Before answering your question about how do I get a real estate license in Virginia, let us elaborate on the pros and cons of becoming a real estate agent.
Pros of becoming a real estate agent
- You can follow a flexible work schedule and do not have to clock in or out at fixed hours. Thus, there is a greater work-life balance and you have more time to spend with friends and family.
- The sky is the limit for your earnings. The more hours and hard work you put in, the more will be the number of your clients and earnings.
- You get the mental satisfaction of helping buyers find their dream homes and sellers dispose of their homes quickly at a fair price. Your market expertise will help a lot in this regard.
- You have high career mobility as with your experience as a real estate agent, you can move to careers as a real estate investor, property manager, leasing consultant, and more.
Cons of becoming a real estate agent
- You might have to put in longer hours and work around client schedules that might even be over weekends and holidays.
- Though high, your earnings might not be constant month after month. There will sometimes be a slowdown in business, thereby dropping your income for some time. Real estate agents should always have a pile stacked away for rainy days.
- For most clients, buying a home or selling one is often a one-time transaction. Therefore, you are not assured of repeat business unlike other professions even if you offer optimized client service.
- Executing real estate deals is a stressful process as there are many legal complexities to navigate. One wrong move on your part can put you and your client in trouble in the future.
Click here to learn more about how do I get my real estate license in Virginia.
Steps To Get A Real Estate License In Virginia
Some stages to get a real estate license are common for all states in the country and some are specific to Virginia only.
Standard eligibility norms
The common eligibility norms to get a real estate license are to be a minimum of 18 years old and a citizen of the US. Legally-admitted migrants or aliens can also apply for a real estate license provided they have working rights in the country.
Eligibility norms in Virginia
# Pre-licensing education
The most important step to take to know how do I get my real estate license in Virginia is to complete the pre-licensing education. Though this is required in every state, the number of hours differs between them.
In Virginia, aspiring real estate agents must complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education. This is mandated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), the body that sets the rules and regulations for the real estate sector in the state.
Going through this coursework is necessary as it imparts knowledge to candidates about the workings of the real estate sector. Among the typical topics included are real estate practices and principles, ethics, law and contracts, and more.
You can choose to complete the courses either in a classroom setting or online. The latter is more convenient as it offers the flexibility of any time study while on the go. One of the top DPOR-approved pre-licensing courses is offered by RealEstateU, along with a study guide and prep questions.
# Submit fingerprints
You must submit your fingerprints for verification of any past criminal records. Real estate agents are expected to maintain high moral standards and reliability and an adverse fingerprint record can render you ineligible for a license.
# Schedule the licensing exam
Pay the required fees and schedule your licensing exam on the website of the DPOR.
# Appear for the licensing exam and pass it
On test day, sit for the licensing exam at one of the centers designated by the DPOR. The exam is held online and consists of two parts. One is, the national section that is generic to the whole country and the state-specific section that tests your knowledge of the real estate rules prevailing in Virginia.
You must score at least 75% to crack the Virginia licensing exam. Since it is an online exam, your result in pass/fail format will be informed to you at the center itself after completing the test.
# Apply for a real estate license in Virginia
The next important component of how do I get my real estate license in Virginia is to apply for a license after paying the necessary fees. Visit the portal of the DPOR Real Estate Board, download the application form, and fill it out accurately. You must attach documents to prove that you are eligible for a license. These include a certificate of having completed the 60 hours of pre-licensing education, a fingerprint clearance certificate that must not be more than 45 days old, and proof of having passed the licensing exam. You will now be issued a license that will not be activated unless you complete the last and final step.
# Find a sponsoring broker
Find a brokerage firm that will mentor and sponsor you. Once you do so, your real estate license will be activated. The advantage here is that you will get office space and infrastructure to launch your career as well as referrals from the brokerage firm till you gain a lot of experience in this field.
These are the stages you must go through to learn about how do I get my real estate license in Virginia.
