Virginia Real Estate CE Requirements, Explained
Last reviewed June 2026 against the official sources linked below. Requirements change — always confirm with your board before relying on them.
Total hours
16 hours per 2 years
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Required topics
8 mandatory (rising to 11 after June 30, 2026)
Issued by
Virginia Real Estate Board
Virginia salespersons need 16 hours of continuing education every two years - but the inside of that 16 is changing. For licenses expiring on or after June 30, 2026, the mandatory-topic portion grows from 8 hours to 11, which means your elective room shrinks from 8 hours to 5. The total stays the same; the mix does not.
And before any of that applies, new salespersons have a different obligation entirely: a 30-hour post-license course in their first year, which replaces the 16-hour CE menu for that initial term.
The base requirement: 16 hours every 2 years
Under the Code of Virginia, the Virginia Real Estate Board (within DPOR) requires experienced salespersons to complete 16 hours of Board-approved continuing education each two-year renewal cycle. Historically that broke down as 8 mandatory hours - 3 hours Ethics and Standards of Conduct, 2 hours Fair Housing, 1 hour Legal Updates and Emerging Trends, 1 hour Real Estate Agency, and 1 hour Real Estate Contracts - plus 8 elective hours in real estate related subjects.
What is changing on June 30, 2026 (HB 383 / SB 330)
- For licenses expiring on or after June 30, 2026, Legal Updates and Emerging Trends, Real Estate Agency, and Real Estate Contracts each rise to 2 hours.
- Combined with the 3 hours Ethics and 2 hours Fair Housing, mandatory topics grow from 8 hours to 11.
- Elective hours therefore drop from 8 to 5, but the total stays at 16 hours.
- Brokers follow a parallel change at 24 total hours, with the same 2-hour-each increases in Legal Updates, Agency, and Contracts.
Stop tracking this in a spreadsheet
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Start tracking — freeWhen is your deadline?
Virginia salesperson and broker licenses renew every two years. New salespersons must complete the 30-hour post-license education within one year of initial licensure to stay active - post-license courses do not count as CE, and CE does not count as post-license, so the two cannot be substituted. Your exact expiration date governs which topic breakdown applies, so check it before you enroll.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Progress rings track your 16 hours with required-topic buckets for Ethics, Fair Housing, Legal Updates, Agency, and Contracts - updated to the 11-hour mandatory mix for the new cycle.
- Store each certificate the moment you finish - dated and attached to the credit it proves.
- Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before your renewal date so nothing lapses.
- Multiple licenses across states each get their own card, deadline, and one-click export from a single dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Virginia salespersons need?
Sixteen hours every two years. The total is unchanged, but for licenses expiring on or after June 30, 2026, the mandatory-topic portion rises from 8 hours to 11, reducing electives from 8 to 5.
What changes under HB 383 and SB 330?
Legal Updates and Emerging Trends, Real Estate Agency, and Real Estate Contracts each increase to 2 hours for licenses expiring on or after June 30, 2026 - alongside the existing 3 hours Ethics and 2 hours Fair Housing.
Do new Virginia salespersons take the 16-hour CE?
No - new salespersons complete a 30-hour post-license education within one year of licensure instead. Post-license and CE courses cannot be substituted for one another.
How often does my Virginia license renew?
Every two years, for both salespersons and brokers. Your expiration date determines which topic breakdown applies.
Official sources
- Virginia DPOR - Real Estate Board Continuing Education
- Virginia DPOR - Real Estate Board Post-License Education
CredTally is a record-keeping tool and is not affiliated with any licensing board. This guide is general information, not legal or compliance advice.
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