How to get your Rhode Island real estate license

You must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED to apply for a Rhode Island real estate license. A criminal background check is required — most non-violent offenses are reviewed case-by-case.

Note: 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.

Rhode Island uses Pearson VUE to administer the licensing exam. You'll need a passing score of 70 scaled score on each part independently. The exam fee is $100. Expect roughly 100 national questions and 40–50 state-specific questions. Format: Two parts booked separately at $50 each: General/National (80 questions, 2.5 hours) and Rhode Island State (50 questions, 1.5 hours). Computer-based; passing results are valid for one year. (Some older pages still quote a $70 total exam fee — the current Pearson VUE RI candidate handbook lists $50 per part.).

• 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.

Your Rhode Island license stays inactive until a licensed broker sponsors you. Interview at least 2–3 brokerages, compare commission splits, training, and lead sources, and pick the one that fits your career goals — not just the highest split.