Requirements, steps, costs and timeline, in one place
Everything you need to get your Virginia real estate license as a salesperson: the 60-hour course, the PSI exam, fingerprints and your DPOR application.
Start Your 60-Hour Course — from $99 →Getting a Virginia real estate license takes five things: a 60-hour Principles of Real Estate course, a passing score on both portions of the PSI exam, fingerprints for a background check, a licensed firm to work with, and an application to the Virginia Real Estate Board, part of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). This guide explains how to get a real estate license in Virginia step by step, what it costs, how long it takes, and what you need to do after you’re licensed as a salesperson (Virginia’s term for a new real estate agent), whether you’ll work in Northern Virginia, Richmond or Hampton Roads.
MLS Campus has taught real estate licensing courses online since 2014, and most of the questions our students ask come down to the same few things: what order to do things in, what it costs, and how long it takes. This guide answers all three, using DPOR’s own forms and PSI’s candidate bulletin.
MLS Campus is a Virginia Real Estate Board approved school (certificate 0211001323). Our 60-hour Principles of Real Estate course is 100% online and self-paced, and when you finish, we send your eligibility to PSI so you can book the exam.
Real Estate License Virginia Requirements
To qualify for a Virginia real estate license as a salesperson, the Real Estate Board requires the following.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 or older |
| Education | A high school diploma or GED (Code of Virginia §54.1-2105) |
| Pre-license course | 60 class hours of the Board-approved Principles of Real Estate course |
| Exam | Pass both the national and state portions of the PSI exam ($60) |
| Background check | Fingerprints for a state and national criminal history check |
| Character | A good reputation for honesty, truthfulness and fair dealing, and disclosure of criminal convictions on the application |
| Application | DPOR Salesperson License Application, $244.50 (non-refundable), within one year of your first exam date |
Which Path Is Right for You?
| Your situation | Your route to a Virginia real estate license |
|---|---|
| New to real estate, studying full-time | Complete the 60 hours (about 2–3 weeks full-time), then book both portions of the PSI exam. 60-hour course → |
| Studying part-time around a job | Plan on 4–8 weeks for the course. Online study fits around work, and audio lets you learn on the go. 60-hour course → |
| Licensed in another state | You may qualify by reciprocity (with 60 equivalent hours, taking only the state portion of the exam) or by Universal License Recognition. Out-of-state applicants → |
| Have a criminal record | You’ll disclose convictions on the application, and the Board reviews them. Criminal record → |
| Newly licensed in Virginia | Complete the 30-hour post-license course within your first year to stay active. 30-hour post-license → |
| Licensed for a few years | Complete 16 hours of CE each renewal, and look at the broker path after 36 months of active licensure. 16-hour CE → · become a broker → |
| License issued inactive | Activate it with a licensed firm using DPOR’s Salesperson Activate application. Step 5 → |
How to Get a Real Estate License in Virginia: 6 Steps
Follow these six steps, in this order, to earn your Virginia salesperson license and start working as a real estate agent.
Complete the 60-hour Principles of Real Estate course
Enroll with a Board-approved school and complete the 60-hour Principles of Real Estate course, including its final exam. It covers real estate principles and practices, Virginia license law, agency, contracts, finance and fair housing.
You can take the course in a classroom or online. Every approved course meets the same Board requirement, so the choice comes down to how you learn best. With MLS Campus, all 60 hours are fully online and you can read, listen or watch the lessons.
Register for the PSI exam
Pass both portions of the exam
Get fingerprinted
Choose a firm to work with
Mail your application to DPOR
The Virginia Real Estate Exam: Format, Fee and What It Covers
The exam is the last big hurdle to your Virginia real estate license. It’s given by PSI in two portions, and you must pass both:
| Portion | Questions | Time | To pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 80 | 105 minutes | 56 correct |
| State | 40 | 45 minutes | 30 correct |
| Both | 120 | 150 minutes | both portions |
Source: PSI Virginia Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin. Exam fee $60 (not refundable or transferable).
The national portion covers general principles such as property ownership, agency, contracts, finance, valuation and real estate math. The state portion tests Virginia law and Board rules, including license law, escrow accounts and Virginia’s disclosure requirements, such as the residential property disclosure, stigmatized properties and HOA disclosures. Give extra practice time to the state portion and to real estate math until both feel routine.
Exam Day: What to Expect
- Choose a test center or remote proctoring. Virginia PSI centers are in Charlottesville, Richmond, Roanoke, Vienna and Virginia Beach; there are also sites in Johnson City, Tennessee and Salisbury, Maryland.
- Bring valid, government-issued ID with the same name as your PSI account.
- Plan your fingerprints. Out-of-state test sites can’t take electronic fingerprints, so test in Virginia if you want to be printed the same day.
- You’ll see your score on screen when you finish, and PSI emails a score report. If you fail, it includes a breakdown of your strengths and weaknesses by topic.
How Much Does a Virginia Real Estate License Cost?
| Cost | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| 60-hour Principles of Real Estate | from $99 | Your school (MLS Campus Basic package) |
| PSI exam (both portions) | $60 | PSI |
| Fingerprints at a PSI center | $52 | PSI ($27 state + $25 PSI processing) |
| Salesperson license application | $244.50 | Treasurer of Virginia (DPOR) |
| Estimated total | about $471.50 | plus optional exam prep |
Fees current as of October 2026, from DPOR’s Salesperson License Application (version dated 7/1/2026) and PSI’s bulletin. Retaking a portion costs another $60. The $244.50 application fee is DPOR’s $230 fee plus its technology fee of $7.25 a year for the two-year term (2026 House Bill 30, from July 1, 2026). Older guides and forms still show $230 or $170.
Study online at your own pace and get ready for both portions of the PSI exam.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Virginia Real Estate License?
Most people get their Virginia real estate license in 2 to 4 months. The background check is usually the slowest part:
- Weeks 1–3: complete the 60-hour course (about 2–3 weeks full-time; longer part-time).
- Weeks 3–6: register with PSI and pass both portions of the exam.
- Weeks 4–10: get fingerprinted; PSI says processing can take 4 to 6 weeks.
- Weeks 8–14: mail your application within 90 days of your fingerprint results and wait for DPOR to issue your license.
The best way to avoid delays with your Virginia real estate license is to get fingerprinted at a Virginia PSI center on exam day and have your firm lined up before you apply.
Mistakes That Delay a Virginia Real Estate License
- Missing the one-year window. Your application must arrive within a year of the date you first took the exam, or the expired portions must be retaken.
- Letting fingerprint results go stale. DPOR must receive your application within 90 days of your results.
- Testing out of state when you need prints. The Tennessee and Maryland PSI sites can’t fingerprint you.
- A name mismatch with PSI. Your PSI account name must match your ID exactly.
- Skipping post-license. If you don’t finish the 30 hours within your first year, your license is automatically placed on inactive status.
- Mixing up post-license and CE. They’re different courses, and one doesn’t count for the other.
- Assuming Principles counts toward broker. The salesperson Principles course can’t be reused for broker pre-license education.
Can You Get Licensed With a Criminal Record?
A criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you from a Virginia real estate license. Every applicant is fingerprinted for a state and national criminal history check, and the application asks you to disclose convictions. The Board then decides whether you meet its standard of a good reputation for honesty, truthfulness and fair dealing. Disclose everything the application asks for; the fingerprint check will show it anyway. If you have questions, contact the Board at 804-367-8526.
What If You Fail the Exam?
If you fail one portion, you only retake that portion, and each attempt costs $60. PSI emails a diagnostic report showing your strengths and weaknesses by topic, so you know what to review. Keep an eye on the calendar: your application must reach DPOR within one year of the date you first took the exam.
Virginia Real Estate License Reciprocity: Licensed in Another State?
If you hold a current real estate license in another state, Virginia gives you two routes, both using the same $244.50 fee:
- Salesperson license by reciprocity: you’ve completed 60 hours of Principles of Real Estate that are substantially equivalent to Virginia’s, and you send an original certification of your license. PSI’s bulletin says reciprocal applicants only need to pass the state portion of the exam.
- Universal License Recognition: for licensees from a neighboring jurisdiction (District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee or West Virginia), or from any other state if you’ve held the license for at least three years. You still pass an exam on Virginia law.
Either way, you’ll be fingerprinted like every other applicant. Check DPOR salesperson forms for the current applications.
After You’re Licensed: Post-License and CE
Getting your Virginia real estate license starts a two-year term. New salespersons must complete a 30-hour post-license education curriculum within one year of the last day of the month their license was issued; otherwise the license is automatically placed on inactive status.
| Post-license course | Hours |
|---|---|
| Real estate law and regulations | 6 |
| Contract writing | 6 |
| Ethics and standards of conduct | 3 |
| Agency law | 3 |
| Risk management | 3 |
| Escrow requirements | 3 |
| Fair housing, ADA and civil rights | 2 |
| Current industry issues and trends | 2 |
| Real estate-related finance | 2 |
| Total | 30 |
After your first term, every renewal needs 16 hours of continuing education, 11 of them in required topics: 2 hours of fair housing, 3 of ethics and standards of conduct, 2 of agency, 2 of contracts (including escrow), and 2 of legal updates and emerging trends, including flood zones and the National Flood Insurance Program.
Sources: DPOR post-license education · 18VAC135-20-101.
See also: how to renew your Virginia real estate license · 16-hour continuing education
Salesperson, Broker or Realtor®?
- Salesperson: the first Virginia real estate license. You work as a real estate agent with a licensed firm.
- Broker: the next step, after being actively licensed as a salesperson for 36 of the past 48 months and completing 180 hours of broker education, including a real estate brokerage course. See our guide to the Virginia real estate broker license.
- Realtor®: not a license. It’s membership of the National Association of REALTORS®, which you can join once licensed. See how to become a Realtor® in Virginia.
How to Look Up a License
Once your license is issued, you can look it up with DPOR License Lookup, by name or license number. Clients and firms use the same search, so keep your details current.
Why Get a Real Estate License in Virginia?
Virginia’s markets range from the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. to Richmond, Charlottesville and the Hampton Roads coast, so there’s steady demand from buyers, sellers and military families relocating in and out. Income is commission-based, so earnings depend on the deals you close.
Salary data: ZipRecruiter (2026). Individual results vary. More detail: Virginia real estate agent salary.
Tips for Passing the Virginia Real Estate Exam
- Set a schedule. Block regular study time each week; online study fits around a job.
- Study both portions. The national portion tests general principles; the state portion tests Virginia law. Practise each separately.
- Practise under exam conditions. Timed practice exams are the best preparation for passing on your first attempt.
- Book the exam while it’s fresh. Schedule it soon after your school sends your eligibility to PSI.
- Test when you’re ready. Aim to score consistently above 56 of 80 and 30 of 40 in practice first.
Virginia Real Estate License FAQ
Tap a question to see the answer.
How do I get a real estate license in Virginia?
Complete the 60-hour Principles of Real Estate course, pass both portions of the PSI exam ($60), get fingerprinted, and mail your salesperson license application to DPOR ($244.50) within one year of your first exam date.
How much does a Virginia real estate license cost?
About $455.50 in total: the 60-hour course from $99, the $60 PSI exam, $52 for fingerprints at a PSI center and the $244.50 application fee.
How long does it take to get a Virginia real estate license?
Most people finish in 2–4 months, depending on study pace and fingerprint processing, which PSI says can take 4 to 6 weeks.
Do I need a high school diploma to get a Virginia real estate license?
Yes. The Code of Virginia requires salesperson applicants to have a high school diploma or its equivalent, such as a GED.
How many hours is the Virginia real estate course?
60 class hours of the Board-approved Principles of Real Estate course.
Can I take the Virginia real estate course online?
Yes. The 60 hours can be completed fully online and self-paced through a Board-approved school such as MLS Campus.
How many questions are on the Virginia real estate exam?
120: 80 national questions in 105 minutes and 40 state questions in 45 minutes.
What score do I need to pass the Virginia real estate exam?
56 correct on the national portion and 30 correct on the state portion, according to PSI’s Virginia bulletin.
What happens if I fail the Virginia real estate exam?
Retake only the portion you failed, for $60. Your application must still reach DPOR within one year of your first exam date.
Where do I get fingerprinted for a Virginia real estate license?
At a PSI test center in Virginia (walk-in, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., $52) or through Fieldprint by appointment. Apply within 90 days of your results.
Does Virginia have real estate license reciprocity?
Yes, with conditions. Licensees from other states with 60 equivalent hours can apply by reciprocity and take only the state portion of the exam, and Universal License Recognition covers neighboring jurisdictions and licensees of three years or more.
Can I get a Virginia real estate license with a criminal record?
Possibly. You disclose convictions on the application, and the Board reviews them along with your fingerprint-based background check.
What is Virginia’s post-license requirement?
New salespersons must complete 30 hours of post-license education within one year of licensure, or the license is placed on inactive status.
How often do I renew a Virginia real estate license?
Every two years. After your first term, each renewal needs 16 hours of continuing education, 11 of them in required topics.
Start Your Virginia Real Estate Career Today
MLS Campus is a Virginia Real Estate Board approved school (0211001323), established in 2014, that has helped tens of thousands of students start their real estate careers. Take all 60 hours online, at your own pace, with read, listen and watch options.
- How to get a real estate license: state-by-state guide
- How to become a Realtor® in Virginia
- How to become a real estate broker in Virginia
- How to renew a Virginia real estate license
- Virginia real estate courses
Ready to get your Virginia real estate license?
Study online at your own pace with state-approved, instructor-supported courses. Browse the Virginia packages or head back to our homepage to explore everything MLS Campus offers.