How to transfer your Washington, DC real estate license to a new brokerage
In Washington, DC you request the transfer online from your Access DC account. It costs $30 plus a $60 Real Estate Guaranty and Education Fund charge, and your new brokerage approves it.
Your old broker's part: is notified of the result. Process checked against the DC Real Estate Commission (DLCP)'s own forms and portal on September 19, 2026. Boards change forms, so confirm there before you file.
How the Washington, DC transfer works
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Set up a free Access DC account. Skip this if you already have one.
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Open My Licenses, then the Individual tab. Find your real estate license.
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Click Transfer Brokerage Affiliation. You will need your new brokerage's license number. This is where people stop, so get it first.
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Pay $30 plus $60. The $60 goes to the Real Estate Guaranty and Education Fund.
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Your new brokerage approves or denies it. You and your old brokerage are both told the outcome.
Where Washington, DC transfers get stuck
Chase the new brokerage, not the Commission
DC routes approval to the brokerage you are joining.
What to sort out before you switch
The state filing is the easy part. These are the things that cost agents money when they skip them.
Read your contract with your broker
Your independent contractor agreement sets your notice period, any fees you owe on the way out, and how deals that close after you leave get paid.
Listings stay with the brokerage
A listing agreement is a contract between the seller and the brokerage, not you. You can only take a listing with your old broker's written release and your seller's agreement.
Pending deals
Deals under contract usually close with your old brokerage, and your agreement decides how you are paid on them. Get it in writing before your last day.
MLS and association
Move your MLS and REALTOR® association membership to your new office so your access does not lapse.
Update every ad the same day
Signs, your website, social media and business cards must show your new brokerage once you move. State ad rules require the brokerage name.
CE and E&O
Several states will not complete a transfer while your continuing education is overdue or your errors and omissions cover has lapsed. Check both first.
What changes if you move to AXEN
No commission split. You keep 100% and pay a flat fee per closing instead.
AXEN charges a flat fee per closing ($500 on the Pro plan; less on smaller deals) that caps at $6,000 a year, or $12,000 on the Elite plan, plus a $295 per-file admin fee and a $50 a month platform fee. There is no commission split.
Revenue share and equity depend on plan and participation. Earnings examples are illustrations, not guarantees; your income depends on your own sales.
Compare the math on AXEN vs eXp vs Real fees, or look inside the AXEN portal for free. Our Washington, DC broker handles the new-broker side of this for agents joining AXEN. See the Washington, DC guide.
Washington, DC license transfer questions
How long does it take to transfer a Washington, DC real estate license?
You can start working with your new brokerage after your new brokerage approves it. How fast that comes depends mostly on how quickly both brokers act.
How much does it cost to transfer a Washington, DC real estate license?
The fee is $30 plus $60 for the Guaranty and Education Fund.
Does my old broker have to do anything in Washington, DC?
No signature is needed. Your old brokerage is simply told the outcome.
What happens to my listings when I change brokerages?
Listings belong to the brokerage, not the agent. You can only take one with your old broker's written release and the seller's agreement.
How much does it cost to transfer a DC real estate license?
$30 for the transfer plus $60 for the Real Estate Guaranty and Education Fund.
Can I transfer my license to AXEN?
Yes. AXEN is licensed in Washington, DC, and our Washington, DC broker handles the new-broker side of the transfer. Start at axenrealty.com/join.