Rhode Island real estate license: Steps to become a broker and real estate agent

Obtaining a Rhode Island real estate license requires completing pre-licensing education, passing a two-part exam, obtaining a criminal background check, and submitting an application with fees to the Department of Business Regulation (DBR). The process is the shared starting point for the broker and real estate agent career paths, since Rhode Island requires every new licensee to begin as a salesperson working under a sponsoring broker. Most candidates move from enrollment to license activation in a few weeks to a few months, depending on study pace and exam availability.

Rhode Island real estate license requirements

Rhode Island sets age, education, exam, background, and broker affiliation requirements for salesperson licensure, all enforced by the DBR under Regulation 230-RICR-30-20-2.

Age and education prerequisites

The minimum age for licensure is 18. Rhode Island does not require a high school diploma or GED for a real estate salesperson license. The DBR salesperson application^[1] (revised January 2024) requests age confirmation but no education-level information.

Complete the 45-hour pre-licensing course

Pre-licensing education is the first required step, and the DBR regulates curriculum and approves all providers.

Course format

Students can attend pre-licensing classes in person or through live, interactive video sessions, but self-paced online courses are not accepted.

Course completion deadline

Pre-licensing hours completed more than two years before the application date will not count toward the requirement, per 230-RICR-30-20-2.7^[2].

Finding an approved real estate school

The DBR publishes an official list of approved schools^[3] on its website. The list includes more than 60 providers.

Pass the Rhode Island real estate exam

Candidates must pass both portions of the licensing exam before submitting a license application to the DBR.

Exam fees and retake policy

Each exam part costs $50, for a total of $100 for both parts, according to the RI Association of REALTORS®^[4]. Candidates who fail one portion must retake only the failed portion within one year, paying $50 for each retake. After one failed attempt per part via online testing, candidates must register at a physical testing site, per Pearson VUE's Rhode Island real estate page^[5].

Get a BCI background check

Applicants must obtain a BCI (Bureau of Criminal Identification) background check from the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General at 4 Howard Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920 (email: BCIstate@riag.ri.gov), as required by the DBR salesperson application^[1]. Non-resident applicants must also submit a background check from their home state's law enforcement agency.

Submit your salesperson license application

The completed application goes to the DBR Division of Commercial Licensing, Real Estate Section, either by mail or through the DBR eLicensing portal^[6]. Processing takes 7 to 10 business days, per the DBR salesperson application^[1].

Required documents and fees

The application requires the following items:

The two fees must be paid as separate checks or money orders, totaling $165.

Activate your license with a sponsoring broker

A Rhode Island salesperson license cannot be activated without broker affiliation. The DBR application requires a Broker Affidavit signed by the principal broker, so the broker relationship must be established before the application is submitted. E&O insurance, typically provided through the broker, must also be in place.

After your license is issued

Once the DBR issues the license, it is valid for two calendar years, expiring on the anniversary date of issuance. Renewal requires 24 hours of DBR-approved continuing education per cycle, including 9 core hours with 3 hours in Fair Housing, and a $130 salesperson renewal fee, per the DBR renewal application^[7]. Rhode Island also has reciprocity agreements with Connecticut and Massachusetts and a mutual recognition agreement with Florida for out-of-state licensees.

REALTOR® membership

A real estate license and a REALTOR® membership are separate credentials.

For licensed agents who want to join a REALTOR® association, the process involves membership application and dues.

The first step is choosing a DBR-approved pre-licensing course and beginning the education requirement. Once enrolled, schedule your exam and start gathering the documents you will need for the application.