A broker and a salesperson call their relationship one of 'independent contractor'. How does that label affect their obligations to the public under the license law?Business and Professions Code section 10032
A California broker may pay a commission to which person who holds no California license?Business and Professions Code section 10137
A person tries to use a licensing exemption in section 10133 for the purpose of evading the Real Estate Law. What happens to the exemption?Business and Professions Code section 10133
A regular officer of a corporation sells real property the corporation owns. The exemption from licensing applies only if the acts are not performedBusiness and Professions Code section 10133
An attorney at law sells a client's land while rendering legal services to that client. Under section 10133, the attorneyBusiness and Professions Code section 10133
An individual acts as a real estate broker without a license. What is the top fine section 10139 allows?Business and Professions Code section 10139
For compensation, a person solicits borrowers for loans secured by liens on real property. Which definition in the license law covers that act?Business and Professions Code section 10131
Show all 123 questions (116 more)
License law and the Department, continued
From whom may a salesperson accept compensation for activity that needs a license?Business and Professions Code section 10137
Paying compensation for licensed acts to someone not known to be a licensed broker is a misdemeanor. What is the top fine for each offense?Business and Professions Code section 10138
To sue in a California court for compensation for an act that needs a license, a person must allege and proveBusiness and Professions Code section 10136
Under section 10131.01, which person may rent units without a real estate license?Business and Professions Code section 10131.01
Under the Real Estate Law, what is the highest priority of the Department of Real Estate?Business and Professions Code section 10050.1
What is the highest fine under section 10139 when the unlicensed actor is a corporation?Business and Professions Code section 10139
Which act, done for another and for compensation, is on the list of acts that define a real estate broker?Business and Professions Code section 10131
Which person is outside the broker definition when handling an owner's real property?Business and Professions Code section 10133
Who gives the Commissioner opinions on questions of law about the Real Estate Law?Business and Professions Code section 10079
Who has the duty to prosecute violations of the rule against acting as a broker or salesperson without a license?Business and Professions Code section 10130
Who is the chief officer of the California Department of Real Estate?Business and Professions Code section 10050
Getting and keeping a license 17
A broker applicant has general real estate experience but never held a salesperson license. What does section 10150.6 allow?Business and Professions Code section 10150.6
A real estate broker license is issued for a period ofBusiness and Professions Code section 10153.6
Absent an approved petition, an applicant for an original broker license must have held a salesperson license for at least how long?Business and Professions Code section 10150.6
An applicant fails the qualifying examination. The reexamination must be taken within what period after the first exam application was filed?Business and Professions Code section 10153.8
As a condition of reinstating a revoked or suspended license, the Commissioner may require the applicant toBusiness and Professions Code section 10182
Besides courses in real estate principles and real estate practice, what must a salesperson exam applicant show?Business and Professions Code section 10151
The fair housing course required for renewal must include which component?Business and Professions Code section 10170.5
For which applicant does section 10151 waive the salesperson course requirements?Business and Professions Code section 10151
How does the term of a salesperson license compare with the term of a broker license?Business and Professions Code section 10153.7
How long is the implicit bias training course required for license renewal?Business and Professions Code section 10170.5
How many clock hours of continuing education must be completed in the four years before a license renewal?Business and Professions Code section 10170.5
How soon after changing a mailing address, telephone number or email address must a licensee inform the Commissioner?Business and Professions Code section 10162
May a salesperson license be issued before the applicant passes the salesperson examination?Business and Professions Code section 10151
Pending the final determination after a formal hearing, how may the Commissioner suspend a restricted licensee's right to use the license?Business and Professions Code section 10156.7
The salesperson experience behind a broker application must fall within what period before the application date?Business and Professions Code section 10150.6
What rights does a restricted license carry?Business and Professions Code section 10156.7
Which renewal course must a broker complete in addition to the courses every licensee takes?Business and Professions Code section 10170.5
Broker's duties and supervision 38
A broker accepts funds belonging to others and does not place them in a neutral escrow or hand them to the principal. Where must the funds go?Business and Professions Code section 10145
A broker does not pay a billed audit cost. After how long from the mailing of the bill may the Commissioner suspend or revoke the license?Business and Professions Code section 10148
A broker may withdraw advance fees for the broker's own benefit when actually spent for the principal, or how long after the verified accounts are mailed to the principal?Business and Professions Code section 10146
A broker misapplies advance fees. Under section 10146, what may the principal recover for the amounts misapplied?Business and Professions Code section 10146
A broker negotiates a sale in which the buyer signs a deed of trust. Absent written instructions not to record, the broker must have it recorded or delivered to the beneficiary withinBusiness and Professions Code section 10141.5
A broker opens a second office. What does the license law require for it?Business and Professions Code section 10163
A broker opens an interest-bearing trust account at the owner's request. In whose name must it be?Business and Professions Code section 10145
A corporate broker's board adopts a resolution assigning supervision of its salespersons to other broker-officers. A certified copy must be filed with the Commissioner withinBusiness and Professions Code section 10159.2
A corporation wants an officer other than its designated officer to act under its license as a broker. What must it do?Business and Professions Code section 10158
A corporation's sole designated broker-officer dies. The corporation may keep operating under its license if notice and an application for a new designated officer are filedBusiness and Professions Code section 10158
A fidelity bond covering trust account signers may be written with a deductible of up to what share of the coverage amount?Business and Professions Code section 10145
A licensee secures a person's signature on a listing agreement. When must that person receive a copy?Business and Professions Code section 10142
A licensee who holds a restricted license is asked to manage a branch office. Under section 10164, the appointmentBusiness and Professions Code section 10164
A listed sale is never completed. The broker's record retention period runs from what date?Business and Professions Code section 10148
A responsible broker discharges a salesperson for a violation that is a ground for discipline. What must the broker do?Business and Professions Code section 10178
A responsible broker retains a new salesperson. Who must notify the Commissioner?Business and Professions Code section 10161.8
A salesperson accepts trust funds on behalf of the broker. What must the salesperson do with them?Business and Professions Code section 10145
After a sale closes, within what time must the seller and buyer be told the selling price in writing?Business and Professions Code section 10141
An unlicensed employee may be authorized in writing to withdraw from a broker's trust account only if the broker hasBusiness and Professions Code section 10145
The appointment of a branch manager is terminated. What must the responsible broker do?Business and Professions Code section 10164
At the owner's request a broker places trust funds in an interest-bearing account. All funds in the account must be covered by insurance fromBusiness and Professions Code section 10145
Besides at completion of the contract, how often must a principal who paid an advance fee receive a verified accounting?Business and Professions Code section 10146
How does the license law treat an advance fee that a broker collects?Business and Professions Code section 10146
How long must a broker keep copies of listings, deposit receipts, canceled checks and trust records?Business and Professions Code section 10148
How long must funds stay in a broker's trust fund account?Business and Professions Code section 10145
How must a branch office manager be appointed?Business and Professions Code section 10164
In a corporate brokerage, who is responsible for supervision and control of the licensed activities of its officers and employees?Business and Professions Code section 10159.2
Interest earned on trust funds in an interest-bearing account must not benefitBusiness and Professions Code section 10145
Under section 10015.1, a broker's required supervision of a salesperson is limited toBusiness and Professions Code section 10015.1
Under section 10161.8, what follows the termination of a salesperson's affiliation?Business and Professions Code section 10161.8
Under section 10179, a salesperson's violation can cost the responsible broker's license only if the brokerBusiness and Professions Code section 10179
What does appointing a branch manager do to the responsible broker's own duty to supervise?Business and Professions Code section 10164
What does section 10176 call mixing money received and held for others with the licensee's own money?Business and Professions Code section 10176
What must every licensed real estate broker have and maintain in California?Business and Professions Code section 10162
What record must a broker keep of trust funds received?Business and Professions Code section 10145
When must the Commissioner charge a broker for the cost of an audit?Business and Professions Code section 10148
Which supervision failing by a broker is a ground for discipline under section 10177?Business and Professions Code section 10177
Who is barred from serving as the manager of a branch office?Business and Professions Code section 10164
Agency disclosure (Civil Code) 15
A broker has a written contract with the seller of a house. What inspection does Civil Code section 2079 require for the prospective buyer's benefit?Civil Code section 2079
A broker may represent the seller and the buyer in one sale onlyCivil Code section 2079.16
A legal action for breach of the broker's inspection duty must be brought within what period from the date of possession?Civil Code section 2079.4
According to the statutory disclosure form, what does a seller's agent owe the seller?Civil Code section 2079.16
After the visual inspection under section 2079, what must the broker disclose to the prospective buyer?Civil Code section 2079
An agent acts, directly or through a salesperson or broker associate, as agent for both the seller and the buyer. What does the Civil Code call this agent?Civil Code section 2079.13
At what point must a buyer's agent hand the buyer the agency form?Civil Code section 2079.14
The broker's visual inspection duty does NOT coverCivil Code section 2079.3
Delivery of the agency disclosure form is completed by obtaining what from the seller or buyer?Civil Code section 2079.14
The seller pays the commission of the buyer's agent. Does that payment decide whom the agent represents?Civil Code section 2079.19
Under the disclosure form, what does an agent owe to both the buyer and the seller, whichever one the agent represents?Civil Code section 2079.16
What duty does the broker inspection law leave with the buyer?Civil Code section 2079.5
When must a seller's agent provide the agency disclosure form to the seller?Civil Code section 2079.14
Where must the agency relationship be confirmed?Civil Code section 2079.17
Without the seller's express permission, a dual agent may not tell the buyerCivil Code section 2079.21
Promotion, names and license numbers 9
A 'for sale' sign shows the responsible broker's identity and names no other licensee. Does the license number rule of section 10140.6 apply to it?Business and Professions Code section 10140.6
A salesperson uses a fictitious business name with the broker's permission. Besides the responsible broker's identity, materials must showBusiness and Professions Code section 10159.5
How must the responsible broker's identity appear in materials that carry a team name?Business and Professions Code section 10159.6
Is a violation of the team name rules in section 10159.6 a misdemeanor?Business and Professions Code section 10159.6
Promotional materials use a team name. Besides the team name, what must they display?Business and Professions Code section 10159.6
Under section 10159.7, a team name must include the surname ofBusiness and Professions Code section 10159.7
What must a licensee disclose on solicitation materials intended to be the first point of contact with consumers?Business and Professions Code section 10140.6
Which item counts as 'solicitation materials' under section 10140.6?Business and Professions Code section 10140.6
Which word may a team name NOT include if it is to stay outside the fictitious business name rules?Business and Professions Code section 10159.7
Prohibited acts and penalties 19
A buyer signs an agreement to buy a business opportunity only through one broker, but the owner never authorized that broker in writing to offer it. Under section 10176 this isBusiness and Professions Code section 10176
A corporation's license may be disciplined when a listed act is done by an officer, a director, or a person owning or controlling what share of its stock?Business and Professions Code section 10177
A final civil judgment is entered against a licensee for fraud in a transaction that needs a license. What may the Commissioner do?Business and Professions Code section 10177.5
A licensee fails to pay a monetary penalty that stayed a suspension. What may the Commissioner do?Business and Professions Code section 10175.2
A licensee is allowed to pay a monetary penalty in place of a suspension. What is the most the penalty may total per decision?Business and Professions Code section 10175.2
A licensee is the buyer's agent in the purchase of a property in which the licensee holds an ownership interest. What must be disclosed to the buyer?Business and Professions Code section 10177
A licensee may be disciplined for taking a referral fee from which of these businesses?Business and Professions Code section 10177.4
A licensee obtained a license by a material misstatement of fact in the application. Under section 10177 the Commissioner mayBusiness and Professions Code section 10177
A licensee urges owners to list their homes, saying values will fall because people of a certain national origin are moving into the neighborhood. Under section 10177 this isBusiness and Professions Code section 10177
A listing gives the licensee an option to buy the property. Before or when exercising the option, the licensee mustBusiness and Professions Code section 10176
A monetary penalty in place of a suspension may not exceed what amount for each day of suspension stayed?Business and Professions Code section 10175.2
A person willfully violates the Real Estate Law where no other penalty is named. Section 10185 makes this a misdemeanor with a fine of up toBusiness and Professions Code section 10185
Acting for more than one party in a transaction is a ground for discipline when it is doneBusiness and Professions Code section 10176
By when must a licensee reveal the full amount of the licensee's compensation to the buyer or seller who contracts with the licensee?Business and Professions Code section 10176
The Consumer Recovery Account pays a claim that was proved against a licensee by clear and convincing evidence. What happens to that licensee's license?Business and Professions Code section 10475
To claim a commission under an exclusive listing agreement, the agreement must containBusiness and Professions Code section 10176
What compels the Commissioner to investigate the actions of a licensee?Business and Professions Code section 10176
Where is a monetary penalty paid in place of a license suspension credited?Business and Professions Code section 10175.2
Which is a ground for discipline under section 10177 even where no fraud is shown?Business and Professions Code section 10177
Consumer Recovery Account 7
A license suspended after a Consumer Recovery Account payment cannot be reinstated until the licensee hasBusiness and Professions Code section 10475
An application to the Consumer Recovery Account must be delivered to the Department no later than how long after the judgment becomes final?Business and Professions Code section 10471
Does a discharge in bankruptcy relieve a licensee of the repayment condition after a Consumer Recovery Account payment?Business and Professions Code section 10475
For a Consumer Recovery Account claim, does a judgment from a court of another state count?Business and Professions Code section 10471
For any one licensee, the Consumer Recovery Account's liability stops at what amount (applications filed on or after January 1, 2009)?Business and Professions Code section 10474
What is the most the Consumer Recovery Account pays for any one transaction, for applications filed on or after January 1, 2009?Business and Professions Code section 10474
Which final judgment against a licensee can support an application to the Consumer Recovery Account?Business and Professions Code section 10471
How this list was compiled: Written from the California Business and Professions Code, Division 4, Part 1 (the Real Estate Law, sections 10000 and following: Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 6.5) and Civil Code sections 2079 to 2079.21, as published by California Legislative Information at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/, read 2026-10-04. Each question links to its section page in the form https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC§ionNum=10145. Licence: Own work. Questions, answer choices and explanations were written for this site from the statute text; nothing is copied from another practice test, a prep book or the state exam. Short quotations from the statutes are marked.
How it works
These 123 unofficial practice questions for the California real estate license exam cover state law only: the Real Estate Law and the Civil Code's agency rules, no math. Each answer names its section; checked October 4, 2026.
Read the full guide
California real estate exam questions, law part only
Every question is one a section of the Business and Professions Code or the Civil Code answers. Filter by topic: Broker's duties and supervision holds what the law puts on brokers, so it works as California real estate broker exam prep. Each explanation links its section, so the bank reads like a California real estate study guide to the statutes.
Print it or rerun the missed pile
Print puts the questions and explained answers on paper for anyone after a California real estate exam study guide pdf. The missed pile brings back what you got wrong one question at a time, like California real estate flashcards.
Trust funds: a salesperson hands them to the broker immediately, and advance fees are trust funds too (sections 10145 and 10146).
Records: three years from closing, or from the listing date if the sale never closes (section 10148).
Recovery account limits: $50,000 for one transaction and $250,000 for one licensee (section 10474).
Questions and answers
How to pass the California real estate exam?
No page can promise a pass. This one drills the law part: each question cites a code section you can open. The Department of Real Estate describes the exam on its Examinees pages.
How to study for the California real estate exam?
Start with one topic filter, read the explanation and the linked section after each answer, then rerun the missed pile until it is empty. For what the exam covers beyond state law, use the Department's own material.
Are these the real exam questions?
No. This site has never seen the state's test and is not affiliated with the Department of Real Estate. Every question was written from the statutes for this page, and no licensed California broker has reviewed them yet.
Does this cover the California real estate broker exam?
Brokers and salespersons work under the same Real Estate Law. The Broker's duties and supervision filter collects supervision, branch offices and records, and the Trust funds filter holds trust accounts: use them for California real estate broker exam questions.
Is there a California real estate exam questions pdf?
There is no file to download. Print gives the questions with their explained answers, and your browser can save that page as a PDF: a California real estate exam prep pdf of your own.