Rhode Island real estate exam
Format, passing score, fees and what to study — compiled from the official candidate handbook and state sources, with a link and a confidence level for every fact. Last verified 2026-10-31.
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Rhode Island exam format and requirements
| Fact | Value | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulator | Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (Division of Commercial Licensing, Real Estate Section) | Official source | Link |
| Exam provider | Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook January 2026. | Official source | Link |
| National-portion questions | 80 80 scored + 5 pretest. | Official source | Link |
| State-portion questions | 50 50 scored + 10 pretest. | Official source | Link |
| Exam time (minutes) | 240 National 2.5 h (150) + State 1.5 h (90). | Official source | Link |
| Passing score | Scaled 70 on each portion 'Passing score for all exam levels is 70.' | Official source | Link |
| Exam fee (USD) | $103 National $53 + State $50 (booked separately; no combined discount shown). | Official source | Link |
| Pre-licensing hours | 45 Rule 230-RICR-30-20-2 s2.7: minimum 45 classroom hours (in-person or live interactive virtual) completed within 2 years of application. | Official source | Link |
| Languages | English, Spanish Handbook: Spanish version available at physical test centers only (not OnVUE); candidates can switch between Spanish and English during the exam. | Official source | Link |
| Active licensees | 9972 SCOPE CAVEAT: figure is for ACTIVE BROKERS AND SALESPERSONS COMBINED, dated May 2023, via a news article citing DBR; not verified on dbr.ri.gov. | Vendor claim | Link |
“Official source” = read in a state agency page or the exam provider’s candidate handbook on 2026-10-31. Anything marked “Vendor claim” or “Not verified” should be confirmed before you rely on it. Fees and formats change.
What this means for your study plan
- Time per question: about 1.8 minutes each (240 minutes ÷ 130 questions). Practice at that pace.
- Both portions count: you must reach the pass mark on each portion — a strong national score does not make up for a weak Rhode Island score.
- Where people lose points: math word problems, wording traps (NOT/EXCEPT), and state rules that differ from the national rule. Our formula sheet covers the math.
- Good to know: Passing results valid ONE year from passing date. State portion has a heavy 'Additional Topics' share (36%) so RI-specific statutes are significant. Exam is taken BEFORE applying to DBR (application mailed with score report and 45-hour certificate).
State-portion topics published for Rhode Island
- Duties and Obligations under Licensing Law (2 items, 4%)
- Licensing Requirements (6 items, 12%)
- Statutory Requirements Governing Activities of Licensees (24 items, 48%) - advertising, broker/salesperson relationship, commissions, disclosure, documents, monies, listings & P&S agreements, unfair inducements
- Additional Topics (18 items, 36%) - Fair Housing Practice Act, Landlord-Tenant law, DEM agricultural functions, Fire Safety Code, OWTS & Cesspool Acts, non-resident sale withholding, lead disclosure, real estate sales disclosure, condominium sales, Relationships in Residential Real Estate Transactions (RIGL 5-20.6)
Sample Rhode Island practice questions
Original questions written from the law, each with an explanation and a citation. Rhode Island-specific questions are coming soon; these samples come from the national portion.
Under FIRPTA, a buyer of U.S. real property from a foreign seller generally must:
- report the sale to the state recorder but nothing more
- verify the seller's visa status before closing
- withhold part of the amount realized and send it to the IRS
- pay the seller's capital gains tax from the buyer's own funds
Answer: C. The Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act makes the buyer a withholding agent when the seller is a foreign person, unless an exception applies. The buyer must withhold a percentage of the amount realized and remit it to the IRS, and the settlement agent often handles this.
Topic: Transfer of Title & Closing · Source: 26 U.S.C. § 1445
A buyer asks a licensee, 'Are there many families like mine in this neighborhood?' The safest response is to:
- describe the ethnic and religious mix of the area from personal experience
- decline to describe the demographics and suggest public data sources
- say which neighborhoods most people of the buyer's group choose
- recommend areas based on the agent's impression of the buyer
Answer: B. A licensee who characterizes the demographics of a neighborhood risks steering. The agent should avoid answering questions about who lives there and instead provide objective information on the property or point the buyer to official sources such as census data and school and crime reports.
Topic: Fair Housing, Ethics & Federal Disclosures · Source: 42 U.S.C. § 3604(a)
Buyer Ola grabs seller Pat's hand and physically forces it to sign a sale contract. Under general contract principles, this contract is
- voidable only if Pat files suit within one year after signing
- binding, because Pat's own signature appears on the document
- enforceable by Ola, but only at a price the court sets
- void, because Pat never manifested assent at all
Answer: D. When a person's apparent assent is physically compelled, the conduct is not effective as a manifestation of assent and no contract is formed. Duress by an improper threat is different: it leaves the victim with a voidable contract that she may avoid or ratify. Pat therefore has no obligation under the paper.
Topic: Contracts & Leasing · Source: Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 174 (when duress by physical compulsion prevents formation of a contract); § 175
Try the full 20-question Rhode Island quiz
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Rhode Island real estate exam?
The Rhode Island exam format we found is 80 national questions plus 50 Rhode Island questions (130 in total) in 240 minutes. Confirm in the official handbook before exam day.
What is the passing score for the Rhode Island real estate exam?
Scaled 70 on each portion (Official source).
How much does the Rhode Island real estate exam cost?
The exam fee we found is $103, paid to Pearson VUE. Fees change, so check the current handbook.
How many pre-licensing hours does Rhode Island require?
45 hours for the entry-level license, according to the sources below. Pre-licensing education must come from a state-approved school; GablePrep is exam prep and is not an approved course.
Official sources for Rhode Island
- Regulator: Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (Division of Commercial Licensing, Real Estate Section)
- Exam provider: Pearson VUE
- Official candidate handbook / content outline
Independent exam prep. Not affiliated with any state real estate commission or testing provider. Not an approved pre-licensing course. Not legal advice.