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Real Estate Agent
Governing Authority
Real Estate Board — Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR)
Official website →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 Virginia real estate license in 2026, you must complete 60 hours of Real Estate Board — Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR)-approved pre-licensing education, pass a background check, take and pass the PSI licensing exam, and find a sponsoring broker. Most applicants finish in 8–16 weeks and spend $491–$842 including course tuition.
Pre-License Hours
$342
Total Gov Fees
120
Exam Questions
2.5 hrs
Exam Time
Renewal Cycle
Reciprocity
CE Required
Renewal Fee
18 years old
Min. Age
DPOR
Authority
⚠ Recent Changes in Virginia
| Minimum Age | 18 years old |
| Education | High school diploma or GED |
| Residency | Not required Non-residents must appoint DPOR Director as agent for service of process. |
| Citizenship | No explicit requirement SSN or ITIN needed for practical purposes. No explicit statutory citizenship requirement found. |
| Background Check | Required Fingerprint-based via PSI ($52) or Fieldprint ($37.50). VA Central Criminal Records Exchange + FBI. Processing: 1–2 days if clean, up to 60 days if criminal record. Results valid 45 days. |
| Sponsoring Broker | Required to activate Not required to apply — license issued as inactive without sponsoring broker. Must affiliate with a licensed VA broker to activate. |
Not sure if you need a real estate license? Check whether your state requires one.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee Paid to: DPOR ⚠ Conflict: Pre-October 2024 fee schedule, some older websites reports $170. Application fee increased from $170 to $230 effective October 1, 2024. Some sources still cite the old $170 amount. | |
Exam Fee (per attempt) Paid to: PSI Services | |
Fingerprinting / Background Check (PSI) Paid to: PSI Services ⚠ Conflict: Fieldprint Virginia (alternative provider) reports $37.5. PSI charges $52 total. Fieldprint is a cheaper alternative at $37.50. Both are accepted by DPOR. | |
Total Estimated Government Fees | $342 |
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
DPOR-approved education providers (classroom, online, correspondence)
Required Courses
Cost: $130–$500 depending on provider and format.
See our picks for the best real estate programs in Virginia.
Exam Details
Mostly verifiedExam Provider
Total Questions
120
Total Time
150 min
Format
Computer-based, multiple-choice. Available in-person at PSI test centers or via OnVUE remote proctoring (limited to one online attempt; subsequent retakes must be in-person).
Exam Sections
| Section | Questions | Time | Passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 80 | 105 min | 70% |
| State (Virginia) | 40 | 45 min | 75% |
Retake Policy
Unlimited attempts. Can retake next day (scheduling permitting). $60 per attempt. Only failed section needs retaking.
Both sections include 5–10 unscored pretest questions. Note: VA state portion has higher 75% passing threshold than most states. Test centers: Vienna, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Roanoke, Charlottesville, Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Stafford, Harrisonburg.
For study strategies and what to expect on test day, see our guide to passing the real estate exam.
Take a DPOR-approved 60-hour Principles of Real Estate course (classroom, online, or correspondence).
Estimated time: 2–8 weeks
Schedule via PSI ($52) or Fieldprint ($37.50). Results processed by VA CCRE + FBI. Valid for 45 days.
Estimated time: 1–2 weeks
Register at candidate.psiexams.com. Pay $60 exam fee. Pass National (56/80 = 70%) and State (30/40 = 75%) sections.
Estimated time: 1–3 weeks
Apply online via DPOR. Pay $230 application fee. Upload fingerprint results and education certificate.
Estimated time: 2–4 weeks processing
Find a VA-licensed broker. Broker activates the license through DPOR.
Estimated time: 1–4 weeks
Within first year of licensure: complete 30 hours of Post-License Education (9 required courses). Failure results in license lapse.
Estimated time: Within first year
Renewal Details
Mostly verifiedRenewal Cycle
CE Hours
Renewal Fee
Deadline & Late Policy
Biennial, date based on license issuance. Renewal window opens before expiration.
First Renewal Notes
No Continuing Education is required of New Salespersons in their first two-year license term — PLE only applies.
CE hours increased from 8 to 16 for salespersons starting with licenses expiring June 30, 2026 and after (HB 383/SB 330, effective July 2024).
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 Virginia: Continuing education details →
Interstate Reciprocity
VerifiedHas Reciprocity
Yes
Type: Universal Reciprocity
Any actively-licensed agent from any U.S. jurisdiction may apply. Must pass Virginia State Law exam only ($60). Must hold current active license in good standing. Must meet substantially equivalent education requirements. Per 18VAC135-20-60.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Virginia with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Real Estate Agent Schools in Virginia
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Official Sources
Real Estate Agent requirements in Virginia verified against Real Estate Board — Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), April 2026.
All data on this page was verified against the following official sources. Last verified: 2026-04-02.
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