5 Best Online Real Estate Schools in Washington for 2023 (Updated!)

Aceable’s course is far and away one of the best online real estate schools in Washington. If you are sick of boring content with monotone audio, then this is the course I’d go with. Their high pass rates, and entertaining course material put it in a league of its own.

When it comes to price, it’s one of the cheapest courses on the market. And because of the high quality and best-in-class test prep, I’ve rated it the best overall real estate school in Washington. There is also a sale going on right now, which is a huge plus.

While the cheapest course is still a great choice, I’d recommend going with the “Deluxe” or “Premium” package just because of the extra add-ons that will make you feel prepared to conquer the licensing exam.

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Convenience: 4.7 out 5. The most impressive thing about Aceable is how engaging the content is. The 90-hour course seemed to fly by because of the multimedia learning experience. I really enjoyed the snappy videos, infographics, and even the quick quizzes that helped to break up the course. There are also interactive games mixed in to make sure that you are absorbing the content. It didn’t seem as monotonous as other courses because there wasn’t a lot of traditional reading required. When you compare Aceable to other top Washington schools like Kaplan or Colibri, it’s the clear winner. The mobile app also makes a big difference. You can log in and study on-the-go whenever you want, which means you can knock out the course no matter how busy your schedule is.

Pass Rate: 4.8 out 5. Around 84% of students go on to pass the real estate broker’s exam after taking Aceable’s Washington course. That is the highest pass rate on our list of schools, which is pretty incredible. Many schools in Washington are in the ~65% range. This is the most important metric to pay attention to because you want to choose a school that’s going to give you the confidence to pass on your first try.

Course Duration: 4.6 out of 5. The Washington broker’s course takes 90-hours to complete, but some students want to know that they have more time in case something comes up. Aceable’s extension policy is pretty middle of the road. If you don’t complete the course in 12 months, you can pay to extend it for another 180 days. Other schools like The CE Shop and Colibri Real Estate offer more flexible polices, but there is an option available if you don’t finish on time. Most students are ready to take the licensing exam in about 4-5 weeks, but you can go at your own pace with Aceable’s course.

Support:4.7 out of 5. Aceable’s customer support team makes it really easy and convenient to get in touch with an actual person. There were multiple ways to reach out whenever I had a question or needed assistance of any kind. They pride themselves on being prompt in their responses whether you choose to call, email, or use the live chat feature. The chat support is a great option because you can get help in real time and share your screen if you are having technical issues. The other benefit of Aceable is that their support team is largely based in the US, so you don’t have to deal with language barriers. The only issue I came across was during weekend hours when the support staff is off – you typically have to wait until Monday morning to get a response if you reach out after 5pm on Friday.

Refund Policy: 4.6 out of 5. While I wasn’t looking for a refund, I’ve decided to review Aceable’s policy here because it’s a frequently asked question. They offer a full refund so long as you have not completed the course. You have to request a refund within 30 days of purchasing the course. That is pretty standard, and schools like The CE Shop and OnlineEd offer something similar. However, the major difference: Aceable’s Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee. If you don’t pass your test, then you can get your money back. That bonus was a weight off my shoulders knowing that I wouldn’t lose my money. Very few real estate schools in Washington offer that feature for free.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: After taking everything into consideration, I would highly recommend taking Aceable’s Washington real estate course. For aspiring brokers, I’d advise picking the Deluxe package.  The study package is a great addition because the video and audio lessons make learning quick and easy. The digital flashcards, plus the 3,000+ practice test questions will be a huge relief when you are getting ready to take your licensing test.

The best thing about The CE Shop’s course is its ease of use. If you want a course that takes the guesswork out of everything, then this is the school for you. The five-day free trial allows you to check out the interface before committing, and the return policy they offer is unmatched.

If you’re just looking at prices, The CE Shop probably caught your eye. It’s on the lower end, and comes with tons of added benefits. The flexibility, high pass rates, and user friendliness are all reasons why it’s made my list as the easiest online real estate course in Washington.

Just like other courses, the cheapest package will work if you are comfortable navigating through the lessons on your own. But many students prefer the “Value” package because of the Pass Guarantee and the Exam Prep Edge. It might seem like a crazy jump when looking at the cost, but it’s well worth it if you want to feel prepared on test day.

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Convenience: 4.5 out 5. The CE Shop’s user interface gets two big thumbs up as it’s the reason that the course is so easy to navigate. It’s custom-designed to be easily accessible on a tablet or a phone. You can quickly log into your course wherever you are, making it really simple to manage your time.

The dashboard was also a huge plus because I was able to check the progress bar to see how far along I was in the course. It was also easy to skip ahead or look back if there was anything I needed a refresher on. While the course is extremely straightforward, it was slightly text-heavy at times. It wasn’t nearly as boring as other online courses, but it wasn’t as engaging as Aceable either. I’d say The CE Shop is somewhere in the middle.

Pass Rate: 5 out 5. The CE Shop is very transparent about their pass rates, boasting about the 81% of students who go on to pass the exam after taking their Washington broker course. That is significantly higher than the average pass rate in the state. Overall, this is one of the most important factors to consider when picking a course because you don’t want to have to take the test a second time.

Course Duration: 4.7 out of 5. The CE Shop’s broker course takes 90 hours to get through, and it does expire after one year. After that time you will lose access to the course completely, as there are no extension policies available in Washington. However, you can purchase another course for a 50% discount that will reset the clock. There are definitely more flexible options out there, but The CE Shop’s course is designed for prospective brokers to knock it out quickly.

If you treat it like a 40-hour work week, you can complete it in as little as two and a half weeks. That being said, most students are ready to take the real estate test after 4-5 weeks of studying.

Support: 4.4 out of 5. The CE Shop’s technical support team has its pros and cons. I did appreciate how easy they make it to get in contact with someone in a timely manner. I was able to reach out any day of the week, and phone, email, ore even live chat.

The customer support staff is responsive, and very knowledgeable about the interface itself. I found I had the easiest time working through issues using the live chat feature. They were able to get into my account and fix the glitching almost immediately.

That being said, there is no way to get in touch with instructors. If you have a question or a problem with the course material itself, you often have to wait around two days for an instructor to contact you. Overall, it’s not a dealbreaker, but something to note if you prefer to have 1:1 access.

Refund Policy: 4.7 out of 5. The coolest thing about The CE Shop is their new free trial offer. You can sign up and test drive the course for five whole days before having to enter in a credit card. It was a big selling point for me because I was able to make sure that the format worked with my learning style before I had to purchase anything.

As far as their refund policy goes, it’s pretty standard. You can get your money back within the first 30 days as long as you haven’t finished more than 50% of the course. Other schools like OnlineEd and Aceable offer something similar, so it’s nothing unheard of but still nice to know there are options if you’re on the fence about getting your broker’s license.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: After scrutinizing the details, I would highly recommend The CE Shop’s Washington. For prospective broker’s I’d suggest signing up for the Premium package. The pass guarantee, 5-day free trial offer, and the business classes help to set you up for success. Overall, it’s a great value, and will give you peace of mind knowing that there are policies in place to make sure you don’t lose your money.

OnlineEd is far and away the best bang for your buck in Washington. If you are looking to get your broker’s license in a pinch, then this is the course for you. You can easily navigate through the lessons at your own pace, so you can knock it out in just a matter of weeks. The other benefit with OnlineEd is that there are no time restrictions, which gives you the best chance of taking the course while juggling a busy schedule.

When it comes to cost, it’s right in the middle. While you can rest assured you won’t be paying premium prices, you need to feel comfortable navigating through the material on your own. The on-the-go audio options, and the downloadable PDFs make it one of the quickest Washington real estate course out there.

In order to help speed up the licensing process, you can also print your own certificate to take with you on exam day so you don’t have to wait on anyone else to do it for you.

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Convenience: 4.4 out 5. The instructor help is a great benefit that many online real estate schools aren’t able to offer. If you have a question, you can get live help from one of the instructors who designed the course itself. Your instructor can also review and comment on each quiz to help you understand the course concepts before going into to take the state exam.

I also really appreciated the overall flow of the course material. It starts off easy and then ramps up once you have a general understanding of the basics. That format makes it easy to navigate without seeming too repetitive. Plus, there are natural breaks throughout which makes it convenient to find a place to stop and pick up again later.

The courses are compatible with all web browsers and operating systems including iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, which helps. You can go through the modules on any device you want, and it’s able to adapt to any screen size.

Pass Rate: 4.7 out 5. OnlineEd has a pretty high pass rate amongst Washington students (78%). The exam prep they offer is really great, especially when you compare it to other schools like Colibri Real Estate or Kaplan. There are specific bullet points that help summarize the importance of each module as you go, and the practice test questions are very similar to those that will appear on the state real estate exam. This is a something to take into consideration, as you want to pick a school that will make you feel confident about the real estate broker’s exam.

Course Duration: 4.6 out of 5. If you need to get your Washington broker’s license quickly, then OnlineEd is your best bet. They have certain policies in place to help expedite the process. You can also request a free information packet in the mail from OnlineEd that will come with all of your paperwork for the Washington Department of Licensing. That will help you navigate the background check and understand the deadlines you face in order to get your license as quickly as possible.

In Washington, you can also take the exam as many times as you want. So while the course will expire within 365 days, you can take the exam again if you don’t pass on your first try.

Support: 4.2 out of 5. OnlineEd’s customer support team has taken great steps to improve their response time recently. They just added a live chat feature, which is great if you need help understanding what the course comes with, what the licensing requirements are, etc.

They also have a phone number you can reach out to Monday-Friday during regular business hours, as well as a contact box online. While customer support is fairly limited on the weekends, they will respond via email within two days.

And to reiterate, you can reach out to instructors directly with OnlineEd’s Washington course. That is not the case in other states, so it’s a great opportunity to take advantage of if anything comes up.

Refund Policy: 4.9 out of 5. I was not looking for a refund, but I’ve reviewed the policy here for those that are wondering. OnlineEd does not offer any refunds at this time for their Washington course. While you can cancel it any point, you will lose your money in the process. So if you think you might change your mind about becoming a real estate broker, then you may want to consider picking a school like The CE Shop or Aceable who do offer a return policy.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: All in all, I really enjoyed OnlineEd’s Washington licensing course. It’s a great option if you are looking to get your license ASAP, and are on a budget. The exam simulator is a great value, and allows you to get used to the questions that will appear on the test. That mixed with the digital flashcards will leave you feeling confident and ready to pass the Washington exam on your first try.

We’ve built the most affordable way for you to get your Real Estate License. All you have to do is attend at least 1 interview with one of our recruiters after passing the state exam & before joining another brokerage, and we’ll reimburse you for the entire cost of The CE Shop course that you purchase from us.

That’s right – we’ll reimburse you whether you choose to join our team or not (but we hope you do!).  About 50% of our tuition reimbursement graduates choose to work for our team after interviewing with us.  The other 50% of our tuition reimbursement students that choose to join another brokerage still get their course costs fully reimbursed.

Why are we the only real estate company that reimburses your course costs even if you don’t join our brokerage?  There are a few key reasons that we’ve decided to set our program this way:

1.   Our 50% join rate is way higher than the industry average for recruiting, and we really want agents to be excited when they join us, which only works if they love what we have to offer.  Most brokerages only want experienced agents, but we specialize in helping new agents build their real estate careers from the ground up.  We have hundreds of agent training courses that range from helping you build out your social media presence to learning the ins and outs of commercial real estate; we have mentors dedicated to new agents to help them through their first sales; we even have a dedicated coach to help with mindset and motivation; and more.  So we don’t need to force new agents to join our team to save a few bucks.
2.   If you choose to join another team, we also hope you change your mind someday and come back to join us.  Many agents reach out to us months or years after trying another brokerage first, and this gives us a chance to keep the door open for the 50% of new agents who don’t join us immediately.  If we can’t be the right brokerage for you right now, then we still hope to be the right brokerage for you some day in the future.
3.   Too many real estate organizations fail to live up to their promises.  We’re not perfect, but we really try to follow-through on every promise we make, including our tuition reimbursement promise.

At the end of the day, we’re betting on you becoming a great agent, and if we can make obtaining your real estate license more affordable, then hopefully you’ll return the favor and join us after graduation or come back to us any time you’re ready for a new brokerage.  It’s that simple, and we’re happy to invest in you.

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How does the reimbursement work?

Email us (support@agentadvice.com) once you receive confirmation from the state that you’ve passed the state exam, and one of our recruiters will reach out to you to get to know you and share any and every thing you’ll want to know to decide if our brokerage is the right fit for you.

We’ll schedule the interview at a time that works for you.  All you have to do is attend the interview and provide a little feedback to our support team, and our support team will reimburse your credit card for the amount that you’ve paid us within 2 business days.  All in, it’s about an hour commitment between the interview and feedback.  No other strings attached.

Tip:  If you’ve already started a different course at your own expense, or prefer to pick your own school at your own expense, we’d still love to interview you.  Just reach back out when you’re licensed, and we can connect you with our hiring team, however, we’re unable to reimburse your course costs at this time unless you purchase the course directly from us. 

AgentAdvice.com is not the provider of any courses, and all state certifications, ongoing support questions, etc. will be provided by and fulfilled directly through the school. 

Think you have what it takes to be a successful real estate agent?

“When I interview people who have just passed their real estate course, I’m looking for agents that meet a couple of characteristics. If you have these characteristics, it will determine who is successful and who is not in real estate.

It’s not an easy industry. If it was easy, we’d all be rich. First, I’m looking for agents that have a vision for what they want to be, people who want more than what they have. Now, I’m not talking about money, motivated people necessarily. If money motivates you that’s fine, but in most cases, money’s not the motivator.

I am looking for agents that are in touch with their motivations to grow. Is it having a house for your family? Is it providing an education for your children? Is it providing security for your future retirement? It doesn’t matter, I’m looking for agents that have a vision, and are passionate about taking care of present and future concerns, whatever they are. So that’s number one: ambition.

Number two is looking for people that have a little bit of courage. This business requires courage. In my experience, having now been in conversations with well over a thousand agents over the last 18 months, and recruited more than a hundred, there’s one characteristic successful agents have. They don’t shrink from a challenge. They don’t, they still take action even if they don’t know all of the answers to all of the questions. They know that if they get faced with a question that they don’t really answer to, they know they can find the answer.

I’m looking for people that are ambitious, are courageous, and then finally are ready to grow. I want to help give people the opportunity to be the best version of themselves.

Usually, it’s not easy, and many times there are tears, and sweat, and frustration involved, but you go through that because you are so ambitious and in love with the future you’re trying to create. That passion for your future, it gives you courage to press through the hard times. So if you’re ambitious, courageous, and you’re ready to grow, and you think being in a conversation with a guy like me might be helpful to your future then let’s get you the tuition reimbursement you deserve!”

Agent Advice Success Stories: 

Terrica C.
New Keller Williams Agent & Tuition Reimbursement Recipient

“I always wanted to become a real estate agent, and finally decided to take the next step. Getting started with my course was easy. Agent Advice just sent me a link, and I did the whole thing online. I finished the class, now I just need to get scheduled for the state test. I would definitely recommend Agent Advice to anyone looking to get their license, especially if they’re wanting to do it for free.”

Rachel K.
New Real Estate Agent & Tuition Reimbursement Recipient

“I was moving from Tennessee to Florida, so I was considering a career change. I always thought real estate might be something I’d be good at, so I connected with someone at Agent Advice and decided to take the course. It was easy to follow and understand, and the course I chose kept me interested. It didn’t take long for me to finish the class and I passed my state exam on the first try! I then reached out again to Agent Advice and set up an interview with a tuition reimbursement sponsor, and got my money back that same day. All in all, it was really simple and easy.”

Marcus W.
New Real Estate Agent & Tuition Reimbursement Recipient

“The entire process was seamless, and the communication from the very beginning was great. When I first came across Agent Advice I had lots of questions, but I was able to get in touch with someone right away who helped explain the process from start to finish. Once I completed the course and set up an interview with a brokerage, they stopped the payments immediately. I also enjoyed the subscription payment option that Agent Advice has. It gave me the flexibility and motivated me to finish the course quickly. I’m still deciding on which brokerage is the right fit for me, but I enjoyed getting to interview with someone so that I could ask questions about what the day-to-day would look like at that company.”

Colibri’s course has the best refund policy in Washington. They have a Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee as well as a course swap option if you want to downgrade packages at any time.

When it comes to price, it’s definitely on the higher end of the spectrum, but there are four packages ranging in price ($299-$589) to choose from, which means you can add as many features as you want to. There are also almost always discounts and sales going on, which is a huge help.

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Convenience: 4.3 out 5. Unlike other online courses, Colibri’s cheapest package curriculum is strictly text-based. If you want access to videos, Q&A sessions, unique animations, or videos, you’ll have to upgrade to one of the more premium options. It really depends on your learning style, and how much money you want to pay upfront. However, if you want test prep I’d suggest taking a look at the Ultimate Learning package. It comes with simulated exams, flashcards, and an audio review guide. The best perk though is the “readiness assessment” which will break down how ready you are to take the exam. It will give you a score (1 through 10) to help you determine if you should keep studying, or if you’re ready to sign up.

Pass Rate: 4 out 5. Colibri’s pass rate amongst Washington students is pretty average. While it’s not the lowest pass rate by any means, you can certainly find a course (for a similar price) that will give you more confidence walking into the test. About 74% of Colibri students go on to pass the state exam, and they’ve helped more than 520,000 aspiring brokers get their license in Washington.

Course Duration: 4.5 out of 5. Although the Washington broker course only takes 90 hours to complete, some people like more time in case they get busy. You can pay to extend your course access by selecting a 7, 30, or 60-day option (prices go up the longer you want to extend). You can also choose the “retake” option which will give you a $25 discount to start the course over. Colibri’s policy is fairly generous compared to other schools, although you do only have the initial access for 6 months before you’ll have to look into extending your course.

Support: 4.2 out of 5. Colibri is one of the most trusted online real estate education providers, and they have the customer support to back it up. They have several tabs with different options to get in touch with a real person. They have an enrollment phone line, and a support line for you to call depending on what assistance you need. They also have a “live education specialist” who I was able to get in contact with via live chat. They responded within seconds and had a list of resources to offer me.

Colibri’s social team also updates all of their social media channels whenever there is a scheduled maintenance. It was easy for me to connect with other students in my area who were taking the same course because the Facebook and Instagram accounts are so active.

Refund Policy: 4.6 out of 5. I didn’t need one, but Colibri is one of the best courses to take if you think you may need a refund. If you sign up for self-paced online courses (most popular), you can get a 100% refund if you don’t like the course after taking it for a week. If you haven’t started it yet, you can request a full refund for up to a month. If you choose the livestream package, you have 24 hours to change your mind or swap to an online-only format if you do want a refund. This gives you a lot of options if you are unhappy with the course at any point. *Note: textbooks and shipping costs are non-refundable.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: I would recommend Colibri’s Washington pre-licensing course. For aspiring brokers, I’d suggest taking a look at the Ultimate Learning package. The extra perks like the career success tools, the instructor Q&A, and the CompuCram Exam Prep make it a great value that will help you find success long after you finish your real estate course.

RealEstateU is the cheapest course available in Washington. It’s the only course in the state that is less than $200, and frankly, it shows. While you can save a few dollars, you also won’t get the same benefits the other courses provide. Because it’s very run of the mill, RealEstateU didn’t make our list of the best real estate schools in Washington.

That being said, if you are on a tight budget and don’t have the extra money to spend, the course can get the job done if you put in the effort. I found the information was a little harder to retain in the text-heavy format (there are NO interactive games or quizzes AT ALL!) But, RealEstateU does makes it really easy to study at your own pace, and you can access the course on the go.

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Convenience: 4.3 out 5. OnDemand lessons are entirely online and can be taken at any time using a computer, smartphone, or tablet. The audio tutorials can be accessed on the go, and are 3-20 minutes long. You can also follow along with the transcripts of the audio recordings if you are more of a visual learner. While certain schools provide more a multimedia learning experience, that is not the case with RealEstateU. There are some infographics to help break up the text, but it’s not nearly as entertaining as other options.

However, I did enjoy the progress tracker that let me know how long each section was so that I was able to manage my time accordingly.

Pass Rate: 4.2 out 5. RealEstateU has the lowest pass rates on our list of Washington schools. While REU’s 68% pass rate is significantly lower than Aceable’s or The CE Shop’s, it’s still higher than many other online real estate schools. The state average is ~57%, so it’s actually not a horrible pass rate all things considered. At the end of the day, while it’s not a course I would recommend they have helped more than 140,000 professionals get their broker’s license in Washington.

Course Duration: 4.1 out of 5. Many people are curious about RealEstateU’s extension policy, as they want to know upfront how much time they have to finish the course. Bottom line: You have access to the course for 12 months, and if you haven’t completed it yet, you’ll have to buy the course all over again. While there are no extension options available, 12 months is actually a longer window than many other schools. Some courses, like Colibri Real Estate, have a strict cutoff date after just 6 months. It’s also less expensive to re-purchase REU’s course than it is to pay an extension fee because the base pay is so low to begin with. The only downside to that is that you’ll lose your place and have to start over.

Support: 3.9 out of 5. RealEstateU’s customer support team is lacking…to say the least. They don’t make it easy to find a phone number or even an email address if you need to get in touch with someone. They also don’t currently have a live chat option. The only way to get help is to fill out a contact form on their website. They don’t monitor those requests often either, so it took me several days to hear back about a site maintenance issue.

Refund Policy: 4.6 out of 5. I wasn’t looking for a refund, but this is something many people are curious about, so I’ve reviewed the policy here. RealEstateU offers a 30-day refund policy for classes that are under 50% completed. Keep in mind that ~$20 may be deducted from your refund depending on the class you are enrolled in. I’ll also note that they don’t offer any money-back guarantees, pass or don’t pay policies, or free trial offers.

Overall Value: Overall, I wouldn’t suggest taking RealEstateU’s Washington pre-licensing course, but it will get the job done if you’re looking for a cheap price. For new brokers, I’d recommend taking a look at Aceable’s basic package instead. It’s the second cheapest option, but has some added perks like the best-in-class exam prep and interactive course material that make it a better value.