Virginia Law

As a condition of renewal, and pursuant to § 54.1-2105.03 of the Code of Virginia, all active salespersons, resident or nonresident, except those called to active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, shall be required to satisfactorily complete a course of not less than a total of 16 classroom, correspondence, or other distance learning instruction hours during each licensing term, except for salespersons who are renewing for the first time and are required to complete 30 hours of post-license education regardless of whether the licenses are active or inactive. All active brokers, resident or nonresident, except those called to active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, shall be required to satisfactorily complete a course of not less than a total of 24 classroom, correspondence, or other distance learning instruction hours during each licensing term. Active licensees called to active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States may complete these courses within six months of release from active duty. Inactive brokers and salespersons are not required to complete the continuing education course as a condition of renewal (see 18VAC135-20-70, Activation or transfer of license).

1. Providers shall be those as defined in 18VAC135-20-350;

2. For salespersons, 11 of the required 16 hours shall include two hours in fair housing laws; three hours in ethics and standards of conduct; two hours in real estate agency; two hours in real estate contracts; and two hours in legal updates and emerging trends, to include flood zone areas and the National Flood Insurance Program. For brokers, 19 of the 24 required hours shall include eight hours in supervision and management of real estate agents and the management of real estate brokerage firms, two hours of which shall include an overview of the broker supervision requirements under this chapter and Chapter 21 (§ 54.1-2100 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia; two hours in fair housing laws; three hours in ethics and standards of conduct; two hours in real estate agency; two hours in real estate contracts; and two hours in legal updates and emerging trends, to include flood zone areas and the National Flood Insurance Program. If the licensee submits a notarized affidavit to the board that certifies that the licensee does not practice residential real estate brokerage, residential management, or residential leasing and shall not do so during the licensing term, training in fair housing shall not be required; instead, such licensee shall receive training in other applicable federal and state discrimination laws and regulations. The remaining elective hours shall be on subjects from the following list:

a. Property rights;

b. Contracts;

c. Deeds;

d. Mortgages and deeds of trust;

e. Types of mortgages;

f. Leases;

g. Liens;

h. Real property and title insurance;

i. Investment;

j. Taxes in real estate;

k. Real estate financing;

l. Brokerage and agency contract responsibilities;

m. Real property management;

n. Search, examination, and registration of title;

o. Title closing;

p. Appraisal of real property;

q. Planning subdivision developments and condominiums;

r. Regulatory statutes;

s. Housing legislation;

t. Fair housing;

u. Real Estate Board regulations;

v. Land use;

w. Business law;

x. Real estate economics;

y. Real estate investments;

z. Federal real estate law;

aa. Commercial real estate;

bb. Americans with Disabilities Act;

cc. Environmental issues impacting real estate;

dd. Building codes and design;

ee. Local laws and zoning;

ff. Escrow requirements;

gg. Ethics and standards of conduct; and

hh. Common interest ownership.

3. Salespersons holding licenses in other jurisdictions must complete 11 hours that shall include two hours in fair housing laws; three hours in ethics and standards of conduct; two hours in real estate agency; two hours in real estate contracts; and two hours of legal updates and emerging trends, to include flood zone areas and the National Flood Insurance Program. Such salespersons may substitute education completed in the salesperson's jurisdiction for the remaining elective hours required by subdivision 2 of this section. Brokers holding licenses in other jurisdictions must complete 19 hours that shall include eight hours in supervision and management of real estate agents and the management of real estate brokerage firms, two hours of which shall include an overview of the broker supervision requirements under this chapter and Chapter 21 (§ 54.1-2100 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia; two hours in fair housing laws; three hours in ethics and standards of conduct; two hours in real estate agency; two hours in real estate contracts; and two hours in legal updates and emerging trends, to include flood zone areas and the National Flood Insurance Program. Such brokers may substitute education completed in the broker's jurisdiction for the remaining elective hours required by subdivision 2 of this section.

4. The board may approve additional subjects at its discretion and in accordance with § 54.1-2105.03 of the Code of Virginia.

5. Credit for continuing education course completion is given for each class hour/clock hour as defined in 18VAC135-20-350.

6. Licensees are responsible for retaining for three years and providing proof of continuing education. Proof of course completion shall be made on a form prescribed by the board. Failure to provide documentation of completion as directed by the board may result in the license not being renewed, disciplinary action pursuant to this chapter, or both.

7. Instructors who are also licensees of the board may earn continuing education credit for teaching continuing education courses.

8. Any continuing education credits completed by the licensee in excess of that required in the current license term that are obtained in the six months immediately prior to the license expiration date shall carry over into the next two-year renewal period.