Washington Real Estate Broker

WAC 308-124A-760(1) requires a minimum scaled score of 70 on each of the two broker exam portions (national and state), while the 75 standard applies to the managing broker examination under WAC 308-124A-760(2).

Each of the 90 hours of broker prelicense courses must be completed within two years before applying for the broker's exam (RCW 18.85.101(1)(c)), while each course counted toward the managing broker's 90 hours must be completed within three years before applying for that exam (RCW 18.85.111(1)(d)).

An individual license expires two years from the issuance date and renews biennially, while a license issued to a partnership, LLP, LLC, corporation or other registered business entity expires when its secretary of state registration or certificate of authority expires (RCW 18.85.191).

Unprofessional-conduct fines may not exceed $5,000 per violation found, while unlicensed practice supports a permanent cease and desist order plus a civil fine not exceeding $1,000 for each day of unlicensed practice ($25,000 is the separate contempt penalty under RCW 18.235.160).

Under WAC 308-124A-800, core curriculum must be completed within 24 months of the renewal date to satisfy the core requirement; a course commenced within 36 months but more than 24 months before renewal does not count toward the core requirement but may apply as regular continuing education credit.

RCW 18.85.285(8)(a) requires a firm receiving or maintaining earnest money or client funds to keep a pooled interest-bearing trust account, with the exception of property management trust accounts.

A designated broker must hold a managing broker's license and may act as designated broker for more than one firm (RCW 18.85.121), whereas a managing broker may be licensed to only one firm at a time (RCW 18.85.111(3)).

Under RCW 18.235.020(2)(a) the director holds disciplinary authority over real estate brokers and managing brokers licensed under chapters 18.85 and 18.86 RCW; the real estate commission acts only in an advisory capacity and is not among the boards with independent authority listed in RCW 18.235.020(2)(b).

Reinstatement within two years of cancellation requires 60 clock hours of approved real estate course work completed within one year preceding application (at least 30 of which must be real estate law), while returning a license inactive more than three years to active status requires a 30 clock-hour real estate course completed within one year before the application.

Under RCW 18.86.060(5), when different brokers of the same firm represent different parties, the designated broker and any managing broker supervising both is a limited dual agent, while each appointed broker solely represents the party with whom that broker has the agency relationship.

Licensed-experience applicants need three years of full-time broker experience within the previous five years, while an applicant qualifying on related practical experience must have completed all qualifying experience within the six years immediately preceding the application date.

Ordinary renewal requires at least 30 clock hours of approved instruction every two years, while a broker's first active renewal requires 90 clock hours started after the date first licensed, including real estate law, advanced practices, and 30 hours of approved continuing education with core curriculum and Washington fair housing.

A designated broker change requires a statement signed by both the outgoing and incoming designated brokers listing all outstanding client trust liabilities and pending transactions and certifying sufficient trust funds (WAC 308-124A-825); a closing firm affidavit is required only when a firm closes (WAC 308-124A-830).