Virginia Law

A. Continuing education requirements at renewal.

1. Subsequent salesperson renewals. As a condition of renewal, and pursuant to § 54.1-2105.03 of the Code of Virginia, all active salespersons are 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.

For salespersons, 11 of the required 16 hours must include:

a. Two hours in fair housing laws;

b. Three hours in ethics and standards of conduct;

c. Two hours in real estate agency;

d. Two hours in real estate contracts, including contract principles, contract forms, and escrow deposits and accounts; and

e. Two hours in legal updates and emerging trends, to include flood zone areas and the National Flood Insurance Program.

The remaining elective hours must be obtained in subject areas listed in subsection B of this section.

2. Broker renewals. All active brokers are 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. For brokers, 19 of the 24 required hours must include:

a. Eight hours in supervision and management of real estate agents and the management of real estate brokerage firms, including oversight of contracts and agency, two hours of which must 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;

b. Two hours in fair housing laws;

c. Three hours in ethics and standards of conduct;

d. Two hours in real estate agency;

e. Two hours in real estate contracts, including contract principles, contract forms, and escrow deposits and accounts; and

f. Two hours in legal updates and emerging trends, to include flood zone areas and the National Flood Insurance Program.

The remaining elective hours must be obtained in subject areas listed in subsection B of this section.

3. Armed Forces of the United States renewals. If an active licensee is called to active duty or deployed in the Armed Forces of the United States, such licensee may complete the courses required by this section within six months of the licensee's release from active duty or deployment.

4. Inactive licenses. Inactive brokers and salespersons are not required to complete the continuing education course as a condition of renewal.

5. 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 will not do so during the licensing term, training in fair housing is not required; instead, such licensee must receive training in other applicable federal and state discrimination laws and regulations.

B. Any elective hours not specified in subsection A of this section must be on subjects from the following list:

1. Property rights;

2. Contracts;

3. Deeds;

4. Financing, types of mortgages , and deeds of trust;

5. Leases;

6. Liens;

7. Real property and title insurance;

8. Taxes in real estate;

9. Closing disclosures;

10. Brokerage and agency contract responsibilities;

11. Real property management;

12. Search, examination, and registration of title;

13. Title closing;

14. Appraisal of real property;

15. Planning subdivision developments and condominiums;

16. Fair housing;

17. Real estate statutes and board regulations;

18. Business law;

19. Real estate markets and economics;

20. Real estate investments;

21. Federal real estate law;

22. Commercial real estate;

23. Americans with Disabilities Act;

24. Environmental issues, sustainability, and energy efficiency;

25. Building codes and design;

26. Land use, zoning, and local laws;

27. Escrow accounts and deposits;

28. Ethics and standards of conduct;

29. Common interest communities, including the Resale Disclosure Act (Chapter 23.1 of Title 55.1 of the Code of Virginia);

30. Cyber security and data protection; and

31. Social responsibility in real estate, including affordable housing, multicultural market, gentrification, diversity, multigenerational, and cultural competency.

C. Salespersons and brokers holding active licenses in multiple jurisdictions.

1. Salespersons holding licenses in multiple jurisdictions must complete 16 hours of continuing education, 11 of which are mandatory board-approved courses, that must 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 their jurisdiction for the remaining five elective hours required by subsection B of this section.

2. Brokers holding licenses in multiple jurisdictions must complete 24 hours of continuing education, 19 of which are mandatory board-approved courses that must include eight hours in supervision and management of real estate agents and the management of real estate brokerage firms, two hours of which must 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 their jurisdiction for the remaining five elective hours required by subsection B of this section.

D. In its discretion, and in accordance with § 54.1-2105.03 of the Code of Virginia, the board may approve additional subjects toward fulfillment of the elective continuing education hours required by this section.

E. Credit for continuing education course completion is given for each class hour or clock hour.

F. Licensees are responsible for retaining for three years and providing proof of continuing education to the board or the board's duly authorized agents upon request. Failure to provide documentation of completion as directed by the board may result in the license not being renewed or disciplinary action pursuant to this chapter.

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

H. 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 will carry over into the next two-year renewal period.