How To Become A Real Estate Agent In Rhode Island
Professional education plays an important role in earning and maintaining a Rhode Island real estate license. You need coursework before licensing, to prepare you for the official state exam, and you need continuing education (CE) in order to renew your license every other year.
What Are Rhode Island's Real Estate Pre-Licensing Education Requirements?
The Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (RI DBR) requires 45 hours of pre-licensing coursework from an approved provider. It has to include 3 hours of New Agency Law training.
By statute, Rhode Island requires all pre-license courses to be completed in a classroom with an in-person instructor. Online and distance education aren't accepted.
In addition to pre-license training, you need to take a 3-hour course on lead poisoning/lead hazard mitigation.
Sadly, as an online training provider, AgentCampus by 360training can't offer Rhode Island pre-license training, only continuing education. You can find a school approved for pre-license education on the DBR's website.
Who is Eligible to Become a Real Estate Agent in Rhode Island?
You need to be at least 18 years of age to apply for a real estate salesperson license in Rhode Island.
What Else Do I Need to Do to Earn My Rhode Island Real Estate License?
In addition to your pre-license education, you need to:
- Pass the state licensing exam
- Get your Criminal History Record
- Submit an application
- Find a sponsoring broker
- Show proof of Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance
You need to file your application within 2 years of completing your coursework and within one year of passing your exam.
What is the Rhode Island Real Estate Licensing Exam Like?
The Rhode Island Real Estate Exam is administered by a third-party testing service named Pearson VUE in several locations throughout the state. It consists of 80 national topic questions (with a 2.5-hour time limit) and 50 Rhode Island-specific questions (with a 1.5-hour time limit).
You'll get a score report on the spot. If you only pass one portion of the exam, you have one year to retake and pass the portion you failed. You'll need to file your application within a year of the later passing date.
How Often Does a Rhode Island Real Estate License Have to Be Renewed?
You have to renew Rhode Island real estate licenses every 2 years.
If your license was issued before January 1, 2020, you need to renew the license by April 30th of each even-numbered year. If it was issued on or after January 1, 2020, you need to renew it on the anniversary of your issue date.
What Are Rhode Island's Continuing Education Requirements for Real Estate?
Rhode Island requires you to complete 24 Continuing Education hours from an approved provider like AgentCampus by 360training.
For each cycle, you need at least 6 core hours in the following subjects:
- Rhode Island Agency Law
- Rhode Island License Law
- Rhode Island Landlord/Tenant Law
- Contract Law
- Federal, Rhode Island, and Local Fair Housing Laws
- Lead Hazard Mitigation and Other Environmental Issues
- Local Real Estate Ordinances and Regulations
- Ethics of Real Estate
- Coastal Real Estate, Wetlands, Floor Plains, and Sea-Rise
Your Continuing Education hours are due by your renewal deadline.
What Kind of Jobs Can I Get with a Rhode Island Real Estate License?
Once you're licensed as a real estate agent in Rhode Island, you can pursue a variety of career options, including:
- Residential real estate agent
- Commercial real estate agent
- Real estate broker
- Property manager
Wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics can give you a general idea of your potential income in Rhode Island:
| Job Title | Average Hourly Wage | Average Yearly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Agents | $23.67 | $49,230 |
| Property Managers | $45.02 | $93,630 |
Because income is largely commission-based, real estate professionals have a wide range of incomes. Part-time agents might make supplemental income, while top earners pull in big bucks. In Rhode Island, the top 90th percentile of sales agents make $148,000.
