How to Fill Out the Virginia DPOR Real Estate Broker License Application + FAQs

The Virginia Real Estate Broker License Application (Form A490-0225BLIC, revision 10/01/2024) is the paper form you mail to the Virginia Real Estate Board to move up from salesperson to broker, or to bring your broker license into Virginia from another state. The Board sits inside the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, known as DPOR, and it reviews every line before it issues your license. Get a field wrong, leave out a required attachment, or miss the one-year exam window, and your package gets kicked back to you.

This guide walks you through the form one box at a time, in plain words, so you can fill it out with confidence. Virginia has roughly 70,000 active real estate licensees, and the Board processes thousands of new applications each year, yet a large share of broker packages get delayed for simple, avoidable reasons like a missing Experience Verification Form or a name that does not match an ID. The good news is that none of these mistakes are hard to dodge once you know where they hide.

Here is what you will learn:

• 📋 What each of the 22 sections on the broker application asks and exactly how to answer it.
• 💵 The current fees ($285 by exam or reciprocity, $120 to upgrade from salesperson) and how to pay them.
• ⏳ The deadlines that can void your whole application if you miss them.
• 📎 Which attachments and verification forms must ride along with your application.
• ⚠️ The field-level mistakes that delay the most packages and how to avoid each one.

What the Form Is and Who Must File It

The Broker License Application is the official request you submit to the Virginia Real Estate Board to be licensed as a real estate broker in the Commonwealth. A broker can own a firm, run an office, supervise salespersons, and hold client money in escrow, which is why the Board sets a higher bar than it does for salespersons. The form is required by Title 54.1, Chapter 21 of the Code of Virginia, the law that governs real estate licensing, and by the Real Estate Board Regulations at 18VAC135-20.

You must file this form if you fall into any of three groups. The first is a Virginia salesperson upgrading to broker after gaining experience and finishing broker education. The second is a person seeking a fresh Virginia broker license by examination. The third is a licensed broker from another state applying by reciprocity or through Universal License Recognition.

Before you may even submit the form, you must pass the Virginia Real Estate Board broker examination through PSI, the Board’s testing vendor. The form states clearly that all applicants must pass the exam first. Brokers also need 180 hours of approved broker-specific and broker-related education, plus active experience working at least 40 hours per week for 36 of the 48 months right before you apply.

The agency that receives the form is DPOR, acting for the Real Estate Board, at its Richmond office. The deadline that governs the form is strict: your completed application must reach the Board within one year of the date you first sat for the exam. The penalty for missing that window is blunt, since you must take and pass the exam again before you can reapply.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Filling out the form is fast once your paperwork is in order, so gather everything first. Missing items are the number one reason broker packages stall, because the Board cannot approve an incomplete file and will hold it until the gap is filled. Pull these together before you open the PDF.

• Your PSI exam pass date. This date starts the one-year clock, and if your application arrives late you must retest, so confirm it before anything else.
• Your Virginia salesperson license number and expiration date. Section 1 asks for this if you hold one, and a wrong number can slow the cross-check against Board records.
• Your Social Security number or Virginia DMV control number. State law requires one of these, and it must match the number you used on your exam and prior licenses or the file will not link.
• Proof you completed 180 hours of broker education. You need an original or certified transcript or completion certificate, because the Board will not take your word for the hours.
• Experience Verification Form(s). A separate In-State or Out-of-State form is required from each firm you worked for during the 36 qualifying months, signed by that firm’s broker.
• A Certification of Licensure for any out-of-state license. If you hold a license in another jurisdiction, you need an original letter of good standing dated within the last 60 days, because photocopies are rejected.
• Firm details if you want an active license. You need the firm’s name, Virginia license number, address, and principal broker’s name and license number, since an active license must attach to a firm.
• Fingerprint confirmation. First-time Virginia applicants must have fingerprints on file through a Board-approved vendor, and the application must arrive within 45 days of those results.
• Your high school diploma or GED status. The form requires you to confirm this, because §54.1-2105 makes it a hard requirement for a broker license.
• Payment. Have a check, money order, or completed credit card insert ready, because the form will not be processed without the fee.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

The only official source for the form is the Real Estate Broker Forms page on the DPOR website. Download the fillable, printable PDF titled “Broker License Application” so you know you have the current revision. Never use a copy a brokerage or third party emails you without checking the revision code, because an old version can be rejected outright.

You can confirm you have the right version by checking the footer of the PDF, which reads “A490-0225BLIC-v13” with a revision date of 10/01/2024. If the date or version differs, return to the DPOR page and pull the latest file. The Board updates these forms when fees or rules change, so the date matters.

The form is fillable on screen, which is the cleaner route, but you can also print it and complete it by hand in black ink. There is no online submission option for the initial broker license, so this is a paper-only filing that you mail in. If you are applying by reciprocity from another state, use the separate “Broker – Universal License Recognition” PDF on the same page instead.

The page also hosts every companion form you may need, including the In-State and Out-of-State Experience Verification Forms, the Disciplinary Action Reporting Form, the Firm Principal Broker/Officer Change Form, and the Firm License Application. Download the ones your situation calls for at the same time, so your full package is ready to mail together. DPOR also posts a “How to Apply for a License” Quick Reference Guide in English, Spanish, Korean, French, and Mandarin if you want a short overview.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Broker License Application Line by Line

The form runs six pages and contains 22 numbered sections plus a few global checkboxes. Work top to bottom, and do not skip a box just because it looks like it does not apply, since the Board reads blank answers as incomplete. Each section below tells you what it asks, how to answer it, what to write, a tricky edge case, the most common mistake, and a myth to drop.

High School / GED Confirmation (Top of Page 1)

This box asks one simple thing: did you graduate from high school or earn a GED? Check Yes or No. There is no in-between, and the form warns that a No answer means you do not qualify for a broker license under §54.1-2105.B.2.a.

For example, Carlos Mendez, a salesperson upgrading to broker, checks Yes because he finished high school in 2008. If you earned a foreign diploma, you still check Yes, since an equivalent counts, but keep your records in case the Board asks. The most common mistake here is leaving the box blank because it feels obvious, which makes the file incomplete and triggers a hold. A myth worth dropping is that a college degree replaces this box; you still must check it, because the law names the high school standard directly.

License Type and Fee Selection (Top of Page 1)

This part asks which broker license you are applying for so the Board knows which fee to charge. You choose one of three options by marking an X: Broker license by examination at $285, Broker license by reciprocity at $285, or VA Salesperson upgrading to Broker at $120. The $285 fees include the Real Estate Transaction Recovery Fund assessment.

For example, Carlos, who already holds a Virginia salesperson license, marks “VA Salesperson upgrading to Broker” and pays $120. The edge case to watch is the reciprocity line, which is only for out-of-state brokers and pairs with the Universal License Recognition path. The most common mistake is checking the $285 exam box when you qualify for the $120 upgrade, which means you overpay and the fee is not refundable. The myth to drop is that all broker applicants pay the same fee; an existing Virginia salesperson pays far less.

Section 1: Virginia Salesperson License

This section asks whether you hold an active or inactive Virginia salesperson license, and if so, for the number and expiration date. Check Yes or No, then write your license number and expiration date if you answered Yes. Use the exact number printed on your license.

For example, Carlos writes 0225-099887 and an expiration date of 06/30/2027. If your salesperson license is inactive, you still answer Yes and list it, because inactive status does not erase the license. The common mistake is transposing digits in the license number, which breaks the link to your existing record and delays processing. The misconception to drop is that an inactive license does not count here; it does, and you must report it.

Section 2: Legal Name

This box asks for your full legal name, broken into Last, First, Middle, and Generation fields. Write your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card or government ID. Do not use a nickname or a shortened form.

For example, Carlos enters Mendez in Last, Carlos in First, Antonio in Middle, and leaves Generation blank because he is not a Jr. or III. If you recently changed your name through marriage or court order, use the new legal name and be ready to show proof. The most common mistake is a name that does not match your ID, because the Board cross-checks names and a mismatch holds the file. The myth to drop is that you can list the name everyone calls you; the legal name is what the Board needs.

Section 3: Professional Name

This section asks for the name you will use professionally, if it differs from your legal name. The rule is firm: your professional name must include either your legal first name or your legal last name. So J. Mendez or Carlos M. works, but a made-up brand name alone does not.

For example, Carlos writes Carlos Mendez and leaves it simple. If you go by a middle name in business, you may use it as long as your legal first or last name appears too. The common mistake is inventing a professional name with neither your real first nor last name, which the Board will reject. The misconception to drop is that this field lets you create any brand you like; it must tie back to your legal name.

Section 4: Identification Number

This box asks for at least one of two ID numbers: your Social Security number or your Virginia DMV control number. Enter one or both, and for the DMV control number do not include dashes. State law requires every applicant to provide one of these numbers.

For example, Carlos enters his Social Security number, the same one he used when he registered for the PSI exam. The key edge case is consistency, since you must use the same number on file from your exam and prior licenses, or the records will not match. The most common mistake is using a different ID number than the one on your exam record, which breaks the link and stalls the file. The myth to drop is that this number is optional; the law makes it mandatory.

Section 5: Date of Birth

This box asks for your date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format, and you must be at least 18. Write the date with two digits for the month, two for the day, and four for the year. Keep the slashes.

For example, Carlos writes 04/17/1986. If you turned 18 only recently, you still qualify as long as you meet the experience and education rules, which usually take years to earn anyway. The common mistake is writing the date in the wrong order, like day-month-year, which can flag your file for review. The misconception to drop is that age alone is the barrier; experience and education are the real hurdles for brokers.

Section 6: Mailing Address

This box asks for the mailing address where the Board should send your license and notices. A P.O. Box is accepted here. Fill in the street or box, city, state, and ZIP code.

For example, Carlos lists P.O. Box 4421, Richmond, VA 23220. If you move during processing, you must notify the Board, because the certification at the end requires you to report changes. The common mistake is listing an old address, which means your license and any requests for missing items go to the wrong place. The myth to drop is that mailing and street address must match; they can differ, which is why the form has both.

Section 7: Street (Residential) Address

This box asks for your physical residential address, and a P.O. Box is not accepted here. Enter your real street address, city, state, and ZIP. If it is the same as your mailing address, you may check the box that says so.

For example, Carlos checks the same-as-mailing box only if his home and mailing address truly match; since he used a P.O. Box above, he instead writes 1820 Floyd Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220. The edge case is people who use a P.O. Box for mail but must still give a street address here. The common mistake is putting a P.O. Box in this field, which the form rejects. The misconception to drop is that this address is private; the Board needs a physical location on record.

Sections 8 and 9: Contact Numbers and Email

Section 8 asks for a primary phone and an optional alternate phone, while Section 9 asks for your email. Enter a number where the Board can reach you, and an email you check often. Note that your email is treated as a public record and can be released to third parties on request.

For example, Carlos lists his cell as the primary number and his personal Gmail as the email. If you do not want your main email made public, use a separate one you still monitor. The common mistake is giving an email you never check, which means you miss requests for missing documents and your file expires. The myth to drop is that the email stays private; the form says it is a public record.

Section 10: Other DPOR Licenses

This section asks whether you have ever applied for or held any current or expired DPOR license, across all professions, not just real estate. Check Yes or No, and if Yes, list the type, Virginia license number, and expiration date. This includes things like contractor or auctioneer licenses.

For example, Marcus Lee, who once held a Virginia auctioneer license, checks Yes and lists it. If you held a license decades ago that has since expired, you still report it, because the question covers expired credentials. The common mistake is answering No while forgetting an old or unrelated DPOR license, which looks like withheld information. The misconception to drop is that only real estate licenses count; the question covers every DPOR profession.

Section 11: Out-of-State Licenses and Reciprocity Education

Part A asks whether you hold a current or expired real estate license in any jurisdiction other than Virginia. If Yes, you list each state, license number, and expiration date, and you must attach an original Certification of Licensure or Letter of Good Standing dated within the last 60 days. Part B asks reciprocity applicants whether they finished 180 hours of broker pre-license education substantially equivalent to Virginia’s.

For example, Priya Sharma, a licensed broker in Maryland, checks Yes in Part A, lists her Maryland license, and attaches an original letter of good standing dated within 60 days. The edge case is timing, since that letter expires 60 days after the Board receives your file, so order it close to when you mail. The common mistake is sending a photocopy of a license instead of an original certification, which the form refuses. The myth to drop is that a Virginia license alone matters; out-of-state licenses must be disclosed and verified.

Section 12: Experience Verification

This box asks whether you have worked as an active real estate licensee at least 40 hours per week during 36 of the 48 months right before this application. Check Yes or No, and if Yes, complete the matching Experience Verification Form for each firm you worked for. A separate form is required from every firm.

For example, Carlos checks Yes and attaches one In-State Experience Verification Form from each of the two brokerages where he sold homes over the last four years. The edge case is part-time work, since hours below the 40-per-week, 36-month threshold do not qualify and the Board will deny the experience. The common mistake is sending only one verification form when you worked at two firms, which leaves a gap in your record. The misconception to drop is that you can vouch for your own hours; only your supervising brokers can certify them.

Section 13: Active License Status

This section asks whether you want an active license tied to a firm or sole proprietor. Check Yes or No. If you check No, you skip to Section 17 and the Board issues an inactive license that you cannot use to practice until you activate it.

For example, Carlos checks Yes because he plans to broker at his current firm right away. The edge case is brokers who want time to set up a new firm; they may take an inactive license now and activate later. The common mistake is checking No by accident, which leaves you with a license you cannot use until you file a separate activation. The myth to drop is that an inactive license is useless; it keeps your credential alive while you decide where to hang it.

Section 14: Type of Broker License

This box asks which kind of broker license you want: Associate Broker, Principal Broker, or Sole Proprietorship (Broker-Owned). Check the one that fits your role. If you will become the principal broker of a firm that already holds a Virginia license, you must also file a Firm Principal Broker/Officer Change Form before the Board issues your license.

For example, Carlos checks Associate Broker because he will work under his firm’s existing principal broker. The edge case is a broker starting a one-person business, who checks Sole Proprietorship (Broker-Owned). The common mistake is checking Principal Broker without filing the required Firm Principal Broker/Officer Change Form, which stalls issuance. The misconception to drop is that all brokers are the same; your role here sets your duties and the extra forms you owe.

Section 15: Firm or Sole Proprietorship Information

This section asks for the details of the firm your license will attach to, including the firm name, any assumed or fictitious name, whether it is a new Virginia business, its Virginia license number, addresses, contact numbers, email, and the principal broker’s name and license number. Fill in each field for the firm you are joining. If the firm is new and not a broker-owned sole proprietorship, the firm must file its own Firm License Application first.

For example, Carlos lists River City Realty, its Virginia firm license number with no dashes, its Richmond office address, and the name and license number of its principal broker. The edge case is a brand-new firm, which triggers the separate Firm License Application requirement in Part C. The common mistake is listing a firm email that duplicates your personal email in Section 9; a new firm needs a unique email. The myth to drop is that you can activate without firm details; the Board needs the full firm record to tie your license to it.

Section 16: Branch Office Affiliation

This box asks Associate Brokers whether they will affiliate with a branch office of the firm rather than the main office. Check Yes or No. If Yes, list the branch office license number, address, contact numbers, and the branch supervising broker’s name and license number.

For example, Marcus, joining a suburban branch, checks Yes and lists the branch’s Virginia license number and its supervising broker. The edge case is brokers unsure whether their office is a branch; ask your principal broker, since branches have their own DPOR license numbers. The common mistake is leaving branch details blank when you will in fact work at a branch, which misroutes your supervision record. The misconception to drop is that all offices are the main office; branches are licensed separately and must be named.

Section 17: Disciplinary Action History

This section asks whether you have ever faced disciplinary action by any local, state, or national regulatory body, including Virginia. Check Yes or No. If Yes, you must complete and attach a Disciplinary Action Reporting Form with the details.

For example, Priya, who once received a minor reprimand from a Maryland board, checks Yes and attaches the reporting form with a copy of the order. The edge case is action from a non-real-estate board, which still counts, since the question covers any regulatory body. The common mistake is hiding a past action, which the Board treats as withheld information and which can lead to denial. The myth to drop is that old or minor discipline is too small to report; the question has no minimum threshold.

Section 18: Criminal Convictions

Part A asks whether you have ever been convicted of a felony in any U.S. jurisdiction, and Part B asks about misdemeanors involving moral turpitude, sexual offenses, non-marijuana drug distribution, or physical injury within the past five years. A nolo contendere plea counts as a conviction. If you answer Yes to either, you complete the table in Part C with the jurisdiction, conviction type, date, disposition, and status.

For example, a different applicant, James Carter, checks Yes to Part A for a felony from 2015 and fills in the full conviction table. The crucial edge case is what NOT to disclose: do not list juvenile matters, pardoned or expunged convictions, set-aside or deferred judgments, or pending charges. The common mistake is over-disclosing expunged or juvenile records, which can confuse your file, or under-disclosing a real conviction, which risks denial. The myth to drop is that a conviction automatically bars you; the Board reviews the facts and many applicants with records are still licensed.

Section 19: Fair Housing Violations

This box asks whether you have ever violated a fair housing law anywhere in the United States. Check Yes or No. If Yes, you must attach a certified copy of the final order, decree, decision, or conciliation agreement from the court or agency that issued it.

For example, Carlos checks No, as most applicants do. The edge case is a settled complaint that ended in a conciliation agreement, which still counts as a reportable outcome. The common mistake is checking No when a documented fair housing matter exists, which the Board will discover and treat as a false statement. The misconception to drop is that only a court ruling counts; an agency conciliation agreement is reportable too.

Section 20: Fingerprints

This section asks whether you have submitted a set of fingerprints, because all applicants for initial licensure must do so through a Board-approved vendor. Check Yes, No, or NA. If you are a Virginia salesperson upgrading, you check the line that says you do not need new fingerprints, since the Board already has them.

For example, Priya, a first-time Virginia applicant, checks Yes after completing her fingerprints, then mails her application within 45 days so the results stay valid. The edge case is timing, since the application must reach the Board within 45 days of the fingerprint results or you must reprint. The common mistake is letting too much time pass between fingerprinting and mailing, which voids the prints. The myth to drop is that everyone must reprint; upgrading salespersons reuse the prints already on file.

This section also contains a power-of-attorney acknowledgment. By signing, a non-resident or anyone who later moves out of Virginia appoints the DPOR Director as their agent for legal service. You also agree to reprint within 21 days if the Virginia Central Criminal Records Exchange cannot process your prints. This language is automatic and you accept it by signing the form.

Section 21: Certifications and Applicant Signature

This section lists several sworn statements you must initial one by one, then sign and date. You initial that your answers are true, that you will report any changes before you receive the license, that you authorize the Board to verify your information, that you authorize background checks, and that you have read and follow Title 54.1, Chapter 21 of the Code of Virginia. The final statement affirms you have a high school diploma or GED and a good reputation for honesty.

For example, Carlos initials each line, signs his name, and writes the date as 06/03/2026. The edge case is electronic versus wet signatures; since this is a mailed paper form, a handwritten signature is the safe choice. The common mistake is signing but skipping one or more of the required initials, which makes the certification incomplete. The misconception to drop is that the signature alone is enough; each statement needs its own initials.

Section 22: Broker’s Statement

This final section applies only if you will affiliate with a current licensed firm or sole proprietorship. The principal or supervising broker who will be responsible for you must print their name, name you as the applicant, check whether they are the Principal Broker or Supervising Broker, sign, date, and list their Virginia license number with no dashes. By signing, that broker assumes responsibility for your real estate activities and affirms they reviewed your application.

For example, River City Realty’s principal broker prints her name, names Carlos as the applicant, checks Principal Broker, signs, and lists her license number. The edge case is an applicant seeking an inactive license, who leaves this section blank because no firm is involved yet. The common mistake is mailing the form without the broker’s signature when you want an active license, which means the Board cannot activate you. The misconception to drop is that you can sign this part yourself; only the responsible broker may complete it.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

These three walkthroughs show how different applicants move through the same form from start to finish. Each one represents a common path to a Virginia broker license. Use them as a model for your own answers.

Scenario 1: Carlos, a Virginia Salesperson Upgrading to Broker

Carlos has sold homes full time for four years and just passed the PSI broker exam. He wants an active associate broker license at his current firm.

Form Section	What Carlos Enters
License Type and Fee	VA Salesperson upgrading to Broker, $120
Section 1 (VA Salesperson License)	Yes, 0225-099887, exp. 06/30/2027
Section 2 (Legal Name)	Mendez, Carlos, Antonio
Section 4 (ID Number)	Social Security number used on his exam
Section 12 (Experience)	Yes, with two In-State Experience Verification Forms
Section 13 (Active Status)	Yes
Section 14 (Type)	Associate Broker
Section 20 (Fingerprints)	Checks the upgrading line, no new prints
Section 22 (Broker’s Statement)	Completed and signed by his principal broker

Scenario 2: Priya, an Out-of-State Broker Applying by Reciprocity

Priya is a licensed broker in Maryland moving to Virginia. She applies by reciprocity and will join a Virginia firm as an associate broker.

Form Section	What Priya Enters
License Type and Fee	Broker license by reciprocity, $285
Section 1 (VA Salesperson License)	No
Section 11.A (Out-of-State License)	Yes, Maryland license, with original good-standing letter
Section 11.B (Reciprocity Education)	Yes, 180 hours, with certified transcript
Section 12 (Experience)	Yes, with Out-of-State Experience Verification Form
Section 17 (Disciplinary Action)	Yes, with Disciplinary Action Reporting Form
Section 20 (Fingerprints)	Yes, mailed within 45 days of results
Section 21 (Certifications)	Initials each statement, signs, dates
Section 22 (Broker’s Statement)	Signed by her new Virginia principal broker

Scenario 3: Dana, Becoming a Sole Proprietor Principal Broker

Dana passed the broker exam and wants to open her own one-person brokerage as a broker-owned sole proprietorship.

Form Section	What Dana Enters
License Type and Fee	Broker license by examination, $285
Section 2 (Legal Name)	Whitfield, Dana, Rae
Section 13 (Active Status)	Yes
Section 14 (Type)	Sole Proprietorship (Broker-Owned)
Section 15 (Firm Info)	Dana Whitfield Realty, new business marked Yes
Section 15 (Fictitious Name)	Attaches SCC certificate for her DBA
Section 18 (Convictions)	No to both Part A and Part B
Section 20 (Fingerprints)	Yes, first-time applicant
Section 21 (Certifications)	Initials each statement, signs, dates

Beyond these three, picture Marcus Lee, who joins a suburban branch office and fills in Section 16, and James Carter, who discloses a 2015 felony in Section 18 and still pursues licensure. Five different filers, five different paths, one shared form.

How to File the Completed Form

The initial broker license has no online submission option, so you file by mail. Once every box is filled, every required attachment is gathered, and your payment is ready, mail the complete package to the Real Estate Board at DPOR.

• Mailing address. Send your package to the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, Real Estate Board, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, Virginia 23233-1485.
• Fee. Pay $120 to upgrade from a Virginia salesperson, or $285 by examination or reciprocity, and remember the fee is not refundable.
• Payment methods. Include a check or money order payable to the Treasurer of Virginia, or a completed Credit Card Payment Form insert, mailed with the application.
• Processing time. Plan for several weeks; processing speeds up when your file is complete and slows sharply when an attachment is missing.
• Proof of filing. Mail with tracking or delivery confirmation and keep a full copy of your signed application and every attachment, so you can prove what you sent and when.

If you have questions before you mail, the Board can be reached at (804) 367-8526 or by email at REBoard@dpor.virginia.gov. Do not send cash, and do not mail an unsigned form, since both will bounce your package back. Make sure the exam window has not closed, because a late arrival means a retest.

What Happens After You File

Once your package reaches the Board, staff review every section and confirm each required attachment is present. If anything is missing or unclear, they place your file on hold and contact you using the address, phone, or email you provided. This is why a current, working email and address matter so much.

If your file is complete and you meet the education, experience, and character standards, the Board issues your broker license. For an active license tied to a firm, the credential lets you practice once issued; for an inactive license, you hold the credential but cannot practice until you activate it with a firm. The Board mails your license to the address in Section 6.

If a problem surfaces, such as a disclosed conviction or disciplinary action, the Board may review your file more closely before deciding. A Yes answer in Sections 17, 18, or 19 does not mean automatic denial, but it does mean a careful look at the documents you attached. Respond fast to any request, because an unanswered hold can let your application lapse, and a lapsed file may force you to start over and retest.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

Brokers face more potential errors than salespersons because the form is longer and the stakes are higher. Each mistake below has cost real applicants time, so check your package against this list before you mail it.

• Missing the one-year exam window. You must retake and pass the broker exam before you can reapply.
• Using a name that does not match your ID. The Board’s cross-check fails and your file goes on hold.
• Entering a different ID number than the one on your exam record. Your records will not link and processing stalls.
• Checking the $285 exam box when you qualify for the $120 upgrade. You overpay and the fee is not refundable.
• Sending only one Experience Verification Form when you worked at several firms. Your experience record has a gap and is denied.
• Submitting a photocopy of an out-of-state license instead of an original certification. The form rejects it outright.
• Letting your out-of-state good-standing letter age past 60 days. The Board treats it as expired and asks for a new one.
• Forgetting to initial each certification statement in Section 21. The certification is incomplete and your file is held.
• Mailing the form without the broker’s signature in Section 22 when you want an active license. The Board cannot activate you.
• Putting a P.O. Box in the Section 7 residential address. The form does not accept it and your file is incomplete.
• Letting fingerprint results age past 45 days before mailing. You must get reprinted, adding weeks of delay.
• Hiding a past conviction or disciplinary action. The Board treats it as withheld information and may deny the license.

Do’s and Don’ts

These quick rules sum up the habits that keep a broker application moving and the ones that sink it.

• Do confirm you have form version A490-0225BLIC-v13 (10/01/2024), because an outdated form can be rejected.
• Do keep a full copy of your signed package, so you can prove what you sent if anything is questioned.
• Do gather every attachment before you start, since a missing document is the top cause of delay.
• Do mail with tracking, because you want proof of the date your package arrived inside the exam window.
• Do use the same ID number you used on your exam, so your records link cleanly.
• Do answer every box, even the obvious ones, because blanks read as incomplete.
• Don’t mail an unsigned form, since the Board cannot process it.
• Don’t use a P.O. Box where a physical address is required, because the form will reject it.
• Don’t disclose juvenile, expunged, or pardoned matters in Section 18, since the form tells you not to.
• Don’t send cash for the fee, because only checks, money orders, or credit card inserts are accepted.
• Don’t wait near the one-year deadline to mail, since a late arrival forces a retest.
• Don’t guess at firm details, because a wrong firm license number breaks your activation.

Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Most applicants complete the broker application themselves, but some lean on their firm or an attorney, especially when a conviction or out-of-state license is involved. The table weighs both paths.

Filing on Your Own	Filing With Help
Costs nothing beyond the Board fee, which keeps your out-of-pocket low.	Costs more, since a firm administrator’s time or an attorney’s fee adds up.
You control the timeline and can mail the moment your package is ready.	A busy helper may slow you down, but they catch errors you might miss.
You learn the form deeply, which helps when you supervise others later.	An experienced broker or attorney knows the field-level traps cold.
You risk missing an attachment if you have never filed before.	Professional review lowers the odds of a hold for a missing document.
Simple upgrades from salesperson are easy to handle solo.	Tricky files, like disclosed convictions, benefit from expert framing.

The honest takeaway is that a clean salesperson-to-broker upgrade is well within reach on your own. A file with disciplinary history, a felony disclosure, or an out-of-state certification is where a second set of eyes earns its keep.

FAQs

Do I need to pass the exam before I send in this form?

Yes. You must pass the Virginia Real Estate Board broker exam through PSI before you apply, and your form must arrive within one year of your first exam date or you retest.

Do I write my legal name or my professional name in Section 2?

Yes. Section 2 takes your full legal name exactly as it appears on your ID, while your professional name goes in Section 3 and must include your legal first or last name.

Do I pay $285 if I already hold a Virginia salesperson license?

No. A Virginia salesperson upgrading to broker pays the reduced $120 fee, not the $285 charged for a broker license by examination or reciprocity.

Do I need a separate Experience Verification Form for each firm?

Yes. Section 12 requires a separate In-State or Out-of-State Experience Verification Form from every firm you worked for during the qualifying 36 months.

Do I put my Social Security number in Section 4 if I gave a DMV number on my exam?

No. Use the same identification number you used on your exam and prior licenses, so your records link without a hold.

Do I check a box in Section 7 if my home address matches my mailing address?

Yes. You may check the same-as-mailing box, but Section 7 still requires a physical street address and never accepts a P.O. Box.

Do upgrading salespersons need new fingerprints?

No. Virginia salespersons upgrading to broker check the line in Section 20 stating they do not need new fingerprints, since the Board already holds them.

Do I disclose an expunged conviction in Section 18?

No. The form tells you not to disclose juvenile, pardoned, expunged, set-aside, deferred, or pending matters; you report only qualifying felony and certain misdemeanor convictions.

Do I have to list an old, unrelated DPOR license in Section 10?

Yes. Section 10 covers every current or expired DPOR license across all professions, not just real estate, so you must list it.

Do I need the broker’s signature in Section 22 for an inactive license?

No. Section 22 applies only when you affiliate with a firm; if you request an inactive license, you leave it blank.

Do I file this form online?

No. The initial broker license has no online option, so you must print, sign, and mail the completed package to the Board in Richmond.

Do I get my fee back if the Board denies my application?

No. The form states clearly that application fees are not refundable, regardless of the outcome.

Do I need 180 hours of education if I apply by reciprocity?

Yes. Section 11.B requires reciprocity applicants to confirm 180 hours of broker pre-license education substantially equivalent to Virginia’s, with a certified transcript attached.

Do convictions automatically disqualify me from a broker license?

No. A disclosed conviction triggers a closer review, but the Board weighs the facts, and many applicants with records are still licensed.