How to become a broker and real estate agent in Virginia
18 min read·
The path to becoming a broker and real estate agent in Virginia starts with a salesperson license. The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) oversees real estate licensing through a multi-step process that includes education, testing, background screening, and application. A sponsoring broker must affiliate with you before your license can be activated, and the Virginia Real Estate Board governs every step from eligibility to activation.
Virginia real estate license requirements
Virginia sets three baseline requirements for salesperson license applicants: applicants must be 18 or older, possess a high school diploma or its equivalent, and pass a criminal background check. No college degree, prior real estate experience, or Virginia residency is required.
The Board evaluates character through the background check and will not issue a license to anyone who has had a real estate license revoked or suspended in any state, or who has been convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanors involving moral turpitude, sexual offenses, or drug distribution, per the Virginia real estate licensing requirements[1]. The DPOR Real Estate Board page[2] confirms that the Board licenses salespersons, brokers, and firms representing others in property transactions.
Virginia requires salesperson license applicants to be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and complete a 60-hour Board-approved pre-license course. Applicants must pass both the State and National portions of the salesperson examination administered by PSI, complete fingerprinting and a criminal background check, and submit a license application to the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). The background check must be on file with the Board within 45 days, and exam scores are valid for one year. A license cannot be activated until a licensed broker agrees to sponsor the applicant.See the answer for every state
To become a licensed salesperson in Virginia, you must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or equivalent. The process has four steps: complete a 60-hour Board-approved "Principles of Real Estate" pre-license course, pass the state and national portions of the PSI exam ($60 per attempt), get fingerprinted for a background check that remains valid for 45 days, and submit a completed application with a sponsoring broker. Exam scores are valid for one year, and a complete application must be on file with the Board within 45 days of fingerprinting.See the answer for every state
The licensing process at a glance
DPOR requires applicants to move through several stages before they can represent clients: coursework, testing, fingerprinting, application submission, and broker affiliation. The first four stages earn you a license; the fifth activates it.
The Virginia DPOR outlines a four-step process: complete a 60-hour Board-approved pre-licensing course, pass both the State and National portions of the salesperson exam administered by PSI, get fingerprinted for a criminal background check, and print, complete, sign, and mail the license application. Exam scores are valid for one year, and background checks expire after 45 days, so a complete application must be on file with the Board within 45 days of fingerprinting. A sponsoring broker must agree to affiliate before the license can be activated.See the answer for every state
The Virginia DPOR does not publish a specific end-to-end timeline for obtaining a real estate license. The process requires completing 60 hours of pre-licensing education, passing the PSI exam, completing fingerprinting and a background check, finding a sponsoring broker, and submitting a license application. The DPOR advises allowing two weeks for processing of the exam application. Most candidates move from enrollment to an active license within a few months, depending on study pace, exam scheduling, and application processing time.See the answer for every state
Step 1: Complete the 60-hour pre-licensing course
Every salesperson applicant must finish a 60-hour Board-approved pre-licensing course before registering for the exam. The DPOR pre-license education page[3] lists this as a firm prerequisite with no waivers for experience or prior coursework.
Three delivery formats are approved by the Board: online, classroom, and correspondence. Real estate schools across Virginia offer the course at varying price points and paces. A separate sibling guide covers the full syllabus, format comparison, and provider selection in detail.
Virginia requires salesperson applicants to complete a 60-hour Board-approved course called "Principles of Real Estate" and pass both the State and National portions of the salesperson examination. Broker applicants must complete 180 hours of Board-approved broker pre-licensing courses, including a mandatory 45-hour Real Estate Brokerage course plus additional broker-specific and broker-related courses. Courses taken to meet continuing education requirements are not acceptable for pre-license credit, and any Principles of Real Estate course taken for salesperson licensure is not acceptable as a broker pre-licensing course.See the answer for every state
Yes, the Virginia Real Estate Board approves pre-licensing courses in three formats: online, classroom, and correspondence. The 60-hour salesperson pre-licensing course ("Principles of Real Estate") is available from numerous Board-approved online providers. The state requires the course final exam to be proctored.See the answer for every state
The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) maintains an approved pre-licensing courses list on its website, with providers offering the 60-hour salesperson course in online, classroom, and correspondence formats. Broker pre-licensing courses totaling 180 hours are also available from approved providers. Approved providers include private real estate schools, community colleges, universities, and REALTOR® associations throughout Virginia, with course approval requiring periodic renewal by the Board.See the answer for every state
The Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS® (NVAR) offers a complimentary 60-hour pre-licensing course to honorably discharged military veterans who submit a DD214, typically during its November session. Outside of this veteran benefit, pre-licensing courses from Board-approved providers vary in price depending on the school and package tier. No state-funded free pre-licensing courses are available.See the answer for every state
Step 2: Pass the PSI salesperson exam
After completing the pre-licensing course, you register with PSI to take the Virginia salesperson exam. PSI charges $60 each time you sit for the test, payable when you schedule at (855) 340-3910. Exams are offered daily at test centers in Charlottesville, Richmond, Roanoke, Vienna, and Virginia Beach, with no application deadline, per the DPOR pre-license education page[3]. DPOR advises allowing two weeks for processing of the exam application.
A separate sibling guide covers exam content, study strategy, and registration in detail.
The Virginia real estate licensing exam is administered by PSI and has two portions: a national section and a state-specific section. The national portion allows 105 minutes with a passing score of 56 correct (70%), and the state portion allows 45 minutes with a passing score of 30 correct (75%). Both portions must be passed, and the exam fee is $60 per attempt, paid directly to PSI. Exam scores are valid for one year before they expire, and the license application must be submitted within that window.See the answer for every state
To prepare for the Virginia real estate licensing exam, complete the required pre-licensing education and review the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, which details exam content topics, format, and passing scores. PSI offers a Virginia-specific exam prep book through its online store with 500 national practice questions, 125 state practice questions, and a 100-question sample exam. The salesperson exam consists of 80 national questions (105 minutes, 70% to pass) and 40 state questions (45 minutes, 75% to pass), so practicing both subject areas is advisable.See the answer for every state
PSI, Virginia's contracted exam vendor, offers a Virginia-specific exam prep book through the PSI Online Store that includes 500 national practice questions, 125 state practice questions, and a 100-question sample exam covering both national and Virginia-specific content. The PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, which details exam content topics and format, is also available and is published in Mandarin, French, Korean, and Spanish. Reviewing the bulletin and practicing with sample questions in both the national and state subject areas are standard preparation methods.See the answer for every state
Step 3: Get fingerprinted for the background check
Virginia requires fingerprinting and a criminal background check before DPOR will issue a license. You can get fingerprinted at a PSI test center during walk-in hours (9 a.m. to 1 p.m., no appointment necessary) for $52, or through Fieldprint at fieldprintvirginia.com for approximately $37.50.
Background check results expire after 45 days. A complete application must be on file with the Board within that window, or you must get fingerprinted again for an additional fee, per the DPOR license application guide[4]. Virginia residents must use a PSI testing location in Virginia; out-of-state residents are encouraged to do the same.
Step 4: Submit your license application to DPOR
The salesperson license application is a fillable PDF with no online submission option for new applications, according to the DPOR salesperson forms page[5]. As of July 1, 2026, the application fee is $244.50, which includes a $230 base fee plus a $14.50 Technology Fee ($7.25 per year for a two-year license term) mandated by 2026 House Bill 30, per the DPOR Real Estate Board page[2].
All fees are non-refundable, per the DPOR fees page[6]. The application must be complete: all questions answered, all documentation attached, and fee included. Exam scores are valid for one year from the pass date; if you do not submit a complete application within that window, your scores expire and you must retake the exam. Mail the application to DPOR at 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23233.
The required regulatory costs to obtain a Virginia salesperson license include a $60 exam fee paid directly to PSI, a $244.50 license application fee as of July 1, 2026 (including the Technology Fee mandated by House Bill 30), and fingerprinting and background check costs of approximately $52. Pre-licensing course tuition varies by provider and package tier, typically ranging from a few hundred to several hundred dollars. All DPOR fees are non-refundable.See the answer for every state
Step 5: Affiliate with a sponsoring broker and complete post-license education
A Virginia real estate license cannot be activated without a sponsoring broker. After passing the exam and clearing the background check, you must find a licensed broker who agrees to affiliate with you. The broker assists in completing the license activation paperwork and submits the affiliation to DPOR, per the DPOR license application guide[4].
Once licensed, new salespersons must complete 30 hours of Board-approved post-license education (PLE) within one year from the last day of the month the license was issued. The DPOR post-license education page[7] requires the 30-hour curriculum across nine courses covering fair housing, real estate law, ethics, agency law, contract writing, risk management, escrow, and real estate finance. Failure to complete the 30 hours within the one-year window results in automatic placement of the license on inactive status. New salespersons do not need continuing education during their first two-year license term; PLE replaces it.
Separate sibling guides cover sponsoring broker selection and the renewal process in detail.
Agent, broker, and REALTOR®: what the terms mean in Virginia
In Virginia, a "salesperson" and a "real estate agent" refer to the same licensed role. Both must operate under broker oversight rather than independently. A broker holds a higher-level license permitting independent business operation and sponsorship of salespersons.
REALTOR® is a private membership designation from NAR, the National Association of REALTORS®, not a government license. NAR membership involves applying through a local association and paying dues, according to NAR's membership page[8].
A real estate broker is licensed to manage an independent real estate business and can sponsor and supervise salespersons, while a sales agent must work under a broker's supervision and cannot practice independently. In Virginia, broker applicants must complete 180 hours of broker-specific courses and have been actively engaged as a salesperson for 36 of the 48 months preceding application, compared with 60 hours of pre-licensing education and no experience requirement for salespersons. Sales agents typically earn a portion of the commission from each transaction they handle under their sponsoring broker.See the answer for every state
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate agent who has also joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), a private professional organization. To become a REALTOR®, a licensee must join a local REALTOR® association and pay membership dues, which provides membership at the state and national levels; for 2027, NAR national dues total $201 per member ($156 plus a $45 special assessment). No exam or extra coursework is required. Virginia state law requires a license to practice real estate but does not require any licensee to be a REALTOR®.See the answer for every state
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate agent or broker who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), a private professional organization whose members agree to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics. A real estate broker is a licensee who has completed additional education and experience requirements and is licensed to manage an independent business, sponsor salespersons, and practice without supervision. State law requires a real estate license to practice but does not require any licensee to be a REALTOR®, and the two designations are independent of each other.See the answer for every state
Becoming a real estate broker in Virginia
Broker licensure in Virginia requires 180 hours of Board-approved coursework plus full-time salesperson experience. Applicants need 36 months of active salesperson work within the 48 months before applying, at an average of 40 hours per week. The DPOR pre-license page[3] lists these requirements, and the experience must be verified by the applicant's principal or supervising broker.
A separate sibling guide covers the broker pathway, exam structure, and experience verification in detail.
To become a real estate broker in Virginia, you must complete 180 hours of Board-approved broker pre-licensing courses, including a 45-hour Real Estate Brokerage course plus either three broker-specific courses (Real Estate Appraisal, Real Estate Finance, and Real Estate Law) or two broker-specific courses and one broker-related course. You must have been actively engaged as a salesperson full-time (averaging 40 hours per week) for 36 of the 48 months preceding your application, pass both the State and National portions of the broker examination, and submit verification of experience. A Principles of Real Estate course taken for salesperson licensure does not count toward the broker education requirement.See the answer for every state
Virginia broker applicants must complete 180 hours of Board-approved pre-licensing courses. This includes a mandatory 45-hour Real Estate Brokerage course, plus either three broker-specific courses (Real Estate Appraisal, Real Estate Finance, and Real Estate Law) or two broker-specific courses and one broker-related course. The maximum allowable credit for a single broker-specific course is 60 hours, and 45 hours for a broker-related course. Any Principles of Real Estate course taken to meet the salesperson education requirement is not acceptable toward the broker requirement. Broker applicants must also have been actively engaged as a salesperson full-time (averaging 40 hours per week) for 36 of the 48 months preceding application.See the answer for every state
Out-of-state licensees: reciprocity in Virginia
Virginia offers a streamlined path for licensees who already hold a current, non-expired salesperson license in another state. Reciprocity applicants must pass the Virginia state portion of the exam, submit verification of completing the "Principles of Real Estate" pre-licensing course, and provide licensure certifications from all states where licensed, dated within 60 days of DPOR receiving the application, per the DPOR Real Estate Board page[2] and the DPOR license application guide[4].
A separate sibling guide covers the full reciprocity framework, including portability for single cross-state transactions.
Keeping your license active: renewal and continuing education
A separate sibling guide covers renewal deadlines, CE topic breakdowns, late penalties, and the broker upgrade path in detail.
Virginia salespersons who have renewed at least once must complete 16 hours of continuing education every two years: for licenses expiring on or after June 30, 2026, this consists of 11 mandatory hours (3 Ethics, 2 Fair Housing, 2 Legal Updates, 2 Agency, 2 Contracts) and 5 elective hours. Brokers must complete 24 hours every two years, with 19 mandatory hours and 5 elective hours under the same effective date. New salespersons in their first two-year license term complete 30 hours of post-license education instead of CE.See the answer for every state
Yes, Virginia allows real estate continuing education to be completed through distance education with no limit on the number of hours that may be taken online. The Virginia Real Estate Board requires a timing device for all online virtual classroom courses to ensure they cannot be completed in less time than the approved credit hours. A notarized affidavit certifying compliance with the education provider's course requirements is also required at the conclusion of each distance education course. Multiple Board-approved providers offer online CE courses covering both mandatory and elective topics.See the answer for every state
Continuing education courses in Virginia are available from Board-approved schools and organizations, including private real estate schools, community colleges, universities, and REALTOR® associations. Courses are offered in online and classroom formats, and there is no limit to the number of CE hours that may be completed through distance education. DPOR maintains an approved schools list on its website. Some REALTOR® associations offer complimentary CE to their members.See the answer for every state
Continuing education (CE) is required for all Virginia real estate brokers and salespersons who have renewed their license at least once. Salespersons must complete 16 hours of CE every two years. For licenses expiring on or after June 30, 2026, the mandatory portion increased from 8 to 11 hours, covering Ethics (3 hours), Fair Housing (2 hours), Legal Updates and Emerging Trends (2 hours), Real Estate Agency (2 hours), and Real Estate Contracts (2 hours), with 5 elective hours. Brokers must complete 24 hours of CE every two years, including 6 hours of Broker Management and 2 hours of Broker Supervision. CE and post-license education are distinct types of Board-approved education and cannot be substituted for one another.See the answer for every state
Verify a Virginia real estate license
Virginia provides an online tool for confirming a licensee's status through DPOR's website[2].
DPOR's License Lookup tool, available through the DPOR website's Online Services, allows anyone to verify a real estate licensee's active status and firm affiliation. Prospective agents can use the tool to confirm a potential sponsoring broker's license status before affiliating.See the answer for every state
Next steps
Start by confirming you meet the eligibility requirements: age 18 or older with a high school diploma or equivalent. Then enroll in a Board-approved pre-licensing course and begin the 60 hours of coursework. After finishing, contact PSI to schedule your exam. Once you pass both portions, get fingerprinted, find a sponsoring broker, and mail your completed application to DPOR. Plan to complete your post-license education within your first year to keep your license on active status.
