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A Career in Virginia’s Real Estate
Did you know that a real estate license in Virginia can get you a six figure salary?
If you are looking for an exciting, rewarding career path where opportunities for growth are abundant, then look no further.
Working as a real estate agent in Virginia is a certain way to earn a handsome income while achieving work-life balance and flexibility.
Many aspiring real estate agents in Virginia easily start by making around $97K as the base annual salary and as they grow in experience, they can earn as high as $110K.
Put simply, the more properties you help sell, the more you earn and the higher will be your chances of growing in your career.
So, how do you get a real estate license in Virginia and what are the qualifications you need to fulfill?
Getting your real estate license might seem intimidating and overwhelming, but if you follow a structured path in a step-by-step manner, it is achievable.
In this article, we have put together all the steps you need to complete to obtain your Virginia real estate license.
You will learn about the process, eligibility requirements, duration, costs and a lot more. Let’s get started!
Understanding the role of a Real Estate Agent
Before you embark on a journey of starting a new career, it is important to understand the role and responsibilities of a real estate agent.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who is responsible for assisting their clients buy, sell or lease properties.
From finding properties and getting them listed for sale to negotiating contracts and closing the deal, agents do it all.
A popular career path with immense potential for growth, your day in a life as a real estate agent in Virginia will involve multiple duties. Some of them include:
- Working with clients to scout properties for sale
- Helping clients list their homes for sale in the market
- Preparing documentation and finalizing paperwork required for contracts
- Assisting clients in home tours, property visits and site showing
- Researching about the local and national real estate markets
- Meeting with clients and guiding them through stages of a transaction
- Collaborating with appraisers, attorneys and home inspectors
- Negotiating contracts on behalf of clients while maintaining compliance with state and federal laws
Becoming a licensed real estate agent in Virginia
To answer the most important question – how do you get a real estate license in Virginia, we will start with the requirements.
As per the Virginia Department of Real Estate (DRE), every real estate professional must obtain a state approved license to practice.
This is a mandatory requirement and you must complete all the required steps to earn your license.
Let’s take a look at some of the basic eligibility requirements you must meet to apply for a license in VA.
- Every candidate must be at least 18 years of age or older
- Every candidate must be a legal resident of the U.S. or a lawfully admitted alien
- Every candidate must complete high school education or equivalent GED
After you have met the above statutory requirements, you can proceed to fulfill the next most important licensing requirement which is completing the pre-licensing education.
The Virginia DRE requires every applicant to complete the mandatory education to qualify for a salesperson license.
To do so, you must complete 60 hours of pre-licensing coursework from a state approved and accredited education provider.
Nowadays, it is very easy to enroll in an online course and complete your coursework from anywhere. Typically, it can cost between $200 to $700 for taking a real estate education course.
If you are interested in taking your pre-licensing education online, you can explore numerous options such as RealEstateU which offers multiple packages to meet your learning needs.
Click here to learn more about the state approved pre license course packages.
You will be qualified to sit for the state licensing exam after completing the requirements for a Virginia real estate license.
There are 120 multiple-choice questions on the test, covering issues unique to each state as well as the country. You have a total of 150 minutes to answer every question.
Immediately after you have completed the test, you will receive a score which will state whether you have passed or failed.
To clear the Virginia real estate license exam, you must score at least 75 percent or above in the test.
Note that you will have to pay an examination fee of $60 for every attempt.
If you successfully clear the VA real estate exam, you will be required to submit your electronic fingerprints. The Virginia real estate board required all candidates to complete a criminal background check.
This step of the process will cost you a fee of $52.
Finally, you can submit your application to the department of real estate in Virginia and pay an application fee of $170.
If your application is deemed as qualified, you should receive your license in a few weeks.