Quick Reference Guide |How to Apply for a Salesperson/Broker License
What is a REALTOR®?
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate agent (salesperson or broker) who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS®, a private professional organization.
The Real Estate Board licenses real estate salespersons, brokers, and firms. The decision to join any professional association is voluntary and unrelated to state licensure.
State law requires a license to practice real estate, but does not require any licensee be a REALTOR®.
How do I contact the Board office?
You may reach us by phone at804-367-8526 (Licensing Section)or804-367-2406 (Education Section), by FAXat 1-866-826-8863, or by e-mail atREBoard@dpor.virginia.gov. Additionally, if you have information that you would like to mail to the Board, please send it to:
Real Estate Board
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400
Richmond, VA 23233
The Board members do not work in the Board office. They come into the Board offices for Board meetings and hearings, but are not here on a daily basis. Board office staff members can answer your questions and are trained to process all information that comes into the Board office. Please do not contact Board members directly.
What are the qualifications for licensure by exam?
Salespersons must complete a 60-hour course ("Principles of Real Estate") and pass the State and National portions of the salesperson examination. Brokers must complete 180 hours of required broker-specific and broker-related courses, pass the State and National Portions of the broker examination, and submit verification of experience (actively engaged as a salesperson for 36 out of the 48 months preceding application for licensure). Also seeQuick Reference Guide to Licensure.
What are the broker education requirements?
A total of 180 classroom hours of Board-approved courses is required. Proof of passing the course and a monitored final examination are required for course approval. You must completeat least threecourses from the broker-specific courses below.One of the three must be a 45-classroom hour real estate brokerage course.
Broker-specific Courses:
The remaining hours may be broker-related courses.
Broker-related Courses:
Note:The maximum allowable credit for a single broker-specificcourse is 60 hours, and 45 hours for a single broker-relatedcourse. Any principles of real estate course taken to meet the salesperson education requirementis not acceptableto meet the broker education requirement.
I am licensed in another state and wish to become licensed in Virginia. Can I apply through reciprocity?
Yes. Applicants for asalespersonlicense must (1) pass the State portion of the examination, (2) submit verification of completion of a 60 hour course called "Principles of Real Estate" and (3) submit letters of certification from other jurisdictions where licensed.Also, in order to apply through reciprocity, the salesperson MUST hold acurrentsalesperson license in another state.
Applicants for abrokerlicense must (1) pass the State portion of the examination, (2) submit verification of experience (actively engaged as a salesperson or broker for 36 out of 48 months preceding application for licensure), (3) submit original transcripts or certified copies of transcripts from the educational institution where the applicant completed 180 classroom hours of broker pre-licensing courses substantially equivalent to Virginia's real estate education requirements, and (4) submit letters of certification from other jurisdictions where licensed.Also, in order to apply through reciprocity, the broker MUST hold acurrentbroker license in another state.
How do I apply for the examination?
Contact the Board's examination vendor,PSI(1-800-733-9267).
I am licensed in Virginia, and applying for licensure in another state.The other state is requesting verification of my Virginia license. What do I need to do?
Please complete theCertification Request Form (PDF)and send it with a check for $35.00, made payable to the Treasurer of Virginia. Specify where you would like the certification to be mailed.
My license is on inactive status. Do I still need to renew?
Yes, an inactive license must be renewed. The renewal fee is the same, however,an inactive licensee is not required to meet the continuing education requirements.
NOTE:All salespersons (active or inactive) renewing their licenses for the first timemustcomplete 30 hours of post-license education (instead of continuing education).
How do I go about filing a complaint against a real estate licensee?
If you have a complaint about a licensed real estate salesperson, broker, or firm, first try to settle it with management. If you cannot resolve the issue, you may file areport with theRegulatory Programs and Compliance Section.
I need to renew my license, but I haven't received my renewal form. What do I need to do?
No earlier than 60 days prior to your license expiration, send in the renewal fee, make checks payable to theTreasurer of Virginia, and include your registration number on your check. Please note that if you wish to renew on active status, you must meet the education requirements. If you have had a change of address, include a letter with your new address. Mail this information to:
Real Estate Board
Department of Professional & Occupational Regulation
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400
Richmond, VA 23233
You CANNOT continue to practice in Virginia after your license has expired or if your license is on inactive status.
My renewal payment was one day late and I have always paid on time. Can you waive the late fee?
No. Board regulations provide a 30-day period after the expiration date in which a license may be renewed without penalty (therefore, your payment is actually 31 days late). Staff cannot waive the fee.
Regulationsstate that if the requirements for renewal of a license, including receipt of the fee by the board, are not complete within 30 days of the expiration date, a reinstatement fee is required.
Once your license expires, you no longer have a license to practice real estate. The 30-day period is not a license extension, but only an additional 30 days to complete your education and submit payment without having to pay the reinstatement fee.
I did not renew on time because I didn't receive my renewal card. Do I still have to pay a late fee or reinstate my license?
Yes. Board regulations state that failure to receive the renewal notice does not relieve the licensee of the obligation to renew.
Does the Board office use the date of receipt or the postmark date to determine whether an application or renewal was received on time?
The date the application or renewal wasreceivedin the agency determines whether it is on time,not the postmark date.If the renewal fee is received after the due date, you will be required to pay the reinstatement fee. If the reinstatement fee is received after the due date, you will be required to reapply for licensure, meeting all current requirements.
My address and/or name has changed. What do I need to do to notify the Board?
Many Boards allow you toupdate your ADDRESSusingOnline Services, so login to your personal profile to see if this is an option for your license type. The alternative is to complete, print, sign, and submit anAddress Change Formto the Board office by mail.Unless updated online, all Address Change Forms must be received by the Board in writing. When providing a post office box as the mailing address, it must be accompanied by the physical address.
To report a NAME CHANGE:complete, print, sign, and submit aName Change Formto the Board office.All name changes must be received by the Board in writing. Individual name change requestsmust be accompanied bya copy of a marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order, or other official documentation that verifies the name change.
- Business Law
- Real Estate Investments
- Property Management
- Real Estate Abstracting
- Urban Development
- Real Estate Feasibility Analysis
- Commercial Mortgage Lending
- Real Estate Math (completed before 12/86)
- Land Use Planning
- GRI(all parts)
- CRB (all parts)
- CCIM (all parts)
- SIR/SIOR (all parts)
