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How to get a real estate license in Virginia. 60 pre-licensing hours required. Government fees: $342. 2-year renewal cycle. Verified 2026-03-22. Data verified 2026-03-22. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Real Estate Agent
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Pre-License Hours
$342
Total Gov Fees
120
Exam Questions
2.5 hrs
Exam Time
Renewal Cycle
Reciprocity
⚠ Recent Changes in Virginia
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
| 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. |
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.
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.
| 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 |
Ready to get started in Virginia?
Pre-license courses start at a fraction of the total licensing cost. Study online, at your own pace.
Compare top-rated schools: See our picks for the best real estate schools in Virginia with pricing, reviews, and pass rates.
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 CE required at first renewal — PLE only. PLE and CE are completely separate and cannot cross-apply.
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
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.
6–20 weeks from start to active license.
Minimum with intensive online course + immediate exam + clean background check. Typical: 10–14 weeks. Criminal record review can take up to 60 days.
2024-10-01
Application fee increased from $170 to $230.
2024-07-01
HB 383/SB 330: CE increased from 8 to 11+ mandatory hours with new topic requirements (Ethics, Fair Housing, Legal Updates, Agency, Contracts). Full 16-hour requirement takes effect for licenses expiring June 30, 2026+.
2025-07-01
HB 1684/SB 1309: Buyer/tenant agency agreements required before showing property. Renewal fee increased from $65 to $100 for salespersons.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Virginia.
How this state compares to 48 others for this profession
Timeline
#35 of 49
Salary
#10 of 49
Cost
#35 of 49
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Real Estate Sales Agents (SOC 41-9022)
Entry Level
$40,200
25th percentile
Median
$61,790
+10% vs. national avg ($56,320)Experienced
$81,230
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
4,950 employed in this state
Note: Real estate agent compensation is heavily commission-based. BLS OEWS data reflects base wages reported by employers and may undercount total earnings.
Source: BLS OEWS – Real Estate Sales Agents (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+1.8%
Below AverageNew Jobs
+6,500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
42,900
per year (avg.)
359,300 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Real Estate Career Ladder+18% salary growth potential
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Real Estate Agent
$61,790
Pre-licensing education (40-180 hours) + state exam
You are here
Real Estate Agent
Pre-licensing education (40-180 hours) + state exam
$61,790
2-3 years experience + additional education + broker exam
$55,660
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
$73,050
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 6–20 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Study guides and practice tests for the real estate licensing exam.
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All data on this page was verified against the following official sources. Last verified: 2026-03-22.
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