Chapter 20. Fair Housing Certification Regulations
Part I
General
18VAC62-20-10. Applicability.
This chapter is applicable to persons subject to the Virginia Fair Housing Law (§ 36-96.1 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) who are in the business or activity of selling or renting dwellings as defined in this chapter, except those individuals who hold a valid license issued by the Real Estate Board.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2344 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
18VAC62-20-20. Definitions.
The following words and terms when used in this chapter have the following meanings unless a different meaning is provided or is plainly required by the context:
"Board" means the Fair Housing Board.
"Certificate holder" means any person in the business of selling or renting dwellings who holds a valid certificate issued by the board.
"Certification" means the process by which the board issues a certificate to a person certifying completion of the entry requirements established by this chapter.
"Hour" means 50 minutes.
"Person in the business or activity of selling or renting dwellings" means any person who is the owner of any combination of residential dwelling units occupied by five or more families. "Person in the business or activity of selling or renting dwellings" does not include any person involved in the sale of a dwelling or interest therein pursuant to a deed of trust or in full or partial satisfaction of a debt that was secured by such dwelling or interest therein or other lien on such property.
"Provider" means an accredited university, college, community college, or high school offering adult distributive education courses or a school offering fair housing related courses.
"School" means (i) a privately owned school, (ii) a real estate professional association, or (iii) other entities not under the authority of the Department of Education.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2344 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
Part II
Entry Requirements
18VAC62-20-30. Qualifications for certification.
A. Every applicant for fair housing certification must have the following qualifications:
1. The applicant must complete two hours of fair housing training approved by the board or the Real Estate Board.
2. The applicant must have taken the two-hour fair housing training within two years of the date of application.
3. If the applicant has in the last five years been found in a court or an administrative body to have violated the Virginia Fair Housing Act (§ 36-96.1 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), the fair housing laws of any jurisdiction of the United States, including Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (82 Stat. 73) or the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (14 Stat. 27), there being no appeal therefrom or the time for appeal having elapsed, then the applicant must disclose those violations.
B. Applicants must provide an address and email address.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2344 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
18VAC62-20-40. Fees.
A. All application fees are nonrefundable and the date of actual receipt by the board or its agent is the date that will be used to determine whether the fee is timely received.
B. The application fee for certification will be $25.
C. All fees for renewal are nonrefundable, and the date of actual receipt by the board or its agent is the date that will be used to determine whether the fee is timely received.
D. Renewal fees are as follows:
Renewal fee | $25 |
Late renewal fee | $25 |
E. The application fee for approval as an instructor will be $100.
F. The renewal fee for an instructor will be $100.
G. The reinstatement fee for an instructor will be $50.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2344 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
Part III
Renewal of Certification
18VAC62-20-50. Renewal required.
Certificates issued under this chapter will expire two years from the last day of the month in which they were issued, as indicated on the certificate.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2344 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
18VAC62-20-60. Qualification for renewal.
A. As a condition of renewal, all certificate holders will be required to satisfactorily complete two hours of fair housing training approved by the board or the Real Estate Board within the preceding two years.
B. Each certificate holder desiring to renew the certificate must return the appropriate fee as outlined in 18VAC62-20-40.
C. If the certificate holder has in the last two years been found in a court or an administrative body to have violated the Virginia Fair Housing Act (§ 36-96.1 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), the fair housing laws of any jurisdiction of the United States, including Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (82 Stat. 73) or the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (14 Stat. 27), there being no appeal therefrom or the time for appeal having elapsed, then the certificate holder must disclose those violations.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2344 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
18VAC62-20-70. Procedures for renewal.
The board will send a renewal notice to the certificate holder.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2344 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
18VAC62-20-80. Failure to renew.
A. If the requirements for renewal of a certificate, including receipt of the fee by the board, are not completed by the certificate holder within 30 days of the expiration date noted on the certificate, a late renewal fee will be required in addition to the renewal fee.
B. If the requirements for renewal of a certificate, including receipt of the fee by the board, are not completed by the certificate holder within six months of the expiration date noted on the certificate, the certificate holder must apply as a new applicant.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2344 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
18VAC62-20-90. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
18VAC62-20-100. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
Part IV
Standards of Conduct
18VAC62-20-110. Maintenance of certificates.
A. Changes of address or email address must be reported to the board in writing within 60 calendar days after such change.. The board will not be responsible for the certificate holder's failure to receive notices, communications, and correspondence caused by the certificate holder's failure to promptly notify the board of any change of address or email address.
B. A certificate holder must notify the board in writing of a name change within 60 calendar days of any change in the certificate holder's legal name. Such notification must be accompanied by a copy of a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order that verifies the name change.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2344 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
Part V
Education
18VAC62-20-120. Course requirements; instructor requirements.
A. Every applicant to the board for approval as an instructor must have the following qualifications:
1. The applicant must be a qualified expert in a field related to fair housing who will teach only in the area of the applicant's expertise. Each applicant will be required to state the applicant's area of expertise and furnish proof of expertise, including educational transcripts, professional certificates, and letters of reference that will verify the applicant's expertise. The applicant must have completed at least eight hours of fair housing courses, including two hours within the last 12 months. An applicant must have taught a minimum of eight hours of fair housing courses, at least two hours of which must have been taught within the last 12 months.
2. The applicant must disclose whether in the last five years the applicant has been found in a court or an administrative body to have violated the Virginia Fair Housing Act (§ 36-96.1 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), the fair housing laws of any jurisdiction of the United States, including Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (82 Stat. 73) or the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (14 Stat. 27), there being no appeal therefrom or the time for appeal having elapsed.
B. Providers of fair housing courses must submit all subjects to the board for approval prior to initially offering the course. The board will approve each course based on the relevance of the subject to fair housing. A provider seeking approval of a course must submit an application for course approval on a form provided by the board. The application must include:
1. A course syllabus listing the main points of the course;
2. A copy of current Fair Housing Board Instructor Certification from each instructor;
3. A comprehensive, timed course outline indicating course subjects and the number of minutes of instruction for each subject;
4. A copy of the course materials used or distributed, including books, handouts, pamphlets, overhead slides, and detailed lecture notes; and
5. A copy of the proposed course completion certificate, which includes:
a. Course name;
b. Course number;
c. Course date;
d. Student name;
e. Provider name; and
f. A statement that the course is approved for Fair Housing Certification by the Virginia Fair Housing Board.
C. All providers must provide each student with a document that the student may use as proof of course completion.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2344 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
18VAC62-20-130. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
18VAC62-20-140. Course renewal procedures.
A. Approval of a course will expire two years from the last day of the month in which it was issued, as indicated on the approval document.
B. The board will send a renewal notice to the course provider.
C. If the renewal requirements are not completed within 30 days of the expiration date noted on the course approval, the course will no longer be eligible for renewal.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2344 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
18VAC62-20-150. Instructor renewal procedures.
A. Approval of an instructor will expire two years from the last day of the month in which it was issued, as indicated on the approval document.
B. The board will send a renewal notice to the instructor.
C. If the requirements for renewal of an approved instructor, including receipt of the fee by the board, are not completed within 30 days of the expiration date on the approval document, a reinstatement fee will be required. Approval as an instructor may be reinstated for up to one year following the expiration date with payment of the reinstatement fee. After one year, the approval as an instructor will not be reinstated under any circumstances and the instructor must meet all current requirements and apply as a new applicant.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2344 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
18VAC62-20-160. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
18VAC62-20-170. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
18VAC62-20-180. Withdrawal of approval.
The board may withdraw approval of any instructor or course for the following reasons:
1. The instructor or course no longer meets the standards established by the board.
2. Where the instructor has been found to have violated or cooperated with others in violating any provision of Chapter 5.1 (§ 36-96.1 et seq.) of Title 36 of the Code of Virginia, the fair housing laws of any jurisdiction of the United States, including Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (82 Stat. 73) or the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (14 Stat. 27).
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2344 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 9, eff. January 14, 2026.
Forms (18VAC62-20)
Fair Housing Certification Application, A463-0632CERT-v3 (eff. 1/2026)
Fair Housing Course Approval Application, A463-0214FHCRS-v3 (eff. 1/2026)
Fair Housing Instructor Application, A463-0631INST-v3 (eff. 1/2026)