Virginia Real Estate License Requirements
How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Virginia
Quick Overview:
To become a real estate agent in Virginia, you’ll need to be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Follow these steps:
- Complete the Required 60 Hours of Pre-Licensing Education
- Pass the Final Exam for Your Course
- Pass the Virginia Real Estate Salesperson Exam
- Get Your Fingerprints Taken
- Select a Sponsoring Broker
- Complete and Submit Your Salesperson License Application
How to Get a Real Estate License in Virginia
The Virginia Real Estate Board requires all prospective agents to complete the following steps to become a licensed real estate agent. Follow the steps below to get started with your real estate career.
1. Complete the Required 60 Hours of Pre-Licensing Education
Prospective real estate agents must complete a 60-hour course from a real estate school approved by the Virginia Real Estate Board.
2. Pass the Final Exams for Your Course
Once you’ve completed each Pre-Licensing course, you must pass the course final exam. You must receive a score of at least 75% to pass, but each exam can be taken as many times as necessary. These exams must be taken in the presence of a proctor. You’ll need to schedule an appointment with a proctor in advance.
3. Pass the Virginia Real Estate Salesperson Exam
Next, you’ll need to pass the Virginia Salesperson licensing exam.
The exam, which is administered by PSI, consists of a national portion and a state portion. You will have 105 minutes to complete the 80-question national section and 45 minutes to complete the 40-question state section. For more information about the exam and how to register to take the exam, read PSI’s state Candidate Information Bulletin.
To get pre-approved to sit for the exam, your real estate school must provide a digital photograph, your driver’s license number, and confirmation of course completion to PSI. For more information on the photograph requirement, read our guide.
Some students enroll in an Exam Prep course in order to prepare for the test.
4. Get Your Fingerprints Taken
Before you can apply for your Virginia Salesperson license, you must get fingerprinted. For more information, visit the Virginia Real Estate Board’s website. After getting fingerprinted, you have 45 days to submit your license application before your background check expires.
5. Select a Sponsoring Broker
To begin working as a real estate agent in Virginia, you must be sponsored by an active Virginia real estate Broker. Choosing the right Broker to work with is a key factor to becoming a successful Virginia real estate agent, so it’s important to find a good fit.
When searching for a sponsoring Broker, here are some questions to consider:
- Do they have a good reputation, locally and nationally?
- Are they looking for a specific type of real estate agent?
- What kind of education and training do they offer?
- What does their fee and commission structure look like?
- What kind of benefits do they offer?
6. Complete and Submit Your Salesperson License Application
Once you’ve completed all the requirements, it’s time to complete your license application! You must mail in a completed application form with all required documentation and fees. The application form can be found on the Virginia Real Estate Board’s website.
Quick Facts:
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To get a Salesperson license in Virginia, you must complete 60 hours of Pre-Licensing education.
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For additional information about real estate licensure in Virginia, visit the Virginia Real Estate Board’s website.
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To learn more about the Virginia Salesperson licensing exam, read PSI’s state Candidate Information Bulletin.
Common Questions About Getting Your Virginia Real Estate License
1. How Much Does it Cost to Get Your Real Estate License in Virginia?
The cost of getting a real estate license in Virginia can vary considerably, but you can typically expect to pay between $459 and $709. There could be additional costs.
| Average Course Tuition | $229-$479 |
| Fingerprinting Fee | About $52 |
| Exam Fee | $60 |
| License Application Fee | $170 |
| Total | $511-$761 |
2. How Long Does it Take to Get a Real Estate License in Virginia?
The amount of time that it will take to get a real estate license in Virginia can vary considerably, but one of the major factors is how long it takes you to complete your 60 hours of required Pre-Licensing education.
| Student Learning Pace | Time Period |
|---|---|
| Full-Time Student (40 hours a week) | 1½ weeks |
| 20 Hours a Week | 3 weeks |
| 10 Hours a Week | 6 weeks |
| 5 Hours a Week | 12 weeks |
3. If I Get a Real Estate License in Virginia, Where Else Can I Work?
If you hold an active real estate license in another jurisdiction and want to get a reciprocal license in Virginia, you must:
- Pass the state portion of the Virginia Salesperson licensing exam
- Submit verification of completion of a 60-hour course called “Principles of Real Estate”
- Submit letters of certification from the other jurisdictions in which you are licensed
For more information, visit the Virginia Real Estate Board’s website.
4. How Much Money Can I Make as a Virginia Real Estate Agent?
According to Indeed.com, the average salary for a Virginia real estate agent is $86,152.
Virginia Real Estate Post-Licensing Requirements
Virgina requires new real estate agents to complete 30 hours of Post-Licensing education within their first year of licensure. Upon completion, Salesperson licensing will be confirmed.
Virginia Real Estate Continuing Education Requirements
Virginia requires that real estate Salespersons take 16 hours of Continuing Education every two years to renew their license. For more information about the requirements, visit the Virginia Real Estate Board’s website.
