Becoming a REALTOR® is the equivalent of starting up your own business.   You need to have available funds to get started and you should have sufficient savings to get you through until your first commission check.  It also requires a time commitment for the classes and exam.

You should plan on spending at least $2,000 initially for course tuition, licensing fees, association dues, lock box key rentals and box purchases, business cards and the like.

You must complete the 60-hour Principles of Real Estate Class, schedule and sit for the state exam.  You will need to interview with "Brokerage Firms" so that when you pass the exam your license can be associated with one of them.

You will need to join a local REALTOR® Association, such as the Dulles Area Association of REALTORS®, and likely lease or purchase a lock box key for use in your business.  You will also need a lock box to place on a future listed property.

Some brokerage firms offer extensive training opportunities to get you started, others don't.  There may or may not be a cost associated with these programs, but they certainly require a time commitment.

In all likelihood you won't see a commission check for at least 6 months, so you should have sufficient savings to get you through that time period.

You are in essence starting your own business, and a business plan will help guide you along.  Your broker will offer assistance, and your association can answer questions, but you should be an independent thinker to make a successful business as a REALTOR®

All Virginia real estate professionals are licensed by the state. In order get your real estate license, you must first complete the required education and pass the state licensing examination.

Virginia Real Estate Sales License Education Requirements (Pre-license)
The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) requires all real estate licensees to complete 60 hours of pre-license education and pass an exam before receiving their license. The DAAR pre-license course, which is offered on a regular basis, satisfies this education requirement and prepares you for the sales exam.

A real estate agent is a REALTOR® when he or she becomes a member of the REALTOR® Association. If you are already a licensed real estate salesperson and wish to become a REALTOR® please visit our become a member page.

The term REALTOR® is a trademarked term denoting membership in the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics; not a generic term.