How to Get a Broker License in Virginia

Obtaining a Virginia Real Estate Broker License is crucial if you’re looking to advance your real estate career. Despite the streamlined online application process, many aspiring real estate brokers find the requirements and procedures complex and challenging.

This How to Get a Broker License in Virginia article will guide you through each step of the process, ensuring you have a clear understanding of what it takes to achieve this license and elevate your real estate career as quickly as possible.

Virginia Real Estate Broker License

In order to get your Virginia real estate broker license and take your career to the next level, there are several key steps you’ll need to complete. These include:

1. Ensuring You Meet the Eligibility and Experience Requirements
2. Completing the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education
3. Passing the Virginia Broker Licensing Exam
4. Passing a Background Check
5. Submitting Your License Application

In the sections below, we’ve explored each of these steps in more detail.

Note: If you’re just starting out, you’ll need to check out our Virginia Real Estate License guide instead.

Step 1: Meet the Virginia Eligibility and Experience Requirements

Before proceeding with the application process for your Virginia real estate broker license, you’ll need to first make sure that you meet the general prerequisites outlined under the Chapter 21 (§ 54.1-2100 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia:

• You must hold a high school diploma or an equivalent qualification
• You must have been actively working as a real estate salesperson for 36 of the 48 months immediately preceding your application

If you have a criminal conviction, you should note that it doesn’t automatically disqualify you from obtaining a license, as Virginia law requires a case-by-case analysis of nine specific factors to determine if a conviction is directly related to your ability to work in the real estate profession.

If this applies to you, you’ll need to submit a Criminal Conviction Reporting Form — along with an official police or court report for each state where you have convictions — with your license application.

Note: When the Virginia Real Estate Board (the Board) reviews your application, you’ll have up to five minutes to address the Board. This is your opportunity to provide context, defend your position, and respond to the recommendation made by the board member who reviewed your case (known as the presiding officer).

Step 2: Complete the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education

Beyond the general requirements mentioned earlier, you must also fulfill specific educational prerequisites to be able to apply for a Virginia real estate broker license.

In particular, this will involve completing a total of 180 hours of coursework that’s approved by the Board.

Real estate courses you’ve completed at an accredited university, college, or community college might count toward your broker pre-license education — as long as each course is at least 45 hours in length or worth three semester credits.

After you finish the required courses, your education provider will issue a Certificate of Completion and send it to the state examination vendor (PSI). Once PSI processes your results, you’ll receive an email authorizing you to register for the state licensing exam.

Step 3: Pass the Broker Licensing Exam

In Virginia, PSI administers this 160-minute exam. It includes 125 questions across two sections: a national portion and a state-specific portion.

In order to schedule your real estate broker exam, you’ll need to make an online reservation using the PSI website. Note that you’ll need to create an account for this service if this is your first time using it, after which you’ll be shown step-by-step instructions on how to complete your reservation.

Keep in mind that you’ll be required to pay a $60 fee at the time of reservation because you can’t pay this at the exam center. This fee remains the same regardless of whether you take one or both portions of the exam.

In order to pass, you’ll need to obtain a score of 60/80 on the national portion and 38/50 on the state-specific portion.

You’ll find out how you performed on this exam immediately after finishing and should receive your passing exam score sheet with a full breakdown a few days afterwards.

If you fail one portion of the exam, you’ll need to retake and pass just that section. There’s no limit to how many attempts you can make. That said, you must submit your completed application to the Board within one year of passing the first portion or your results will expire and you’ll need to restart the process again.

Step 4: Pass the Background Check

As part of the licensing process, you must undergo a fingerprint-based background check.

The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) offers two options for fingerprinting services: PSI and Fieldprint.

• PSI: You can have your fingerprints taken during your examination at the PSI testing center by paying a $52 processing fee, which includes the state processing fee of $27
• Fieldprint: Alternatively, you can submit your fingerprints through Fieldprint by visiting the Fieldprint Virginia website and scheduling an appointment

Once you submit your fingerprints, the results will be sent directly to the DPOR — you can’t send them yourself. 

Note: You must submit a complete license application within 45 calendar days from when the Board receives your fingerprint results. If you miss this deadline, you’ll have to undergo fingerprinting again before the Board can issue your license.

Step 5: Submit a License Application

After completing your pre-licensing education and ensuring that you satisfy all other licensing requirements, you’ll be ready to move on to submitting your license application.

To do this, you’ll need to print and complete this Broker License Application form and then mail it along with a $210 fee to the following address:

Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
9960 Mayland Dr., Suite 400
Richmond, VA 23233-1485

Note: If you have any questions about your application, you can contact the Board directly at (804) 367-8526 (Licensing Section).

Step 6: Application Review

If you’ve managed to get this far, congratulations!

The Board typically processes applications within 15 to 20 business days, after which it’ll issue your licensing document.

Be sure to take some time to celebrate your accomplishment. You’ve put in a lot of work and effort and deserve a celebration!

Virginia Real Estate License Renewal

In order to keep your real estate broker license valid, you’ll need to renew it every two years. You can do this either online through the DPOR Online Services website or by mailing the renewal card — which you’ll receive from the DPOR 60 days before your renewal date — to the following address:

Virginia Real Estate Board
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
9960 Mayland Dr., Suite 400
Richmond, VA 23233

Regardless of which method you choose, you’ll need to pay a renewal fee of $80.

As part of the renewal process, you’ll also need to complete 24 hours of continuing education — 16 of which must cover the following topics:

• Six hours in supervision and management of real estate agents/ brokerage firms
• Two hours on broker supervision requirements
• Two hours on fair housing laws
• Three hours on ethics and standards of conduct
• 1 hour each on legal updates, real estate agency, and real estate contracts

We always encourage our readers to think of the post licensing course they take as an investment in their future career — higher quality, more reliable course content is a central part of ensuring you continue to grow professionally.

Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation

Mailing Address:
Real Estate Board
9960 Maryland Dr., Suite 400
Richmond, VA 23233

Phone: (804) 367-8526

Fax: (866) 826-8863

Email: reboard@dpor.virginia.gov 

Website: https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Real-Estate