How to get a Virginia real estate license by reciprocity
VA Real Estate License- Reciprocity (Licensed Out of State)
How to become a real estate agent if you have an current license in a different state. If you are licensed in another state, you can usually apply for a Virginia license by reciprocity. Here is our “super quick” summary of how to get a VA license by reciprocity (subject to other basic requirements). Check the requirements and see the step by step instructions below.
Requirements for VA license by reciprocity:
* You must have a current real estate license in your other state.
* You do not need to take the 60 hours of pre-license for Virginia. You will only need to pass the Virginia portion of the PSI exam.
* You must have completed at least 60 hours of pre-license course in your original state.
Note: Your license certification may show your pre-license hours or, if not, you may need to contact your original school to verify the original 60 hours of pre-license. How to find out? You should call your original state Board or Commission to see if the license certification shows number of pre-license hours. You may also contact the Virginia Real Estate Board to confirm at 804-367-8526.
* You will need the license certification and the proof of 60 hour minimum pre-license hours when submitting your application to the VA Real Estate Board. (Not needed when applying to take the VA portion of the PSI exam, only a copy of your license for that.)
Questions? You can check with our instructor Paul Hartke, who is also a Virginia broker in VA, MD and DC to ask about your particular situation. His direct number is 703-675-5550. Paul is the school instructor, a school owner and a Virginia broker.
Note to Brokers: This information is for salespersons. Use a different page for broker reciprocity.
Steps to get your Virginia License by Reciprocity.
1. Register for the PSI exam Virginia portion only.
If you have an active license in another state and took at least 60 hours of pre-license, then you do not need to take a course. You do need to pass the Virginia portion of the PSI exam. (Study info below.)
PSI has sites in major cities in Virginia- Northern VA (Vienna/Tysons Corner), Richmond, Virginia Beach, Charlottesville, Roanoke. (Plus Johnson City, TN and Maryland Eastern Shore.) You need 75% to pass.
2. To sign up with PSI, there is an application at the end of the Candidate Information Booklet (pdf). This has all the PSI info.
I have extracted here the 2 page Examination Registration Form and instructions. You also need to send a copy of your current license in your other state. Apply only for VA portion. Put 9999 for question 12 (no Virginia school for reciprocity apps).
Fax the application and out of state license copy to 702-932-2666.
How to use the internet to fax it: I suggest faxzero.com. They fax up to 3 pdf pages for free. Send your signed application (2 pages) and copy of your license.
3. Study for the Virginia portion of the real estate exam.
How to study for the Virginia portion of the PSI exam. Note: Each attempt at the exam costs $60 regardless of number of times needed to pass.
ONLINE exam prep-VA state only (recommended): Select either or both of these:
Virginia Real Estate Drill and Practice QBank v3.0 $39.00 Over 1,000 Q&As
Virginia Real Estate Exam Prep Online VIDEO Course v2.0 $49.00 Videos plus topic reviews and practice Q&As
Books- Virginia exam prep books: The Practice and Law book has chapters and practice exam questions.
View / Buy Book $35 Buy/ Download eBook $35
Live In-person exam prep – Reston VA. Very limited availability since the instructor is also the broker of a VA real estate company.) Request appointment.
About the VA portion of the PSI exam: You need to get 30 out of 40 Virginia questions correct. That is 75%. You have 45 minutes to complete the exam. It is taken on a computer at the test site. Be on time and bring your ID.
4. Take and pass the Virginia state portion of the PSI exam. After you have mailed or faxed in your exam registration, you will get an email authorizing you to take the VA portion of the PSI exam. The exam is $60.
5. Fingerprinting. The Real Estate Board also requires fingerprinting which is the criminal background check. Fingerprinting is now also allowed at Fieldprint locations. Schedule at a location at fieldprintvirginia.com.
Apply for your VA real estate license (after passing PSI)
After you pass the Virginia portion of the PSI exam, PSI will send your information to the VA Real Estate Board at DPOR.
You need to fill out the License Application with a licensed Virginia broker. The application for reciprocity is a part of the regular license application on the Board website.
You will need to include an original certification of your current active out-of-state license from your state. You will need this to submit it along with your license application. It needs to be dated within 45 days of your license application. This is needed for your license application with DPOR.
Note: Your out-of-state license certification should show that you originally got your license by taking a prelicense course of at least 60 hours (180 for brokers). If the license certification does not show the 60 hours, the Board may require you to get an original certification from the out-of-state prelicense school. ginal or certified proof of the completion of 60 hours of real estate education (180 hours for brokers) similar to the education requirements in Virginia. Many states (such as Maryland for example) include the proof of prelicense education on the license certification. In that case, you don’t need anything else. If your original state had less than 60 hours of pre-license education (not likely), you will need additional pre-license hours.
Waiting for your license to arrive. It may take a few weeks to get your license since the fingerprinting process takes about 3 weeks lately.
The above is the quick summary list. If needed, see the DPOR site for regulations for full details. Or get in touch with us on our contact form or 703-476-1747. OR contact the RE Board at 804-367-8526. To clarify from the RE Board exactly what is needed in your particular case, email them to get it in writing at REBoard@dpor.virginia.gov.
Thanks for visiting. — Paul Hartke, VaRealtySchool.com
Virginia License by Reciprocity Requirements
- Currently licensed in another state in good standing
Submit the PSI exam registration form by fax (or mail).
The form and full instructions are at www.psiexams.com. - Take the Virginia portion of the PSI exam. Locations on their website.After you pass the Va portion of the PSI exam, you will need to have these to submit your license application.·
- Provide proof of education substantially equivalent to the Virginia requirements (60 hour pre-license course). You will need an original or certified transcript or certificate of course completion. However, as noted, many states (such as Maryland) include this on the license certification.·
- Provide certificate of licensure or letter of good standing from each state where licensed dated within the last 45 days of your application. It must show license number, date of licensure, expiration date, how obtained (exam vs reciprocity) and any disciplinary matters.
- Meet all the other requirements such as 18 years old, high school or GED, criminal background
*****BROKERS ONLY: See additional requirements for Virginia broker license by reciprocity. Contact us or see the full regulations regarding reciprocity for a Virginia license for details.*****
This is a summary. Our instructor always advises anyone applying by reciprocity to contact the Virginia Real Estate Board to confirm your situation and any details regarding your particular situation.
The Real Estate Board can be contacted at 804-367-8526. To prepare for the exam, please see the materials and information above or on our exam prep page.
There are books and an online exam prep. Some books are in stock in our office. And our instructor does have a live exam prep if you are near Reston, VA. Any questions, let us know online or call us at 703-476-1747. Paul, our instructor, also has some great notes to help you pass the Virginia portion of the PSI exam. Our instructor, Paul Hartke is the principal broker and co-owner of National Realty, a Virginia real estate company in Northern Virginia and licensed in VA, MD and DC.
If you would like to discuss working with National Realty, contact Paul at (703) 860-4600 ext 411 or visit www.joinnational.com. Paul practiced as a lawyer starting in 1981 prior to full time real estate career in 1995. His company currently has over 100 agents and is actively seeking additional agents. His knowledge of real estate laws and marketing strategies have helped many potential and current agents to advance their real estate careers. Paul’s wife, Constance, runs the administrative portion of the real estate school.Note: Salespersons must work under a broker. Brokers can work under a broker (associate broker) or apply as a principal broker.You likely do NOT need to take a course unless you prefer that to the exam prep materials on our website. Paul, our instructor, also has exam prep books in our Reston office, plus his own VA exam prep “Pass the Exam” tips and VA legal summary.
Note: If you are already licensed in Virginia and looking to get a Washington DC license by reciprocity or Maryland license by reciprocity, check our real estate license by reciprocity pages.