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Washington Licensing

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2010 License Law Changes

On July 1, 2010, the new real estate license law (RCW 18.85) goes into effect, and your real estate licensing requirements will change. It is very important for you to understand what the new law means to you.

» Licensing Requirements
» Other Important Changes to the Real Estate License Law
» Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQ)

As of July 1, 2010:

• A salesperson license will continue to be in effect, but will be considered a broker license.
• An associate broker, branch manager, or designated broker license will continue to be in effect, but will be considered a managing broker license.
• All current licensees will be required to take a 3 clock-hour Transition Course (now available!) prior to their first renewal after July 1, 2010. After this renewal, licensees will be issued new licenses (i.e., a salesperson will be issued a broker's license, and a broker will be issued a managing broker's license).
• You will have to undergo fingerprint and background checks every six years.
• You will have to meet the following new requirements to get a license:
  • For a broker's license, you must:
    • be at least 18 years old;
    • have a high school diploma or equivalent;
    • complete 90 hours of education (a 60 clock-hour Real Estate Fundamentals course and a 30 clock-hour Real Estate Practices course) within the two years prior to taking the licensing examination. (Now available!)
    • pass the real estate broker licensing examination; and
    • complete a fingerprint background check through the Washington State Patrol and the FBI.
  • For a managing broker's license, you must:
    • be at least 18 years old;
    • have a high school diploma or the equivalent;
    • have three years' full-time experience as a real estate broker;
    • complete 90 hours of education (including a 30 clock-hour Real Estate Broker Management, a 30 clock-hour Business Management, and a 30 clock-hour Advanced Real Estate Law) within the three years prior to taking the managing broker examination; (now available!) and
    • pass the managing broker licensing examination.
• If you were first licensed on or after July 1, 2010, you will have to complete the following for your first renewal:
  • 30 clock-hour course in Advanced Real Estate Practices,
  • 30 clock-hour course in Real Estate Law, (now available!) and
  • 30 clock-hour elective course, including 3 hours of Core.
  
  Note: those licensed on or after July 1, 2010, do not need to take the Transition course for their first renewal.
  
  
  

Rockwell has everything you need to get licensed on or after July 1, 2010, including new online and live Cram courses! If you have any questions, please call us at 425-747-7272.

Here are some other important changes that will take effect on July 1, 2010:

• New licensees will be subject to heightened supervision by their managers for two years.
• Only managing brokers can have supervisory authority. (Thus, team leaders must be managing brokers.) All delegations of authority must be in writing and signed by the designated broker and managing broker.
• A real estate firm will be separately licensed.
  • The firm's designated broker (who is responsible for all of the firm's actions) must have a controlling interest in the firm.
  • All advertising must include the firm name or assumed (DBA) name as licensed.
  • Listings (and other brokerage services contracts) are the property of the firm, not the individual licensee who signs the documents.
  • Firms may use more than one assumed name approved by the department when conducting their real estate activities.
• A managing broker may be the designated broker for more than one firm at a time.
• The definition of "business opportunity" is clarified so that a real estate license is only required if the business opportunity includes an interest in real property.

I've completed the currently required prelicense courses already, but I'm not ready to take my state exam. How long can I wait to take the state exam?
In order to avoid the new licensing requirements, you must take your state exam and get your license before July 1, 2010.

If I pass the real estate license salesperson or broker exam before July 1, 2010, how long are my results valid?
Your results are valid until June 30, 2010. You will be required to take a new exam and meet the new education requirements if you don't apply for your salesperson or broker license and submit your exam results by June 30, 2010.

What happens if I took Real Estate Practices before July 1, 2010, but my first license renewal occurs after July 1, 2010? Do I also have to take Advanced Practices for my first renewal?
You don't have to take Advanced Practices. Since you received your license before July 1, 2010, you will qualify for your first active renewal by completing 30 clock hours of Real Estate Practices, 30 clock hours of other approved continuing education, the 3-hour Core course, and the 3-hour Transition course.

My license is inactive. Will I need to complete additional education to activate my license after July 1, 2010?
Reactivation requirements regarding education will not change after July 1, 2010. As is true now, a 30 clock-hour course will be required to activate a license that has been inactive for 3 years or more.

What happens if I took Brokerage Management and Business Management in early 2009, but do not want to take my broker exam until after July 1, 2010?
If you have completed any of the classes that are currently required for your broker's license, but do not take your broker exam before July 1, 2010, you will have to start over. In other words, to take your managing broker license exam on or after July 1, 2010, you will have to complete new brokerage management and business management classes (ones that have been approved under the 2010 license law), as well as an advanced real estate law class. You may use your old brokerage management and business management classes for continuing education hours, but NOT to meet managing broker education requirements.

I am currently enrolled in a class that is required for licensure or first renewal under the pre-2010 license law. How long do I have to complete this class?
All classes approved under the pre-2010 license law expire on MAY 30, 2010. You must complete your class by that date. If you do not take your license exam or renew your license for the first time before July 1, 2010, these classes can be used as elective continuing education hours, but CANNOT be used to meet licensing or first renewal education requirements.

Example: You started your Washington Fundamentals course in January of 2009. You must complete the course by May 30, 2010 (before it automatically expires) AND take your salesperson license exam before July 1, 2010. If you do not, you will have to complete the NEW Washington Fundamentals course, as well as a Real Estate Practices course, before you can take your license exam.