Rhode Island Licensing Requirements and Education
Rhode Island sets pre-license education, examination, sponsorship, and continuing-education requirements for salespersons. This chapter summarizes the path to and maintenance of a Rhode Island salesperson license.
Pre-License Education and Exam
An applicant for a Rhode Island salesperson license must complete a Commission-approved 45-hour pre-license course before taking the licensing examination (R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20.5-4(b); 230-RICR-30-20-2 § 2.7(A), which also expires classroom hours after two years; checked 2026-09-09). The candidate must pass the examination, which covers national and Rhode Island-specific content, and meet the age and other eligibility requirements set by the Commission.
Sponsorship by a Broker
A salesperson's license becomes active only when the salesperson is associated with a sponsoring Rhode Island broker who supervises the salesperson's activity. Without an active sponsoring broker, the salesperson may not conduct brokerage. If the salesperson changes brokers, the association must be updated with the Commission.
Continuing Education and Renewal
Rhode Island licenses renew on a set cycle, and licensees must complete Commission-approved continuing education, including any required core or mandatory topics, before renewing. Continuing education keeps licensees current on law and practice. Allowing a license to lapse can require additional steps before the licensee may resume practice.
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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