How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License in Washington?

By Shauna Hawthorne
Posted Friday, Oct 30, 2026

If you're thinking about starting a real estate career, you probably want to know: How long does it take to get a real estate license in Washington?

The answer depends largely on how quickly you complete your required education and how soon you're ready to take the Washington real estate exam.

For motivated students, the licensing process can move relatively quickly. Here's what to expect.

Take our quick Real Estate Career Assessment to see if a career in real estate could be a good fit for you.

Step 1: Complete 90 Hours of Washington Real Estate Education

The biggest part of the timeline is completing your required 90 hours of Washington real estate pre-license education.

At CENTURY 21 North Homes Realty's Academy of Real Estate, you can choose between Virtual Live instruction and an online self-paced course.

Virtual Live Real Estate Classes: Approximately 7 to 8 Weeks

If your schedule allows, we highly recommend our Virtual Live real estate course.

Classes are held over Microsoft Teams Monday through Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Students must complete all 24 individual class sessions. If you attend consecutively, you can complete the course in approximately 7 to 8 weeks.

You can also begin at any point in the course cycle, so you don't have to wait for a new class to start.

The schedule is flexible. If you need to miss a class, you can make that session up during the following cycle.

Online Self-Paced Real Estate Classes: You Set the Pace

Need more flexibility?

Our 90-hour online self-paced Washington real estate course allows you to complete your coursework day or night, whenever it fits your schedule.

How long it takes depends on how much time you dedicate to the course. Someone who works on it consistently can progress much faster than someone completing a few hours here and there.

Self-paced students also have access to instructors, exam preparation materials, live-stream review sessions and the option to attend live classes for additional help at no extra cost.

Step 2: Schedule and Pass the Washington Real Estate Exam

After you complete your required real estate education, our school submits your course completion so you can become eligible to schedule the Washington real estate broker exam.

How quickly you move through this step depends on exam availability and how much time you want to spend preparing.

Don't feel like you need to rush. Passing the exam is more important than simply taking it as quickly as possible.

Step 3: Complete Your Fingerprinting and Background Check

After passing the exam, you'll complete the required fingerprint-based background check.

Processing time can vary, so this is one part of the licensing timeline that isn't entirely within your control.

Step 4: Apply for Your Washington Real Estate License

Once Washington has your passing exam results and background check on file, you can complete your application for your Washington real estate broker license.

Then you're ready for one of the most important decisions in starting your career: choosing the real estate brokerage where you want to build your business.

So, How Quickly Can You Become a Real Estate Agent in Washington?

There isn't one exact timeline for everyone.

If you choose our Virtual Live real estate classes and attend consistently, you can complete the education portion in approximately 7 to 8 weeks. After that, your total licensing timeline will depend on how quickly you schedule and pass your exam, complete your fingerprinting and background check, and submit your license application.

With the online self-paced course, you have even more control over how quickly you complete your required education.

The important thing is that you don't need to spend years in school before starting a new career in real estate.

Ready to Get Started?

Our Academy of Real Estate and Career Development team can help you understand the Washington real estate licensing process and choose the course option that works best for your schedule.