How to Become a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Note: To be eligible to apply for a real estate Salesperson License, an individual must be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien, eighteen (18) years of age or older and a legal resident of Rhode Island.

Education Requirement

Before applying for a real estate Salesperson License, an individual must  first furnish the Commission satisfactory evidence of successfully completing the following education:

1. Modern Real Estate Practices Pre-License Course [45 classroom hours]
2. Law of Agency course (3 classroom hours) included in our Pre-License course
3. Lead Poisoning/Lead Hazard Mitigation course (3 classroom hours)
   
   

Note: To find classes, see the course information tab on this site.

Evaluation of Education Documents

Evidence of successful completion shall be presented via completion certificate.

Scheduling your test

Please contact Pearson VUE to schedule an examination by:

• Calling Pearson VUE at (800) 274-8922

• Faxing the Fax Reservation Form (from Appendix) to (888) 204-6291

• Visiting the Web site www.pearsonvue.com

The examination must be taken before submitting an application to the Rhode Island

Department of Business Regulation, Division of Commercial Licensing and Racing and Athletics, Real Estate Division.

The Real Estate Salesperson Application

Upon successful passing of the examination, candidates must submit the following:

• The original test score report from Pearson VUE – Both pages.

• Completed Real Estate Salesperson Application. Available at our website at

www.dbr.state.ri.us. Click on Real Estate to access the menu.

• Certificate of successful completion of 45 hours of pre-licensing education.

• Criminal History Record (CHR) from the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office;

   or if a non-resident the home state equivalent.

• Non-Residents must file an irrevocable Power of Attorney Form for service of

  process. Available at our website at www.dbr.state.ri.us. Click on Real Estate to

  access the menu.

• Evidence of successful completion of a 3 hour course in Lead Poisoning/Lead

  Hazard Mitigation.

• Certificate of Errors and Omissions Insurance.

• Evidence of successful completion of 3 hours of New Agency Law. Unless

   included in curriculum of 45 hours of pre-licensing education.

Please remit TWO CHECKS as follows:

For licenses issued on or after May1, 2008 through April 30, 2009 - $140.00 ($10.00 application and $130.00 license fee) payable to the “RI General Treasurer”. License valid through April 30, 2010.

OR

For licenses issued on or after May 1, 2009 through April 30, 2010 - $75.00 ($10.00 application fee and $65.00 license fee) payable to the “RI General Treasurer”.

AND

$25.00 payable to the “Real Estate Recovery Account”.

All licenses expire on April 30 of even numbered years. There is no pro-rating of fees.

The Department of Business Regulation has an 18-hour continuing education requirement that will be due on April 30, 2010.

Applications must be completely filled out with all required signatures and properly notarized where required. All supporting documents and fees must be included when submitted.

ANY APPLICATION THAT IS INCOMPLETE OR MISSING DOCUMENTS OR

FEES WILL BE RETURNED TO THE CANDIDATE, DELAYING THE

PROCESSING OF LICENSING

Affiliating with a Real Estate Office

Choosing a Real Estate office that is right for you is critical to your success as a Real Estate Agent. Please click on the following link broker questions for some questions you may want to ask your interviewing broker. 

Don't Practice Prior to Licensure

You are not authorized to perform any act for which a real estate license is required until an ACTIVE RI Real Estate Commission license is in the possession of your affiliating broker.