Virginia Real Estate Exam: Everything You Need to Know

Passing the Virginia real estate exam is not a walk in the park; it requires hard work and serious preparation. To increase your chances of succeeding, you’ll need to equip yourself with as much information as possible about the exam. 

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Virginia real estate exam and provide effective tips on how to study for the exam. Here’s what we’ll cover in this guide:  

• How to schedule the Virginia Real Estate Licensing exam 
• The requirements to register for the exam
• The cost of the exam
• Where you can take the exam 
• What is covered on the exam 
• The difficulty level of the exam  

How to Schedule the Virginia Real Estate Licensing Exam

To schedule the Virginia real estate exam, all aspiring candidates must first meet the following requirements: 

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must complete 60 hours of online or “in-classroom” required pre-license education before taking the examination.
• You must have, at a minimum, a high school diploma or its equivalent.

You can schedule the state licensing exam after completing the pre-licensing education and passing the course final exam. There are three ways of getting approval to take this examination: 

1. Applying for a license by examination with a letter from the board for permission to take the examination. If you’re doing this, you MUST register via mail or fax using the registration form found at the end of the candidate bulletin, accompanied by a permission letter from the Board. 
2. Applying for a license through reciprocity. If you’re doing this, you MUST register via mail or fax using the registration form at the candidate bulletin's end.
3. Applying for a license from your education provider. Your education provider will provide your eligibility to PSI, after which you may register via the Internet, mail, telephone, or fax. Note that registration via the Internet is the fastest. To do this, visit PSI’s website, create an account, and schedule your examination.

You’ll be required to pay an examination fee of $60, valid for one examination and one year. This fee can be paid via credit card, money order, company check, or cashier's check. If you need any help during your registration or scheduling, call 1-800-733-9267.

Where Do You Take the Virginia Real Estate License Exam?

Candidates for the Virginia real estate licensing exam are to take their exams at any designated PSI testing centers around the state. These locations are as follows:

• Vienna
• Richmond
• Virginia Beach
• Roanoke
• Eastern Shore Area (Salisbury, MD)
• Charlottesville
• Johnson City, TN

Can You Take the Exam Online?

Yes, you can take the Virginia real estate exam online. Candidates are allowed a one-time attempt at taking the exam online via OnVue testing. To do this, you must run a system test and exam simulation on your computer before the test day. You must find an enclosed, private space to take the exam and maintain a strong and stable internet connection. 

What to Bring on the Day of Your Exam

On the day of your Virginia real estate exam, you are expected to bring the following: 

• 2 forms of VALID identification. The first one must be government-issued and contain your photograph and signature. The second one must have your signature and preprinted legal name. Examples of IDs you can use include: 
• Driver's License
• State ID
• Passport
• Military ID
• A non-programmable, silent, battery-operated calculator. This device must not have paper tape printing capabilities or a keyboard containing the alphabet.

You should arrive at your appointment at least 30 minutes early on the exam day. This additional time is for identification and sign-in and for you to become familiar with the examination procedure.

What is on the Virginia Real Estate Exam?

The Virginia real estate exam is made up of two sections, namely: 

• The national portion, comprising questions based on national real estate principles and practice
• The Virginia state-specific portion, comprising questions based on Virginia state real estate laws and real estate board rules

National Portion 

Here are some topics you will come across in the national portion of the exam, with the percentage of questions you can expect from each topic:

• Property ownership: 8%
• Land use controls and regulations: 5%
• Valuation and market analysis: 7%
• Financing: 10%
• General principles of agency: 13%
• Property disclosure: 6%
• Contracts: 17%
• Leasing and property management: 3%
• Transfer of title: 8%
• Practice of real estate: 13%
• Real estate calculations: 10%

State Portion 

Here are some topics you will come across in the state portion. The number of questions you can expect per topic is written in front of each topic:

• Licensing: 8 (20%)
• Escrow accounts: 2 (5%)
• Disclosure requirements: 10 (25%)
• Agency Definitions and Relationships: 12 (30%)
• Virginia Fair Housing Law and Regulations: 4 (10%)
• Specific Acts Pertaining to Real Estate Practice: 4 (10%)

Will There Be Math on the Exam?

Yes, there will be math on the Virginia real estate licensing exam. These math questions will be found in the national portion and will be related to basic math concepts, such as Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratios and discount points, as well as calculations on transactions, such as property tax calculations, seller’s proceeds of sale, and commission splits. 

Keep in mind that solving these math problems could be difficult and time-consuming. It is, therefore, best to save these questions for later while you continue to answer the other questions unless the answers are easy. This allows you to answer more questions and maximize your allotted time. 

Is the Virginia Real Estate Exam Hard?

Yes, the Virginia real estate exam is hard and will only get harder for poorly prepared candidates. This is why studying hard and getting all the help you can before taking the exam is important. 

How Many Questions Are on the Virginia Real Estate Exam?

The Virginia real estate salesperson exam has a total of 120 multiple-choice questions. 80 of these questions fall under the national portion, while the remaining 40 fall under the state-specific portion. Candidates are given a total of 150 minutes (2 ½ hours) to complete the exam; 105 minutes for the national section and 45 minutes for the state section.  

Note that about 5-10 opinion questions may be added to a candidate's test. These questions are used to evaluate the quality of the exam and develop future licensing examinations. These questions will not be scored; neither will the time used to answer them count against the testing time.  

To pass this exam, you must get a minimum of 56 questions correct in the national section and 30 in the state section. Once you submit the exam, your score will be displayed on the screen. If you pass, you will receive a successful notification and a performance summary on the screen. 

If you fail, the successful notification will include a diagnostic report highlighting your strengths and weaknesses in different parts of the examination. This is to help you prepare better for a retake. 

What is the Passing Rate for the Real Estate Exam in Virginia?

Virginia’s real estate exam sees 70% of candidates pass on the first try, meaning that if 1,000 people took the exam, 700 passed. This implies that while the exam might be hard, there is a good chance that candidates will pass if they undergo the necessary preparations. 

Note that this passing rate may be affected over time due to changes in the exam content and its difficulty level. 

How Many Times Can You Take the Real Estate Exam?

You can take the Virginia real estate exam as many times as you need to pass it. If you pass one section, you can retake only the failed section. You can schedule another exam as soon as the next day after your failed attempt. If you wrote the exam on a Monday, you can reschedule on Tuesday and retest as soon as Wednesday. 

Remember that if you want to qualify for a license, your completed license application must be submitted within 1 year from the initial examination date when you ORIGINALLY took the examination. You'll have to retake the entire exam if you do not pass both sections within that year. Therefore, you must do your best to pass the exam as quickly as possible. 

Note that every attempt to take this exam -whether or not you take both sections-  will cost you $60. 

How to Pass the Virginia Real Estate Exam

To pass the Virginia real estate exam on the first trial, candidates must study hard for the exam, drilling themselves on all the topics in both sections of the exam, from which questions will be set. While you can obtain most of the knowledge you need during the 90-hour pre-licensing education, there are certain effective study tools that you can adopt in your preparation to increase your chances of passing. They include: 

Create a Study Schedule 

When preparing for an exam like the Virginia real estate exam, creating a study schedule may be just what you need to balance your study sessions with your other daily commitments. A well-planned study schedule will improve your daily time management by ensuring that every minute of your time is accounted for.  

Ensure you input frequent breaks into your study schedule to prevent burnout. It's also best to set your study time to periods of the day when you are less busy or distracted, such as early in the morning and late at night. We recommend studying for a little bit every night or at least every other night.

Use Acronyms and Mnemonic Devices

Acronyms and mnemonic devices are memory aids that break down complex information into smaller and simpler chunks that are easier for the brain to process and remember. Acronyms are formed by taking the first letters of each word in a phrase and forming a word with it. A good example of a real estate acronym is CCIM, which stands for Certified Commercial Investment Member. 

Similarly, mnemonic devices are formed by associating a piece of information with something that can be easily related. A good mnemonic device detailing a property's four essential characteristics to have value would be “Don’t Utter Silly Things.”

• Don’t for Demand
• Utter for Utility
• Silly for Scarcity
• Things for Transferability

Join a Study Group 

Joining a study group can significantly increase your chances of success in the exam by enriching your learning process and experience. It provides like-minded people to be accountable to, helping you be more intentional. Studying in a group can also boost your motivation to study and pass, born out of healthy competition.

Get Guided Help

One of your best study options is our exam prep package for the Virginia real estate exam. This is an affordable package designed to give you resources and strategies to prepare completely and feel confident when you take the exam.

When you purchase the Virginia real estate exam prep package, you get access to the following helpful materials:

• 1,500 Virginia real estate exam practice questions
• Customizable practice state exams
• Vocabulary flashcards
• Video explanations
• E-book study guide

Our exam prep package has helped thousands of students pass the exam and become real estate agents. So, don’t put off studying for another day. Get it today!

Final Thoughts on the Real Estate Exam in Virginia 

The Virginia real estate exam is important in becoming a licensed real estate professional. Passing this exam requires careful preparation and a solid understanding of real estate concepts and practices. To increase your chances of succeeding on this exam, follow the tips above.