Vetted by HousingWire | Our editors independently review the products we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
Choosing one of the best online real estate schools in California is your first step to joining our vibrant industry, and it’ll set you up for success for the state’s real estate exam. The state of California requires 135 hours of prelicensing coursework to become a licensed real estate salesperson. [1]
Our rigorous review of California real estate schools will help you evaluate each of the top platforms based on your budget, learning style, schedule and timeline for getting licensed. We want to empower you throughout your career. Your future in real estate starts here, and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
At-a-glance: 5 best online real estate schools in California for 2024 |
|||
 |
Best features & course packagesThe CE ShopPrelicensing from $131 |
||
 |
Best audio & mobile app coursesAceable AgentPrelicensing from $179 |
||
 |
Best for students on a budgetRealEstateUPrelicensing from $99 |
||
 |
Best for course upgradesColibri Real EstatePrelicensing from $141 |
||
 |
Best continuing ed course bundlesOnlineEdPrelicensing from $99 |
||
 |
Best for career mentorshipKaplan Real Estate EducationPrelicensing from $479 |
||
At-a-glance: 5 best online real estate schools in California for 2024 |
|
|
|
|
Best features & course packagesThe CE ShopFrom $131 |
 |
|
|
|
Best audio & mobile app coursesAceable AgentFrom $179 |
|
|
|
|
Best for students on a budgetRealEstateUFrom $99 |
|
|
|
|
Best for career mentorshipColibri Real EstateFrom $141 |
|
|
|
|
Best continuing ed course bundlesOnlineEdFrom $99 |
|
|
|
|
Best for career mentorshipKaplan Real Estate EducationFrom $479 |
|
|
|
|
*ACEABLE AGENT’S 92% PASS RATE IS STATE-SPECIFIC. Other pass rates listed are that schools national average pass rates.
The CE Shop
Best online real estate school in California for independent learners
Overall Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
Overview
The CE Shop assembles the most sought-after features in online learning and keeps it simple so you save money. With affordable prices across their prelicensing packages, The CE Shop also frequently offers discounted rates.
Best for online-savvy, independent learners who can schedule their own study sessions and don’t want to be bothered with interactive or live classes with other students. The CE Shop is a great way to save money on your coursework and benefit from a solid, thoughtfully-designed set of online real estate courses.
Prelicensing Courses
Compare course packages at The CE Shop
Use promo code HW30 to save 30%
-
Pricing
Education Type Starting at Main Package Features Upgrade Features Available Prelicensing $139 Coursework, Bundle including flashcards, glossary, study schedule, career resources & ebooks Exam prep package, Business Building Courses, first renewal CE package Continuing Education $75 All your required CE course hours to renew your license via online videos & learning platform Additional elective courses Exam Prep $135 Lesson breakdowns, simulated exams, readiness assessment, 24/7 access to support No need – everything’s included in the basic package Broker Licensing $115 Individual mandatory 45-hour courses Broker pre licensing Exam Prep package -
Pros + Cons
Pros:
Cons:
-
Features
Course Formats: Self-paced online courses.
Course Access: Six months from the date of enrollment.
Refund Policy: Get a full refund within the first 30 days if you haven’t completed more than 50% of the coursework.
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 course for focused review of key material, personalized study recommendations based on readiness assessments, unlimited mock exams, and video webinars led by instructors.
Student Support: Support is available from customer service agents 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.
Colibri Real Estate
Best online real estate school in California for career development
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Overview
Colibri Real Estate offers some of the best online real estate courses in California. They shine because of its expertly designed online learning platform. With easy-to-use features to help you stay organized, you can easily stop and restart lessons, keep track of tasks and make a study schedule all in one place. You’ll not only have endless resources to complete your studies, Colibri Real Estate’s sleek platform will motivate you to leap into learning.
Prelicensing Courses
Compare course packages at Colibri
-
Pricing
Education Type Starting at Main Package Features Upgrade Features Available Prelicensing $141 Coursework, Instructor Support, Study Guides & Coaching Videos Flashcards, Mock Exams, Review Guides, Readiness Assessment, Live Instructor Q&A & Exam Prep Sessions Continuing Education $69 All your required CE course hours to renew your license Additional elective courses Exam Prep $115 Simulated Exams, Flashcards, Audio Guides Live exam prep webinars, Q&A sessions Broker Licensing $319 225-Hour Broker Courses, e-books, online study discussion access, 1-year professional membership Printed textbook -
Pros + Cons
Pros:
Cons:
-
Features
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: Eligible on packages which 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 & 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.
OnlineEd
Best online real estate school in California for professional memberships
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Overview
The California Association of Realtors has partnered with OnlineEd’s learning platform to provide students with thoughtfully curated lessons, videos, and practice questions. This slower-paced platform with a simple design is perfect for those overwhelmed by excessive online features. Follow OnlineEd’s straightforward, clear, and easy-to-understand lessons with helpful feedback on review and practice questions. If you’re looking for an alternative to video-only coursework, study on-the-go with OnlineEd’s useful tablet and kindle-friendly lessons.
Prelicensing Courses
Compare course packages at OnlineEd
-
Pricing
Course Type Starting at Main Package Features Upgrade Features Available Prelicensing $99 Coursework PDF & EPUB eBooks Exam prep, Instructor Support & Feedback, Printed Textbook, & Ethics CE Course Broker Licensing $299 Coursework, video lessons, online platform, printed textbook Individual elective courses Professional Development $150 Choose from variety of designations including luxury home specialist or REALTOR designations Individual courses -
Pros + Cons
Pros:
Cons:
-
Features
Course Formats: Self-paced online real estate courses.
Course Access: One year from the date of enrollment.
Click here for an interactive demo of the California Association of Realtors prelicensing course
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: Not available.
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.
Aceable Agent
Best online real estate school in California for mobile learning
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Overview
Aceable Agent has perfected their unique course package offerings to give students what they want most first, and by making other features optional. Most prospective real estate agents prefer the convenience of self-paced online learning they can complete anywhere. Aceable Agent ensures you can conveniently access your course on your phone, tablet, and computer without compromising the ease of using their learning platform. If topics have you stuck on your own, Aceable Agent has you covered with one-on-one tutoring and live webinars and Q&A sessions with experts.
Prelicensing Courses
Compare course packages at Aceable Agent
-
Pricing
Course Type Starting at Main Package Features Upgrade Features Available Prelicensing $179 PDF Coursework, Instructor Support via Email, and 30-Day Money Back Guarantee PrepAgent State Exam Prep including videos, audio lessons, flashcards, practice questions, ebooks, Live Tutoring, Webinars & Q&A Professional Development $79 Individual specialized online courses on a variety of topics Not Available -
Pros + Cons
Pros:
Cons:
-
Features
Course Formats: Self-paced online courses.
Course Access: Six months from the date of enrollment.
Refund Policy: Get a full refund within the first 30 days.
Pass or Don’t Pay: Pass the license exam within three tries or get reimbursed for the full price of your course.
Exam Prep: Exam prep videos, 75 audio lessons, digital flashcards, more than 1600 practice questions, 100-page exam prep ebook, live webinars five times a week, live instructor Q&A sessions, 1-on-1 tutoring available.
Student Support: Instructor support is available by email 7 days a week, customer support is available by email and phone Monday to Friday.
Final Exam: Aceable Agent offers online final exam proctoring nationally (but an exam proctor is not required to complete your prelicensing final exam by the state of California.)
Kaplan Real Estate Education
Best online real estate school in California for various learning types
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Overview
Kaplan Real Estate’s two great strengths are its long standing reputation as a real estate education giant, and its commitment to providing users with tons of options. Kaplan is the only national real estate school providing courses in three formats – online OnDemand through work-at-your-pace videos, Live Online classes with expert instructors, and home study programs through text work. Perfect for every learning style, they equip their real estate courses with helpful interactive tools and offer schooling across your entire real estate career, making them a one-stop-shop education provider.
Prelicensing Courses
Compare course packages at Kaplan
-
Pricing
Course Type Starting at Main Package Features Upgrade Features Available Prelicensing $179 Coursework, Access to basic exam prep materials, choose between OnDemand, Online Live Classes, Home Study formats Question banks, Interactive online study groups, Live Career Coaching Sessions Continuing Education $59 All your required CE course hours to renew your license in OnDemand & Home Study formats Additional elective courses Exam Prep $29 Audio study guide or real estate math course Mock exams, live study sessions, exam prep videos, flashcards Professional Development $299 Business building courses online video training Live online coaching sessions -
Pros + Cons
Pros:
Cons:
-
Features
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.
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.
California Realty Training
Best online real estate school in California for local expertise
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Overview
If you plan on starting a real estate career in California, you’ll find carefully crafted insider knowledge from CA Realty Training’s course offerings. Their lessons are engaging, filled with so much relevant and useful tips you’ll feel empowered to start your real estate career right away. Their online platform was designed specifically with student feedback, and they offer in-person classes across the state for anyone who needs extra clarity with coursework.
Prelicensing Courses
Compare course packages at California Realty
-
Pricing
Course Type Starting at Main Package Features Upgrade Features Available Prelicensing $155 Digital text-based Coursework, flashcards, 1500+ practice test questions, unlimited test variations & exams Live Training Videos, 3-Month Access to Live Courses led by California Real Estate Agents Continuing Education $59 45-Hour Package, Online Quizzes & Final Exams None needed – your course and exam prep materials all in one place Exam Prep $50 Flashcards, 1500+ practice test questions, unlimited test variations, and exams broken down by category Video or live exam crash course Broker Licensing $270 Coursework, ebooks Video lessons, printed textbooks -
Pros + Cons
Pros:
Cons:
-
Features
Course Formats: Self-paced online course, self-paced video on-demand online course, instructor-led livestream online or in-person courses.
Course Access: Six months from the date of enrollment and the option to extend an additional six months for $25.
Refund Policy: Get a full refund within the first two weeks if you haven’t completed more than two-thirds of the online course. Get a full refund before your third class if you attend in-person classes.
Pass or Don’t Pay: Receive a full refund on your course if you failed the license exam on your first try within five days of scoring 80% or higher on five CA Realty Training mock exams.
Exam Prep: Flashcards, more than 1500 practice questions, unlimited practice tests, simulated exams with focus areas for targeted studying, crash course videos.
Student Support: 24/7 access to a student portal with instructor, current student and alumni support, plus customer support via chat, phone, and email during the week.
Final Exam: Online final course exam. An exam proctor is not required to complete your pre licensing final exam by the state of California.
Methodology: How we chose the best online real estate schools in California
Your trust is important to us. It’s why we work to earn it by sharing exactly how we rate the schools on our list. First, we evaluate the following must-haves:
- Course offerings and curriculum comprehensiveness
- Instructor quality and qualifications
- Student support services
- User reviews and ratings
- Pass rates on licensing exams
- Pricing and affordability
Next, we find the features that make each school stand out to prospective real estate agents like you. You get a first-look account of schools’ online platforms and how they’ll work on your commute or alongside your busy schedule. We find ways you can save money, time, or both by finding refund policies, money-back guarantees and pass guarantees. We jump through all the hoops so all that’s left for you to do is sign up.
Frequently asked questions
-
Which online California real estate school has the highest student satisfaction rating?
Colibri Real Estate, Aceable Agent and The CE Shop lead with the highest student satisfaction ratings nationally between 96-98% claimed on their websites. Student satisfaction ratings can be provided by the real estate schools, rating websites like TrustPilot, or the Better Business Bureau. Remember that not all real estate schools provide satisfaction ratings but still provide student testimonials to share their student success stories.
-
Which California real estate school has the highest pass rate?
Aceable Agent claims to have a pass rate of 92% in California and a 94% national pass rate. Keep in mind that pass rates are provided by real estate schools, and vary by state.
-
How quickly can I complete real estate training in California?
The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) mandates that you cannot complete each of the 45-hour mandatory prelicensing courses in less than two-and-a-half weeks[4] each. The minimum time it could take you to complete your prelicensing coursework is about 8 weeks. Of course, we recommend taking all the time you need to feel confident taking your license exam. It can take nearly twice as long to complete the 360-hour coursework needed to get your broker license in California. But continuing education requirements in California can be completed as quickly as four weeks.
-
How much does online real estate school in California cost?
Real estate prelicensing coursework can cost between $100 and $450. The more basic your course offerings, the cheaper the cost. Most basic online prelicensing packages include your e-textbooks and text-based lessons and final exam. The cost of online real estate courses will increase as you opt for upgrades like videos, livestream classes, exam prep materials, or career resources.
-
How many real estate agents work in California?
There are almost 450,000 licensed real estate salespeople and brokers who work in California, with an average of 2,500 salesperson licenses being issued each month.[5]
-
How many hours of education are required to obtain a real estate license in California?
You’ll need to complete 135 hours of prelicensing course work to qualify for your real estate exam in the state of California. The coursework is split into three 45-hour courses, and you can complete your courses entirely online through schools like Calibri Real Estate, Kaplan, and more.[6]
-
How do I get my real estate license in California?
Getting your real estate license in California involves a few straightforward steps, let’s break them down here:
- Meet the Eligibility Requirements: you must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Complete Required Prelicensing Education: Enroll in and complete 135 hours of pre-licensing education from a state-approved real estate school.
- Apply for and Pass the California Salesperson License: Submit a license application to the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) within two years of completing your pre-licensing education.
- Obtain Fingerprinting and Background Check: Get fingerprinted and undergo a background check through a Live Scan service provider approved by the DRE.
- Secure a Sponsoring Broker: Before your license can be activated, you must associate with a licensed California real estate broker.
- Activate Your License: Upon approval by the DRE, your license will be activated, and you can start working as a real estate salesperson.
-
What is the California DRE and how does it relate to getting a real estate license in California?
The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) is the state agency responsible for regulating and overseeing real estate licensing and related activities in California. They establish the requirements and standards to obtain and maintain your real estate license, approve real estate education providers, administer the real estate license exams, and oversee salespeople and brokers to ensure they’re following state laws. To check out more, visit the DRE website.
-
Can I complete the required education at my own pace or are there specific timeframes?
The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) sets limitations on how quickly you can complete your coursework (at least 54 days), but you can take as long as you’d like. Schools offering online courses will provide you with the time you have to access materials, often between 6 to 12 months.
-
Where can I find a list of approved real estate schools in California?
You can conveniently search for and find a list of all real estate schools approved by the Department of Real Estate (DRE) on their website. These schools are all approved to provide the 135-hour prelicensing courses that will allow you to apply for a real estate license in California.
The full picture: best online real estate schools in California
Finding the best online real estate schools in California is the first step to your empowering real estate career. With so many online real estate courses in California at your disposal, you have the freedom to customize your education to fit your schedule and career goals.
We’ve taken the guesswork out of choosing the best California real estate school, and now it’s your turn. Use our guide as a launchpad to your dream career, and let the schools on our list fuel your success.
Helpful links for California real estate schools
We’ve rounded up the links and sites you’ll be frequenting most as a prospective real estate agent for the most up-to-date information on obtaining your license, choosing a school, and other requirements in California.
- The Department of Real Estate (DRE) Homepage
- How to Apply for a Real Estate Salesperson Exam in California
- The National Association of Realtors
Footnotes:
- https://www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/requirementssales.html
- https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/ctes/figures/fig_2018057_A9.asp
- https://www.neit.edu/blog/what-is-adult-learning-theory
- https://dre.ca.gov/Examinees/EducationCourses.html
- https://www.dre.ca.gov/Stats/2023-2024.html
- https://dre.ca.gov/Examinees/EducationCourses.html
HW Media, LLC has established an agreement with The CE Shop to promote online course information to consumers and real estate licensees. HW Media, LLC is not the developer of these courses and is simply providing a referral. Any questions regarding course content or technology should be directed to The CE Shop.
