StateLicensed

Real Estate Agent License Requirements in Vermont

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
40 hrs
Upfront cost
$100
Exam
National Salesperson Examination, Vermont State Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Vermont Office of Professional Regulation, Real Estate Commission

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old. Per 26 V.S.A. § 2292(b), applicants must be at least 18 years of age and be employed by or associated with a Vermont-licensed brokerage firm and its principal broker. OPR's own Criminal Background Checks page lists only Licensed Practical/Registered Nurses, armed Private Investigators/Security Guards, Licensed Nurse Assistants, Advanced Practice Nurses, Physical Therapists, and Real Estate Appraisers as professions subject to fingerprint-supported background checks -- real estate brokers/salespersons are not on that list. Instead, applicants must self-disclose any convictions or professional discipline and provide a written explanation and court documentation if applicable. [6]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 40 hours of training at a state-approved program. 40-hour salesperson pre-licensing course from a Commission-approved provider (26 V.S.A. § 2292(b)(4)). Applicants who hold an active license in a state the Commission considers substantially equivalent to Vermont may be exempt from this course (Indiana and Rhode Island are specifically listed as not equivalent for salespersons). [1]

  3. 3

    National Salesperson Examination

    Pass the National Salesperson Examination. PSI is the Commission's current provider of the national salesperson examination (effective December 3, 2025, offered via PSI's online proctored platform). PSI's official test-taker portal (test-takers.psiexams.com/vtre) requires an account to view current pricing, and OPR does not publish the PSI fee on its own pages, so the fee is recorded as unverified rather than carried over from third-party exam-prep sites. Applicants must have passed the national exam within two years preceding their application. [2]

  4. 4

    Vermont State Examination

    Pass the Vermont State Examination (fee: $0). The state-specific exam is not administered by a third-party vendor; it is completed within the applicant's own online licensing application, and the answer sheet is uploaded as part of the application. All applicants must take it, including those applying by endorsement from another state. [3]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Vermont Office of Professional Regulation, Real Estate Commission with the $100 application fee. Typical processing time: 3-5 business days for application and renewal processing. [1]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Vermont Office of Professional Regulation, Real Estate Commission issues your Real Estate Salesperson for Vermont.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [4] $100
License fee [4] None specified
Renewal fee [4] $200
National Salesperson Examination [2] None specified
Vermont State Examination [3] $0

Per 26 V.S.A. § 2255(a): salesperson license application is $100 and biennial renewal is $200 (last amended 2023). OPR's own separately-published Initial Licensing/Renewal Fees & Dates schedule (updated 7/1/2025) instead lists a $220 biennial renewal fee for Real Estate Salesperson (profession code 082) with the same $100 application fee; per this project's convention, the statutory figure ($200) is used here since it is the codified rate, with the $220 administrative-schedule figure noted for reference. There is no separate license-issuance fee beyond the application fee, and Vermont does not charge a fingerprint/background-check fee for this profession.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 16 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Licenses renew every two years (26 V.S.A. § 2293) without re-examination, contingent on completing 16 hours of Commission-approved continuing education, including a 4-hour mandatory course covering legislative and other Commission-specified topics. First-time renewals additionally require proof of 8 hours of post-licensure education completed within 90 days of the license being issued, but do not require the 16-hour CE. Licensees who endorsed into Vermont are not required to complete the post-licensure education for their first Vermont renewal.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Vermont offers licensure 'by Endorsement' for applicants licensed in a jurisdiction the Commission considers substantially equivalent to Vermont's requirements (pre-licensing course exemption applies to all states except Indiana and Rhode Island for salespersons; national-exam exemption applies to all states except California, New York, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia for salespersons). All out-of-state applicants must still pass Vermont's state-specific exam -- there are no exceptions. A separate 'Fast-Track Endorsement' path is available under 3 V.S.A. § 136a for applicants continuously licensed in good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction for 3 or more years; the state exam is still required under fast-track.

Cost calculator

  • $100
  • $0
Total$100

Frequently asked questions

What are the requirements to become a Vermont real estate salesperson?

A 40-hour pre-licensing course, the national exam (through PSI), the state exam (administered through the online application), and affiliation with a Vermont-licensed principal broker/office.

I am licensed in another state, do I still need to take the state exam?

Yes. All applicants must take the Vermont state exam -- there are no exceptions, even for applicants using the endorsement or fast-track endorsement paths.

Do I need to take the 40-hour pre-licensing course if I am licensed in another state?

If you hold an active license in a state the Commission considers equivalent to Vermont, you do not need to retake the 40-hour pre-licensing course. Indiana and Rhode Island are specifically not considered equivalent for salespersons.

Do salespersons renewing for the first time need to complete the 16-hour continuing education?

No. Licensees who have held the license for under two years and are renewing for the first time are not required to complete the standard 16-hour CE, but they do need to show proof of the 8-hour post-licensure education completed within 90 days of licensure.

How long does it take to process my application?

OPR's standard processing time for applications and each additional document submitted is 3 to 5 business days.

Sources

  1. [1] sos.vermont.gov/real-estate-brokers-salespersons/salesperson-broker-faqs — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] test-takers.psiexams.com/vtre — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] outside.vermont.gov/dept/sos/office_professional_regulation/professions/real_estate_broker_salesperson/real_estate_broker_salesperson_application_instructions.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/fullchapter/26/041 — accessed 2026-07-12
  5. [5] outside.vermont.gov/dept/sos/office_professional_regulation/professions/real_estate_broker_salesperson/real_estate_salesperson_renewal_instructions.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  6. [6] sos.vermont.gov/opr/online-services/background-checks — accessed 2026-07-12