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CHEAT SHEET · WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE

Washington Real Estate Cheat Sheet.
The night-before summary, built like the exam.

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Weighted to the current exam outline·15-minute scanVerified against the official content outline
By Vincent Ruan, EA, CFP®Published August 10, 2026
Drill weak spots →

The numbers to remember

  • Exam fee: $210 per attempt
  • Passing score: scaled 70 on each portion (broker level)
  • Managing broker passing score: scaled 75 on each portion
  • Minimum age: 18
  • Bring 2 current forms of ID
  • Pre-license education: 90 hours total (60-hour Fundamentals + 30-hour Practices)
  • Managing broker add-on education: 90 additional clock hours, completed within 3 years of applying
  • Passing score on a single portion is valid: 6 months
  • Must pass both portions within 6 months of each other
  • Overall exam results valid: 1 year
  • Exam approval expires: 2 years from course completion
  • Apply for your license within 1 year of passing
  • Fingerprint background check renews every 6 years (resubmit within 21 days if required)

Exam structure and portions

The exam is delivered by PSI Testing Excellence in two independently-scored portions: a national portion covering general real estate practices, and a state portion covering Washington licensing law. Each portion is passed or failed on its own scaled score — there's no averaging between them. Washington's Real Estate Commission (7 members, 6-year terms) oversees the licensing framework tested on the state portion.

High-yield review areas

  • National: property ownership and interests, contracts, agency relationships, financing basics, disclosure requirements, valuation, and closing procedures
  • State: Washington licensing law, agency law specific to WA, and the role and structure of the Real Estate Commission
  • Fee and timeline logistics: know your exam-approval expiry and the 6-month cross-portion window cold — these trip up otherwise well-prepared candidates

Top traps

  • Assuming a passing score on one portion is banked indefinitely — it expires in 6 months, and both portions must clear within 6 months of each other.
  • Over-studying national content and under-studying Washington-specific law, since the state portion often feels less familiar going in.
  • Forgetting the $20 mandatory research fee folded into license and renewal costs, and budgeting only for the $210 exam fee.
  • Not tracking the 2-year exam-approval clock from your pre-license coursework — let it lapse and you have to redo education requirements.
  • Bringing only one form of ID — the requirement is 2 current, unexpired forms.

Frequently asked questions

What should I review the night before the Washington broker exam?

Do a light review of your weakest topics in both the national and state portions instead of learning new material, and confirm you have your 2 current forms of ID ready for the testing center.

How is the real exam structured?

The Washington broker exam is split into two independently-scored portions: a national portion covering general real estate practices, and a state portion covering Washington licensing law. Each portion has its own passing score and validity period.

What score do I need to pass?

You need a scaled score of 70 on each portion to pass the standard broker exam. Managing broker candidates face a higher bar of 75 on each portion.

How long does a passing score last if I only pass one portion?

A passing score on a single portion stays valid for 6 months, and you must pass both the national and state portions within 6 months of each other or you'll need to retake both.

What is the pre-license education requirement?

Washington requires 90 total hours of approved real estate education before you can sit for the broker exam: a 60-hour Real Estate Fundamentals course and a 30-hour Real Estate Practices course.

Is the cheat sheet free and printable?

Yes, the cheat sheet is a free quick-reference summary you can print or save for a last review pass before test day.

Sources

  1. 1.Get your license: Real estate brokers | Washington State Department of Licensing — Washington State Department of Licensing (Real Estate Program), overseen by the Washington State Real Estate Commission (accessed Aug 10, 2026)
  2. 2.Exam: Real estate brokers | Washington State Department of Licensing — Washington State Department of Licensing (Real Estate Program), overseen by the Washington State Real Estate Commission (accessed Aug 10, 2026)
  3. 3.WAC 308-124A-760: Grading of examinations. — Washington State Department of Licensing (Real Estate Program), overseen by the Washington State Real Estate Commission (accessed Aug 10, 2026)
  4. 4.Fees: Real estate | Washington State Department of Licensing — Washington State Department of Licensing (Real Estate Program), overseen by the Washington State Real Estate Commission (accessed Aug 10, 2026)
  5. 5.Real Estate Commission | Washington State Department of Licensing — Washington State Department of Licensing (Real Estate Program), overseen by the Washington State Real Estate Commission (accessed Aug 10, 2026)
  6. 6.Real Estate Regulatory Agencies Directory — ARELLO
  7. 7.Real Estate Licensing Practice Tests — Pearson VUE

Official sources

Every exam fact on this page traces to a primary document published by the body that administers the exam.

Last verified against the official exam content outline: