Become a Realtor in Vermont
How do you become a Realtor in Vermont?
The truth is, it’s probably not as difficult as you think.
It really breaks down into three parts. There’s the mandatory 40 hour pre-licensing course to become a real estate agent in Vermont. Then, you have to be affiliated with a Vermont real estate brokerage. And last, you have to pass the national and Vermont real estate exams.
*You also have to be at least 18 years old, and have at least a high
school diploma (or GED).
40 Hour Pre-Licensing Class
You have to take a 40 hour pre-licensing class. The Vermont Association of Realtors offers these classes several times throughout the year. In fact, the next Vermont pre-licensing class takes place the first two weeks of August 2023. Here’s a link to the registration and for more information. It costs $500 and includes text books, and live instruction (via Zoom) from really skilled trainers.
The first four days of class prepares you for the national exam. That’s
when you’ll learn all about the practice of selling real estate. The
last day prepares you for the Vermont law portion of the real estate
license exam.
(that part is not as exciting, but it is very important.) So,
we always advise people to get a little more coffee, and then just put
your head down and get through it!
Sign On With A Brokerage
You can actually do this before you take the course. But you have to do this before you can take the state and the national exams. There are a lot of real estate brokerages, and you should look into a couple different ones to find the best fit.
Questions for you to think about and to ask brokerages:
- What training do they offer?
- What type of professional mentoring do they provide?
- What is the compensation look like? What can you expect to earn?
- What does the brokerage pay for?
- Where will your leads come from?
- How many sales (and therefore, how much income) do first year and second year agents make?
- What is the culture like? Do you like the people you’d be working with?
- What opportunities are there for advancement, promotion, and leadership?
- What technologies are available to help agents?
Our other free advice: Some real estate brokerages hire everyone that applies. Others are more selective. Think very carefully about what type of brokerage you want to be associated with.
Once you’ve interviewed a couple of brokerages, and they’ve interviewed
you, you’ll probably be ready to sign on. Congratulations!
Take the Exams
The test is in two parts, the national and the state. You can take them both on the same day. We recommend taking the course, studying a lot, and then taking both exams on the same day when the material is still fresh.
Hopefully you pass the first time. But honestly, not everyone does. If you pass one, you can take the other at a different time. If you fail them both, you get to take them both. You don’t need to get every single question right. Passing for the Vermont real estate license is 80%. It may impact your training schedule with your brokerage, but it’s not the end of the world.
So, study hard, and then go into the test full of confidence. Your brokerage should be available to answer questions, and help give real world advice to any questions you have.
You don’t have to take these tests over and over. Once you pass them, that’s it! You’ll have to take continuing education courses, but none of them are as involved as this initial process.
If you have questions about anything on this page, you can go to the Vermont Association of Realtors site, or call or email us at Green Light Real Estate. We’ll answer any questions you have, even if you don’t end up joining us.