Rhode Island Real Estate Salesperson Exam Exam Guide
At a glance
- Passing score
- Scaled 70
- Exam fee
- $53
- Governing body
- Rhode Island Department of Business…
The Rhode Island Real Estate Salesperson Exam is the licensing test aspiring agents must pass before practicing residential or commercial real estate in the state. It is required of anyone who has completed prelicensing coursework and wants to work under a licensed broker, and it is administered on behalf of the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.
Overview
Rhode Island's salesperson exam is split into a national portion and a Rhode Island state-law portion, and candidates must pass both to qualify for licensure. Within the state-law portion, the official Pearson VUE candidate handbook breaks scored questions into these content areas:
- Statutory requirements governing the activities of licensees — 24 questions (48%)
- Additional topics — 18 questions (36%)
- Licensing requirements — 6 questions (12%)
- Duties and obligations under licensing law — 2 questions (4%)
To sit for the exam, candidates must complete a minimum of 45 classroom hours of approved prelicensing education, with coursework that is more than 2 years old no longer counting toward that requirement; specific course topics and hour breakdowns are set out in Regulation 230-RICR-30-20-2.
Cost and registration
The national portion of the exam costs $53 and the state-law portion costs $50, both paid to Pearson VUE, the testing vendor that administers the exam for the state. After passing, licensure applications carry a $10 filing fee plus a $25 Real Estate Recovery Fund fee, and an original salesperson license costs $65 per year once issued.
Exam format
The national portion consists of 80 scored questions (plus 5 unscored pretest items) and allows 2.5 hours, while the state-law portion consists of 50 scored questions (plus 10 unscored pretest items) and allows 1.5 hours. A scaled score of 70 is required to pass each portion, and passing results remain valid for one year from the passing date.
Frequently asked questions
What is the structure of the real Rhode Island salesperson exam?
Rhode Island real estate exams are scheduled as two separate parts, a national portion and a state-law portion, and candidates must pass both to become licensed.
How much does the exam cost?
The national portion costs $53 and the state-law portion costs $50, and both fees are paid directly to Pearson VUE, the vendor that administers the exam for the state.
What are the eligibility requirements to sit for the exam?
Candidates must be at least 18 years old and complete a minimum of 45 classroom hours of approved prelicensing education, with coursework older than 2 years no longer counting toward that requirement.
What happens if I fail a part of the exam?
After one failed online attempt on a given part, candidates must retest at a physical testing site for that part, and a passing result stays valid for one year from the passing date.
What fees come after passing the exam?
Licensure applications carry a $10 filing fee plus a $25 Real Estate Recovery Fund fee, and an original salesperson license runs $65 per year once issued; applications must be filed within one year of passing.
Who administers the Rhode Island real estate exam?
The Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation contracts with Pearson VUE to develop and administer the salesperson and broker licensing exams.
Sources
- 1.Rhode Island Real Estate Candidate Handbook (Pearson VUE, #094000, January 2026) — Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Real Estate Section (accessed Aug 11, 2026)
- 2.R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20.5-3 — Contents of application — Application fee — Recommendations required — Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Real Estate Section (accessed Aug 11, 2026)
- 3.230-RICR-30-20-2 — Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Rhode Island Secretary of State Rules) — Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Real Estate Section (accessed Aug 11, 2026)
- 4.Rhode Island Real Estate Licensure Exams | Broker & Salesperson — Pearson VUE — Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Real Estate Section (accessed Aug 11, 2026)
- 5.R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20.5-4 — Examination of applicants — Examination fee — Licensing without examination — Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Real Estate Section (accessed Aug 11, 2026)
Official sources
Every exam fact on this page traces to a primary document published by the body that administers the exam.
- Rhode Island Real Estate Candidate Handbook (Pearson VUE, #094000, January 2026)Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Real Estate Sectionhome.pearsonvue.com
- Rhode Island Real Estate Content Outlines (Pearson VUE, #094001, 10/2025)Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Real Estate Sectionhome.pearsonvue.com
- 230-RICR-30-20-2 — Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Rhode Island Secretary of State Rules)Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Real Estate Sectionrules.sos.ri.gov
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20.5-4 — Examination of applicants — Examination fee — Licensing without examinationRhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Real Estate Sectionwebserver.rilegislature.gov
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20.5-11 — Fees and license renewalsRhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Real Estate Sectionwebserver.rilegislature.gov
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20.5-3 — Contents of application — Application fee — Recommendations requiredRhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Real Estate Sectionwebserver.rilegislature.gov
- Rhode Island Real Estate Licensure Exams | Broker & Salesperson — Pearson VUERhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Real Estate Sectionhome.pearsonvue.com
- Real Estate | RI Dept. of Business RegulationRhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Real Estate Sectiondbr.ri.gov
- Real Estate Section Frequently Asked Questions | RI DBRRhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Real Estate Sectiondbr.ri.gov
Last verified against the official exam content outline: