Real life experience (RLE), sometimes called real life test (RLT), is a process where transsexual and transgender people live in their preferred gender role for a while, in order to demonstrate that they can do so; and so gain permission for sex reassignment surgery.

A minimum requirement of 12 months RLE is part of the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association Standards of Care. In many places this differs - for example in the United Kingdom most National Health Service trusts will require 24 months, whereas in Thailand the Benjamin SOC is not usually followed and there is no such waiting time.

Real life experience is usually considered to start after transitioning full-time.

The intention of requiring RLE is to reduce the incidence of post-operative regret, by giving people more time to realise it if what they are doing is wrong for them.

The RLE period can be dangerous for trans people, since the person must live in their target gender with no supporting documentation, running the risk of discovery. Many transgendered people have suffered assault, murder, fatal denial of care, or other human rights abuses after the mismatch between their gender presentation and their genitals and documentation have become apparent.

See also: List of transgender-related topics