Virginia 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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Virginia exam format and requirements
| Fact | Value | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulator | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) / Real Estate Board | Official source | Link |
| Exam provider | PSI Services LLC Bulletin (c) 2026; test-takers.psiexams.com/vare. | Official source | Link |
| National-portion questions | 80 80 items (80 points); 5-10 unscored experimental questions possible, which DO count against time. | Official source | Link |
| State-portion questions | 40 40 items (40 points). | Official source | Link |
| Exam time (minutes) | 150 National 105 min + State 45 min. | Official source | Link |
| Passing score | National 56 of 80 (70%); State 30 of 40 (75%) Broker: 60 national, 38 state. | Official source | Link |
| Exam fee (USD) | $60 $60 paid to PSI (applies to salesperson and broker, per bulletin and DPOR page). Fingerprinting additional $52 (state $27 + PSI $25). | Official source | Link |
| Pre-licensing hours | 60 60 class/clock hours Board-approved pre-license course; must be completed before exam registration. | Official source | Link |
| Languages | English Word-to-word translation dictionary allowed at test center, but no non-English exam mentioned. | Secondary source | Link |
| Active licensees | 43452 43,452 active salespersons as of 10/1/2026 (DPOR monthly regulant population report); also 5,503 associate brokers, 5,050 principal brokers, 823 sole proprietors active; 7,782 inactive salespersons. | Official source | 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 1.3 minutes each (150 minutes ÷ 120 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 Virginia 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: Fingerprinting is done at PSI Virginia sites during testing hours. Licensees from other states take only the state portion. Apply to DPOR within 1 year of passing. National weights (Sales): Ownership 10%, Land use 5%, Valuation 8%, Financing 10%, Contracts 19%, Agency 13%, Disclosures 7%, Property mgmt 3%, Transfer 6%, Practice 12%, Calculations 7%.
State-portion topics published for Virginia
- Licensing (8 items)
- Escrow Accounts (2 items)
- Disclosure Requirements (10 items): property disclosure incl. Chesapeake Bay Act, HOA/POA disclosures
- Agency Definitions and Relationships (12 items): broker-salesperson relationships & compensation, limited service, disclosure of agency, agency duties, document handling
- Virginia Fair Housing Law and Regulations (4 items)
- Other Virginia statutes (4 items): Condominium Act, Residential Landlord & Tenant Act, Property Owners' Association Act, Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act
Sample Virginia practice questions
Original questions written from the law, each with an explanation and a citation. Virginia-specific questions are coming soon; these samples come from the national portion.
Seller Hal and buyer Ines sign a binding purchase contract for a house. Two weeks before closing, Hal dies. Under the general rule, the contract
- terminates automatically, because the seller's death revokes his promise to convey
- becomes voidable at the option of Hal's heirs, who may refuse to convey
- remains binding, and Hal's estate must convey title at closing as agreed
- converts into an option, which Ines alone may choose to exercise
Answer: C. Unlike an unaccepted offer, a formed contract is not ended by a party's death unless performance is personal to that party. Under equitable conversion Ines already holds equitable title, and Hal's personal representative must complete the conveyance. The estate takes subject to the contract.
Topic: Contracts & Leasing · Source: Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 262 (death or incapacity of person necessary for performance)
A developer places all advertising for its new homes only in publications serving one racial community, deliberately avoiding media that reach other groups because of race. Under HUD's rules, this practice is:
- lawful, because the ad text itself contains no discriminatory words
- lawful, because the ads display the Equal Housing Opportunity logo
- prohibited, because choosing media to keep a group uninformed is discriminatory advertising
- lawful, because an advertiser may choose any media it prefers
Answer: C. HUD's regulation treats as discriminatory advertising the selection of media or locations that deny particular segments of the housing market information about housing opportunities because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. Neutral wording does not cure a discriminatory distribution strategy, and displaying the Equal Housing Opportunity logo does not exempt anyone from the law.
Topic: Fair Housing, Ethics & Federal Disclosures · Source: 24 C.F.R. § 100.75(c)(3)
When a borrower pledges property as security for a debt while keeping possession and use of it, the borrower has:
- Alienated the property to the lender
- Reconveyed the property
- Hypothecated the property
- Accelerated the property
Answer: C. Hypothecation means pledging property as collateral without surrendering possession or title. A mortgage on a home is the typical real estate example.
Topic: Real Estate Finance · Source: Restatement (Third) of Property: Mortgages (Am. Law Inst. 1997)
Try the full 20-question Virginia quiz
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Virginia real estate exam?
The Virginia exam format we found is 80 national questions plus 40 Virginia questions (120 in total) in 150 minutes. Confirm in the official handbook before exam day.
What is the passing score for the Virginia real estate exam?
National 56 of 80 (70%); State 30 of 40 (75%) (Official source).
How much does the Virginia real estate exam cost?
The exam fee we found is $60, paid to PSI Services LLC. Fees change, so check the current handbook.
How many pre-licensing hours does Virginia require?
60 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 Virginia
- Regulator: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) / Real Estate Board
- Exam provider: PSI Services LLC
- 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.