Statistics courtesy of World Population Review and Leads Deposit
1. Meet the Legal Requirements for Your Virginia Real Estate License
Virginia requires you to be at least 18 years of age and hold a high school diploma or GED to qualify to become a real estate agent in The Old Dominion State.
Did you know? Virginia has full reciprocity with other states for licensed agents who have been active in the real estate business during 24 of the previous 36 months. This means if you are already licensed in another state, you do not have to take DPOR’s prelicensing courses, but you are required to pass the background check and state portion of the real estate exam to become a licensed real estate agent in Virginia. After completing these requirements, you can apply online through the DPOR website.
Also, Virginia is a physical location state in terms of portability. It allows agents and brokers from other states to do business in Virginia, but doesn’t allow them to enter the state to conduct real estate business. This means that an agent or broker from another state must conduct all out-of-state business remotely and may not enter the state for showings, closings, or any other reason.
To learn more about real estate license portability in Virginia, check out our guide on real estate license reciprocity and portability.
2. Complete Required Prelicensing Courses
Once you’ve determined you meet Virginia’s legal requirements, your next step is to complete 60 hours of required prelicensing courses. They can be fulfilled through in-person classes or at an online real estate school in Virginia, with costs ranging from $160 to $350. The 60 hours of education includes classes on the following topics:
If you’re looking to get started right away at an accredited online real estate school, consider Kaplan for your Virginia prelicensing courses. With a positive reputation in the education field, Kaplan provides both online and on demand education options at reasonable prices. Their packages include classes you need to fulfill your initial real estate licensing and continuing education requirements throughout your real estate career.
3. Take the Virginia Real Estate Exam
Virginia’s average pass rating is 53% on the national portion and 49% on the state portion of the exam, which proves that the Virginia real estate exam is difficult, but not impossible. The exam is administered on the computer so you will learn the results immediately after completion.
A passing score moves you directly to the next stage of the licensing process, while a failing score on one or both portions of the exam results in an unsuccessful notification and a diagnostic report indicating your strengths and weaknesses on the exam. Luckily, you can retake the exam as many times as needed to pass, and you can reschedule your exam at the examination center.
Virginia Real Estate Exam Details
- Valid government ID with photo and signature: driver’s license, state ID, passport, military ID
- Must have a signature and preprinted legal name
Schedule Your Exam
The Virginia real estate exam is provided by PSI Exams Online, a national provider for state licensing exams. To begin scheduling your exam, you create an account on the PSI website, which then provides access to the scheduling portal. You will also receive a copy of the Virginia Candidate Information Bulletin for additional testing information. The fee to take the exam is $60 and can be paid directly on the website using a credit or debit card.
To make sure you pass the exam on the first attempt, you may need some extra study help. They offer different packages, so PrepAgent is a cost-effective and high-quality resource that can help prepare you for your exam. Check out their website to review the premium package, which includes flashcards, simulated exams, and more.
4. Pick a Sponsoring Brokerage to Work For
To hold an active real estate license in Virginia, you must find a sponsoring brokerage with which to affiliate your license. To make your choice a little bit easier, check out our in-depth guide on choosing the right real estate company to work for. Although there are many successful brokerages in the Old Dominion State, below you’ll find the top five brokerages reported for 2022.
(Source: Real Trends)
Virginia Cities With Highest Median Sales Price 2023
It is important to be aware of the market trends in order to build your strategy, inform clients, and estimate the amount of money you will be able to earn. To get a sense of which cities are bringing in the bucks for Virginia real estate agents, check out this sales data from Towncharts.com below:
5. Get Fingerprinted & Complete Background Check
Once you’ve completed your education and passed the exam, it’s time to schedule your fingerprinting. Virginia requires all applicants to submit fingerprints to perform a background check. If you live in Virginia, you must have your fingerprints taken within the state; if you live outside of the state, you are still highly encouraged to have your fingerprints taken within Virginia.
DPOR offers two fingerprint vendor options for a $60 fee:
Your background check is only valid for 45 days, so it is important to schedule your appointment within the same time frame that you are submitting your application. Otherwise, you will have to get your fingerprints taken again.
6. Apply for Your Virginia Real Estate License
Once you’ve passed the exam and completed the fingerprint process, you are ready to submit your application for licensure as a real estate agent in Virginia. Your application must be submitted within one year from the initial examination date that you originally took your exam to be considered valid.
The Virginia real estate application, called the Salesperson License Application, must be submitted with the following documentation:
If you have already chosen your affiliate brokerage, you will be applying for an active license and must include the brokerage information on the application; otherwise, you will be issued an inactive license.
Virginia law requires that the DOPR deposit your money within 24 hours of receiving it, and the posted payment on your account is considered your confirmation receipt. From time of receipt, it takes about 15 to 20 business days to process your license. After approval, your license will be displayed on the License Lookup Page and you will receive a paper copy by mail.
Did you know? You can still get a real estate license in Virginia if you have a criminal record, although there is no guarantee. You must disclose all convictions and they will run a background check to reference any past offense. The DOPR will consider if the crime is closely related to the purpose of the license, the seriousness of the crime, and the complete criminal history of the applicant in order to decide on licensure.
7. Start Your Real Estate Career
Now that you’ve learned how to become a real estate agent in Virginia, you’re ready to start your professional real estate journey. For more information, here are some of our articles with content that is perfect for new real estate agents:
This content was originally published here.
