District of Columbia

The District of Columbia Real Estate Commission, staffed through DLCP Occupational and Professional Licensing at 1100 4th Street SW, licenses salespersons, associate brokers, brokers, property managers, and firms. Original salesperson education is a 60-clock-hour DCREC-approved Principles and Practices course (17 DCMR 2602.3). PSI delivers the exam. The Candidate Information Bulletin, copyright 2026, updated 6/3/2026, prices the sitting at $79 for one portion or both: salesperson national 80 items in 120 minutes, DC 30 items in 90 minutes, combo 110 in 210 minutes. Brokers sit 75 items scoring 80 points plus a 40-item DC paper. Endorsement and reciprocity sit the DC paper at 75 percent. Apply within six months of passing or retake.

This is a city-state. There is no county recorder — instruments go to the DC Recorder of Deeds. Fair housing is the Human Rights Act of 1977 on top of federal Fair Housing; 17 DCMR 2609.1 is the ethics rule that names those extra classes. TOPA and DOPA are why tenant's right to purchase is on the state outline. Reciprocity is a named Maryland/Virginia track in the PSI bulletin, not a 50-state chart; everyone else is endorsement, with a 3-hour DCREC Fair Housing course and a 90-day sealed certification letter. Pocket cards are not accepted.

DLCP fees are application $65, salesperson license $130, broker/associate broker $170, plus $60 for the Real Estate Guaranty and Education Fund. Salespersons expire August 31 of odd years; brokers expire February 28 of odd years. CE on the 2023–2025 map is 15 hours — salespersons get four named 3-hour mandatories plus 3 electives; brokers get 15 all-mandatory hours including 3-hour Broker Supervision.

A DC broker is 135 hours and two consecutive years as an active salesperson immediately preceding, not a second 60-hour salesperson course. Associate broker is the $170 hang after the broker exam, not a salesperson title. Maryland's 60-plus-ethics package and Virginia's 60-hour DPOR course do not post as this 60 unless they are actually DCREC-approved.