How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Virginia?
Are you ready to start or advance your real estate career in the Old Dominion? Use the rundown of fixed and variable licensure costs covered in this post to save you time and future stress.
You’ll get a clear picture of the amount needed for each part of the process, including reasons why some costs vary. You’ll also learn what to budget to keep your license current and active.
That said, how much is a real estate license in Virginia? Let’s walk through it.
Getting Your Initial License
Qualifying Education: $150 to $600 for Salesperson; $900+ for Broker
Virginia requires you to fulfill 60 hours of approved pre-licensing education to become a real estate salesperson. Those hours are available in one course you can take in person or online.
Schools charge anywhere from $150 to $300 for the self-paced online delivery option, with popular price points falling between $250 and the bottom of that range.
You should budget up to $600 for instructor-led courses in a classroom or live-streamed. A home study (correspondence) course routinely runs a couple of hundred dollars less.
As a broker candidate, you have a 180-hour pre-licensing education commitment. That’s four courses, 45 hours each, in the following topics: appraisal, finance, brokerage, and investment.
If you choose online or textbook home study, the enrollment price is $900 or so for a package with all four.
A total price of $1,200 to $2,000 is more typical for completing the classwork in a traditional or virtual-learning setting. The pricing model, in this case, is most often pay-per-course.
Exam Prep Course: $60 to $225
You aren’t required to take a prep course to sit for the exam. So, it’s an optional expense when totaling up the cost of a real estate license in Virginia.
How much will you have to spend for the extra prep?
That depends on several factors, including the access method, whether the course covers one exam section or both, and whether it’s a package add-on.
The cost of a separate online course covering content for the national and state portions of the test hovers between $100 and $135. Those that focus on only one section cost less.
Anticipate paying $50 to $100 more than the price of a salesperson’s pre-licensing course when exam prep is a package extra.
You’ll get help with both parts of the exam and more bells and whistles at the upper end of that range. Dynamic practice tests and interactive vocabulary worksheets are examples.
Live or virtual classroom courses are ordinarily the more expensive choice, priced at $150-plus.
Licensing Exam: $60 per Attempt
Passing the exam proves your knowledge of real estate principles, practices, regulations, and laws. With the proper preparation, there’s a good chance you’ll only need to take it once.
If you do succeed in getting a passing score on your first attempt, your total cost for exam registration is $60. That amount applies to real estate salespersons and brokers alike.
If you miss the mark on the test, no worries. You can take it as many times as needed until you pass. However, you must re-register with the test vendor PSI and pay the $60 fee for each try.
You’ll also have to reschedule and pay again if you forfeit the fee. That occurs if you miss your appointment, cancel late, or are denied entry because you arrived late or without proper ID.
To avoid taking retakes, read our article on the best way to pass the Virginia real estate exam.
Additionally, check out my tips for studying for the real estate exam.
Fingerprinting and Background Check: $35+
As a fingerprint-based background check is mandatory in Virginia, your real estate license cost estimates must include the fee for completing this requirement.
PSI offers electronic fingerprinting at their Virginia exam sites. So, you could get this done after you pass the test.
Walk-ins are allowed, and the service is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The fee is $52. That includes the rolling fee for fingerprints and the criminal records check.
The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation also contracts with another fingerprinting vendor: Fieldprint.
This company has sites throughout Virginia. They are a Live Scan vendor, which means they capture and submit fingerprints digitally for the background check.
You need an appointment, which you can book through Fieldprint’s website. You can learn more about the reservation process by referencing the instructions.
Fieldprint charges around $35 for the scheduling fee.
For more information on this topic, read our article on how to get a Virginia real estate license with violations on your record.
License Application: $170 for Salesperson; $210+ for Broker
Once you’ve met all the requirements, you can submit your application for a salesperson or broker license and supporting documentation. You’ll also need to pay an application fee.
The amount you must remit is determined by the type of license you’re getting. Current Virginia real estate license fees are listed below.
- Initial or reciprocal salesperson license: $170
- Broker license by exam or reciprocity: $210
- Virginia salesperson upgrading to broker: $85
In case you’re not familiar with reciprocity, it refers to the acceptance of standards met by an applicant holding an active license in another state.
You can read more about reciprocity in our article on how to get a Virginia real estate license.
No matter which license you’re pursuing, you must be mindful of the cost implications of missing the application deadline. You have one year from when you originally took the exam to apply.
If you don’t get your application paperwork and fee to the Real Estate Board within that time, you must retake the expired portion(s) of the exam. That requires paying another $60 fee.
Note that as part of your application, you will need to be sponsored by a licensed managing broker. Carefully choosing the right broker to work for as a new agent ensures you get a good start on your career.
Make your selection from our directory of the best real estate brokerages in Virginia and narrow down your choices based on which companies align with your career goals the most.
Survey of Experts
In your opinion, was the cost of getting your real estate license reasonable?
Approximately how much did it cost you to get your real estate license? Including school fees, study materials, and other related expenses.
Maintaining Active Licensure
Post-License Education: $100 to $270
Virginia law requires all active new real estate agents to complete a Board-approved post-license education (PLE) program within one year of becoming a licensee.
Accordingly, you should include this educational expense in your budget to easily cover it when you enroll.
The curriculum consists of nine mandatory courses ranging from two to six credit hours each. The nine courses add up to a total of 30 credit hours.
Many providers offer online PLE package deals with all required hours at a wide range of prices, from $100 to $270. Most are grouped around the $150 mark.
You can also sign up for single courses. However, as a general rule, paying the per-course price will cost you more than most online packages. This is also the same for in-classroom 30-hour bundles.
Continuing Education: $70+ Every Renewal Cycle
In addition to post-license courses, Virginia real estate agents must complete 16 hours of continuing education for their second and subsequent renewal periods to keep their license active.
That total number of hours is equally divided into mandatory topics and electives.
Brokers have a higher threshold to meet. Their CE requirement is 24 credit hours, starting with the first renewal. Sixteen of those are mandatory, and the remaining hours are elective.
The CE courses for both license types are most commonly offered online and as a package. The price varies based on the school you choose and the combination of courses.
The cost of salesperson online CE packages generally ranges from $70 to $150. You can find some broker bundles at or slightly above $70, while most run from $110 to $170.
Individual courses vary in length from two to six hours. Prices range from $25 to $84 per course. So, your total expense will likely be higher than a bundle if you enroll separately.
License Renewal: $65+ for Salesperson; $80+ for Broker
You’re on a two-year renewal term when licensed to practice real estate in Virginia. Your biennial due date is the last day of the month your license was issued.
You can renew within 60 days of that expiration date. When you pay during that time as a salesperson, the Virginia real estate license renewal fee is $65. As a broker, you’ll pay $80.
Real Estate Board regulations give you 30 days after expiration to renew your license without penalty. As of day 31, you’ll also owe the applicable reinstatement fee as follows:
- Salesperson reinstatement: $100
- Broker reinstatement: $120
It’s important to note that the 30-day period is not a license extension. Instead, it’s solely additional time to complete the CE requirements if needed and submit payment.
You can reinstate your license for up to one year after its expiration by paying the penalty fee. After that, you must meet current licensing requirements and reapply.
Therefore, the associated costs at that point include pre-licensing education and the exam.
Expert Insight
What were your ‘surprise costs’ after getting your license?
Membership required to both the National Association of Realtors and our local MLS.
Just a year prior to going through the New York real estate licensing process, I was familiar with what to expect when I joined a brokerage.
However, here in the Hampton Roads area, the process was slightly different as our MLS is not run by the local Realtor association.
Truly, none. Everything is very clear from the start.
Each state has certain licensing maintenance fees and ongoing education requirements, and it’s simple to look up the cost of the online courses you need to take.
Realtor dues.
How to Reduce Real Estate License Education Costs
Education is one of the largest mandatory expenses associated with licensure. So, it follows that you’re looking to make it as affordable as possible.
Check out the following five tips for lowering those costs:
1. Pick a standard package. When Virginia real estate schools offer bundle deals, the price is usually lower than what you’d pay when taking individual courses.
2. Skip the classroom. In-person and virtual courses have higher overhead costs, typically making them more expensive than online learning or home study.
Apart from costs, there are a few more differences between remote and traditional classroom learning. We break them down in an A-to-Z guide on online real estate classes vs classroom courses.
3. Enroll early. Look for discounts where you save by registering on or before a specified early-bird deadline. You could save up to 25 percent.
4. Score freebies. Some Realtor associations offer complimentary CE to members. Some schools also provide free CE or post-license education (confirm the fine print, if any).
5. Cash in on a discount. Seek out promo codes or reduced prices for membership, referrals, military personnel, or former students. Any that apply can cut costs.
Expert Insight
What costs could have been avoided and how?
I think retaking the exam is the biggest unexpected cost that some people have to deal with.
I highly recommend signing up for the test immediately after you finish the course, so you remember the content. Otherwise, there are fees associated with retaking the exam.
Even though some individuals learn better in a classroom environment, you can save a lot of time by taking the principles course online.
With additional clarity on the financial commitment required, you can now take the next steps to accomplish your goal.
You can refer to our article on how long it takes to get a Virginia real estate license to know the time commitment involved in the licensing process.
When you start your career as a Virginia real estate salesperson, it helps to create an action plan that enumerates what to do after you get your real estate license.
You can also join a real estate team to touch base with experienced agents who can help guide your career.
Additionally, you can learn from industry experts giving their insights on the pros and cons of being a real estate agent.
As you continue working towards a successful real estate career in the state, take advantage of cutting-edge resources designed to empower industry professionals.
To help you build and grow your real estate career quickly, we at Real Estate Bees created a directory for real estate professionals.
It’s designed to help you get more exposure for your business, including receiving leads. Create a free profile by signing up here.
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About the Author
Kristina Morales is a REALTOR® with over 20 years of professional experience. She actively practices real estate in Ohio but also has practiced real estate in California and Texas. Conducting her real estate business in three states has allowed her to gain unique experiences that make her a well-rounded realtor. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and her MBA with a concentration in Banking and Finance. Prior to real estate, Kristina had an extensive corporate career in banking and treasury. She ended her finance career as an Assistant Treasurer at a publicly traded oil & gas company in Houston, TX.