How to get your Vermont real estate license

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

Note: Vermont requires a single 40-hour salesperson pre-licensing course approved by the Vermont Real Estate Commission (Office of Professional Regulation). That's one of the lightest course loads in the country. Heads up: after you're licensed, Vermont also requires an 8-hour post-licensure course, and you'll upload proof of it at your first renewal.

• Complete the 40-hour Vermont salesperson pre-licensing course with a Commission-approved provider (search approved courses on the OPR website; online options are available).
• Pass the course final and keep your completion certificate — you'll upload it with your OPR application.
• Schedule and pass the national salesperson exam through PSI ($110 per attempt).
• Take Vermont's state-law exam — unusual setup: it's not at a test center. It's administered inside your online OPR license application, and there's no separate fee.
• Complete the 8-hour post-licensure course after licensure (required before your first renewal).

Vermont uses PSI to administer the licensing exam. You'll need a passing score of 75% (scaled) on the national exam; the Vermont state-law exam is administered within the application and is pass/fail. The exam fee is $110. Expect roughly 100 national questions and 40–50 state-specific questions. Format: National portion via PSI (computer-based, test center or online proctoring). The Vermont state exam is completed through a link inside your online OPR application — every applicant must take it, no exceptions, even out-of-state licensees..

• Create an account on Vermont OPR's Online Licensing platform (sos.vermont.gov) — paper applications are no longer accepted.
• Submit the salesperson application with the $100 application fee, uploading your 40-hour course certificate and PSI national exam pass results.
• Complete the Vermont state exam through the link that appears inside your online application.
• Secure affiliation with a Vermont-licensed principal broker and registered office — Vermont will not activate a salesperson license without a supervising principal broker.
• Disclose any convictions or prior license discipline with a written explanation and all court/board documents (Vermont reviews these case-by-case; there is no fingerprint-card requirement for salespersons).
• Allow 3-5 business days processing per submission; once issued, remember the 8-hour post-licensure course requirement.

Your Vermont 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.