This will raise the bar for real estate licensing at par with the medical, legal, accounting and other professional occupations that require one to pass tough medical board, bar and CPA exams.

What this will do is cut the fat (1/2 million) sales agents with a dropout rate of 75% to minimum levels and provide clinical professionals who will be dedicated to serve the consumer regardless of the state of the always changing real estate market.

Another element that comes to mind is the simple fact that with a 50% failure rate the DRE seems to be more in collecting fees (easy revenue stream) rather that promoting the excellence in real estate standards that should be achieved with the BROKER license. It is so sad that some people remain sales agents for 20 + years without being forced to pass the Broker License test. If you cannot become a Broker after being in the business for two decades then there is something wrong with the DRE methodology or the person who is quiet experienced but is reluctant to achieve the higher requirement in his profession. What a shame and sham agency the DRE epitomizes? I believe Jerry Brown, the comeback elder statesman, who has a lot on his plate can do some immediate good with this no brainer change.

There is something quiet wrong the way real estate is licensed since 1917 and the time has come to elevate this profession to a level wherein the best enter and ensure the integrity of this profession wherein credibility and competence is guaranteed.

As of fall 2010 there are 327,000 licensed agents in California registered with the National Association of Realtors. There are 37 million people in ca, at least half of which are old enough to receive a license. That is around 1% of the workforce, or 1 in every 100 adults. That is still a lot though in order to sustain a long term career in real estate.