Learn how to get your real estate course approved if you're an educator.
Who needs course approval?
Any approved school offering real estate courses must get approval for the courses they offer.
How to apply for course approval
1. Meet the course approval requirements
- All courses presented to students for clock-hour credit must be delivered by an approved school and instructor.
- Courses must be approved before the date the course is offered for clock-hour credit. Upon approval, the real estate school will be able to print their certificate of course approval from their dashboard in the online licensing system.
2. Determine type of course approval needed
New or revised mandated courses
- WA Real Estate Fundamentals (revised to include Fair Housing)
- Real Estate Practices
- Advanced Practices
- WA Real Estate Law (revised to include Fair Housing)
- Advanced WA Real Estate Law
- Real Estate Business Management
- Brokerage Management
Non-mandated or continuing education courses
These courses must be at least 3 course hours.
Secondary education provider courses
An approved school may offer courses that are currently approved for another real estate school, not another education provider.
You can't use this type of course approval for:
- WA Real Estate Fundamentals
- Real Estate Practices
- Advanced Practices
- WA Real Estate Law
- Advanced WA Real Estate Law
- Real Estate Brokerage Management
- Business Management
- Courses that include the prescribed core curriculum
- WA Real Estate Fair Housing (3-hour)
- WA Real Estate Fair Housing (6-hour)
3. Gather the necessary documents
New or revised mandated courses
For new or revised mandated courses you will need to complete and submit the following:
- A completed Real Estate Prelicensing or Post Licensing Course Approval Application.
- A course outline with learning objectives and hourly breakdown.
- A copy of any texts, handouts, and other instructional materials.
- An examination with an answer key for review and approval (minimum of 3 questions per clock hour).
- Payment for the course approval application fee.
- A completed course evaluation form.
- If course is delivered by distance education, a completed Real Estate Distance Education Delivery Method Application or a copy of the ARELLO certificate.
Non-mandated or continuing education courses
For non-mandated or continuing education courses you will need to complete and submit the following:
- A completed Real Estate Continuing Education Course Approval Application.
- A copy of the course curriculum and/or syllabus.
- A copy of the course outline with learning objectives and hourly breakdown. (Be sure to highlight the core curriculum in your outline, if applicable.)
- Texts, handouts, and other instructional materials.
- If the course is 30 clock hours or more, the final examination and answer key.
- A completed course evaluation form.
- If the course is delivered by distance education, a completed Real Estate Distance Education Delivery Method Application or a copy of the ARELLO certificate.
- You may need to provide a second copy of course materials if requested.
Secondary education provider courses
For secondary education provider courses you will need to complete and submit the following:
- A completed Real Estate Secondary Provider Course Content Approval Application.
- Written authorization by the original education provider permitting you to use the course content.
- A completed course evaluation form.
- If the course is delivered by distance education, a completed Real Estate Distance Education Delivery Method Application or a copy of the ARELLO certificate.
4. Submit your application
Submit your application online
You'll receive your approval faster by applying and paying online.
Log into SecureAccess Washington (SAW)
Don't have a SAW account? Learn how to create a SAW account.
Submit your application by mail
Mail your completed form(s) and a check or money order for the course approval application fee (payable to the Department of Licensing) to:
Real Estate
Department of Licensing
PO Box 3856
Seattle, WA 98124-3856
Please allow 45 days for us to process your application.
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