.

Source: DCREC, The Commentator, Fall 2026 issue (sent 30 September 2026), read 27 October 2026.

My view: add DC only if you will use it, because DC renewal and CE follow.

How do DC renewal and continuing education work?

Short answer: salesperson licenses expire on August 31 of odd years. Renewal costs $130 and needs 15 hours of continuing education (CE). The current cycle ends on 31 August 2027.

The Commission's page lists the salesperson cycle as "Expiration Date: August 31; Renewal Year: Odd." Its fee list shows a $130.00 salesperson renewal, marked "Up to two years."

CE for the 2025 to 2027 cycle

Source: DCREC, The Commentator, Fall 2026 issue (sent 30 September 2026), read 27 October 2026. The 2023 to 2025 requirements sheet used the same structure.

The newsletter puts it as: "Mandatory Classes = 12.0 Hours and 3.0 Hours General Electives." Brokers take 15 hours of mandatory classes with no electives, and their licenses expire on 28 February 2027.

Rules that trip people up

• Late renewal: the Winter 2025 newsletter says "There will be a fifty ($50.00) late fee accessed during this period," meaning the late renewal window.
• Certificates: "The current system can only accommodate CE certificate uploads in renewal applications." Keep your certificates ready.
• Your first renewal: PSI's bulletin says new licensees "are exempt from taking CE courses for the remainder of a licensing cycle during which their license is obtained". They still renew when that cycle ends. The Commission's page does not say this, so confirm.

Sources: The Commentator, Winter 2025 (sent 5 March 2025) and Fall 2026 issues, and PSI DC bulletin (6/3/2026), read 27 October 2026.

Is there post-licensing education in DC?

I found no DC post-licensing requirement in any source I checked. If you hold or plan a license in a state that has one, see my guide to real estate post-license courses.

My view: put 31 August 2027 in your calendar the day your license is issued, and ask the Commission early to confirm the first-cycle CE exemption.

How do you become a DC real estate broker?

Short answer: two years as a licensed salesperson, a 135-hour broker course and the broker exam. This guide is about the salesperson license, so here is a brief outline.

Sources: DC Real Estate Commission page, PSI DC bulletin (6/3/2026) and The Commentator, Fall 2026 issue, read 27 October 2026.

My view: focus on the salesperson license and two good years of practice first. The broker path opens after that.

How many real estate agents are licensed in DC?

Short answer: 10,296 real estate salespersons as of 25 September 2026, out of 14,982 DC real estate licenses in total. The Commission projects fewer new applications in FY 2026.

Sources: The Commentator, Fall 2026 issue, and DCREC FY 2026 performance oversight testimony by Chair Edward Downs, read 27 October 2026.

The FY 2026 figure is a projection. If it holds, new applications would fall by about a third.

What agents earn

The latest metro figures I could verify are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for May 2023. For the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area, which spans DC, Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia, they show:

• Employment: 4,390 real estate sales agents.
• Mean hourly wage: $37.03.
• Mean annual wage: $77,030.

Source: BLS, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, Real Estate Sales Agents, read 27 October 2026. Metro area, not DC alone. Newer releases exist but I could not retrieve the metro figures.

BLS counts only wage and salary employees. Most agents work as independent contractors, which is why 4,390 is far below DC's licensee count. Do not read the wage as typical agent income.

My view: about 10,000 salespersons is a lot for one city. Plan how you will find clients before the license arrives.

What changed for DC licensees in 2025 and 2026?

Short answer: no fee, course-hour or CE-hour changes that I could find, but several process changes.

• Seller Disclosure Form: "The Commission updated the Seller Disclosure Form as set forth in 17 DCMR § 2708, on November 28, 2025." It adds a flooding and water intrusion question and condo common-element disclosures, and removes duplicate questions.
• Letters of certification: now requested online through DC Access, for $30, processed in 14 business days.
• Digital licenses: all licenses are issued digitally and viewed in DC Access.
• New CE cycle: salesperson licenses now expire on 31 August 2027, with the same 15-hour structure as 2023 to 2025.

Sources: The Commentator, Winter 2025 and Fall 2026 issues, read 27 October 2026.

My view: DC's licensing rules have been stable. The changes are mostly about how you deal with the Commission online.

What I could not verify

These are the gaps I hit while checking sources. Be careful with any page that fills them with a confident number.

• Fingerprints and background checks. No official source requires them; two third parties say so.
• The $60 Guaranty and Education Fund fee. DC Code says it is extra; the Commission's wording also says "included".
• The high school rule for salespersons. The DC Code section reads as if it applies to brokers.
• Broker affiliation at application. Licensed salespersons must be affiliated, but whether you must name a broker when you apply is unclear.
• First-renewal CE. PSI's bulletin exempts new licensees for their first cycle; the Commission's page does not confirm it.
• The current approved school list. Only the 2023 to 2025 list was posted.
• Reciprocity course list. PSI lists Fair Housing only; the Commission lists Fair Housing and Property Management.
• Application processing time. Not published.
• Pass rates. None published in the sources I checked.
• DC regulations. The full text of DCMR 17-2602, 17-2605, 17-2606 and 17-2611 could not be read.
• Other school prices. The CE Shop, Cooke and the classroom schools.
• Newer wage data. BLS May 2025 metro figures could not be retrieved.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to get a real estate license in DC?

The official fees are $79 for the PSI exam, $65 to apply, $130 for the license and $60 for the Guaranty and Education Fund, $334 in total. Course list prices I saw ran $300 to $680.

How long does it take to get a DC real estate license?

It depends on how fast you finish the 60 hours and pass the exam. You must apply within six months of passing. The Commission does not publish a processing time.

Can I take the DC real estate course online?

Several approved schools are listed for distance education, including The CE Shop and Perry Real Estate School. The official list covers 2023 to 2025, so confirm a school is still approved.

What score do you need to pass the DC real estate exam?

PSI says you need at least 75% correct to pass. New applicants must pass both the national and DC portions. You retake only a portion you fail.

How many questions are on the DC real estate exam?

The salesperson exam has 80 national questions in 120 minutes and 30 DC questions in 90 minutes. That is 110 questions in 210 minutes if you take both portions.

Does DC have reciprocity with Virginia and Maryland?

Yes. Virginia salespersons and brokers, Maryland brokers and Maryland salespersons licensed from 1996 take only the DC exam portion, plus 3-hour Fair Housing and Property Management courses.

Do I need fingerprints for a DC real estate license?

I found no official source requiring fingerprints. Some schools and guides say a background check is required. Ask the DC Real Estate Commission before you apply.

How often do you renew a DC real estate license?

Every two years. Salesperson licenses expire on August 31 of odd years. The fee is $130, and a full cycle needs 15 hours of continuing education.

Is there post-licensing education in DC?

I found no DC post-licensing requirement in the sources I checked. You do need 15 hours of continuing education in each two-year renewal cycle.