Virginia Real Estate CE Requirements (2026): 16 Hours Every 2 Years

Requirements Overview

The Virginia Real Estate Board requires 16 hours of continuing education per biennial renewal cycle for salespersons and 24 hours for brokers. For licenses expiring on or after June 30, 2026, mandatory salesperson topics total 11 hours: Ethics and Standards of Conduct (3 hrs), Fair Housing (2 hrs), Legal Updates and Emerging Trends (2 hrs), Real Estate Agency (2 hrs), and Real Estate Contracts (2 hrs). The remaining 5 hours are electives. Brokers add 6 hours of Broker Management and 2 hours of Broker Supervision.

HB 383/SB 330 increased Legal Updates, Agency, and Contracts each from 1 to 2 hours and reduced out-of-state CE credit from 8 to 5 hours for the same effective date. First-renewal salespersons follow a separate path: 30 hours of Post-License Education instead of standard CE.

Online self-study courses require a 70% passing grade and a notarized affidavit of completion. Providers report credits within 5 days directly to DPOR. Inactive licensees are exempt from CE but must complete requirements within two years before reactivating if inactive for 30 or more days.

Mandatory Topics

First Renewal vs. Standard Renewal

Exemptions

• ✓
  Inactive License — Inactive licensees are not required to complete CE for renewal.

  Licenses inactive for 30+ days require CE completion within two years before reactivation
• ✓
  First Renewal Salesperson — First-renewal salespersons complete 30 hours Post-License Education instead of standard 16-hour CE.

  This is a substitution, not a true exemption — PLE hours replace CE hours

How You Can Complete Your CE

Virginia CE Rules & Limits

Details specific to Virginia that generic CE guides tend to miss:

• Carry-over — No carryover provisions found. Each 2-year renewal cycle requires independent completion of required CE hours. Out-of-state CE credits are accepted with limits (up to 5 hours for licenses expiring on/after June 30, 2026; up to 8 hours prior).
• HB 383/SB 330 increased mandatory topic hours from 8 to 11 for salespersons, effective for licenses expiring on or after June 30, 2026. Legal Updates, Agency, and Contracts each increased from 1 to 2 hours.
• Out-of-state CE credit limit reduced from 8 to 5 hours for licenses expiring on/after June 30, 2026. Requires current out-of-state license copy and completion certificates.
• First-renewal salespersons must complete 30 hours of Post-License Education (PLE) instead of standard CE. PLE consists of separate courses, not equivalent to CE.
• Online self-study courses require a 70% passing grade and a notarized affidavit of completion.
• License expires on the last day of the month of initial licensure, creating individualized renewal dates.
• Providers report credits within 5 days of completion directly to DPOR.
• Inactive licensees exempt from CE but must complete CE within 2 years before reactivating if inactive for 30+ days.

Provider Requirements

Only Board-approved providers and courses are accepted. Providers report credits within 5 days of completion directly to DPOR. Online self-study requires 70% passing grade and notarized affidavit. DPOR maintains an approved course list.

Tips for Virginia Real Estate Agents

• Check whether your license expires before or after June 30, 2026 — the mandatory hour breakdown changed significantly under HB 383/SB 330.
• Out-of-state CE credit is capped at 5 hours for licenses expiring on or after June 30, 2026 (down from 8), so plan most of your hours through Virginia-approved courses.
• Online self-study courses require both a 70% passing grade and a notarized affidavit — prepare for the notarization step.
• First-renewal salespersons complete 30 hours of Post-License Education, which is entirely separate from standard CE.

Sources

Each figure on this page is taken directly from the Virginia Real Estate Board (DPOR)'s official rules and continuing-education sources and recorded with the exact source excerpt. Last verified Mar 2026. Read how we compile and verify this data.

Real Estate Requirements in Nearby States

Other Professions in Virginia