California Real Estate Exam Pass Rate Statistics

You’re not crazy for searching for these numbers. Whether you are just starting your real estate pre-licensing courses or you’ve already scheduled your date at the testing center, everyone wants to know the "odds."

The problem? If you search for the California real estate exam pass rate, you’ll find a dozen different numbers from a dozen different blogs.

Some use outdated data, while others guess.

At ADHI Schools, we believe in objective authority. We’ll show you the most recent, source-pure numbers available from the California Department of Real Estate (DRE), explain what they actually mean for your attempt, and provide an action plan to ensure you end up on the right side of the statistics. Drawing from over 20 years of helping students navigate this process, I can tell you that while the numbers seem daunting, they are entirely beatable with the right approach.

Updated Feb 2026: The latest DRE RE-149 report publicly posted at the time of writing is December 2025.

The Official Data: DRE RE-149 Snapshot

The most "official" look at pass rates comes from the DRE’s monthly RE-149 Comparative Production Statistics. These reports track exams scheduled, exams administered, and the attempt-based % passed for each month and fiscal year-to-date.

According to the December 2025 RE-149 report, here is how the state performed:

DRE Exam Pass Rates (RE-149, Dec 2025)

Source: California Department of Real Estate, RE-149 Comparative Production Statistics. "FYTD" is the DRE fiscal year-to-date shown in RE-149 (not a rolling 12-month average).

Key Takeaway: Pass rates move month to month. RE-149 gives you the statewide attempt-based baseline—your job is to prepare so you’re in the passing half when you sit.

How Pass Rates Are Calculated (And Why They Vary)

You might see one website claim a 70% pass rate and another claim 40%. Both can be "kind of" right depending on the data source, but the DRE's reporting is specific:

1. Attempt-Based Rate: The RE-149 report is attempt-based. Every single exam administered counts toward the total. If one student fails twice and passes on the third try, the DRE records two "fails" and one "pass." This reflects the general preparedness of everyone in the room that day, including retakers.
2. Candidate-Based Outcomes: Some academic studies track whether an individual eventually passes. Most people who stick with it do eventually get their license, but they may not pass on the first try.
3. Licenses Issued vs. Exams Administered: This is an imperfect proxy. Some people pass the exam but never complete the background check or pay their licensing fee, so they don't show up in the "Licenses Issued" column.

When looking at the CA DRE exam pass rate, always look for the 'Statewide Average' to see the true baseline. This is exactly why we designed the ADHI Schools Crash Course—to give students a specialized environment where they can move past general state averages and focus on the specific logic the DRE uses to write their questions.

Why the discrepancy?

Many schools report their own internal pass rates, which are often higher than the state average because their students are using specific prep tools. When looking at the CA DRE exam pass rate, always look for the "Statewide Average" to see the true baseline.

Pass Rate Trends: Stability vs. Volatility

The RE-149 includes a built-in two-year FYTD comparison. In Dec 2025, the Salesperson FYTD pass rate was 53% vs. 49% two years ago, while Broker FYTD was 47% vs. 49% two years ago—meaning the baseline shifts, but it doesn’t swing wildly.

• Relative Consistency: Historically, both salesperson and broker exams fluctuate between the mid-40s and mid-50s.
• Volume Shifts: When the real estate market is "hot," exam volume spikes. Interestingly, pass rates often dip during these times because more people "try" the exam without adequate preparation.
• The Retake Effect: While the RE-149 doesn't separate first-timers from retakers, industry observations suggest that first-time candidates who have recently completed a high-quality prep course generally perform above the state average.

What These Stats Mean for You

Statistics are macro; your performance is micro. A 53% pass rate doesn't mean you have a coin-flip's chance of passing. It means that nearly half of the people who showed up that day were not prepared.

Real-World Scenarios from Kartik's 20+ Years

In my experience coaching thousands of students, I’ve seen two types of candidates fall into the "fail" category:

• The Triage Failure: A student who is brilliant at contracts but ignores "Practice" or "Financing." They fail because they didn't balance their study time across the DRE's seven main topics.
• The "Practice Exam" memorizer: A student who memorizes 1,000 practice questions but doesn't understand the concepts. When the DRE rewords the question on the actual exam, the student freezes.

If you're asking yourself, is the California real estate exam hard?, the answer is: it’s a high-standard professional gatekeeper. But it is not an IQ test. It is a preparation test.

Why People Fail (And How to Bridge the Gap)

Most failures aren't due to a lack of intelligence; they are due to test-day execution and content gaps. Common culprits include:

• Misreading the "except" or "not" in a question.
• Over-studying niche topics that only account for 5% of the exam.
• Anxiety leading to second-guessing original (and often correct) answers.

For a deeper look at the specific pitfalls that trip up candidates, read our guide on why people fail the California real estate exam.

Action Plan: How to Beat the Average

To ensure you are in the 50% that passes, you need a system.

1. Topic Prioritization

Don't treat all chapters equally. Focus heavily on Practice of Real Estate and Disclosures, as this single category accounts for roughly 25% of the salesperson exam.

2. The Error Log Method

Every time you get a practice question wrong, don't just look at the right answer. Write down why you got it wrong. Was it a lack of knowledge or a trick of the wording?

3. The 14-Day Reset (For Retakers)

If you didn't pass, don't rush back in 15 days later doing the exact same thing. You need to know how many times can you take the CA real estate exam? (Spoiler: as many as you need within two years), but each attempt costs time and money. Use a 14-day reset to focus exclusively on the "weak" areas identified in your DRE result bridge.

For those looking to one-and-done this process, check out our tips for passing the CA real estate exam on the first try.

FAQ: California Real Estate Exam Pass Rates

What is the California real estate exam pass rate?

As of December 2025, the salesperson pass rate was 53% and the broker pass rate was 47%.

Is the broker exam pass rate always lower?

Not always. Pass rates fluctuate. While brokers often have higher averages due to more experience, current trends show the salesperson pass rate is slightly higher.

What is the first-time pass rate vs. retake pass rate?

The DRE does not break these out in their monthly RE-149 reports. These terms are addressed conceptually by prep schools, but state data is strictly attempt-based.

Where can I find official DRE statistics?

The DRE publishes monthly RE-149 reports on their official website.

Take the Next Step

The pass rate is just a number; your preparation is a choice. Whether you are using our California Real Estate Exam Guide to start your journey or you're troubleshooting a recent attempt, we are here to help you navigate the data and get your license.

Don't let the stats scare you—let them motivate you to be the most prepared person in the room.