7 best online real estate schools in California for 2024

Kaplan Real Estate Education

Best online real estate school in California for various learning types

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

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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.

Course Options

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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:

Thorough curriculum with practical insights
A sleek and interactive online learning platform
Courses available for all stages of your real estate career including continuing education and broker licensing

Cons:

No free trial
Limited career resources

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.

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RealEstateU

Best online real estate school in California for students on a budget

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rating: 3 out of 5.

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Overview

RealEstateU is perfect if you aren’t willing to wait – you’re geared up to get started now. If you’re not new to online learning, you’re comfortable learning independently and can organize your own study schedule, there’s no time to waste with RealEstateU. There isn’t a cartful of extra features to distract you, just comprehensive audio lessons accompanied by useful visuals and infographics to help the information to stick. RealEstateU often offers sale pricing on their packages, so you aren’t paying extra for what you need.

Course Options

Go to RealEstateU

Pricing

Course Type
Starting at
Main Package Features
Upgrade Features Available

Prelicensing
$149
Audio lessons and infographic study materials
Exam prep study guide, focused lessons and 13 mock exams

Exam Prep
$125
Practice exam questions, 13 simulated exams, exam prep lessons
All included in the basic package

Pros + Cons

Pros:

Affordable starting packages
Career resources such as an Agent Success Course
Unique features such as visual infographics for comprehensive lesson and study guides

Cons:

No free trial
Limited instructor interaction
Limited interactive online platform features

Features 

Course Formats: Self-paced online courses.

Course Access: One year from the date of enrollment.

Refund Policy: Get a full refund within 30 days if you have completed less than 50% of your course.

Pass or Don’t Pay: Not available.

Exam Prep: Focused study exam guide, practice questions, 13 mock exams.

Student Support: Instructor and customer support available by email 7 days a week.

Final Exam: Online final course exam. An exam proctor is not required to complete your prelicensing final exam by the state of California.

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California Realty Training

Best online real estate school in California for local expertise

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Visit California Realty

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.

Course Options

Go to 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:

Comprehensive courses designed with instructor knowledge and student feedback
Knowledgeable instructors specific California-based expertise
Free trial to try out the course and platform

Cons:

No bundling of prelicensing and continuing education courses available

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.

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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

ENB
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