1.2 Virginia License Requirements

Virginia sets distinct requirements for the salesperson license and the broker license, and the state portion of the exam tests these numbers heavily. Memorize the hour counts, scores, and deadlines exactly - distractor options are usually neighboring round numbers (45/60/75 hours, 70%/75% scores).

Salesperson License Requirements

1. Basic eligibility

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Have a Social Security number (used for the application and tax reporting).
• There is no statutory high-school-diploma requirement - a GED or diploma is not legally required to sit for the salesperson exam. Applicants must also be of good reputation; certain criminal convictions can bar licensure and are reviewed case by case.

2. Pre-license education - 60 hours

Complete 60 hours of pre-license education from a DPOR-approved provider. The course combines national and Virginia material:

The 60-hour course must be completed and a passing course exam earned before scheduling the PSI exam.

3. Background check and fingerprinting

4. The examination (PSI)

5. Application and total cost

State fees change periodically, so confirm the current amount on the DPOR website before applying. Plan on roughly $300 total to license, plus the cost of your pre-license course.

Worked scenario: Maria passes both PSI portions on March 1, 2026. Her scores stay valid until March 1, 2027. She waits 14 months, applies in May 2027, and is told her scores expired - she must retake the PSI exam. The one-year clock runs from the passing date, not the course-completion date.

Exam Tip: The 70% national / 75% state split is a favorite trap. The state bar is the higher percentage (75%) even though it has fewer questions (40).

Broker License Requirements

A broker license carries higher experience and education bars because brokers can operate independently and supervise others.

Experience requirement

A salesperson applying for a broker license must have been actively engaged for at least 36 of the preceding 48 months as a licensed salesperson (or equivalent active experience). "Active" matters - time on inactive status does not count.

Education requirement

The 180 broker hours must include at least three approved broker courses, one of which must be a 45-hour Real Estate Brokerage course. Other typical courses cover real estate finance, law, appraisal, and brokerage management.

Broker examination

The broker exam, also through PSI, covers advanced topics: brokerage operations, escrow/trust-account management, supervision duties, agency, and advanced contract and finance law. Like the salesperson exam, it has a national portion and a Virginia state portion graded separately.

Post-License Education (new salespersons only)

This is one of the most-tested Virginia-specific rules. A newly licensed salesperson must complete a Board-approved 30-hour Post-License Education (PLE) curriculum within the first year of licensure to remain on active status. Critically, PLE replaces the standard 16-hour continuing education for the first renewal - it is not in addition to CE during that first license term. PLE and CE are distinct programs; a PLE course will not be accepted as a CE course and vice versa.

The 30 PLE hours cover required topics such as fair housing, ethics and standards of conduct, agency, contract writing, escrow, current industry issues, and risk management - the practical knowledge a brand-new agent needs in the field.

Step-by-Step: From Course to License

1. Complete the 60-hour pre-license course (~30 Principles + ~30 Virginia Practices).
2. Submit fingerprints for the background check (~$52).
3. Wait for the background check to clear.
4. Register with PSI and sit the exam within 45 days of fingerprint submission.
5. Pay the exam fee; pass both portions (70% national, 75% state).
6. Apply for the license within 1 year of passing.
7. After licensure, complete the 30-hour PLE within the first year to stay active.

Important: Two separate one-year clocks exist - one to apply for the license after passing the exam, and one to finish the 30-hour PLE after the license is issued. Do not confuse them on the exam.

Exam Tip: If a question says a first-year salesperson must do "16 hours of CE plus 30 hours of PLE" in the first term, it is wrong - the 30-hour PLE takes the place of CE for that first renewal.