How to become a real estate agent in Vermont

Vermont's path to a real estate salesperson license involves four steps: completing pre-licensing coursework, passing the national exam through PSI, affiliating with a principal broker, and submitting an online application that includes the state exam and a $100 fee. Vermont does not require a high school diploma, background check, or fingerprinting for licensure, so it ranks among the more accessible states for anyone pursuing a career as a broker and real estate agent. The full process typically takes a few months from starting coursework to receiving your license.

Vermont real estate license requirements

Vermont sets five requirements for a real estate salesperson license under 26 V.S.A. §2292^[1]: minimum age of 18, completion of a 40-hour pre-licensing course, passing the national and state exams within the two years preceding application, affiliation with a brokerage firm and its principal broker, and no disqualification under 3 V.S.A. §129a. The statute does not require a high school diploma or GED, unlike most other states. The statute was last amended effective June 27, 2019.

The Vermont Real Estate Commission Administrative Rules^[2] (effective December 1, 2015) mirror the statutory requirements. Rule 2.4 states that a salesperson must be at least 18, complete the pre-licensing course, pass both exams, and be employed by or associated with a brokerage firm and its principal broker.

Vermont does not require fingerprinting or a criminal background check for real estate licensure. The OPR Salesperson & Broker FAQs^[3] confirm that applicants must disclose any convictions or professional discipline in writing with supporting court documents, rather than submitting fingerprints. This disclosure-based approach under 3 V.S.A. §129a differs from many states that require fingerprint-based background checks.

The Vermont Real Estate Commission, established under 26 V.S.A. §2251^[4], administers licensing through the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR). The Commission has seven members appointed by the Governor: three licensed brokers, one licensed salesperson, one attorney, and two public members.

Complete the 40-hour pre-licensing course

The first step toward licensure is completing Commission-approved pre-licensing education. Upon finishing, you receive a certificate to submit with your license application. Approved providers can be found through the OPR online course search^[5] on the Vermont Secretary of State website. The Vermont Association of REALTORS® offers a pre-licensing course for $375 including textbooks and live Zoom instruction, according to Vermont REALTORS®^[6].

Pass the national and state licensing exams

Vermont's licensing exam has two components. The national portion is scheduled through PSI, and the state portion is completed within the online license application. As of February 27, 2021, the state exam is no longer administered through an external exam service and is embedded in the online application process, according to the OPR landing page^[5]. The OPR Forms & Instructions page^[7] lists PSI as the national exam provider.

The passing score for the salesperson national exam is 70 on a scaled score basis, and the broker national exam requires a scaled score of 75, according to the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin^[8] published December 1, 2025. These are scaled scores, not raw percentages. PSI sets the exam fee at $110 per attempt; this fee does not appear in OPR's fee schedule.

A candidate who fails one portion has six months to retake it. After two failures or six months, the full exam must be retaken, per Rule 2.7 of the administrative rules^[2]. Both exams must be passed within the two years immediately preceding your application submission.

Affiliate with a Vermont principal broker

Every Vermont salesperson must be associated with a single registered brokerage firm and work under the supervision of its principal broker. Rule 2.3(c)^[2] requires this affiliation, and 26 V.S.A. §2292^[1] lists it as a licensing requirement. You must submit a completed Verification of Employment/Supervision form with your application, available from the OPR Forms & Instructions page^[7].

You can affiliate with a broker before or after passing the exams, but the affiliation must be in place when you submit your application. The principal broker signs the verification form confirming the employment or association.

Submit your online license application

Vermont license applications are submitted through the OPR Online Services System, and paper applications are no longer accepted. The application instructions^[9] require you to create an account, complete the online form, pay the non-refundable $100 fee, and upload required documents.

The application fee is $100 for both salesperson and broker licenses, set by 26 V.S.A. §2255^[10] (effective June 20, 2023). Required uploads include your course completion certificate, proof of passing the national exam through PSI, and the completed Verification of Employment/Supervision form from your principal broker. The state exam is completed within the online application itself.

Your national exam score must be valid, passed within two years preceding the application submission date, per the application instructions^[9].

Complete post-licensure education

First-time salesperson licensees must complete 8 hours of post-licensure education within 90 days of their license being issued. The application instructions^[9] confirm this requirement, which is also codified in 26 V.S.A. §2293(2)^[11]. The courses must be approved by the Commission and cover topics related to the salesperson's practice.

Post-licensure education is separate from the continuing education required for license renewal. A licensee who endorsed into Vermont from another state is not required to complete post-licensure education, per the OPR FAQs^[3]. Approved post-licensure courses are listed on the OPR website^[7].

Real estate salesperson, broker, and real estate agent in Vermont

In Vermont, "real estate salesperson" is the official statutory license type, while "real estate agent" is a generic informal term. A salesperson works under the supervision of a licensed broker, who can work independently, hire agents, and has additional education and experience requirements. The broker exam changed from a simulation format to a multiple-choice exam as of October 1, 2023, according to the OPR Forms & Instructions page^[7].

NAR membership is voluntary and separate from state licensure. The National Association of REALTORS®^[12] reported approximately 1.4 million members in its 2025 Member Profile.

Getting licensed with an out-of-state license

Vermont evaluates out-of-state licensees through an endorsement process rather than formal reciprocity agreements. The Vermont state exam is required in all cases, according to the OPR FAQs^[3].

Maintaining your Vermont real estate license

Once your license is active, you maintain it through biennial renewal. Salesperson licenses renew by May 31 of even-numbered years, and broker licenses renew by March 31 of even-numbered years, with a renewal fee of $220, according to the OPR fee schedule^[13]. The fee schedule also notes a 90-day initial licensing policy: if your license is issued 90 days or less before the profession's renewal date, it extends through the next full two-year period. If issued 91 days or more before renewal, you must renew for the upcoming cycle.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics^[14], the median annual wage for real estate sales agents was $56,320 in May 2024, and the median for brokers was $72,280. Brokers and sales agents earn most of their income from commissions on sales.

Licensees who have been licensed for under two years and are renewing for the first time do not need to complete continuing education requirements, but must still upload post-licensure education evidence, per the OPR FAQs^[3].

You can verify any Vermont real estate license through the "Find a Professional" lookup tool on the Vermont Secretary of State website^[5].

To start, enroll in a Commission-approved pre-licensing course. After completing the course, schedule your national exam through PSI, affiliate with a Vermont principal broker, and submit your online application through the OPR Online Services System. Plan ahead for your first biennial renewal, and consider joining a local REALTOR® association for professional development and networking.