Understanding DRE Form RE 226: How to Verify Your Experience for a California Broker’s License

If you’re a California real estate salesperson ready to take the next step and become a broker, you’ll need more than coursework and an exam — you’ll need to prove your experience.

That’s where the RE 226 — Licensed Experience Verification — comes in. It’s one of the most important documents in your broker license application, and completing it correctly can mean the difference between a smooth approval and a DRE delay.

Let’s break it down.

What Is Form RE 226?

Form RE 226 is the California Department of Real Estate’s official method for confirming that you’ve been licensed — and actually working — long enough to qualify for the broker’s exam.

In plain English, it answers the question:

“Has this person truly gained enough real estate experience to become a broker?”

The form must be completed and signed by your supervising or responsible broker — not by you alone — and submitted with either your Broker Exam Application (RE 400B) or your Combined Exam/License Application (RE 436).

The Experience Requirement

To qualify for the broker exam, you must demonstrate at least two years of full-time licensed salesperson experience within the five years immediately preceding your application.

Here’s what that means:

• Full-time = roughly 40 hours per week (part-time experience is prorated).
• Experience must be earned under an active California real estate license.
• Out-of-state licensees can use equivalent experience but must still verify it via RE 227.
• Older experience (more than five years before applying) won’t be counted.

What Your Broker Must Complete

Your supervising broker certifies your experience by completing several key sections of RE 226, including:

• Employment period: The dates you worked under their supervision.
• Average weekly hours: Full-time or part-time.
• Types of activities handled: Listings, sales, leases, loans, etc.
• Approximate earnings or income: Or a signed explanation if income was minimal.
• Nature of duties: A brief description of what you did — e.g., residential listings, commercial leasing, property management.

Your broker must sign, date, and include their license number and contact details.
If you’ve worked under multiple brokers, you’ll need a separate RE 226 for each one.

Common Mistakes That Delay Applications

Small errors on RE 226 often cause major delays. Avoid these pitfalls:

• Missing broker signatures or dates
• Leaving blank fields (use “N/A” or “none” where applicable)
• Overlapping or incorrect employment dates
• Reporting low transaction volume without a written explanation
• Submitting an outdated form version

What If You Don’t Have Enough Experience?

If you don’t meet the full two-year salesperson requirement, you may still qualify through equivalent experience in related fields, such as:

• Real estate escrow or title work
• Mortgage or loan processing
• Property management or development

In that case, you’ll use Form RE 227 (Equivalent Experience Verification) instead — a similar form tailored for non-salesperson roles.

Pro Tip from ADHI Schools

Start thinking about your RE 226 early. Don’t wait until you’re ready to submit your broker application.

• Track down past brokers ahead of time and confirm they’re willing to sign.
• Provide them with a partially pre-filled version to save time.
• Double-check that their license number, business address, and phone are current — the DRE may contact them for verification.

How ADHI Schools Can Help

At ADHI Schools, we’ve helped thousands of California agents move from their first real estate class to earning their broker license. We know exactly how to make the paperwork simple.

If you’re ready to make the jump:

• Enroll in our Broker Course Package (Real Estate Appraisal, Finance, Legal Aspects, and more).
• Schedule a one-on-one advisor session to review your experience documentation before submission.

Final Thoughts

Form RE 226 isn’t as intimidating as it looks — it’s simply the DRE’s way of confirming that you’ve put in the work and earned your experience in the field.

Fill it out carefully, coordinate with your broker, and you’ll be one step closer to joining California’s broker ranks.

For more tips and step-by-step licensing guidance, visit ADHISchools.com — your trusted partner from first class to broker license.