How to become a real estate broker in Vermont
Becoming a real estate broker in Vermont means upgrading from a salesperson license to one that allows you to work independently, supervise agents, and operate a brokerage. The Vermont Real Estate Commission requires broker applicants to complete a 40-hour broker pre-licensing course, gain at least two years of experience as a licensed salesperson with eight closed transactions, and pass both the national and state broker exams. Whether you are comparing the roles of a broker and real estate agent or ready to take the next step in your career, Vermont's broker path is built on proven experience and additional education.
What a real estate broker is in Vermont
A real estate broker in Vermont holds a license that permits independent practice, agent supervision, and trust account management, granted after meeting education, experience, and examination requirements beyond the salesperson level. The Vermont Real Estate Commission, established under 26 V.S.A. Chapter 41[1], regulates both broker and salesperson licensing. The Commission includes seven members: three brokers, one salesperson, one attorney, and two public members, according to the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) administrative rules[2].
In Vermont, a real estate salesperson (commonly called an agent) must be at least 18 years old, complete a 40-hour pre-licensing course, pass national and state exams, and work under the supervision of a principal broker. A broker has additional requirements: completing a 40-hour broker pre-licensing course, passing the broker-level national and state exams, and gaining at least two years of experience as a licensed salesperson with at least eight separate and unrelated closed transactions. Brokers can work independently and supervise salespersons, while salespersons must be employed by or associated with a brokerage firm.
REALTOR® status is a professional designation separate from state licensing. Vermont has more than 2,000 REALTOR® members through the Vermont Association of REALTORS® (Vermont REALTORS®[3]).
A real estate agent is a generic term for a licensed salesperson who helps clients buy, sell, or rent property and must work under a licensed broker. A real estate broker has completed additional education and experience requirements (in Vermont, a 40-hour broker pre-licensing course plus two years as a licensed salesperson with at least eight closed transactions) and can work independently, supervise agents, and operate a brokerage. A REALTOR® is a licensed agent or broker who belongs to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and must adhere to NAR's Code of Ethics; the term "REALTOR®" is a trademark reserved for NAR members.
Requirements to become a Vermont real estate broker
Vermont broker licensure builds on an active salesperson license and adds education, experience, and examination requirements established by the Vermont Real Estate Commission. The governing rules appear in Rule 2-5 of the OPR administrative rules[2] and the Vermont OPR salesperson and broker FAQs[4].
A Vermont broker license requires completing a 40-hour broker prelicensing course, passing the national and state exams within the two years preceding application, and gaining at least two years of experience as a licensed salesperson with at least eight separate and unrelated closed transactions. The applicant must also be affiliated with a Vermont-licensed office and submit the application through OPR's Online Services System with a $100 application fee. OPR processes applications in 3 to 5 business days.
The sections below detail each requirement, including the experience verification process, course specifics, exam structure, and application steps.
Meeting the experience and transaction requirements
Vermont requires broker applicants to have at least two years of experience as a licensed salesperson, including at least eight separate and unrelated closed transactions among buyers and sellers who bear no familial or contemporaneous business relationship to the applicant (Vermont OPR administrative rules, Rule 2-5[2]). This requirement ensures that broker candidates have practical, arms-length transaction experience before taking on the responsibilities of a broker license.
The eight transactions are documented on the Verification of Salesperson Experience form, which must be signed and dated by the applicant's supervising broker (Vermont OPR application instructions[5]). This form is submitted as part of the broker license application.
The Commission may waive the experience requirement for brokers licensed in another jurisdiction whose requirements are substantially equal to Vermont's. All applicants must still complete the Vermont state examination (Vermont OPR administrative rules, Rule 2-5[2]).
Completing the 40-hour broker pre-licensing course
The broker pre-licensing course is a Commission-approved program defined by Rule 1-8(c) of the Vermont OPR administrative rules[2] as "a course of instruction to become a broker, at least 40 hours long, approved by the Commission." The course completion certificate must be uploaded with the broker license application (Vermont OPR application instructions[5]).
Vermont requires broker license applicants to complete a broker pre-licensing course of at least 40 hours approved by the Vermont Real Estate Commission. Broker applicants must also have at least 2 years of experience as a licensed salesperson, including at least 8 separate and unrelated closed transactions among buyers and sellers bearing no familial or contemporaneous business relation to the applicant. Applicants must pass both the national and state examinations within the 2 years preceding application and be affiliated with a Vermont-licensed office.
The Vermont OPR forms and instructions page[6] lists approved providers and course offerings.
Vermont requires a 40-hour pre-licensing course approved by the Commission, with no stated requirement for in-person instruction or mandatory live hours. Approved providers offering online, self-paced courses can be found through the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation's online course search. The state does not require schools to report course completions; applicants submit their certificate of completion directly with the license application.
Passing the Vermont broker exam
The Vermont broker exam consists of a national component delivered through PSI and a state component completed within the online application. The national exam costs $110 per attempt and requires a 75% passing score (PSI Vermont Real Estate Examination Bulletin[7]). The state exam has no separate fee and is taken within the OPR application system (Vermont OPR salesperson and broker FAQs[4]).
| Component | Fee | Passing score |
|---|---|---|
| National exam | $110 per attempt | 75% |
| State exam | No separate fee | Not published |
As of October 1, 2023, the broker exam format changed from simulation to multiple-choice (Vermont OPR forms and instructions[6]). No Vermont regulatory source or PSI publishes the total question count or time limit for the broker exam. Candidates should consult the PSI candidate bulletin for current format details.
Both components must be passed within two years preceding the application date (Vermont OPR application instructions[5]). A candidate who fails one part may retake that part within the next six months. After six months or two failures, the candidate must retake the full exam (Vermont OPR administrative rules, Rule 2-7[2]).
Applying for your Vermont broker license
The broker license application is submitted through the Vermont OPR Online Services System with a non-refundable $100 application fee. Required documents include the broker pre-licensing course completion certificate, proof of passing the national broker exam, a Verification of Employment/Supervision form, a Verification of Salesperson Experience form, and the state exam, which is completed within the application (Vermont OPR application instructions[5]).
Application processing takes 3 to 5 business days (Vermont OPR salesperson and broker FAQs[4]). Brokers must be affiliated with a Vermont licensed office. If the broker intends to operate independently, a separate Brokerage Firm application must also be submitted.
Obtaining a Vermont broker license requires completing a 40-hour broker pre-licensing course, passing the national and state broker exams within two years preceding application, and gaining at least two years of experience as a licensed salesperson with at least eight separate and unrelated closed transactions. Because the two-year salesperson experience requirement is mandatory, the minimum time to become a broker is at least two years after first obtaining a salesperson license, plus the time needed to complete the broker pre-licensing course and pass the exams.
Fast-Track Endorsement for out-of-state brokers
Vermont offers a Fast-Track Endorsement pathway for licensees actively licensed in good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction for three or more years with continuous practice. Endorsement applicants must still complete the Vermont state examination (Vermont OPR application instructions[5]; Vermont OPR salesperson and broker FAQs[4]). The Commission may waive all or part of the national exam and the experience requirement for brokers from jurisdictions with substantially equal requirements (Vermont OPR administrative rules, Rule 2-5[2]).
Certain states are not considered equivalent to Vermont for waiver purposes:
| Waiver type | States not equivalent |
|---|---|
| Broker pre-licensing course waiver | Indiana, Alaska |
| National exam waiver | California, New York, Puerto Rico, West Virginia |
| Salesperson pre-licensing course waiver | Indiana, Rhode Island |
(Vermont OPR salesperson and broker FAQs[4])
Opening your own brokerage in Vermont
A broker who intends to operate independently must submit a Brokerage Firm application in addition to the broker license application. The application fee for a brokerage firm main office or branch office is $200, and the renewal fee is $400 (Vermont OPR fee schedule[8]). Brokerage firms renew on the same biennial cycle as individual brokers.
A broker working under another broker does not need to file a separate firm application. Vermont rules require each licensee to affiliate with one registered brokerage firm and practice under a principal broker's supervision (Vermont OPR administrative rules[2]).
Continuing education and renewal for Vermont brokers
Vermont broker licenses renew on a biennial cycle ending March 31 of even years, with a renewal fee of $220 (Vermont OPR fee schedule[8]). Renewal applications open approximately six weeks before the expiration date through the OPR Online Services System (Vermont OPR broker renewal instructions[9]).
Salespersons must complete 16 hours of continuing education per biennial renewal cycle, including a 4-hour mandatory course designated by the Commission. Brokers must complete 24 hours per cycle, also including the 4-hour mandatory course. First-time salesperson renewals must additionally complete 8 hours of post-licensure education within 90 days of initial license issuance. All licensees must also review the Vermont Energy Goals slideshow during the online renewal process, which carries no CE credit.
Yes, Vermont has no limit on the number of CE or post-license hours that may be completed online, provided the courses are OPR-approved. Under H.305 (2023), synchronous (live or interactive, not pre-recorded) virtual CE courses qualify as live, in-person training and are accepted for renewal.
The Vermont Energy Goals module is a separate, non-credit renewal requirement completed within the OPR online renewal system, not a CE course (Vermont OPR broker renewal instructions[9]). New brokers renewing for the first time are exempt from the CE requirement for their first renewal cycle. The mandatory course for the 2024-2026 renewal cycle covers disciplinary actions, rule changes, legislation, Vermont Supreme Court decisions, and practice topics including Act 250 amendments and short-term rental regulations (Vermont OPR mandatory course outline[10]).
Career outlook for Vermont real estate brokers
Real estate brokers earned a median annual wage of $72,280 in May 2024, compared to $56,320 for sales agents, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)[11]. About 54% of brokers are self-employed, and the BLS projects 3% job growth for real estate brokers and sales agents from 2024 to 2034, with approximately 46,300 openings annually.
Nationally, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) had approximately 1.4 million members as of 2025, with 22% identified as brokers and 16% as broker associates (NAR Magazine[12]). Most states require at least two years of sales agent experience for broker licensure, according to the BLS[11].
Next steps after obtaining your broker license
After receiving your broker license, decide whether to work under an established brokerage or operate independently. If you plan to open your own firm, submit a Brokerage Firm application through the OPR Online Services System. If you plan to work under another broker, ensure your affiliation is documented through the Verification of Employment/Supervision form. Track your continuing education hours from the start so you meet the renewal requirement before your first renewal deadline.
Sources
- Vermont Statutes — 26 V.S.A. Chapter 41 (Real Estate)StatuteAugust 2026
- Vermont OPR — RE Broker & Salesperson Administrative Rules (PDF)GovernmentAugust 2026
- Vermont Realtors — Become a Sales AgentEducationAugust 2026
- Vermont OPR — Salesperson & Broker FAQsGovernmentAugust 2026
- Vermont OPR — RE Application Instructions (PDF)GovernmentAugust 2026
- Vermont OPR — Real Estate Forms & InstructionsGovernmentAugust 2026
- PSI Services LLC — Vermont Real Estate Salesperson and Broker Examination BulletinEducationAugust 2026
- Vermont OPR — Initial Licensing & Renewal Fees (PDF)GovernmentAugust 2026
- VT SOS — RE Broker Renewal Instructions (PDF)GovernmentMay 2026
- Vermont OPR — Mandatory Course Outline 2024-2026 (PDF)GovernmentAugust 2026
- BLS OOH — RE Brokers & AgentsGovernmentMay 2026
- NAR Magazine — How to Become a BrokerEducationMay 2026