CE Real Estate Requirements for Virginia License Renewal

Virginia real estate licenses expire every two years, and licensees must complete either post-license education or continuing education to renew. The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) Real Estate Board sets the CE real estate requirements, fees, and deadlines that govern renewal for both salespersons and brokers. Whether you are a new salesperson completing your first renewal or an experienced licensee maintaining active status, meeting these requirements on time keeps your license valid and avoids reinstatement penalties.

When does your Virginia real estate license expire?

Virginia real estate licenses are valid for two years and expire on the last day of the month in which the license was originally issued. A salesperson licensed on March 15, 2025, for example, holds a license valid through March 31, 2027. The DPOR Real Estate Board page^[1] states that renewal notices are mailed approximately two months before the expiration date, but failure to receive a renewal notice does not relieve the licensee of the obligation to renew on time.

The two-year cycle applies to all license types, including salesperson, broker, and firm licenses. Even a license on inactive status must be renewed by paying the same fee, though education requirements differ for inactive licensees.

How to renew your Virginia real estate license

You can renew your Virginia real estate license online, by mail, or by fax, but not by phone. DPOR offers two online options: Quick Pay, which requires no account login, and Online Services, which requires a login and is necessary if you hold multiple licenses from different DPOR boards, per the DPOR license renewal payment page^[2]. By mail, you can return the renewal card with payment or submit a Credit Card Payment Form, per the DPOR salesperson forms page^[3].

Include your license number with any renewal payment. The date DPOR receives the renewal, not the postmark date, determines whether it is on time, per the DPOR Real Estate Board page^[1].

Virginia real estate license renewal fees

The on-time renewal fee is $100 for salespersons and $120 for brokers, per the Virginia Administrative Code fee schedule (18VAC135-20-15)^[4]. Effective July 1, 2026, a separate Technology Fee of $7.25 per year applies to certain DPOR fees under 2026's House Bill 30, remaining in place through June 30, 2030, per the DPOR Real Estate Board page^[1]. All fees are non-refundable, per the DPOR fees and payments page^[5].

Post-license education for new Virginia salespersons

New salespersons must complete Board-approved post-license education to remain on active status during their first license term, per Virginia Code § 54.1-2105.01. This requirement applies to all new salespersons, whether their license is active or inactive, and is separate from the continuing education that experienced licensees complete.

What post-license education is required?

Virginia requires new salespersons to complete a 30-hour PLE curriculum within one year from the last day of the month in which the license was issued, per the DPOR post-license education page^[6]. Failure to complete the required hours within that year results in automatic placement of the license on inactive status.

PLE course breakdown

The 30-hour PLE program consists of nine required courses:

How PLE differs from continuing education

PLE replaces the continuing education requirement for the first license term. No CE is required of new salespersons in their first renewal cycle, per the DPOR post-license education page^[6]. Virginia Code § 54.1-2105.01 states that the post-licensure education requirements "shall be in lieu of the continuing education requirements otherwise specified."

PLE and CE are non-interchangeable: PLE courses will not be accepted as CE courses, and vice-versa. New salespersons must wait until their first licensure term ends before taking CE courses for renewal credit, per the DPOR post-license education page^[6].

Continuing education requirements for Virginia salespersons

Salespersons who have renewed at least once must complete Board-approved continuing education to renew or activate their license, per Virginia Code § 54.1-2105.03^[7] and the DPOR continuing education page^[8].

How many CE hours do Virginia salespersons need?

Virginia requires 16 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle for experienced salespersons, per Virginia Code § 54.1-2105.03^[7].

Virginia salesperson CE topic breakdown

For licenses expiring on or after June 30, 2026, the 16 hours include 11 mandatory hours under revised requirements enacted by HB 383 and SB 330, per Virginia Code § 54.1-2105.03^[7]. For licenses expiring before June 30, 2026, the old requirements include 8 mandatory hours, per the DPOR continuing education page^[8].

The increase from 8 to 11 mandatory hours took effect July 1, 2024, under HB 383 and SB 330, but applies only to licenses expiring on or after June 30, 2026, per the DPOR continuing education page^[8]. The added mandatory hours cover legal updates and emerging trends, real estate agency, and real estate contracts.

Continuing education requirements for Virginia brokers

Brokers must complete Board-approved continuing education per renewal cycle to renew, per Virginia Code § 54.1-2105.03^[7]. The broker CE requirement builds on the salesperson requirement by adding broker-specific coursework.

How many CE hours do Virginia brokers need?

Virginia requires 24 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle for brokers, per Virginia Code § 54.1-2105.03^[7].

Virginia broker CE topic breakdown

For licenses expiring on or after June 30, 2026, the 24 hours include 19 mandatory hours, per Virginia Code § 54.1-2105.03^[7]. For licenses expiring before June 30, 2026, the old requirements include 16 mandatory hours.

Brokers complete the same mandatory topics as salespersons, plus 6 hours of Broker Management and 2 hours of Broker Supervision. The reduction in elective hours reflects the revised requirements under HB 383 and SB 330 for licenses expiring on or after June 30, 2026.

Can you take Virginia real estate CE courses online?

Yes, Virginia real estate licensees can fulfill their entire continuing education requirement through online distance education courses. All continuing education must be Board-approved, per the DPOR continuing education page^[8].

What happens if you miss your renewal deadline

Once your license expires, you no longer have a license to practice real estate in Virginia. The DPOR Real Estate Board page^[1] provides a 30-day period after the expiration date during which you can complete your education and submit payment without paying a reinstatement fee, but this period is not a license extension.

After the grace period ends, a reinstatement fee is required. Reinstatement is available for up to two years from the expiration date, per Virginia Administrative Code 18VAC41-20-180^[9]. If the license has been expired for more than two years, reinstatement is no longer possible and you must reapply for licensure as a new applicant, meeting all current education and examination requirements.

Inactive license renewal and CE requirements

An inactive license must be renewed on the same schedule as an active license by paying the same renewal fee, but no continuing education is required while the license remains inactive, per the DPOR Real Estate Board page^[1]. However, inactive experienced salespersons who apply to activate their licenses must complete the CE requirement, per the DPOR continuing education page^[8].

All salespersons, active or inactive, renewing their licenses for the first time must complete post-license education instead of continuing education, per the DPOR Real Estate Board page^[1].

CE carryover and NAR ethics requirements

New salespersons who have completed all required PLE within the first 12 months may carry over credit for CE courses taken in the last six months of their initial license term, per the DPOR post-license education page^[6]. The Board will not award credit for CE courses completed before the first licensure term ends.

Separately from state CE requirements, NAR imposes its own ethics training obligation on REALTORS®.

Next steps for Virginia licensees

Check your license expiration date on the DPOR website, determine whether you need post-license education or continuing education for your next renewal, and complete your coursework well before the deadline. Renew online through DPOR's Quick Pay portal^[2] or by mail, and include your license number with your payment. If your license has already expired, contact Board staff at (804) 367-8526 or REBoard@dpor.virginia.gov for guidance on reinstatement, per the DPOR salesperson forms page^[3].