How to Get a Virginia Real Estate License
Jay Gallagher
Real Estate Broker (Advice from an agent like you, not some tech nerd who never sold a home!)
You’re in the right place to learn how to get your Virginia Real Estate License. No matter where you live, from Richmond to Roanoke or Alexandria to my favorite town, Virginia Beach, or anywhere in between, starting a new career as a Realtor may be the best career decision you ever make.
All the information, documents and links you’ll need to get your Virginia real estate salesperson license are below.
I also answer the most asked questions at the bottom of the page.
Click on a question to see the answers:
Meet the State Requirements
Learn exactly what the State of Virginia requires before you can get a Real Estate Salesperson License.
Complete Licensing Education
Virginia requires only 60 hours of Real Estate Education to get licensed. Find the best Real Estate School for you.
Pass the State Exam
Learn the fastest and easiest way to pass the Virginia Real Estate Salesperson License Exam the very first time.
Pick a Sponsoring Broker
Meet the new boss! The good news is you get to pick the broker you want to work with. Learn how to pick the best.
Submit Fingerprint Cards
Time this step right. Once you get fingerprinted, you only have 45 days to complete the entire process.
Submit Your Application
Once you pass your exam, you have one year to submit your Virginia Real Estate License Application to the State.
Launch Your New Career
Now the fun begins. Learn how to get your new Real Estate Career off on the right foot by doing the right things to get business.
So, How Do You Get Your Virginia Real Estate License?
1. Meet The State Requirements
To get your Virginia Real Estate Salesperson License you must meet the following requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age.
- Must have a high school diploma or GED.
- Have a Social Security Number or a Virginia DMV Control Number.
- Must get fingerprinted and pass a background check.
- Take and Pass the Principles and Practices of Real Estate Pre-Licensing Course.
- Pass the National Portion of the Real Estate Salesperson Exam
- Pass the Virginia State Portion of the Real Estate Salesperson Exam.
Print out the Virginia Real Estate Salesperson License Application here.
2. Complete Pre-Licensing Education
Virginia has one course with a minimum of 60 hours of coursework that must be completed before you can apply for your Virginia Real Estate License:
- Principles and Practices of Real Estate Course – 60 Hours of Coursework
They have 4 levels of instruction.
I don’t recommend the basic level at all because it doesn’t included the most valuable part, the Real Estate License Practice Tests.
These practice tests actually guarantee you will pass the Real Estate Exam. Just take the practice tests until you consistently score 90 or higher and you are guaranteed to pass the Virginia Real Estate Exam on your first try. I think these practice tests are the easiest way to ensure you pass.
3. Pass the Real Estate Salesperson Exams
Virginia has two exams you must be pass before you can apply for your Virginia Real Estate License:
- Real Estate Salesperson National Exam
- Real Estate Salesperson Virginia State Exam
If you’re already licensed in another state, you only have to take the Virginia State portion of the exam.
Virginia Real Estate tests are proctored by PSI.
You can download their Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin for all the details on scheduling and taking the test.
After you’ve completed your Pre-licensing Education, you can take the test at any time. PSI offer in person testing only but they have testing locations nationwide so even if you’re out of state you’ll be able to take the exam.
4. Pick a Supervising Broker
A Supervising Broker must sign page 5 of your Virginia Real Estate Salesperson License Application.
All Realtors must work under the supervision of a Broker who’s responsible for educating their agents and monitoring their activities. The good news is that you get to pick a broker to place your real estate salesperson license under.
If you’re a new agent, I recommend you go with one of the big box real estate brokerages. ReMax, Keller Williams and Century 21 are a good place to start. The reason I recommend these brokerages for new agents is because the big box brokerages have training programs in place to help you make the transition from Rookie Agent to seasoned pro.
5. Submit Fingerprints
Virginia requires Fingerprints to be submitted and a background check processed before they will issue you a real estate salesperson license.
Fingerprints can be taken by PSI or by Fieldprint Fingerprinting.
If you didn’t get fingerprinted by PSI when you went to their examination center to take the test or are out of state you can be fingerprinted by Fieldprint:
Fieldprint has locations across the US so you can get fingerprinted anywhere. It looks like PSI only offers fingerprinting in the Commonwealth of Virginia. If you want to be fingerprinted through PSI you have go to one of their examination sites on a walk in basis from 9am to 1pm. Click here for PSI locations in Virginia.
I tried to find more information on fingerprinting through PSI but they are primarily a testing company and I couldn’t find much information on how to get fingerprints through them so based on the lack of information from PSI and greater number of locations for Fieldprint, I recommend you just use Fieldprint.
Fingerprints are only good for 45 days. If you don’t complete the application process before 45 days, you’ll have to submit fresh fingerprints.
6. Submit Your Application
Virginia does not allow you to submit an application for a real estate license online so you have to send a paper application by mail. The following items need to be submitted to the Virginia Real Estate Board:
- Completed Virginia Salesperson Application Form.
- Certificate of Completion for Pre-Licensing Education Course.
- Passing Grade Report for Exams from PSI
- Disciplinary Action Reporting Form if you have ever had disciplinary action taken against you by any regulatory body.
- Completed Credit Card Authorization Form or a Check or Money Order for $170.00 made out to “Treasurer of Virginia”
- Fingerprints/Background Check. (See Step 5)
- Mail the entire package to:
- Commonwealth of Virginia
- Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
- 9960 Mayland Drive Suite 400
- Richmond Virginia 23233-1485
7. Launch Your New Real Estate Career!
Now the real fun (and work) begins. The best thing about being a Real Estate Agent is the freedom it gives you. You’re your own boss and you get to decide how to move your real estate career forward.
Books
Continuous learning is the hallmark of all successful agents. Here are some resources to get you going in the right direction.
Below are my best suggestions:
- Best Books to Learn Principles of Success.
- Best Books for Real Estate Agents.
- Best Books for Real Estate Agent Social Media Marketing
Tools
You’ll need some tools to get the job done. At the very least, you’ll need a good Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and a Real Estate Agent Website.
Jay Answers Your Questions...
The best (and worst) thing about being a realtor is the freedom you have. Many agents just work part-time and only do 1-3 transactions a year. Other agents work 60+ hours a week and sell hundreds of homes a year.
The best way to answer the question of how much a Virginia realtor makes is to show how much you are likely to make per transaction.
The average price of a home in Virginia is $390,000. Say the average commission per side of the transaction is 5.5% and the average broker/agent split is 15/85. That means you will earn, on average, about $8300 per transaction. Not bad.
Of course this number will vary based on the average cost of real estate in your area, your commission rate and your broker split but that’s a good number to start with. Now you can dial up your income based on how hard and how effectively you work.
Virginia requires 60 hours of coursework. If you elect to take this course in a traditional classroom, you’ll have to go to a designated place and sit for the entire time.
For this reason, most people take the courses online so they can take the courses at their own pace and any time they wish.
Most people find they can complete the online coursework in a fraction of the 60 hours. A motivated person can complete it in as little as one week but most people will take a month or more if they do a little bit every day.
The Virginia Real Estate Exam is not difficult IF you buy a pre-licensing course that includes the test prep course.
The best test prep courses include practice tests that you can take over and over again until you know the material. If you can consistently take a practice test and score a 90 or higher, then you are practically guaranteed to pass the actual exam.
If you’re someone who gets nervous and their mind goes blank during testing, then maybe you should wait until your score on the practice tests is consistently 95 or better.
The best brokerage is the one that’s the best fit for you.
Call up a few local brokerages and schedule a time to sit down and talk to them. Discuss things like E&O insurance, commission splits, leads and don’t forget to find out about any desk fees, tech fees or insurance fees.
Remember, if you don’t like the brokerage, you can easily change brokers.
I don’t recommend that you use any brokers CRM or email address because those things are the heart of YOUR real estate business and if your clients information is locked into your broker’s CRM, then it will be harder to make the move. That’s why the tools are “free” or included in a tech fee, to make it difficult for you to leave.
Let’s break it all down.
- Fingerprint/Background check – $39.00
- Pre-licensing Educational courses – $149.00 – $445.00
- Exam Prep Courses – $0.00 – $99.00 – (My Recommended Pre-Licensing Includes Exam Prep)
- Exam costs – $60.00 to PSI exams.
- Virginia Application Fee – $170.00 to the State of Virginia.
The cost of getting your Virginia real estate license can vary depending on your situation and your needs. The cost for most agents will be as low as $420.00 to as high as $717.00.
Most agents who follow my recommendations will pay about $460.00.
