Broker and real estate agent: how to get a real estate broker license in Virginia

To become a real estate broker in Virginia, you must complete 180 hours of Board-approved broker pre-licensing education, document 36 months of full-time salesperson experience within the 48 months before applying, pass both the national and state portions of the broker exam, and submit a completed application to the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) Real Estate Board. The broker license allows independent practice, firm ownership, and sponsorship of salespersons. The term "REALTOR®" refers to membership in the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and is separate from the broker license.

What is a real estate broker in Virginia?

A real estate broker in Virginia holds a license that authorizes independent real estate practice, firm ownership, and supervision of salespersons. The DPOR Real Estate Board^[1] regulates broker licensure and sets the education, experience, and examination standards that distinguish a broker from a salesperson.

Virginia recognizes two roles within the broker license tier. An associate broker holds a full broker license but works under another broker's sponsorship without supervising agents. A principal broker owns or manages a firm, sponsors affiliated salespersons, and bears supervisory responsibility for all licensees at that firm.

"REALTOR®" identifies members of NAR, not a license category.

Experience requirement for a Virginia broker license

Virginia requires broker applicants to have worked as a salesperson on a full-time basis for a defined period before applying. The DPOR Real Estate Board^[1] defines this as being "actively engaged" in real estate, and part-time experience does not satisfy the requirement.

Salesperson licenses are valid for 2 years, and new licensees must complete post-license education within the first year to maintain active status. Active status is a prerequisite for accruing qualifying experience toward the broker license.

The experience requirement is one component of the full broker licensure process.

Eligibility for the broker license also includes age and education prerequisites.

Broker pre-licensing education: Virginia's 180-hour requirement

The broker pre-licensing curriculum in Virginia follows a framework set by the DPOR Real Estate Board^[2]. Original or certified transcripts are required to verify course completion, and equivalent courses from accredited colleges or universities may substitute for Board-approved school courses provided each course is at least 3 semester hours.

Broker-related course options include Business Law, Real Estate Investments, Property Management, Real Estate Abstracting, Urban Development, Real Estate Feasibility Analysis, Commercial Mortgage Lending, Real Estate Math, Land Use Planning, and designation programs (GRI, CRB, CCIM, SIR/SIOR).

Salesperson-level coursework cannot be applied toward the broker education requirement, and continuing education hours do not substitute for pre-licensing credit.

The Virginia broker exam

The broker exam consists of separate national and state portions administered by PSI^[3] at testing centers in Charlottesville, Richmond, Roanoke, Vienna, Virginia Beach, Johnson City (TN), and Salisbury (MD). PSI charges $60 for each exam attempt. Allow two weeks for processing of the exam application.

The minimum passing score is 60 out of 80 possible points on the national portion and 38 out of 50 possible points on the state portion, according to the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for Virginia^[4]. If you fail one portion, you retake only that portion.

In 2024, the cumulative pass rate was 53.7% on the national portion (302 of 562 test-takers passed) and 72.6% on the state portion (465 of 640 passed), according to the DPOR 2024 exam pass rate report^[5].

Exam scores are valid for one year from the date of passing, per the DPOR real estate process guide^[6].

Background check and broker license application

After passing both portions of the broker exam, the remaining steps are fingerprinting, background check, and submission of the completed application to DPOR. The DPOR real estate process guide^[6] outlines these steps.

Background checks expire after 45 days, so the complete application must reach the Board within that window or fingerprints must be retaken. All fees paid to DPOR are non-refundable, per the DPOR fees page^[7].

Broker applicants who intend to operate as a sole proprietor must mark the application accordingly and include all required documentation. Principal broker applicants opening their own firm must attach a complete FIRM application to the individual broker application.

Broker reciprocity for out-of-state licensees

Brokers licensed in another state can obtain a Virginia broker license through reciprocity. The applicant must hold a current broker license in the other state and meet Virginia's experience and education requirements. According to the DPOR Real Estate Board^[1], reciprocity applicants must pass the state portion of the Virginia broker exam, submit verification of experience, submit transcripts showing broker pre-licensing courses substantially equivalent to Virginia's, and submit letters of certification from other jurisdictions where licensed.

Licensure certifications from other states must be dated within 60 days of DPOR receiving the complete application.

Continuing education for Virginia brokers

Virginia brokers must complete Board-approved continuing education to renew an active license. Section 54.1-2105.03 of the Code of Virginia, cited on the DPOR continuing education page^[8], requires all brokers who have renewed at least once to complete Board-approved continuing education. Legislation enacted in 2024 (HB 383 and SB 330) raised the mandatory hour requirement for brokers and salespersons. Brokers who hold an inactive license must still renew but are not required to complete continuing education.

Next steps after obtaining your broker license

Once the Real Estate Board issues a broker license, the licensee can operate as a sole proprietor, open a firm and sponsor salespersons, or work as an associate broker under another broker. Brokers who open a firm serve as the principal broker responsible for supervising all affiliated licensees.

The broker license renews every 2 years. The renewal fee is $120, per the Virginia Real Estate Board fee schedule^[9] effective October 1, 2024. A $50 late fee applies for renewals submitted after the deadline, according to the Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS®^[10]. If a license lapses for more than 2 years, the licensee must repeat the entire licensing process.

To begin the broker pathway, verify your salesperson experience against the full-time requirement, then enroll in a Board-approved broker pre-licensing course.