What are the CE requirements for active licensees?
All licensees who hold an active Virginia real estate salesperson's license, and are renewing their license for at least the second time, must complete 16-hours of continuing education for each two-year renewal period. Of these 16 hours, 8 hours must include the following courses: 1) Ethics & Standards of Conduct (3 hours) 2) Fair Housing (2 hours) 3) Legal Updates and Emerging Trends (1 hour) 4) Real Estate Agency (1 hour) 5) Real Estate Contracts (1 hour)
The remaining 8-hours of continuing education may be fulfilled through elective courses that cover any real estate related topics listed under section 18 VAC 135-20-101 of the Real Estate Regulations.
All continuing education courses must be approved by the Real Estate Board, and must be offered by an approved education provider.
If you hold an out-of-state license, the Real Estate Board will allow you to use 8 hours of CE credits that were earned towards another state's license renewal in place of the 8-hours of elective Virginia CE credits, as long as those credits were earned during the current two-year renewal period. In order to receive these 8 hours of out-of-state CE credits, you must submit the following:
a copy of the current out-of-state license (with its expiration date), and;
a copy of each continuing education completion certificate.
Please note, all first-time active licensees are not required to complete the 16-hour CE requirement. Instead, they must complete the 30-hour post-license education requirement within their first year of licensure.
Related FAQs
You can renew your Virginia real estate license online or by mailing your Renewal Card (along with your renewal fee) to the Real Estate Board. We recommend renewing your license online through the DPOR website as this is the quickest way to renew your license.
There is a $65 renewal fee to renew your Virginia real estate salesperson's license. If you renew your license online, you can pay using a credit card. If you opt to mail in a Renewal Card you should include a Credit Card Payment Form. Please note, all renewal fees are non-refundable.
You must renew our VA real estate license within two years from the last day of the month in which your license was issued. For example, if your license was issued on January 10, 2020, you must renew by January 31, 2022. If you fail to renew your license by its renewal date, your license will be considered expired.
All first-time Virginia real estate salespersons must complete 30-hours of post-license education (PLE) within one year from the last day of the month in which their license was issued. For example, if your license was issued on March 15, 2020, you must complete your 30-hours of PLE by March 31, 2021.
If you hold an inactive VA real estate salesperson's license, you do not have to complete the 16-hour continuing education requirement for each renewal period. However, if you are a first-time VA licensee, you are still required to complete the 30-hours of post-license education within your first year of licensure.
All licensees who hold an active Virginia real estate salesperson's license, and are renewing their license for at least the second time, must complete 16-hours of continuing education for each renewal period.
If you hold an inactive Virginia real estate salesperson's license, you are not required to complete the 16-hours of continuing education. You simply need to submit your renewal application online (or mail in your completed Renewal Card) and pay the renewal fee.
Yes, any continuing education credits completed in excess of the required 16-hours of CE in the current license term, that were obtained within six months of your license expiration date, may be carried over to the next two-year renewal period.
The Board may grant exemptions or waive or reduce the number of continuing education hours required in cases of certified illness or undue hardship as demonstrated to the Board. In addition, military personnel called to active duty may complete the required CE within six months of their release from active duty.
If you fail to renew your license by its expiration date, your license will be considered expired and you will not be able to practice real estate until your license is reinstated. If you do not reinstate your license within 1 year after your license expiration date, you will have to apply for a new license.
To reinstate an expired real estate license, you must submit a Salesperson Activate / Transfer Application, either online or by mail and pay the required fee. Please note, you must have completed the required continuing education credits before you can submit to reinstate your license.