Agency Relationships in Rhode Island
Rhode Island requires a mandatory real estate relationship disclosure and recognizes seller, buyer, dual, and designated agency. This chapter explains the required disclosure and the duties owed to clients and customers.
Mandatory Relationship Disclosure
Rhode Island licensees must provide a Mandatory Real Estate Relationship Disclosure to a consumer at the first substantive contact, before confidential information is exchanged. The disclosure explains the available relationships, including representing the seller, representing the buyer, dual agency, and designated agency, so the consumer understands whom the licensee represents. Early disclosure helps the consumer decide how to proceed.
Duties to Clients and Customers
A licensee who represents a client as a seller's or buyer's agent owes fiduciary duties including loyalty, confidentiality, obedience to lawful instructions, full disclosure, accounting, and reasonable care. To the other party (a customer), the licensee owes honesty and fair dealing and must disclose known material defects in the property. These duties continue throughout the transaction.
Dual and Designated Agency
Dual agency, in which one licensee represents both the buyer and the seller in the same transaction, is permitted in Rhode Island only with the informed written consent of both parties, and the licensee may not reveal one party's confidential information to the other. Under designated agency, the broker may appoint different affiliated licensees to represent the buyer and the seller within the same firm, so each client receives individual advocacy.
State-specific details
State exam facts
- State regulator
- Rhode Island Real Estate Division (DBR)
- Exam vendor
- PSI
- Prelicensing education
- 45 hours of approved salesperson pre-license education
How many prelicensing hours does Rhode Island require to become a real estate agent?
Rhode Island requires a 45-hour salesperson pre-license course approved by the Real Estate Division before you sit for the state exam.
Who licenses real estate agents in Rhode Island?
The Rhode Island Real Estate Division, within the Department of Business Regulation (DBR), licenses salespersons and brokers. The Division uses PSI to deliver the exam.
How is the Rhode Island salesperson exam structured?
The Rhode Island salesperson exam is delivered by PSI with a national portion and a Rhode Island state portion, scored separately; you must pass both. Confirm the current scored-question counts in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin.
Sources: https://dbr.ri.gov/divisions/commercial-licensing/real-estate, https://www.psiexams.com/
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