- How the DC-RE-S Splits Into Two Portions
- The 11 General Portion Domains
- The 3 State Portion Domains
- Why Statutory Requirements Dominates the State Portion
- Domain Weight Comparison Table
- Registration, Fees, and Retake Mechanics
- Mapping a Study Timeline to the Domains
- After You Pass: Licensing and Career Context
- FAQ
- The DC-RE-S has 14 content domains split across a general portion (Domains 1-11) and a state portion (Domains 12-14).
- Statutory Requirements Governing the Activities of Licensees alone makes up 67% of the state portion - the single heaviest domain on the exam.
- You need 75% correct across 110 scored questions (80 general, 30 state) in 210 minutes to pass.
- Contracts (19%) and Agency (13%) are the two heaviest domains in the general portion.
How the DC-RE-S Splits Into Two Portions
The District of Columbia Real Estate Salesperson Exam (DC-RE-S) isn't one undifferentiated question bank - it's built from 14 named content domains that PSI groups into two separately scored portions. Domains 1 through 11 live inside the general portion, which contributes 80 of the 110 scored questions. Domains 12 through 14 live inside the state portion, which contributes the remaining 30 scored questions. PSI may also slip in up to 10 additional non-scored (pretest) items that look identical to real questions but don't count toward your result, so don't waste time trying to guess which ones they are.
Both portions are administered together at a PSI test center as a single closed-book, computer-based session lasting 210 minutes, and a basic on-screen calculator is provided. You need at least 75% correct overall to pass. If you understand exactly how much weight each domain carries, you can allocate study time proportionally instead of spreading yourself evenly across topics that matter unevenly on test day. That's the core idea behind this guide and behind our companion DC-RE-S Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
The 11 General Portion Domains
The general portion tests broad real estate principles and practices that apply across markets, not just District-specific rules. Here's what each domain actually covers and why it carries the weight it does.
Domain 1: Property Ownership (10%)
Covers estates in land, forms of ownership, encumbrances, and the legal distinctions between real and personal property.
- Fee simple vs. leasehold estates and life estates
- Joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and community property concepts
- Easements, liens, and encroachments
Domain 2: Land Use Controls (5%)
Focuses on zoning, planning, and government regulation of how land can be used.
- Zoning classifications and variances
- Building codes and permitted uses
- Eminent domain and police power
Domain 3: Valuation (8%)
Tests your ability to understand how property value is estimated and what influences it.
- Sales comparison, cost, and income approaches
- Factors affecting market value
- Appraisal terminology candidates must recognize, not perform
Domain 4: Financing (10%)
Covers mortgage instruments, loan types, and the financing process buyers move through.
- Conventional, FHA, and VA loan basics
- Mortgage clauses and default/foreclosure concepts
- Loan-to-value and underwriting terminology
Domain 5: Contracts (19%)
The single heaviest domain in the general portion. Expect deep coverage of contract law as applied to real estate transactions.
- Elements of a valid contract and contingencies
- Listing agreements and buyer representation agreements
- Offer, acceptance, and remedies for breach
Domain 6: Agency (13%)
The second-heaviest general-portion domain, testing fiduciary duties and representation relationships.
- Types of agency and dual agency issues
- Fiduciary duties owed to clients vs. customers
- Creation and termination of agency relationships
Domain 7: Property Disclosures (7%)
Covers what sellers and licensees must disclose about a property's condition and history.
- Material defect disclosure obligations
- Environmental hazard awareness (lead paint, etc.)
- Consequences of nondisclosure
Domain 8: Property Management (3%)
The lightest-weighted general domain, covering landlord-tenant fundamentals and management basics.
- Lease types and lease terms
- Landlord and tenant rights and obligations
- Basic property management responsibilities
Domain 9: Transfer of Title (6%)
Covers how ownership legally passes from one party to another.
- Deeds and their required elements
- Recording and title transfer procedures
- Title insurance concepts
Domain 10: Practice of Real Estate (12%)
Tests day-to-day professional practice standards and conduct expectations.
- Advertising and marketing rules
- Fair housing practice application
- Handling of earnest money and trust funds
Domain 11: Real Estate Calculations (7%)
The math-heavy domain - a provided calculator helps, but formulas must be memorized.
- Commission splits and proration calculations
- Loan payment and interest calculations
- Area, square footage, and tax calculations
Notice that Contracts, Agency, and Practice of Real Estate together account for 44% of the general portion. If your study time doesn't reflect that concentration, you're studying against the exam's actual structure rather than with it. Our DC-RE-S Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts is organized around this exact weighting so the highest-value topics stay visible during final review.
The 3 State Portion Domains
The state portion is smaller in raw question count - 30 scored questions versus 80 - but it is far from an afterthought. It tests District-specific licensing law rather than general real estate principles, and one domain inside it is disproportionately important.
Domain 12: Duties and Powers of the Real Estate Commission (20%)
Covers the authority, structure, and enforcement powers of the District of Columbia Real Estate Commission, which operates within the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.
- Commission composition and rulemaking authority
- Disciplinary powers and hearing procedures
- Complaint investigation processes
Domain 13: Licensing Requirements (13%)
Covers the specific eligibility and procedural rules a salesperson candidate must satisfy.
- Age, education, and English proficiency requirements
- Application timing after passing the exam
- Broker affiliation requirements
Domain 14: Statutory Requirements Governing the Activities of Licensees (67%)
By far the largest single domain on the entire exam, representing two-thirds of the state portion's weight.
- License renewal cycles and continuing education obligations
- Trust account handling and recordkeeping duties
- Prohibited conduct and grounds for discipline
Why Statutory Requirements Dominates the State Portion
It's worth pausing on Domain 14 because its weight is easy to underestimate if you only skim a domain list. At 67% of the state portion, Statutory Requirements Governing the Activities of Licensees carries more weight, on its own, than Domains 12 and 13 combined. That means roughly two out of every three state-portion questions you see will draw from this single body of law covering how licensees must actually operate day to day - recordkeeping, trust funds, license renewal timing, and prohibited conduct.
Salesperson licenses expire August 31 of odd-numbered years, and renewal ordinarily requires 15 continuing-education hours per two-year cycle - though the first renewal of a license granted by examination is CE-exempt. These are exactly the kind of operational details Domain 14 draws on, and they're easy to mix up under time pressure if you haven't drilled them specifically.
Key Takeaway
Treat Domain 14 as its own mini-exam. Because it's 67% of the state portion, a weak grasp of statutory operating rules can sink your state-portion score even if Domains 12 and 13 go well.
Domain Weight Comparison Table
| Domain | Portion | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Property Ownership | General | 10% |
| 2. Land Use Controls | General | 5% |
| 3. Valuation | General | 8% |
| 4. Financing | General | 10% |
| 5. Contracts | General | 19% |
| 6. Agency | General | 13% |
| 7. Property Disclosures | General | 7% |
| 8. Property Management | General | 3% |
| 9. Transfer of Title | General | 6% |
| 10. Practice of Real Estate | General | 12% |
| 11. Real Estate Calculations | General | 7% |
| 12. Duties and Powers of the Real Estate Commission | State | 20% |
| 13. Licensing Requirements | State | 13% |
| 14. Statutory Requirements Governing the Activities of Licensees | State | 67% |
For a deeper breakdown of what "75% correct" translates to across these weighted domains, see DC-RE-S Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Registration, Fees, and Retake Mechanics
Understanding the domains matters more once you understand how the exam is actually administered, since the fee and retake structure shapes how much room for error you have.
- The PSI examination fee is $79, whether you're testing on one portion or both in the same session.
- Separately, the state application fee is $65, the license fee is $130, and the Guaranty and Education Fund assessment is $60.
- You must apply for licensure within six months after passing the exam.
- If you fail one portion, you must complete that portion within six months of your first attempt.
- Before sitting for the exam, applicants must be at least 18, hold a high-school diploma or equivalency, be able to read, write, and understand English, complete 60 hours of approved salesperson prelicensing education, and affiliate with a District-licensed broker.
A full itemized breakdown of every fee in the licensing pipeline - including how the exam fee compares to the application, license, and Guaranty Fund charges - is available in DC-RE-S Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If you're still confirming you meet the baseline eligibility rules before scheduling, check DC-RE-S Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify first.
Mapping a Study Timeline to the Domains
Rather than studying domains in the order they're numbered, sequence your prep by weight and by portion, so the heaviest-scoring material gets the most repetition before test day.
Contracts and Agency (32% combined)
- Master contract elements, contingencies, and remedies (Domain 5)
- Drill fiduciary duty scenarios and agency creation/termination (Domain 6)
Practice of Real Estate, Financing, Property Ownership
- Fair housing and advertising rules (Domain 10)
- Loan types and mortgage clauses (Domain 4)
- Estates and ownership forms (Domain 1)
Valuation, Disclosures, Calculations, Title, Land Use, Management
- Practice commission, proration, and area math problems (Domain 11)
- Review disclosure obligations and transfer-of-title mechanics (Domains 7 & 9)
- Cover zoning and lighter-weighted topics (Domains 2 & 8)
Statutory Requirements and Commission Powers (state portion)
- Go deep on Domain 14 - trust accounts, renewal cycles, prohibited conduct
- Review Commission disciplinary authority (Domain 12) and licensing procedures (Domain 13)
- Run full-length timed practice sessions on our practice test platform
This sequencing isn't generic advice bolted on for its own sake - it directly mirrors the weight table above, front-loading the 19% and 13% general-portion domains and closing with the 67%-weighted statutory domain right before test day. For a more detailed week-by-week plan with specific question targets, see DC-RE-S Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
After You Pass: Licensing and Career Context
Passing the exam is a milestone, not the finish line. You still need to submit your application within six months, pay the application, license, and Guaranty and Education Fund fees, and affiliate with a District-licensed broker before you can practice. Once licensed, you'll operate on a renewal cycle ending August 31 of odd-numbered years, with 15 continuing-education hours due per two-year cycle after your CE-exempt first renewal.
If you're weighing whether the time and cost of this whole process is worthwhile relative to where it can take your career, our analysis in Is the DC-RE-S Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 walks through the tradeoffs in more depth, and DC-RE-S Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis looks at earnings context for licensed salespersons. For a broader look at how hard candidates generally find the exam relative to its domain structure, see How Hard Is the DC-RE-S Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026. And when you're ready to test your domain-by-domain readiness under real exam conditions, start a full-length practice session to see where your weak spots actually are before scheduling with PSI.
FAQ
There are 14 total domains: 11 in the general portion (Domains 1-11) and 3 in the state portion (Domains 12-14).
Domain 14, Statutory Requirements Governing the Activities of Licensees, carries the highest weight at 67% of the state portion.
The general portion has 80 scored questions covering Domains 1-11, and the state portion has 30 scored questions covering Domains 12-14, for 110 scored questions total.
Yes. PSI may add up to 10 non-scored items in addition to the 110 scored questions, though you won't know which ones are unscored during the test.
You need at least 75% correct overall within the 210-minute testing window to pass the DC-RE-S exam.