How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Rhode Island

Who can apply

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
• Complete 45 classroom hours of pre-licensing education within 2 years before applying.
• Pass the national and Rhode Island state exams.
• Have a principal broker sign an affidavit that you are competent and trustworthy.
• Have filed all required Rhode Island tax returns and paid taxes owed (or be on an approved payment plan).

Step by step

1. Complete the 45-hour salesperson pre-licensing course at a DBR-approved school.
2. Schedule with Pearson VUE and pass both the national and state parts of the exam.
3. Complete a 3-hour lead poisoning/lead hazard mitigation course.
4. Get a BCI background check from the Rhode Island Attorney General's office.
5. Get errors and omissions insurance and have your principal broker sign the broker affidavit.
6. Mail the application with two payments ($140 to RI General Treasurer and $25 to the Real Estate Recovery Account), your Pearson VUE score report and certificates, within one year of passing the exam.

Training and exam

Training: At least 45 classroom hours of salesperson pre-licensing education from a DBR-approved school. Hours completed more than 2 years before the application do not count, and these 45 hours cannot later count toward the 90 hours required for a broker license. A 3-hour lead poisoning/lead hazard mitigation course is also required.

Exam: Given by Pearson VUE, at a test center or online. National part: 80 questions plus 5 pretest, 2.5 hours, $53. State part: 50 questions plus 10 pretest, 1.5 hours, $50. Passing score is 70. You must take the exam before applying to DBR, and apply within one year of passing (counted from the later part if passed on different dates). After one failed OnVUE attempt per part, you must retest at a test center.

What it costs in Rhode Island

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

How long it takes

DBR's salesperson application says to allow 7 to 10 business days for processing.

What other sites get wrong about Rhode Island

After you're licensed

Renewal: Licenses expire every 2 calendar years on the anniversary of the issue date. Each 2-year renewal requires 24 clock hours of approved CE: at least 9 hours in CORE subjects (3 of them in fair housing) and 15 hours of any approved courses.

Good to know in Rhode Island

Principal broker: Your principal broker must sign a sworn affidavit on the application recommending you for a salesperson's license.

Reciprocity: Florida licensees at the same level may take only the Rhode Island state part under a mutual recognition agreement. The standard salesperson application cannot be used for reciprocity.

Exam retakes: If you fail a section of the exam, you may retake just that section within one year. After the one-year limit, you must retake the entire exam (230-RICR-30-20-2, §2.6).

Renewal cost: DBR's renewal application lists a $130 salesperson renewal fee, payable to the RI General Treasurer, plus a $100 late fee if you reinstate after expiration.

Sources

• RI DBR — Real Estate Salesperson Requirements and Application (rev. 12/29/2023)
• RI DOS — Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (230-RICR-30-20-2)
• R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20.5-3
• Pearson VUE — Rhode Island Real Estate Candidate Handbook (January 2026)
• RI DBR — Real Estate Renewal Application
• RI Attorney General — Get a Background Check