How to Pass the Virginia Real Estate Exam on Your First Try

Virginia's real estate market spans Northern Virginia (one of the most expensive markets in the country), the Richmond metro, Hampton Roads, and rural Appalachian communities. The exam is 130 questions — 80 national and 50 state-specific — with a 75% passing threshold.

Virginia Exam Fast Facts - Questions: 130 (80 national + 50 state) - Passing score: 75% on each section (60 national, 38 state) - Time limit: 4 hours - Provider: PSI - Pre-license education: 60 hours (salesperson) - Governing body: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Real Estate Board

The Virginia Real Estate Board

The Real Estate Board operates under DPOR and enforces the Virginia Real Estate License Law (VA Code 54.1-2100 et seq.). The Board has 9 members: 6 licensees and 3 public members.

Key Board facts: - Salesperson licenses renew every 2 years; 16 hours of CE required (including 3-hour Fair Housing, 1-hour Ethics, and 1-hour Legal Updates) - New salespersons must complete a 30-hour post-license course within the first year - The Real Estate Transaction Recovery Fund provides compensation; max $20,000 per transaction - All licensees must maintain E&O insurance

Virginia Agency Law

Virginia uses the Virginia Agency Disclosure Form. The disclosure must be provided at the first substantive contact with a buyer or seller.

Virginia recognizes: - Seller's agent: fiduciary duties to seller - Buyer's agent: fiduciary duties to buyer - Disclosed dual agent: represents both with written consent; limited duties - Transaction broker: assists without representing; owed standard of care

Virginia requires written agency agreements with consumers before providing brokerage services. The exam tests: when must the agency agreement be signed vs. when must the disclosure be given? Disclosure must be given first; the agreement can be signed later.

Virginia Disclosure Requirements

Virginia's Residential Property Disclosure Act (VA Code 55.1-700) requires sellers to deliver a Residential Property Disclosure Form to buyers before accepting a purchase contract.

The Virginia disclosure form is different from most states: sellers do NOT disclose specific defects on the statutory form. Instead, the Virginia form is more limited — it says the seller makes no representations about the property condition.

Sellers must separately disclose: - Known material defects under the common law duty - Lead paint (federal law) - Proximity to military air installations - Dam break inundation zone: If the property is in a designated dam break zone, this must be disclosed - Stormwater detention facilities: Location of any stormwater detention facility on the property

Virginia-Specific Laws

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA): Virginia has a detailed landlord-tenant act that governs security deposits, habitability, notice requirements, and eviction procedures. Key tested topics: - Security deposit max: 2 months' rent - Notice to enter: 24 hours for non-emergency - Lease renewal: month-to-month tenancy if no new lease signed

HOA/Condominium Resale Packages: Virginia requires sellers to provide buyers with an HOA/Condo Resale Package. Buyers have a 3-day right of rescission after receiving the package.

Virginia Fair Housing: Virginia's Fair Housing law includes protections beyond federal law, including source of income and military status as protected classes.

Topics That Catch Candidates Off Guard

Virginia's limited disclosure form: Unlike most states, Virginia's statutory disclosure form is NOT a comprehensive defect checklist. Sellers use it to disclaim — not to detail specific known defects. The specific defect disclosure obligation comes from common law.

3-day HOA rescission: After receiving the HOA resale package, buyers have 3 days to rescind. Know this is a separate right from the standard inspection contingency.

Virginia Fair Housing protected classes: Virginia adds military status and source of income (e.g., housing vouchers) as protected classes beyond the federal seven.

E&O insurance: Virginia requires all licensees to maintain errors and omissions insurance. Few other states mandate this.

Your 4-Week Virginia Study Plan

Week 1: National — agency, contracts, ownership, land use, fair housing Week 2: National — financing, valuation, math, environmental Week 3: Virginia-specific — Real Estate Board, agency law, Residential Disclosure Act, VRLTA Week 4: Full practice exams. Target 80%+. Drill the limited disclosure form, 3-day HOA rescission, Virginia fair housing protected classes, and E&O insurance requirement.

Practice for the Virginia Exam

[CARealestate.com/states/virginia](https://carealestate.com/states/virginia) has Virginia-specific practice questions covering Real Estate Board rules, agency law, the Residential Disclosure form, and fair housing protected classes. 5 free questions, no signup needed.

Virginia's unique disclosure form structure (disclaimer, not defect list) and the addition of military status and source of income as fair housing protected classes are the most commonly missed Virginia-specific topics.