5 best online real estate schools in California for 2025

• Course Formats: Self-paced online courses.
• Course Access: One year from the date of purchase.
• Refund Policy: Get a full refund within the first 30 days if you haven’t completed more than 50% of the course.
• Pass or Don’t Pay: You’ll get the cost of the state license exam reimbursed if you don’t pass the first time.
• Exam Prep: Exam Prep Edge provides focused review of key material, personalized study recommendations based on readiness assessments, unlimited mock exams and video webinars led by instructors.
• Student Support: Customer service support is available seven days a week during daytime hours by email, phone or live chat.
• Final Exam: The CE Shop offers online final exam proctoring nationally, but in California, the DRE administers the computer-based exam at exam centers throughout the state.

The CE Shop offers four prelicensing course packages for prospective new agents in California, as well as standalone exam prep, continuing education and broker licensing courses.

Exam prep materials are included in their three top-tier course packages. All four packages include the 135 hours of prelicensing coursework you’ll need to complete before you’ll be eligible to sit the California real estate exam.

• Courses Only ($139): Includes all 135 hours of required courses required by the State of California, including 45 hours covering each of: real estate principles, practice and finance. You’ll also get helpful real estate e-books, digital flashcards, a glossary of real estate terms, a study schedule, career resources and other downloadable resources.
• Standard ($239): Includes everything in the Course Only package, plus a pass guarantee and exam prep that features the CE Shop’s proprietary suite of study materials.
• Value ($315): Includes everything in the Standard package, plus a Kickstarter program to help you launch your new career. Benefit from its 30-60-90 day business plan, plus lead generation and negotiation skill-building classes.
• Premium ($399): Everything in the Value package, plus a hard-copy real estate textbook and your 45-hour “first renewal” course package you’ll need to renew your license after the first year of practicing as a California real estate pro (a $79 value).

• Course Formats: Self-paced online courses or instructor-led livestream classes.
• Course Access: Six months from the date of enrollment.
• Refund Policy: Get a full refund if you cancel a self-paced course within 30 days or within 24 hours of the start of a livestream course.
• Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee: Eligible on packages that include exam prep, Colibri will refund the cost of your course if you score 80% or higher on the simulated exams and don’t pass the state license exam the first time you take it.
• Exam Prep: Includes digital flashcards, mock exams, a readiness assessment, audio review guides, live Q&A sessions and six one-hour live webinars with instructors for targeted exam prep.
• Student Support: Instructors are available by phone on business days or by email.
• Final Exam: Colibri offers virtual final exam proctoring nationally, but in California, the DRE administers the computer-based exam at exam centers throughout the state.

Colibri Real Estate customers can choose from four pre-licensing course packages as well as standalone exam prep options, broker licensing education, and continuing education coursework.

Prelicensing bundles may also include exam prep materials to get your ready for the big day. All options still require 135-hours of coursework, so don’t expect an easier workload if you choose a more expensive package. Here’s the layout for Colibri Real Estate’s prelicensing courses:

• The Basics ($141): Includes the required 135-hours of coursework, plus instructor support, three study guides, and audio options to save you time when studying. It also features Buffini & Company coaching videos to help you finish strong, tackle the state exam, and launch your new career.
• Exam Preparation ($227): Includes everything in the Basics package, plus additional study tools like simulated exams, flashcards, a readiness assessment, and audio review guides.
• Exam Preparation Plus ($370): Builds on the Exam Preparation package, adding a webinar series and instructor Q&A sessions for deeper learning and personalized guidance. 
• Ultimate Learning ($456): Includes everything from the previous plan, plus “how-to” videos, buyer and seller checklists, and customizable action plans that help you succeed in your careers after you finish the exam.

• Course Formats: Self-paced online, with mobile app and audio lessons, plus webinars and one-to-one tutoring with higher-tier packages.
• Course Access: One year from the date you start the course.
• Refund Policy: Get a full refund within the first 30 days.
• Ace or Don’t Pay Guarantee: If you don’t pass the licensing exam after three attempts, AceableAgent will refund your money.
• Student Support: Real-life instructors are available to answer any questions, Monday through Friday, via email. During the week, you can also contact the Student Concierge team by phone. General support is also available daily via phone, email, or chat.
• Exam Prep: Exam prep videos, 75 audio lessons, digital flashcards, more than 1,600 practice questions, 100-page exam prep ebook, live webinars five times a week, live instructor Q&A sessions, 1:1 tutoring available.
• Final Exam: AceableAgent offers online final exam proctoring nationally (but an exam proctor is not required to complete your prelicensing final exam by the state of California.)

Aceable Agent offers three prelicensing course packages that include video lessons, practice questions, and other common tools associated with self-paced online courses. Their Deluxe and Premium packages incorporate additional features like instructor support, exam prep, AI tools and live webina

• Basic ($199): The barebones option comes with plenty, including 135 hours worth of coursework and additional features that make life a bit easier. These features include online instructor support that puts you in constant email contact with experts, a self-paced online format that lets you balance your other obligations, and an exam prep package with 900 practice questions. At the end, you’ll also have access to another course that teachers you how to find a sponsoring broker.
• Deluxe ($319): This is AceableAgent’s most popular package, and it includes everything offered in the basic package and some extra sauce. You’ll have access to an AI-powered virtual instructor that’s available 24/7 with answers to your questions and anything you didn’t understand from your coursework. It’s like having a virtual penpal that teaches you how to make money. Lastly, the package offers PrepAgent State Exam Prep, which includes a mountain of exam prep materials like premium study aids, national and state questions and a 100-page exam prep book.
• Premium ($419): The premium package offers everything that the previous other packages have, with the addition of privaate tutoring & webinars. You can schedule a tutoring session with a real estate expert whenever you need. Live webinars are available five days a week, and they cover many of the concepts that you’ll encounter in your class. Webinar instructors also host live Q&A sessions for any lingering questions that you may have.

• Course Formats: Self-paced online real estate courses.
• Course Access: One year from the date of enrollment.
• Refund Policy: Get a full refund if you haven’t accessed the course within the first two days of enrolling, minus the cost of shipped textbooks, if any. Get a full refund minus a $40 fee if you haven’t accessed the course but more than two days have passed since you enrolled. Get a prorated refund based on the number of chapters you completed within 30 days. You’ll get no refund if you’ve completed more than 50% of the course online.
• Pass or Don’t Pay: If you don’t pass the exam on the first try, OnlineEd will pay the exam fee
• Exam Prep: Exam prep course for focused review of key material and simulated exams.
• Student Support: Customer service support by phone and email Monday to Friday, email support may be delayed on weekends.
• Final Exam: Online final exam, OnlineEd does not offer exam proctoring , but in California, the DRE administers the computer-based exam at exam centers throughout the state.

OnlineEd offers three all-in-one packages that you can choose from for your pre-licensing educational needs. Each package is approved by the California Department of Real Estate (DRE). Notably, all of these courses can be price-matched to an equivalent course if you find a lower price elsewhere. Salesperson packages prepare you for the California Real Estate Exam and beyond, with coursework, mobile access and more.

• Basic ($119): OnlineEd’s basic package is great for those with real estate experience, but not ideal for newbies, since it doesn’t include exam prep materials. You can access the course any time and anywhere, including a mobile device or tablet. You have access to a virtual file cabinet to keep your notes and files secure.
• Standard ($204): The standard package is a bit of an upgrade from the basic package. It includes practice tests and an exam pass guarantee that reimburses you if your fail the test on the first try.
• Premium ($399): This package puts exam prep at the forefront with a math exam prep book, textbooks to reinforce your knowledge and representation courses for buyer or seller agents. Plus, it has everything the other packages have, so you don’t miss anything. You will need to pay a $25 shipping fee for the textbooks.

• Course Formats: Self-paced online courses, instructor-led livestream classes, or home study text-based courses.
• Course Access: Six months from the date of enrollment.
• Refund Policy: Get a full refund if you cancel any course within the first 30 days.
• Pass or Don’t Pay: Not Available, but students who do not pass may continue their studies through Kaplan at no cost for up to 18 months.
• Exam Prep: Exam prep course for focused review of key material, practice question bank, customizable quizzes, performance tracker, mock exams, interactive online study group.
• Student Support: National and state-specific subject matter experts are available via email and will reply to your question within a business day.
• Final Exam: Kaplan offers virtual final exam proctoring nationally, but in California, the DRE administers the computer-based exam at exam centers throughout the state.

Kaplan offers courses for every stage of your real estate career, making them a one-stop-shop for prospective real estate agents. Prospective brokers can choose from seven broker course options. Real estate prelicensing students can choose from two Kaplan prelicensing course packages:

• Licensing Course with Exam Prep ($399): This package offers access to 135-hours worth of curriculum and Kaplan’s Online Learning Hub, which offers live online classes every day. You can also access a wide community of students to bounce ideas off of, share notes or network with. Coursework focuses on national, state and math-related concepts. The exam prep is also robust with instructor-led material that further prepares you for the national and California law sections of the test. Kaplan will also connect you with a mentor to help you better understand the curriculum. Kaplan also has online video courses, PDF workbooks, pre-testing tools and audio flashcards.
• Career Launcher OnDemand ($749): Imagine having everything from the Licensing Exam Prep package with a bit of extra sauce. That’s what the Career Launcher OnDemand package offers, an online video course and live coaching platform that gets you ready for the market. You’ll learn how to drive closed transactions by meeting weekly with industry pros who give you tools and career-focused tips that will propel your career. This package may be pricey, but you certainly get the best bang for your buck.