The information contained below is designed to provide a summary of the minimum education, experience, and examination requirements established by the Virginia Real Estate Board. We recommend you contact the Real Estate Board for more detailed information and for any changes which may have occurred.
Sales Prelicense
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have a good reputation for honesty, truthfulness, and fair dealing
- Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Complete 60 hours of in the Principles of Real Estate course
- Pass the state examination
- Submit an application within 12 months of taking the state examination
Sales Post License
- New Salespersons must complete 30 hours of Postlicense education. (Licensed before July1, 2008 - must take it within 1st two year licensure term; licensed on or after July 1, 2008 - must take it within one year of obtaining their license)
- There are 3 Board-approved 30 hour Postlicense curriculum (Practice Tracks):
- Residential Real Estate
- Commercial Real Estate
- Property Management
- There are mandatory topics and elective topics within each Practice Track
- There is no need to complete the 16 hour Continuing Education requirement if a Salesperson has completed the Postlicense requirements
- Post License education will not be accepted for CE education and vice versa
- In addition to these 30 hours, all new Salesperson whose license expire before July 1, 2009, must complete a two hour course in Limited Service Agency - This is a one time requirement
Broker Prelicense
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have a good reputation for honesty, truthfulness, and fair dealing
- Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Complete 180 hours of education
- Of the education requirement, applicants must complete at least three courses from the below listed broker specific courses and one of the three must be a 45 hour Real Estate Brokerage course
- Real Estate Brokerage
- Real Estate Law
- Real Estate Finance
- Real Estate Appraisal
- The remaining hours ma be broker related courses
- Pass the state examination
- Must have been actively engaged as a Salesperson for a period of 36 to 48 months immediately preceding the application
- Submit an application within 12 months of taking the state examination
Continuing Education
- Complete 16 hours of state approved courses every 2 years,
- 8 of the 16 CE hours shall include training in these required topics:
- Ethics and Standards of Conduct
- Legal Updates and Emerging Trends
- Real Estate Agency
- Real Estate Contracts
- Fair Housing Laws (minimum of 2 hours, which also includes an update on current cases and administrative decisions under Fair Housing Laws)
- In addition to these 16 hours, all Salesperson whose license expire before July 1, 2009, must complete a two hour course in Limited Service Agency - This is a one time requirement
- The other 8 hours are "elective" courses in real estate-related subjects.
- Sales agents renew every 2 years by the end of the month in which their license was received.