Estate License In
Vermont
Welcome to Vermont, the land of maple syrup and Ben & Jerry’s. With its four-season weather that boasts beautiful foliage in the fall and snowy ski slopes all winter, Vermont is a great place for a family to settle down and buy a home. And you could be just the real estate agent they need.
Whether it’s been your goal to become a real estate agent for a while now or you’re just now considering it as a new career option, the real estate business can offer you everything you want in a career.
So, you want to know how to get your real estate license in Vermont? The overall licensing process and education requirements are typically pretty similar across the U.S., although some of the specifics may change, depending on your home state. Let’s take a look at the list of requirements you’ll need to meet to become a licensed real estate agent in the state of Vermont.
- Meet the pre-qualifications.
- Complete 40 hours of approved VT pre-licensing education.
- Pass the course final exam.
- Start your Vermont real estate license application.
- Take and pass the state and national real estate licensing exams.
- Secure a sponsoring broker.
- Complete the VT Real Estate Salesperson application.
1. Meet the pre-qualifications.
You must meet a few pre-qualifications from the Vermont Real Estate Commission (VREC) before you can start working on your license education. To start, all applicants must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED. You’ll also need to provide proof of residency as a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or legally present immigrant.
Note: Prior convictions must be reported via written explanation and submitted with all court documents. Withholding information on convictions may result in ineligibility.
2. Complete pre-licensing education.
Once you determine your eligibility as an applicant, your real first step is to begin your pre-licensing education. Vermont requires all applicants to complete a 40-hour real estate education course that includes information on national and state regulations about real estate law, ownership, land use controls and regulations, disclosures, valuation, financing, titling, taxes and contracts. In Vermont, there are a number of online pre-licensing courses approved by VREC.
Please note that passing these education courses does not guarantee that you’ll pass your real estate exam. Take advantage of the testing and review hours to make sure you’re fully prepared.
3. Pass the pre-licensing course final exam.
Once you’ve finished your real estate pre-licensing course, the next step is to pass your course final. Note that this is not the same thing as your actual license exam. Think of this final as a sort of practice exam you need to pass before you’re eligible to take the official real estate licensing exam.
The pre-licensing course final exam must be passed with a minimum of 75%. You may retake the course as many times as necessary to pass. Your pre-licensing course will provide you with completion paperwork to send with your real estate license exam application. Pre-licensing education is valid for five years from the date of the passed final exam.
4. Start your Vermont real estate license application.
Once you’ve passed your pre-licensing course and are ready to take the Vermont real estate exam, you’ll need to visit the VRAC website, create a login account and start an application for a Vermont real estate license. You’ll need to meet all testing requirements, submit your pre-licensing education course completion certificate, and pay the non-refundable processing fee.
5. Take and pass the state real estate licensing exam.
Once you’ve started your application, you’ll be given access to information about the Vermont state real estate licensing exam as part of the application.
The state portion of the real estate license exam covers Vermont-specific laws and practices and consists of 36 questions. You will have 90 minutes to complete this section of the exam.
You must pass the state real estate licensing exam with a score of 70 percent or above, then submit your exam results to your application before moving on to the national exam.
6. Take and pass the national real estate licensing exam.
National real estate licensing exams are administered by PSI, a third-party professional testing agency. You’ll be able to schedule your national real estate license exam appointment by visiting the PSI website.
The national portion of the exam covers general real estate practices and national laws, such as fair housing regulations, and national real estate licensing practice exams are available through PSI starting at $15.
On your exam date, you’ll need to present two forms of valid identification, at least one of which must be a photo ID. NO personal items, food or beverages are allowed at testing centers, with the exception of a silent, non-programmable calculator. The national exam has 100 questions, and you’ll be given 2.5 hours to complete it.
You will receive a pass/fail score report upon completion of your exam. You must receive a score of 70% or better in order to pass. Once you’ve taken and passed the national exam, you’ll upload proof into your licensing application.
If you don’t pass, you are allowed to retest within six months of your initial attempt. You can contact PSI after 24 hours of your unsuccessful attempt to schedule another exam. You will have to cover the $110 exam fee for each attempt. Test results must be submitted within two years of the application start date.
7. Secure a sponsoring broker.
When you first receive your license document, you’ll have an inactive license status. In Vermont, a new salesperson doesn’t actually have the legal authority to complete real estate transactions on their own. In order to activate your license, you’ll need to find a real estate broker to work under, so they can fill out an Employment/Supervision form so you can submit it with your application.
Even if the state didn’t require you to work through real estate brokerage services at first, I would still strongly recommend it to any new real estate agent. When I first started, I didn’t join a team, and I look back on that as one of my biggest mistakes. If I could give you one piece of advice on how to pick the right broker to work with, it’s this: Make sure that the broker you’re considering matches your needs, and don’t worry about the other way around.
Before you commit to anything, I recommend researching each brokerage you’re considering. Start with their reputation. Does this broker seem to be on solid ground with a good reputation in the state? Ask them about how much room you’ll have to grow at their brokerage. What kind of training program or further education do they offer? What is their commission structure like? Do they charge desk fees to work at the brokerage? If so, do they offer any technological advantages, such as a multiple listing service (MLS)?
Once you’ve found the right broker, your license can be updated to active status. Congratulations on earning the right to practice real estate!
8. Complete the VT real estate salesperson application.
The final step to getting your Vermont real estate license is to complete and submit the Vermont Real Estate Salesperson application you started in Step 4. Here’s a review of what you’ll need for a completed application:
- Proof of high school diploma or GED
- Pre-licensing course completion certificate
- Proof of passing the state and national licensing exams
- Completed Employment/Supervision form
- Pay the non-refundable application fee of $50
Your full license application must be submitted within two years of passing your state exam. After two years, your exam score expires.
Applications are processed within five business days. Assuming your full application is in order, VREC will send your license document in the mail. Congratulations on becoming a new licensee! I should point out that completing these steps does not make you a Vermont Realtor, however. This is because “Realtor” is a copyrighted term owned by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The NAR has a list of requirements to join, and each member of NAR is bound to specific ethical standards.
FAQs
Does Vermont have license reciprocity with other states?
If you have been a licensed real estate agent in another state for three or more years, you may qualify to have the national real estate education requirements fulfilled by your previous education. Everyone who applies for a Vermont real estate license must take the Vermont state real estate exam.
To apply for a Vermont real estate license as a licensed real estate agent from another state, follow these steps:
- Complete the online application and pay the non-refundable processing fee.
- Provide proof of your current license.
- Complete and upload your results from the Vermont state real estate licensing exam.
VREC will review your reciprocity request and let you know your next steps.
How much time does it take to get your real estate license?
This is really a question for yourself more than it is for anyone else. How long do you want it to take? Driven students who treat their course hours like a job can complete their education within a few weeks. The longest process for them will likely be waiting on their fingerprints card. It’s also not uncommon for some students to take three to six months to complete everything.
There are only two things about this that I can tell you for sure. The best time to start working toward your initial license is right now, and you have the ability to control your own pace after you start.
Is there anything aspiring real estate professionals can do to get an advantage?
You bet there is! In fact, I’ve created the training program that I wish I had when I first started my journey into real estate. With the Sell It Like Serhant: Pre-Licensing Accelerator, you’re getting a full state-qualifying education combined with my own sales system that my team and I use at my brokerage.
In addition to getting all the course hours you need from our state-approved program, this package includes plenty of unique benefits. You’ll have support from state-approved expert instructors, all the ebooks that you’ll need to succeed as well as my own “Quick Start Guide”. Each helps you prepare for your state exam with the latest information and tips.
Speaking of exam prep, this course package contains 10 progress exams, five practice exams (three state and two national) and flashcards to get you ready for test day. We’re so confident you’ll pass your exam the first time that Utah students even get our Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee. If you don’t pass your state exam on your first attempt, we’ll refund all your money!
The good news doesn’t stop there, either. I’ll continue to help you out even after you’ve activated your license. This course package also includes a membership to additional resources from SERHANT. to help you start achieving success from your first day in the business. Perhaps the most notable of these is my Sell It Like Serhant: Real Estate Core video course. This is a 42-video online course that teaches you the same techniques that I use with my team to generate leads, create markets, close deals, and much more.
More from Sell It Like Serhant
You already have the potential to get your license and build a successful real estate career inside you. Let us help you unlock that potential today!
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Additional Content
- How to Get Your Real Estate License in Massachusetts
- What is Real Estate Pre-Licensing Education?
- How to Get Your Real Estate License in Connecticut
