I have a question about CA broker license requirements.

My educational background is a bit unusual. I have an incomplete degree (with transcripts covering three years worth of courses) from a foreign university. A while back I managed to get admitted into an American university on the basis of those transcripts and graduate with a MS (master of science) in physics. Now I'm wondering what it takes for me to get a broker license. I don't think I can get my transcripts evaluated as a bachelor's degree.

DRE web site says: "An applicant with a four-year degree from an accredited college may be exempt from the two-year salesperson experience requirement."

Does MS qualify as a four-year degree? Has anyone ever been able to get a broker license just by showing proof of a postgraduate degree, without experience?

And also an unrelated question. Do I understand correctly that I can go for the broker directly, without getting a salesperson license first?

Thanks

That's correct, you don't need a Salespersons first if you meet the education requirements. Being that anyone on here that answers that question will be doing so under assumption, I'd strongly advise you to email or call a contact within the DRE or CAR to get it from the "horses mouth". It would be a awful lot of work to find out the hard way! :sick:

I don't think it will be a problem but you'll want to call the DRE and make sure. I just faxed in my 4 yr degree as part of the broker package and got a response back in about a week. But since you have to get the other requirements out of the way before you can do that step you'll want to be sure.

You can get the brokers first, if you need some tips just PM me. I went through this route myself.

you'll need specific business and real-estate courses (which you can take online from Allied Schools, Lumbleau, etc). so, your MS in Physics won't cover those required courses, but apparently will substitute for the experience requirement. make sure you have the complete info. from Calif. DRE which lists ALL education requirements and exemptions, including required course listings. complete the courses you need, then apply for the brokers exam.

wow

Residence: License applicants must provide Proof of Legal Presence in the U.S. If not a California resident, see Out-of-State Applicants.

Honesty: License applicants must be honest and truthful. Conviction of a crime may result in the denial of a license. Failure to disclose any criminal violation or disciplinary action in an applicant's entire history may also result in the denial of a license. For further information, see Help Avoid Denial of Your License Application and Application Eligibility Information (RE 222).

Experience: A minimum of two years full-time licensed salesperson experience within the last five years or the equivalent is required. For further information, see Documenting Experience Requirements for the Broker Examination.

Education: Applicants for a real estate broker license examination must have successfully completed the following eight statutorily required college-level courses:

* Real Estate Practice
* Legal Aspects of Real Estate
* Real Estate Finance
* Real Estate Appraisal
* Real Estate Economics or Accounting
* And three* courses from the following group:

o Real Estate Principles
o Business Law
o Property Management
o Escrows
o Real Estate Office Administration
o Mortgage Loan Brokering and Lending
o Advanced Legal Aspects of Real Estate
o Advanced Real Estate Finance
o Advanced Real Estate Appraisal
o Computer Applications in Real Estate
o Common Interest Developments

* If both Real Estate Economics and Accounting are taken, only two courses from the above group are required.

Continuing education offerings do not satisfy the college-level course requirements for this examination.

Each college-level course must be a minimum of three semester-units or four quarter-units. The courses must be completed prior to being scheduled for an examination. Copies of official transcripts are generally acceptable evidence of completed courses. Transcripts of other courses, submitted as an equivalent course of study in lieu of the statutory courses, must be accompanied by an official course or catalog description in order to be evaluated.

Broker qualification courses must be completed at an institution of higher learning accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or by a comparable regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, or by a private real estate school which has had its courses approved by the California Real Estate Commissioner.

Courses completed through foreign institutions of higher learning must be evaluated by a foreign credentials evaluation service approved by the Department of Real Estate. See Examination Applicant Foreign Education Information (RE 223).

NOTE: Applicants who have completed the eight college-level courses statutorily required for the broker examination and license are eligible to take the salesperson examination without providing further evidence of education or experience.
_______________________