Real Estate Exam VA: Format, Content Breakdown, and Scoring

The real estate exam VA candidates take is a two-part licensure test with a national portion and a state portion that every salesperson applicant must pass after completing pre-licensing education. PSI administers the exam on behalf of the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) Real Estate Board, and the salesperson version has 120 multiple-choice questions split across 80 national and 40 state-specific items.

Virginia real estate exam overview

The Virginia real estate exam is the required licensure test that stands between completing your pre-licensing education and receiving a salesperson license. PSI delivers the exam on behalf of the DPOR Real Estate Board^[1], and testing is offered daily at locations throughout Virginia and neighboring states.

PSI's real estate exam content is accredited by the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO)^[2]. This accreditation confirms that the exam meets industry standards for quality and compliance. National subject matter experts develop the national portion, while local Virginia experts review the state-specific section, according to PSI's real estate exam guide^[3].

After passing both portions, you proceed to fingerprinting, license application, and broker affiliation to activate your license.

Salesperson exam format: questions, time, and scoring

The salesperson exam has 120 multiple-choice questions across two independently scored sections, and you must pass both to qualify for licensure. According to the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for Virginia^[4] (revised February 2026), the passing score is 70% on the national portion and 75% on the state portion.

The exam also includes 5 to 10 unscored pretest questions that do not count toward your score or testing time. You receive your score immediately after completing the exam.

Virginia real estate exam content breakdown

The national portion tests broad real estate concepts shared across all states, while the state portion covers Virginia-specific laws and regulations. The PSI Candidate Information Bulletin^[4] outlines the content distribution for both sections.

National portion topics

Contracts, agency, and practice of real estate carry the most weight on the national portion. These three areas deserve the most study time when reviewing real estate agent exam questions.

State portion topics

Agency and disclosure together account for more than half of the state portion. These questions cover how agents represent clients and what they must reveal about property conditions. They are the most heavily tested Virginia-specific content.

Virginia real estate exam pass rates

Virginia's official pass rates are lower than many candidates expect. DPOR publishes annual pass rate statistics by school^[5] covering all attempts in a calendar year without separating first-time from repeat test-takers. The department does not publish a statewide first-time pass rate, and secondary sources that cite specific first-time figures rely on unattributed aggregator data rather than official statistics.

Because the published rates include all attempts, they combine outcomes from first-time test-takers and those retaking the exam. These figures make structured preparation and practice testing especially important for Virginia candidates.

Scheduling the exam: cost, locations, and registration

PSI charges $60 for each exam attempt, and testing is available daily at locations throughout Virginia and neighboring states. You can reach PSI at (855) 340-3910 to register and schedule after completing your 60-hour pre-licensing course.

PSI sends an eligibility email once your course completion is processed. Exam sessions are available at least six weeks in advance, according to PSI's test-taker resources^[6]. Booking 4 to 6 weeks before your desired date is recommended.

Test centers are located in Charlottesville, Richmond, Roanoke, Vienna, and Virginia Beach, with additional sites in Johnson City, Tennessee, and Salisbury, Maryland, according to DPOR^[1]. The PSI Candidate Information Bulletin is also available in Mandarin, French, Korean, and Spanish for candidates who need exam information in those languages.

Taking the exam: test center and online options

Two testing formats are available, each with distinct rules for what you can bring and how the session is monitored.

Online candidates should verify their operating system meets current requirements, as DPOR states^[7] that PSI no longer allows remote proctored exams on Windows 10 or macOS Ventura (13.x) as of October 14, 2025. At test centers, PSI's test-taker resources^[6] require two forms of valid, non-expired identification (the first government-issued with photo and signature) and arrival at least 30 minutes before the appointment. A non-programmable, silent, battery-operated calculator is permitted at test centers, per the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin^[4].

Failing and retaking the Virginia real estate exam

If you fail one portion but pass the other, you only retake the portion you failed, and the passing score on the other portion is retained. There is no limit on the number of retakes, and each attempt requires the same exam fee.

You can schedule a retake as soon as the next day after a failed attempt. If you fail both portions, you retake both. According to the DPOR real estate process guide^[8], exam scores are valid for one year from the date you originally tested. After one year, your scores expire and you must retake the exam.

Exam preparation strategies and practice resources

Effective real estate exam prep starts with understanding what the test covers and practicing the topics most likely to appear. Your pre-licensing course provides the foundational knowledge the exam tests, so review course materials thoroughly.

Concentrate your study on the highest-weighted topic areas from each portion, and use real estate exam practice questions to reinforce your understanding before test day.

PSI also offers review guides for national principles, real estate math, and Virginia-specific laws^[9] through its online store. Take a VA real estate practice exam under timed conditions to build stamina and identify weak areas. A real estate salesperson practice exam mirrors the actual test format. It helps you get comfortable with the multiple-choice structure and the types of real estate exam questions you will encounter on test day.

The broker exam: how it differs from the salesperson exam

The Virginia broker exam has different question counts, time limits, and passing scores than the salesperson exam. According to the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin^[4], the broker exam has 75 national questions (scored at 80 points because some questions carry 2-point values) and 50 state questions, for 125 total questions.

The 2-point scoring on some national questions means the point total (80) exceeds the question count (75). Broker applicants must complete Board-approved pre-licensing education and meet the full-time salesperson experience requirement before sitting for the exam, according to DPOR^[1].

After the exam: next steps

After passing both portions, complete three steps to activate your license. First, get fingerprinted for a background check at a PSI testing center (available 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, no appointment needed) or through Fieldprint^[1] throughout Virginia. Second, submit your completed license application to DPOR. Third, affiliate with a sponsoring broker, who submits the activation paperwork. Background checks expire after 45 days, and a complete application must be on file within that window.