Washington Real Estate Broker

Washington Real Estate Broker Exam: Step-by-Step Study Guide

Preparing for the Washington Real Estate Broker exam is easier one step at a time. This guide starts with the key facts from the official bulletin, then covers the topics on the exam, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a simple way to prepare. PSI gives the exam.

Washington Real Estate Broker Exam Overview

Start with the facts. Here's what the official bulletin says:

On exam day

• The examination is multiple choice, with the Washington state-specific portion consisting of thirty multiple-choice questions for Broker candidates.
• You must present one valid, unexpired government-issued photo and signature ID matching your scheduled name, from the bulletin's accepted list.
• You should arrive 30 minutes before your appointment time.
• Reference materials of any kind are prohibited, and using any outside reference or resource during the exam is prohibited behavior.
• Physical calculators are allowed at test centers but are not allowed for remote proctored exams.
• Test center candidates receive a piece of scratch paper and a pencil to return at check-out, remote candidates may not have scratch paper, and a wide list of personal and electronic items is prohibited.

Study references listed in the bulletin (not allowed in the exam room)

• Modern Real Estate Practice (21st Edition)
• Mastering Real Estate Math (9th Edition, 2022)
• The Language of Real Estate (8th Edition, 2019)
• Property Management (11th edition, 2016)
• Real Estate Law (11th Edition, 2022)
• Real Estate Fundamentals (10th Edition, 2019)
• Real Estate Principles (Charles Jacobus) (12th Edition)
• Real Estate Principles (Floyd and Allen) (12th Edition, 2021)
• Mastering Real Estate Principles (8th Edition, 2022)
• Real Estate Principles & Practices (9th Edition, 2014)
• Principles of Real Estate Practice (6th edition, 2019)

Scheduling, changes and retakes

• Candidates schedule with PSI online at https://test-takers.psiexams.com/ware or by telephone at (855) 746-8168.
• Broker candidates must complete the 60-hour Real Estate Fundamentals and 30-hour Real Estate Practices courses before scheduling and must take the examination within two years of completing them.
• You may cancel and reschedule without forfeiting your fee if PSI receives your cancellation notice 2 days before the scheduled examination date, and a voice mail message is not an acceptable form of cancellation.
• You forfeit your examination fee if you fail to cancel 2 days in advance, do not appear, arrive after the examination start time, or lack proper identification, and remote candidates forfeit the fee or eligibility by not starting within 15 minutes after the booked time.
• Your score is shown on screen at the end of the examination and emailed to you, as a scaled score, with a diagnostic report included if you fail.
• You only repeat the portion(s) you failed, and if you pass only one portion you must pass the other within six months or retake the entire examination.
• A passing Broker candidate submits the license application from the score report with fees to the Department of Licensing or applies online, and the retained part of the score report serves as an interim license valid up to 45 days after the postmark date of the application and fees.

Source: Washington Real Estate Commission Candidate Information Bulletin, 3/28/2024. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.

Topics on the Washington Real Estate Broker Exam

Next, the content. The official content outline has 4 topics:

Washington Licensing Requirements: Activities requiring a license; Requirements for licensing eligibility; Types of licenses; License maintenance, renewal and fees; License status; Education requirements; WAC 308-124A Licensing and Examination (308-124A-700 to 308-124A-800); RCW 18.85 Real Estate Brokers and Managing Brokers (18.85.011 to 18.85.191).
Washington Statutes and Rules Governing Licensee Activity: Brokerage firms relationship with affiliated licensees; Prohibited conduct/reasons for disciplinary action; Compensation; Handling of monies and trust accounts; Recordkeeping, documents and audits; Brokerage firms office requirements; Property management; Supervision of affiliated licensees (General supervisory responsibilities, Supervision of teams).

A Simple Plan to Prepare for the Washington Real Estate Broker Exam

This is a closed-book exam, so you'll rely on what you know. Take it one topic at a time, working through the outline.

Along the way, give the most time to the biggest topics. Washington Statutes and Rules Governing Licensee Activity and Washington Licensing Requirements make up 70% of the exam.

Next, add timed practice. Our practice exams run on a clock, so you get used to the real exam's pace: about 3 minutes per question.

After each attempt, read the explanation and reference for every question you missed. Small, steady review adds up.

The last step is consistency. Keep practicing until you pass several practice exams in a row. That's the signal you're ready.

Reference Books for the Washington Real Estate Broker Exam

The bulletin lists possible study materials for the national portion for Broker and Managing Broker; these are study references only, since reference materials may not be brought into the examination.

Where to get them:

• RCW 18.85 / 18.86 / 18.235
• WAC 308-124

On Test Day

Go through the exam at a steady pace. On your first pass, answer the questions you know and bookmark the ones you don't. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions.

On your second pass, return to your bookmarks one at a time. You have 90 minutes for 30 questions, which is about 3 minutes per question, so keep moving and don't let one question hold you up. Before you finish, answer anything you skipped. A blank can't earn a point.

Study Tips

The state portion tests YOUR state's statutes, deadlines, and agency rules — which differ from national principles. Don't rely only on a national prep book; study the state-specific material.

Questions on fiduciary duties, agency relationships, and required disclosures run throughout the exam. Be able to apply them to scenarios, not just define them.

Read the explanation for every question — right or wrong. Understanding the underlying rule lets you answer reworded questions you've never seen, instead of memorizing specific answers.

Practicing against a ticking clock is the best way to beat exam-clock anxiety. Use these timed tests to build your pacing, so you learn to move steadily and never burn too long on a single question. By test day, the format feels routine.

Sample Washington Real Estate Broker Practice Questions

Here are a few questions from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.

Sample 1 — Washington Real Estate Brokerage Relationships (Agency)

Question: Under RCW 18.86.040, a seller's agent's duties to the seller may not be waived, with one stated exception that the parties may agree otherwise in writing. Which duty is subject to that exception?

• A. Loyalty to the seller's interest in the transaction
• B. Continuous good faith effort to find a buyer
• C. Timely disclosure of conflicts of interest
• D. Protection of the seller's confidential information

Correct Answer: B

RCW 18.86.040(1) states the seller's agent duties may not be waived 'except as expressly set forth in (e) of this subsection.' Subsection (e) is the duty to make a good faith and continuous effort to find a buyer, which may be modified by a written agreement entered into after the broker has complied with the pamphlet requirement. Loyalty, timely disclosure of conflicts, and nondisclosure of confidential information are not waivable.

Reference: Washington Real Estate Statutes (RCW 18.85, 18.86, 18.235), RCW 18.86.040

Sample 2 — Washington Statutes and Rules Governing Licensee Activity

Question: An out-of-state licensee whose license the director deems equivalent enters a written cooperation agreement with your Washington firm through its designated broker. Under RCW 18.85.131, the out-of-state licensee may perform acts requiring a Washington license only with respect to which property?

• A. One-to-four-unit residential property
• B. Residential and commercial real estate
• C. Commercial real estate
• D. Unimproved land and timberland

Correct Answer: C

RCW 18.85.131 allows approved out-of-state licensees to perform licensed acts in Washington only with respect to commercial real estate, and only if they cooperate with a Washington designated broker under a written agreement, consent to Washington jurisdiction, and deposit transaction records with the Washington firm.

Reference: Washington Real Estate Statutes, RCW 18.85.131

Sample 3 — Washington Licensing Requirements

Question: A broker's license was canceled 18 months ago for nonpayment of the renewal fee. She wants to reinstate without repeating the licensing examination. How many clock hours of approved real estate course work, completed within the year preceding the reinstatement application, must she furnish?

• A. Thirty
• B. Sixty
• C. Ninety
• D. Forty-five

Correct Answer: B

WAC 308-124A-780(1)(a) permits reinstatement within two years of cancellation upon proof of successful completion of sixty clock hours of approved real estate course work completed within one year preceding the application, a minimum of thirty of which must be real estate law, plus back renewal fees with penalty and the reinstatement penalty fine.

Reference: Washington Real Estate Rules, WAC 308-124A-780

Sample 4 — Washington General Rules

Question: You are served with a statement of charges and timely request a hearing. Under RCW 18.235.050, the disciplinary authority may fix the hearing date sooner than thirty days after service of the charges only if it has issued:

• A. A notice of intent to deny licensure
• B. A subpoena for the licensee's records
• C. A temporary cease and desist order
• D. A summary suspension or summary restriction

Correct Answer: D

RCW 18.235.050(2) requires the hearing to be set as soon as convenient but not earlier than thirty days after service of the charges; the only stated exception is where the disciplinary authority has issued a summary suspension or summary restriction.

Reference: Washington Real Estate Statutes, RCW 18.235.050(2)

Practicing Online vs. With a PDF

A PDF lets you read questions at your own pace. The real exam runs on a clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you practice finding answers with the clock running. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results show your score by topic, so you always know what to study next.

Your Next Step

Take the free Washington Real Estate Broker practice exam to see where you stand. Then study the topics that need the most attention, one at a time. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.