Online Course Syllabus

Here is some information to help you successfully complete your course.  Please read carefully.

Attendance:  State regulations require that you complete all required hours and engage in all associated learning activities, quizzes, and the final exam for the course before proceeding to take the State licensing exam.  Please see the course completion instructions in your Learning Management System (LMS) for the specifics of your state's enforced seat time tracking.

Getting Started: Read this course syllabus as it will be your most valuable reference tool.  Access your Online Video course via the Learning Management System (LMS).  Here, you'll find all course materials, including readings and videos, quizzes, and final exams.  Additionally, you'll discover links to Live LEARN sessions, Career Mentor Connect, QBanks, Live Exam Prep sessions, and the Community Forum.  

Recommendations:  Have a notebook, pen or pencil, and a highlighter with you while viewing the online course.  Take a 10-minute break every hour to stretch, check emails, or grab more refreshments.  Should you have any inquiries, please reach out.

Thank you for choosing Kaplan.

 The Real Estate Principles course sets the foundation for your real estate licensing education. Begin your studies with Real Estate Principles, which are eight video units. 

 We have found that Online video students who set a regular study schedule do better than those who do not. We recommend completing two units of study per week. 

• Begin reviewing the vocabulary terminology in your California Real Estate Terms and Definitions Audio files located in your Learning Management System (LMS) account.  

Real Estate Principles Unit 1: Property Ownership and Land-Use Controls 

• Before watching the video for Unit 1: Read units 2 and 15 in the Real Estate Principles textbook.

• After watching the unit videos: Complete the Glossary Review and Quiz at the end of Unit 1 in the workbook.

Real Estate Principles Unit 2: Rights and Interests in Land 

• Before watching the video for Unit 2: Read units 3 and 5 in the Real Estate Principles textbook.

• After watching the unit videos: Complete the Glossary Review and Quiz at the end of Unit 2 in the workbook.

Real Estate Principles Unit 3: Transfer of Property, Recording, Title Insurance, and Taxation

• Before watching the video for Unit 3: Read units 4, 10, and 11 in the Real Estate Principles textbook.

• After watching the unit videos: Complete the Glossary Review and Quiz at the end of Unit 3 in the workbook.

Real Estate Principles Unit 4: Real Estate Contracts, Settlement/Closing Procedures, Escrow, and Prorations

• Before watching the video for Unit 4: Read units 7 and 12 in the Real Estate Principles textbook.

• After watching the unit videos: Complete the Glossary Review and Quiz at the end of Unit 4 in the workbook.

Real Estate Principles Unit 5: Property Valuation and Financial Analysis 

• Before watching the video for Unit 5: Read unit 13 in the Real Estate Principles textbook.

• After watching the unit videos: Complete the Glossary Review and Quiz at the end of Unit 5 in the workbook.

Real Estate Principles Unit 6: Financing, Mortgages, Deeds of Trust, Lending Practices, and Loan Programs 

• Before watching the video for Unit 6: Read units 8 and 9 in the Real Estate Principles textbook.

• After watching the unit videos: Complete the Glossary Review and Quiz at the end of Unit 6 in the workbook.

Real Estate Principles Unit 7: Laws of Agency, Listings, Trust Accounts, and Fair Housing

• Before watching the OnDemand video for Unit 7: Read unit 6 in the Real Estate Principles textbook.

• After watching the unit videos: Complete the Glossary Review and Quiz at the end of Unit 7 in the workbook.

Real Estate Principles Unit 8: Practice of Real Estate, California License Law, and Disclosures 

• Before watching the video for Unit 8: Read units 1 and 14  in the Real Estate Principles textbook.

• After watching the unit videos: Complete the Glossary Review and Quiz at the end of Unit 8 in the workbook.

Once you have completed all video units in your Real Estate Principles course, prepare to take your final exam for completion of the course. 

Final Exam - Don't Forget!

The last step to completing this course is to take your Real Estate Principles open-book final exam located in your LMS account.  Here are some important things to remember. 

• You will be required to enter the photo ID number you used when registering with Kaplan each time you attempt a final exam. 

• The final exam consists of a 100-question, multiple-choice online exam. 

• The final exam is a timed (2.5 hours), open-book exam, and 60% or higher is considered a passing score.  

• When taking the exam, you have the option to check questions for review.  However, you will not be able to review any questions until all questions have been answered. 

• Do not launch the exam unless you are prepared to take it.  Once an exam has been started there is no option to stop the timer or return to the exam at a later time.  

• You have two attempts to pass the exam. If you do not pass after two attempts you MUST contact Customer Support for further exam attempt instructions. If you do not pass after the second attempt, you will be required to wait an additional 18 days before your next exam attempt. 

Once the final exam is passed, complete the affidavit, and download a copy of your certificate.  Now begin working on your next course, Real Estate Practice. 

IMPORTANT - Beginning January 1, 2024, all applicants for the real estate salesperson or broker examination will need to complete a revised statutory Real Estate Practice course. The revised course content must include a component on implicit bias and a component on federal and state fair housing laws as those laws apply to the practice of real estate. The fair housing component shall include an interactive participatory component, during which the applicant shall role-play as both a consumer and real estate professional. 

Instructions for completing this course are very specific. Please follow the instructions below carefully to ensure successful course completion of your Real Estate Practice course. This course meets the Department of Real Estate's 2024 requirements (Senate Bill 1495 Compliant).

The Real Estate Practice course:

The course continues to build upon what you learned in Real Estate Principles. This course is four video units. 

 We have found that Online video students who set a regular study schedule do better than those who do not. We recommend completing one unit of study per week. 

• Continue reviewing vocabulary terms in your California Real Estate Terms and Definitions Audio files located in your Learning Management System (LMS) account. 

Real Estate Practice Unit 1: Trust Account Management and Disclosures  

• Before watching the video for Unit 1: Read units 1-3 and 6 and 7 in the Real Estate Practice textbook.

• After watching the unit videos: Complete the Glossary Review and Quiz at the end of Unit 1 in the workbook.

Real Estate Practice Unit 2: Fair Housing and Advertising

• Before watching the video for Unit 2: Read units 2, 4, and 8 in the Real Estate Practice textbook.

• After watching the unit videos: Complete the Glossary Review and Quiz at the end of Unit 2 in the workbook.

Real Estate Practice Unit 3: Agency Supervision and DRE Jurisdiction and Disciplinary Actions

• Before watching the video for Unit 3: Read units 5, 9, and 10 in the Real Estate Practice textbook.

• After watching the unit videos: Complete the Glossary Review and Quiz at the end of Unit 3 in the workbook.

Real Estate Practice Unit 4: Property Management and Specialty Areas

• Before watching the video for Unit 4: Read units 11-15 in the Real Estate Practice textbook.

• After watching the unit videos: Complete the Glossary Review and Quiz at the end of Unit 4 in the workbook.

Instructions 

The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) requires that you complete an interactive fair housing component as part of your Real Estate Practice course in addition to your reading and final exam. Please follow the instructions below to complete the THREE required interactive fair housing scenarios within your Learning Management System (LMS). You will not be able to take your final exam until you have completed all exercises below. 

• Complete the Bias or Not Bias matching exercise

• Read the Buyer Questions scenario and answer the multiple-choice questions 

• Watch The Home Showing animated video and click on Community Forum (Select the Student Community, not Career Community)

• Once you are in the Student Community Forum

• Go to the California Real Estate Practice category

• Answer the Required Interactivity Questions in response to the video you watched

• Read the Instructor's Explanation about the animated video in the comments section under the poll question

• Return to your Learning Management System (LMS) to take your final exam and complete the course 

Once you have completed all video units in your Real Estate Practice course and completed the Fair Housing Scenario exercises, prepare to take your final exam for completion of the course. 

Final Exam - Don't Forget!

The last step to completing this course is to take your Real Estate Practice open-book final exam located in your LMS account.  Here are some important things to remember. 

• You will be required to enter the photo ID number you used when registering with Kaplan each time you attempt a final exam. 

• The final exam consists of a 100-question, multiple-choice online exam. 

• The final exam is a timed (2.5 hours), open-book exam, and 60% or higher is considered a passing score.  

• When taking the exam, you have the option to check questions for review.  However, you will not be able to review any questions until all questions have been answered. 

• Do not launch the exam unless you are prepared to take it.  Once an exam has been started there is no option to stop the timer or return to the exam at a later time.  

• You have two attempts to pass the exam. If you do not pass after two attempts you MUST contact Customer Support for further exam attempt instructions. If you do not pass after the second attempt, you will be required to wait an additional 18 days before your next exam attempt. 

Once the final exam is passed, complete the affidavit, and download a copy of your certificate.  Now begin working on your next course, Legal Aspects of Real Estate.

 The Legal Aspects of Real Estate course delves more deeply in to the legal issues that impact real estate. This course is four video units. 

 We have found that Online video students who set a regular study schedule do better than those who do not. We recommend completing one unit of study per week.

• Continue reviewing the vocabulary terminology in your California Real Estate Terms and Definitions Audio files located in your Learning Management System (LMS) account.  

Legal Aspects of Real Estate Unit 1: Agency

• Before watching the video for Unit 1: Read units 1-4 in the Legal Aspects of Real Estate textbook.

• After watching the unit videos: Complete the Glossary Review and Quiz at the end of Unit 1 in the workbook.

Legal Aspects of Real Estate Unit 2: Contracts

• Before watching the video for Unit 2: Read units 5, 6, and 9 in the Legal Aspects of Real Estate textbook.

• After watching the unit videos: Complete the Glossary Review and Quiz at the end of Unit 2 in the workbook.

Legal Aspects of Real Estate Unit 3: Finance

• Before watching the video for Unit 3: Read units 7, 8, and 10 in the Legal Aspects of Real Estate textbook.

• After watching the unit videos: Complete the Glossary Review and Quiz at the end of Unit 3 in the workbook.

Legal Aspects of Real Estate Unit 4: Landlord-Tenant Issues

• Before watching the video for Unit 4: Read units 11-15 in the Legal Aspects of Real Estate textbook.

• After watching the unit videos: Complete the Glossary Review and Quiz at the end of Unit 4 in the workbook.

Once you have completed all video units in your Legal Aspects of Real Estate course, prepare to take your final exam for completion of the course. 

Final Exam - Don't Forget!

The last step to completing this course is to take your Legal Aspects of Real Estate open-book final exam located in your LMS account.  Here are some important things to remember. 

• You will be required to enter the photo ID number you used when registering with Kaplan each time you attempt a final exam. 

• The final exam consists of a 100-question, multiple-choice online exam. 

• The final exam is timed (2.5 hours), an open-book exam, and 60% or higher is considered a passing score.  

• When taking the exam, you have the option to check questions for review.  However, you will not be able to review any questions until all questions have been answered. 

• Do not launch the exam unless you are prepared to take it.  Once an exam has been started there is no option to stop the timer or return to the exam at a later time.  

• You have two attempts to pass the exam. If you do not pass after two attempts you MUST contact Customer Support for further exam attempt instructions. If you do not pass after the second attempt, you will be required to wait an additional 18 days before your next exam attempt. 

CONGRATULATIONS - You are now ready to apply for your California Salesperson exam!

There are now two ways that you can apply for the California Real Estate Salesperson Exam.  

NEW - You can apply electronically.  See our special page on how to apply electronically, here

or

You can apply via postal mail. The steps to apply via postal mail can be found below.

The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) administers the state licensing exam at their testing centers. Below are the steps to apply and schedule your exam.

Submit Your Salesperson Exam/License Application 

•  Exam applications may be submitted by postal mail to the Department of Real Estate (DRE).

• You must include your three certificates of completion with your application. 

• We highly recommend you consider using the Combination Exam/License Application when applying. The fee for examination and application is $450: $100 for the exam and $350 for the four-year license fee. Visit the DRE website to download and print the application forms, here.

• One set of Live Scan (electronic) fingerprints is required for submission with your application.  For fingerprinting information, visit here. To be fingerprinted, take the Live Scan Service Request form to a live scan service provider.  There is a separate fee, that varies by vendor, for live scan fingerprinting. 

• Below is a list of items that should be submitted to the DRE when applying.  

  • Completed Combination Exam/License Application (DRE Form RE 435).  

    • Make sure to check "Yes" that you would like to use eLicensing once you qualify to schedule your own exam (Item number 14 on the application). 

  • Certificates of Completion (Kaplan) 

  • Completed Live Scan Service Request Form (DRE Form RE 237)

  • Fees - DRE accepts the following payment methods: cashier’s check, money order, check, or credit card. We recommend you pay by credit card (DRE Form RE 909)

  • Out of State Applicants must include (DRE Form RE 234)

  • Mail your completed application to: 

Department of Real Estate

P.O. Box 137001

Sacramento, CA 95813-7001 

We highly recommend that you make copies of all documents sent to the DRE for your records.  You should consider sending your completed application packet via certified mail to confirm the DRE's receipt of your application. 

NOW begin Exam Preparation by testing in the Drill and Practice QBank, which is located in your LMS account (Please refer to the State Exam Prep tab below for more detailed instructions).

Schedule Your Licensing Exam 

Your State exam can be scheduled once your application is approved and you receive notification from the DRE that you are qualified to sit for the state exam.  

Below is the process for scheduling your state exam via the Department of Real Estate eLicensing system, here. 

When using eLicensing for the first time, you will be required to complete the registration process below. 

• Click REGISTER  (Already applied or licensed but need an account?)

• Read the Terms and Conditions and click on I ACCEPT at the very bottom of the page. You will need to scroll down to find the ACCEPT button. 

• Enter your Social Security Number and your Date of Birth. Click Continue.

• Create a Username and Password. 

• Enter your Email in the space provided (this is optional but HIGHLY recommended). Click Continue. 

• You should then see a menu of eLicensing services available specifically to you based on your status. 

  •  Self-schedule your exam from the list of testing locations and dates available. 

The Exam Prep course contains a National Real Estate Exam Prep Online Video Course and a State Exam Prep Online Video Course.  Your course resources are found within the course in your LMS.  You will utilize the exam prep workbook PDFs, pre-tests, and post-tests.  This course will prepare you to take your licensing exams.  We recommend breaking this course into 2 days for the National and 2 days for the State.  Follow the instructions for the National information and repeat the same process for your State Exam Prep course.    

National Day 1:

Taking the Pre-Test

• Block off 2 hours and take the pre-test:

  • In your LMS, go to the National Real Estate Exam Prep Online Video Course and take the National Real Estate Exam Prep Pre-Test.

    • You will need a piece of scratch paper, a pencil, and a calculator while taking your exams.

• After completing your Pre-Test:

  • Review every question.  Know why the right answer is right and why the wrong answer is wrong. 

  • Analyze the performance tracker results for each exam and note which areas were the weakest.

  • Write down specific questions you have after taking each exam.

National Real Estate Exam Prep Online Video Course

• You will need your National Real Estate Exam Prep Workbook PDF (you can print this out), a highlighter, a pen, and any questions you may have from the pre-test.

• Watch the online video and highlight and star the tested areas in your exam prep book.  Look up any questions that were challenging when you took your pre-test.

• Review the National Exam Prep workbook and your test results.  Use the QBank to take practice tests to strengthen your weak areas.  

• Understand the concepts.  Know why the right answer is right and why the wrong answer is wrong.

National Day 2:  

Taking the Post-test

• Block off two hours and take the National Exam Prep Post-Test in the LMS.

• Compare your post-test results to the pre-test results.  

• Review the performance tracker for each exam and note which areas were the weakest.

• Determine your weak areas and create practice quizzes for those areas in the QBank.

• If you score below 80%, go back and review the material.

• If you score 80% or higher, you are ready to pass the National exams!

• Repeat this process for your California Real Estate Exam Prep course.

  • If you score 80% or higher, you are ready to pass your State exam!

• Don't cram the night before your scheduled exam. Get a good night's sleep so you are well-rested on exam day.

• Know where you are going and arrive at the testing center at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled testing time. 

• Bring a valid (not expired) photo ID and the Examination Schedule Notice (RE 401A) you received from the Department of Real Estate. 

• Eat a meal or have a snack before the exam. You do not want to be hungry during your examination.

• We want to hear from you! Please let us know when you pass your state exam.