License guide
How to get a Virginia real estate license
Virginia licenses real estate professionals through the Virginia Real Estate Board, part of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). Here is the path in plain steps, checked against the official sources in October 2026.
Step by step
Take 60 hours of pre-license education
Complete the 60 class hours of a Board-approved salesperson pre-license course. Applicants licensed in another state complete this education too.
Pass the Virginia and national exams
Register with PSI, the Board's exam vendor, using its Candidate Information Bulletin. Scores are valid for one year. If you hold an unexpired license in another state, you only take the state portion.
Get fingerprinted
Virginia residents are fingerprinted at a PSI testing location in Virginia. The background check is good for 45 days, so file your complete application within that window.
Mail the application
Download the current form from DPOR, answer every question, attach all documents and the fee, and mail it. A license is not issued until the application is complete and accurate.
Finish 30 hours of post-license education in year one
New salespersons complete a 30-hour post-license curriculum within one year of the last day of the month the license was issued. If not, the license goes inactive until it is done.
Keeping your license
- Active salespersons: 16 hours of CE each license term. 11 hours are required topics: 2 fair housing, 3 ethics and standards of conduct, 2 agency, 2 contracts and 2 legal updates and emerging trends. The other 5 are electives from the Board list.
- Brokers: 24 hours, including 8 hours of supervision and brokerage management.
Questions
Do I need a website on day one?
No, but a simple page with your photo, brokerage and contact info helps clients find you. Property Landing Pages has a free plan with one listing page and an agent site.
Official sources
- Virginia DPOR, How to apply for a real estate license (PDF)
- Virginia DPOR, Real Estate Board pre-license education
- Code of Virginia 54.1-2105.01 (post-license education)
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so always confirm with the official source before you pay or file anything.
Agent directory and local offices
City guides
- Abingdon
- Alexandria
- Amherst
- Appomattox
- Arlington
- Ashburn
- Bedford
- Blacksburg
- Cape Charles
- Centreville
- Chantilly
- Chesapeake
- Chincoteague Island
- Colonial Beach
- Colonial Heights
- Culpeper
- Daleville
- Dublin
- Fairfax
- Farmville
- Forest
- Franklin
- Fredericksburg
- Front Royal
- Gainesville
- Gloucester
- Great Falls
- Hampton
- Harrisonburg
- King George
- Leesburg
- Locust Grove
- Lynchburg
- McLean
- Midlothian
- Montclair
- Mount Jackson
- New Kent
- Newport News
- Norfolk
- North Chesterfield
- Onancock
- Pearisburg
- Petersburg
- Reston
- Richmond
- Roanoke
- Rose Hill
- Springfield
- Stafford
- Suffolk
- Tazewell
- Vienna
- Virginia Beach
- Warrenton
- Williamsburg
- Winchester
- Wise
- Woodbridge
- Wytheville
More guides: How to get a Washington real estate license · How to get a West Virginia real estate license · How to get a Wisconsin real estate license · How to get a Vermont real estate license · How to get a Texas real estate license · All guides
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