1.4 License Maintenance and Renewal
Key Takeaways
- Virginia real estate licenses run a 2-year term and expire on the last day of the month in which the license was originally issued.
- Salespersons renewing for the second time or later need 16 hours of CE per cycle; brokers need 24 hours.
- First renewal is different: new salespersons complete 30 hours of post-license education instead of the 16-hour CE.
- Licensees must notify the REB within 30 days of changes to home address, business address/affiliation, or legal name.
- Practicing on an expired, inactive, suspended, or revoked license is unlicensed activity - a separate violation that can void commissions.
Keeping a Virginia license valid requires timely renewal and continuing education (CE). The state exam tests the renewal cycle, CE hours, and the rules for late or lapsed licenses.
License Term and Expiration
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| License term | 2 years |
| Expiration date | Last day of the month the license was issued |
| Renewal availability | DPOR opens renewal roughly 90 days before expiration |
A frequent misconception - and a tempting wrong answer - is that the license expires in the licensee's birth month. For Virginia real estate licenses, the expiration tracks the month of original licensure, two years out. (Some other professions use the birth-month system; do not borrow that rule here.)
Continuing Education
CE hours differ by license level. Memorize both totals:
| License | CE hours per 2-year cycle |
|---|---|
| Salesperson (second renewal onward) | 16 hours |
| Broker / associate broker | 24 hours |
Required (mandatory) CE topics - salesperson
Within the 16 hours, Virginia mandates specific topics; the remainder are electives. A representative breakdown:
| Mandatory topic | Hours |
|---|---|
| Ethics and Standards of Conduct | 3 |
| Fair Housing | 2 |
| Legal Updates and Emerging Trends | 1-2 |
| Real Estate Agency | 1-2 |
| Real Estate Contracts | 1-2 |
| Electives | remainder up to 16 |
Brokers complete the salesperson mandatory topics plus Broker Management (6 hrs) and Broker Supervision (2 hrs), reaching 24. Mandatory-hour splits are periodically updated by the Board, so always confirm the current requirement with DPOR before enrolling.
First renewal: Post-License Education instead of CE
New salespersons do not take the 16-hour CE for their first renewal. They instead complete the 30-hour PLE within the first year of licensure. Missing it makes the license inactive, and PLE neither substitutes for nor counts toward later CE cycles - the two programs are kept separate by regulation.
Renewal Fees
| Item | Fee (approximate; verify on DPOR) |
|---|---|
| Salesperson renewal (on time) | ~$65 |
| Late / reinstatement | Renewal fee plus a reinstatement fee |
Filing the renewal does not by itself prove CE compliance - you must have completed the required hours by the deadline, because DPOR can audit your records.
Late Renewal and Expired Licenses
Virginia distinguishes sharply between renewing on time and reinstating a lapsed license. In every late scenario, the licensee cannot practice until the license is back to active status.
Reinstatement window
A license that lapses can generally be reinstated by paying the renewal fee plus a reinstatement penalty and completing all required CE. No exam is required during the reinstatement window, but practicing real estate while lapsed is itself a violation.
| Time lapsed | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Within the reinstatement window (about 1 year) | Renewal fee + reinstatement fee + all CE; no exam |
| Beyond the reinstatement window | Treated as a new applicant: re-take exam and/or re-do pre-license education |
License Status Types
| Status | Meaning | Can practice? |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Current, affiliated with a principal broker | Yes |
| Inactive | Valid but not affiliated, or PLE/CE not met | No |
| Expired (lapsed) | Not renewed by the deadline | No |
| Suspended | Temporary Board disciplinary action | No |
| Revoked | License permanently terminated | No |
Inactive status
A licensee may go inactive when not affiliated with a principal broker. While inactive, the licensee still must complete CE to renew, may not perform any licensed activity, and reactivates by affiliating with a broker, notifying the REB, and completing any CE owed.
Reporting Changes to the REB
Licensees must notify the Board within 30 days of any change to:
- Home address
- Business address / firm affiliation
- Legal name
Failing to keep contact information current is a violation - and missed Board mail (such as a renewal notice or a complaint) does not excuse the underlying obligation.
Out-of-State Applicants
Virginia does not use blanket "reciprocity." An already-licensed agent from another state typically applies through the REB and must:
- Hold a current, comparable license in good standing in the home state.
- Pass the Virginia state portion of the exam (the national portion may be waived).
- Complete Virginia fingerprinting and the background check.
Exam Tip: Out-of-state applicants are not exempt from the state-law portion - Virginia always tests its own law.
CE Audits and Record-Keeping
DPOR conducts random CE audits. Even though approved schools report completions electronically, licensees should keep their own course-completion certificates for several years. If audited and unable to document the required hours, the licensee can face discipline and a forced return to inactive status until the deficiency is cured.
Practicing on a Lapsed or Inactive License
This is a high-yield exam point. Performing licensed activity while your license is expired, inactive, suspended, or revoked is unlicensed activity - a separate violation from simply failing to renew. Penalties can include monetary fines and, for repeat or egregious conduct, criminal referral. A commission earned during a period of unlicensed activity may be uncollectible, and a principal broker who lets an unlicensed person act for the firm shares the liability.
Exam Tip: "I renewed late but kept selling houses in the meantime" is two problems, not one: the late renewal and unlicensed activity during the gap.
When does a Virginia real estate license expire?
How many continuing education hours must a Virginia salesperson (renewing for the second time or later) complete per cycle, and how does this compare to a broker?
A licensee changes home address but does not notify the Board for two months, and an agent keeps showing homes after letting the license lapse. Which statement is correct?