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

To obtain a Rhode Island real estate salesperson license, you must be at least 18 years old, complete 45 hours of pre-licensing education (including 3 hours of Agency Law) plus a separate 3-hour Lead Paint Hazards course from a state-approved school, and pass both the National and State portions of the Pearson VUE exam with a minimum score of 70 on each part. After passing, you must submit a completed application to the Department of Business Regulation (DBR) with your original Pearson VUE score reports, a BCI background check from the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General, an E&O insurance certificate, and a broker affidavit signed by your sponsoring principal broker. The application requires two separate fees totaling $165 ($140 to the RI General Treasurer and $25 to the Real Estate Recovery Account), and DBR processing takes 7 to 10 business days.

To obtain a Rhode Island real estate salesperson license, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, complete 45 hours of pre-licensing education and a separate 3-hour Lead Poisoning/Lead Hazard Mitigation course from approved schools, pass both the National and State portions of the Pearson VUE exam with a scaled score of at least 70, obtain a BCI background check, carry errors and omissions insurance, and submit an application signed by a principal broker. The application requires two separate checks totaling $165: $140 payable to the RI General Treasurer and $25 to the Real Estate Recovery Account. The Department of Business Regulation processes applications within 7-10 business days.

Rhode Island requires 45 hours of pre-licensing education, including a minimum of 3 hours in Agency Law, plus a separate 3-hour Lead Poisoning/Lead Hazard Mitigation course. Pre-licensing courses must be delivered in person or via live-virtual classroom with real-time interactive instruction; on-demand, pre-recorded, and self-paced online courses are not accepted. Coursework must be completed from a school on the DBR's approved-education list, and classroom hours must be no more than 2 years old at the time of application.

Rhode Island regulation 230-RICR-30-20-2, effective February 21, 2022, accepts pre-licensing education delivered either in a physical classroom or via a live-virtual classroom with real-time, interactive instruction. Pure on-demand, self-paced, or pre-recorded online courses are prohibited for pre-licensing education. This restriction applies to both the 45-hour salesperson and 90-hour broker pre-licensing requirements, though on-demand online courses are accepted for continuing education.

The Rhode Island DBR maintains an official list of approved real estate schools for both pre-licensing and continuing education, available on the DBR website. The list includes Rhode Island-based providers and national online providers approved to offer RI courses. Pre-licensing courses must be taken in person or via live-virtual classroom from a school on this approved list.

Pearson VUE administers the Rhode Island real estate licensing exam under contract with the Department of Business Regulation. Candidates can schedule exams by calling Pearson VUE at 800-274-8922 or visiting www.pearsonvue.com, and appointments may be made up to one calendar day prior to the desired test date.

The Rhode Island real estate licensing exam consists of two separate parts: a National portion with 80 scored questions and a State portion with 50 scored questions. Candidates must pass both parts with a scaled score of at least 70, and must submit copies of both pass notices when applying for a license with the Department of Business Regulation. The exam is administered by Pearson VUE, and candidates who fail one portion online must retake that portion at a physical testing site.

A real estate broker is licensed to manage an independent real estate business and may employ other agents, while a real estate agent (or salesperson) must work under a licensed broker and cannot practice independently. Brokers meet additional education, experience, and exam requirements beyond what salespersons need. In Rhode Island, the Department of Business Regulation issues both broker and salesperson licenses under RIGL 5-20-5 and 5-20-6.

A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps people buy, sell, and rent real estate and must work under a licensed broker. A REALTOR® is a real estate agent or broker who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and pays annual membership dues. NAR members must follow the NAR Code of Ethics and complete periodic ethics and Fair Housing training. The term "REALTOR®" is a registered trademark of NAR and does not apply generically to all licensed agents.

To become a REALTOR®, a licensed real estate agent must join a local REALTOR® association and pay membership dues. The principals of a real estate firm must join a REALTOR® association before any non-principal agents can join, and each firm appoints one principal as the designated REALTOR®. For 2027, NAR national dues are $156 per member plus a $45 special assessment for the Consumer Advertising Campaign, billed through the member's primary local association.