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Real Estate Agent
Some details on this page are not yet confirmed against an official source. See sources below or contact the licensing board to verify.
To get a Rhode Island real estate license in 2026, you must complete 45 hours of Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation-approved pre-licensing education, pass a background check, take and pass the Pearson VUE licensing exam, and find a sponsoring broker. Most applicants finish in 8–16 weeks and spend $484–$835 including course tuition.
Pre-License Hours
$335
Total Gov Fees
130
Exam Questions
4 hrs
Exam Time
Renewal Cycle
Reciprocity
CE Required
Renewal Fee
18 years old
Min. Age
DBR
Authority
| Minimum Age | 18 years old |
| Education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Residency | Required RI residency required for salesperson license. |
| Citizenship | US citizen or legal resident |
| Background Check | Required Criminal History Report from RI Attorney General. Fee: ~$45. NOT fingerprint-based. |
| E&O Insurance | Required $50,000 per claim / $150,000 aggregate minimum. Must obtain before licensing. |
| Sponsoring Broker | Required Must affiliate with a RI-licensed principal broker (principal broker affidavit required). |
Not sure if you need a real estate license? Check whether your state requires one.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Exam Fee (per section) Paid to: Pearson VUE | |
License Application Fee Paid to: RI General Treasurer | |
Real Estate Recovery Fund Paid to: Real Estate Recovery Account | |
Background Check Paid to: RI BCI&I | |
Fingerprinting Paid to: State/vendor | |
Total Estimated Government Fees | $335 |
Use our licensing cost calculator to estimate your total investment including education and exam fees.
See the full cost breakdown with our License Cost Estimator →
Education Requirements
Mostly verifiedTotal Hours Required
Provider Type
DBR-approved education providers
Required Courses
Pre-licensing must be in LIVE/CLASSROOM format — NO online pre-licensing allowed (highly unusual). Course completion certificate valid for 2 years. The 3-hour Lead Hazard course is a separate mandatory requirement. Rhode Island has strict lead paint disclosure requirements.
See our picks for the best real estate programs in Rhode Island.
Exam Details
VerifiedExam Provider
Total Questions
130
Total Time
240 min
Format
Computer-based, multiple-choice. In-person at Pearson VUE test centers. Online proctoring (OnVUE) available once per section.
Exam Sections
| Section | Questions | Time | Passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 80 | 150 min | 70% |
| State (Rhode Island) | 50 | 90 min | 70% |
Retake Policy
One year from initial attempt to pass both sections. Only failed section must be retaken. No limit on retake attempts. $50 per section per retake. Online proctoring available only once per section — all retakes must be at physical test centers.
130 scored questions plus up to 5 pretest per section. Uses SCALED SCORING (not simple percentage) — passing threshold is scaled score of 70. Must bring Education Completion Certificate on test day. Primary test center in East Providence; additional centers in MA.
For study strategies and what to expect on test day, see our guide to passing the real estate exam.
Take approved 45-hour sales course (includes 3-hr Agency Law) plus separate 3-hr Lead Hazard course.
Estimated time: 2–6 weeks
Register and pay $100 exam fee (both sections). Pass both National (70%) and State (70%) sections. Bring Education Completion Certificate.
Estimated time: 1–2 weeks
Obtain background check from RI BCI&I ($45).
Estimated time: 1–3 weeks
Secure a sponsoring broker. Submit application with $140 fee + $25 Recovery Fund. Allow 7-10 business days for processing.
Estimated time: 2–4 weeks
Renewal Details
Mostly verifiedRenewal Cycle
CE Hours
Renewal Fee
Deadline & Late Policy
Pre-2020 licenses: April 30 of even years. Post-2020 licenses: anniversary date every 2 years.
Regulatory Board
For a deeper dive into CE requirements and deadlines, see our real estate license renewal guide or compare deadlines across all 50 states.
See full CE requirements in Rhode Island: Continuing education details →
Interstate Reciprocity
VerifiedHas Reciprocity
Yes
Type: Conditional Reciprocity
Reciprocal States
| State | Conditions |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts (MA) | Active MA license in good standing. RI state exam and application requirements still apply. |
| Connecticut (CT) | Active CT license in good standing. RI state exam and application requirements still apply. |
Reciprocal applicants from MA and CT may have streamlined requirements but must still pass the RI state exam portion and meet application requirements.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Rhode Island with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Real Estate Agent Schools in Rhode Island
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Official Sources
Real Estate Agent requirements in Rhode Island verified against Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, April 2026.
All data on this page was verified against the following official sources. Last verified: 2026-04-02.
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