You are exempt from completing the 20 hours of SAFE pre-education if:

Holding a California Department of Real Estate (DRE) license provides an exemption from completing the 20 hours of SAFE pre-education required for mortgage loan originators. This exemption applies because the DRE license signifies that the individual has already met certain educational and competency standards established by California law for real estate professionals. Such qualifications ensure that those with a DRE license possess foundational knowledge relevant to mortgage origination, thus reducing the need for additional SAFE pre-education training specifically for that role.

In the context of the other options, simply paying application fees does not fulfill educational requirements, nor does it provide an exemption. The statement that one "never can be exempt" contradicts the fact that holding a DRE license does indeed create a pathway for exemption. Lastly, working under a licensed employer does not directly provide an exemption from the educational requirements; it simply refers to compliance with employment conditions within the industry.