Rhode Island · RI
Rhode Island Real Estate License Checklist (2026)
Every step, fee, and deadline on one page — designed to print cleanly to PDF and check off as you go.
Before you start
- You are at least 18 years old
- You hold a high school diploma or GED
- You can pass a criminal background check / fingerprinting
Education
Rhode Island requires 45 hours of approved salesperson pre-licensing education (which must include 3 hours on agency law), PLUS a separate 3-hour Lead Poisoning/Lead Hazard Mitigation course — so you're really doing 48 hours of classroom time. Important: pre-licensing must be taken through a Rhode Island-approved local school; national online providers like The CE Shop don't sell RI pre-licensing courses (the link on this page is for exam prep, which they do offer).
- Confirm eligibility: at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen or legal resident (R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20.5-3).
- Complete the 45-hour salesperson pre-licensing course at a DBR-approved Rhode Island school (the DBR publishes a master school list) — figure roughly $250–$400. National online course sellers don't offer RI pre-licensing, so this step happens through a local school.
- Take the separate 3-hour Lead Poisoning/Lead Hazard Mitigation course from an approved provider (roughly $25–$75).
- Schedule and pass both parts of the Rhode Island salesperson exam with Pearson VUE — $50 per part ($100 total). You must pass the exam BEFORE applying to the DBR.
- Gather your paperwork: original Pearson VUE score report, both course certificates, BCI background check, E&O certificate, and your principal broker's signed affidavit.
Application & exam
- Pass both exam parts first — Rhode Island requires the exam before the application, and your passing results are only valid for one year.
- Get a BCI (Bureau of Criminal Identification) background check from the Rhode Island Attorney General's office at 4 Howard Avenue, Cranston — the fee is $5.00 (no fingerprint card required for in-person requests).
- Find your brokerage: the application includes a Broker Affidavit that your principal broker must sign certifying you're competent and trustworthy — so you need a broker lined up before you submit.
- Obtain a certificate of errors & omissions (E&O) insurance — required for all RI licensees (typically $100–$200 per year).
- Mail the application to the DBR in Cranston with two separate checks: $140 payable to 'RI General Treasurer' and $25 payable to 'Real Estate Recovery Account.' Allow 7–10 business days for processing.
- Your license is issued through your principal broker and expires every 2 calendar years on the anniversary of issuance.
Budget
| Item | Estimate | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 45-hour pre-licensing course (RI-approved local school) | $250–$400 | |
| 3-hour lead poisoning/lead hazard course | $25–$75 | |
| Pearson VUE exam ($50 x 2 parts) | $100 | |
| License application fee (RI General Treasurer) | $140 | |
| Real Estate Recovery Account fee | $25 | |
| BCI background check | ~$5 | |
| E&O insurance (first year, est.) | $100–$200 | |
| Estimated total | $550–$900 |
Key deadlines
- Every 2 years on your license anniversary date, with 24 hours of continuing education per cycle (including required core topics such as 3 hours of Fair Housing).
- Confirm eligibility: at least 18 years old and a U.S.
- You must pass the exam BEFORE applying to the DBR.
- Pass both exam parts first — Rhode Island requires the exam before the application, and your passing results are only valid for one year.
- Find your brokerage: the application includes a Broker Affidavit that your principal broker must sign certifying you're competent and trustworthy — so you need a broker lined up before you submit.
- Obtain a certificate of errors & omissions (E&O) insurance — required for all RI licensees (typically $100–$200 per year).
- Mail the application to the DBR in Cranston with two separate checks: $140 payable to 'RI General Treasurer' and $25 payable to 'Real Estate Recovery Account.' Allow 7–10 business days for processing.
- Your license is issued through your principal broker and expires every 2 calendar years on the anniversary of issuance.