How many total hours of coursework must a Washington license renewing for the first time have taken?

Continuing Education Requirements for License Renewal

Operators, Specialty Licenses and Specialty Certificates

You must complete a total of 4 hours of department-approved continuing education courses to renew the following license types:

• Operator
• Esthetician
• Manicurist
• Esthetician/Manicurist
• Eyelash Extension
• Hair Weaving

The continuing education coursework must include one hour in sanitation and three hours in any topic listed in Section 83.120 of the Administrative Rules.

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You may not receive continuing education hours for attending the same course more than once. One hour of continuing education is equivalent to 50 minutes of actual instruction time.

Instructor Licenses

To renew an instructor license, or an esthetician instructor, manicure instructor, esthetician/manicure instructor or eyelash extension instructor specialty license, you must complete a total of four hours of continuing education through department-approved courses in the following manner:

• One hour in sanitation
• Three hours in any topic listed in Section 83.120 of the Administrative Rules

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You may not receive continuing education hours for attending the same course more than once. One hour of continuing education is equivalent to 50 minutes of actual instruction time.

Persons Over 65

If you are over 65 years of age, and you have held a cosmetology license for at least 15 years, you will only need to complete the one hour requirement in sanitation. The additional three hours of continuing education will be waived and will not be required. Courses must be TDLR-approved courses.

Completed Coursework

Your provider will issue you a course completion certificate within 15 days from the end of your course. You must retain a copy of the certificate of completion for a course for two years after the date of completion. The Department may request to see your records to determine compliance as part of an inspection or investigation.

Please note that the reporting of continuing education hours is the responsibility of the continuing education provider. The provider must electronically file a course completion report no later than seven days after the course completion date.

If you do not receive your course completion certificate within 15 days from the end of your course, please contact your provider. If you continue to have questions, please contact the Education and Examination division or call (512) 463-6599 or (800) 803-9202.

Verify Your Completed Courses

You may verify courses completed by using the Continuing Education Courses Look Up.

If your course completion is not posted seven days after you completed the course, you should contact your continuing education provider first to ensure that they have submitted the information to TDLR. If you continue to have questions, please contact the Education and Examination division or call (512) 463-6599 or (800) 803-9202.

If the reporting issue is not resolved, you have the option of filing a complaint against the provider.

Getting Your First License

Pre-Licensing Coursework: $250 to $300+

Real estate licensing in Washington starts with your pre-licensing coursework.

This requirement totals 90 hours of approved real estate education, broken into two course areas: Real Estate Fundamentals and Real Estate Practices.

Take these courses in any of the accredited real estate classes in Washington.

The cost of these courses vary based on where you take them and whether you purchase any additional preparation materials.

Over 30 private schools in Washington, along with select community colleges and universities, offer these courses both as in-person classes and online options.

Know which method suits your schedule better by referring to our article comparing real estate classes online vs. classroom courses.

Additionally PSI, the proctor of the real estate license exam itself, offers an exam prep kit for $17.95.

This additional practice can be very helpful after you’ve completed your coursework, and you’re looking for good reference material to prep you for the actual exam.

Our expert, Kristina Morales, also shares effective tips for studying for the real estate exam.

Fingerprinting: $5+

To get your fingerprints done, you must go through IdentoGo and schedule an appointment. If you’re not a current Washington resident, you must use this process to submit your fingerprints.

Costs for fingerprinting and processing vary by state. You’ll receive the exact pricing information after scheduling your appointment.

Note that it takes about 10 to 14 days for fingerprint results to come back, so make sure you time things out to be close to when you take your exam.

Salesperson Exam: $138.25

The real estate license WA cost for the actual exam is $138.25. This covers the full exam, which is broken into two parts: the national section and state-specific section.

You’re required to pay the fee once you’ve registered for the exam, which you can do by going online or by calling 855-746-8168.

This fee only covers the first time you take the test, so the amount the exam actually costs you can vary if you need to reschedule or retake.

If you cancel or reschedule your exam at least two days before the test, there’s no charge, but there are circumstances where the fee may be forfeited:

• You arrive 15 minutes late for the exam.
• You miss your testing slot altogether.
• You cancel or reschedule within two days or less of the exam.
• You wish to reschedule your exam a second time.

Exam results are valid for one year.

Read our guide on how to pass the Washington real estate exam the first time for more detailed information, such as how and what to study, as well as additional tips for passing the test.

Exam Retake: $138.25

Should you fail to pass both sections of the Washington real estate exam on your first attempt, you are able to retake the test. The fee, whether retaking one or both parts, is also $138.25.

You have six months from the time you fail part of the exam to pass the second part. After this time period elapses, you’ll need to retake both sections of the test.

License Application: $156.25

Once you’ve passed your real estate exam in Washington state, you can officially apply for your license. The base fee to do this is $146.25. You’re also responsible for an additional $10 research fee.

This fee keeps your license active for a total of two years, after which, you’ll need to renew.

Note that part of the license application is choosing a real estate brokerage to sponsor you. You can pick one from our database of the best real estate brokerages in Washington.

How many hours of continuing education are required in WA?

How many hours do you have to renew your real estate license in Washington state?

What is the maximum amount of time that can elapse between completing the required coursework and applying for a Washington managing broker's license?

How many hours of unused CE credit may be carried over to the next license renewal period in Washington?