Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 5-20.5 - Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons
Section 5-20.5-4. - Examination of applicants — Examination fee — Licensing without examination.

§ 5-20.5-4. Examination of applicants — Examination fee — Licensing without examination.
(a) The director shall require any applicant for a real estate broker’s or salesperson’s license to submit to and pass a written examination to show the applicant’s knowledge of the state statutes and the rules and regulations relating to real property, deeds, mortgages, leases, contracts, real estate relationships, and federal and state fair housing laws pertaining to fair housing and the treatment of any individual in a protected class as designated in chapter 37 of title 34. An applicant shall not be required to take the uniform portion of the Rhode Island real estate licensing examination if the applicant provides sufficient evidence that the applicant possesses an existing valid real estate license from a state that has similar statutes or regulations in effect that provide for reciprocal waiver of the uniform portion of the real estate licensing examination for persons holding an existing valid Rhode Island real estate broker’s or salesperson’s license. An applicant for a real estate broker’s or salesperson’s license, prior to the taking of the examination, must pay an examination fee, the cost of which is limited to the charge as designated by the appropriate testing service’s contract with the department of business regulation.
(b) An applicant for a real estate salesperson’s license must submit satisfactory evidence of completion of a minimum of forty-five (45) classroom hours in a real estate course given by a school as defined in § 5-20.5-19. The applicant for a broker’s license must also submit satisfactory proof that he or she: (i) Has been engaged full time as a real estate salesperson for at least two (2) years immediately prior to the date of application; and (ii) Has successfully completed at least ninety (90) hours of approved classroom study in a school as defined in § 5-20.5-19, or equivalent in a correspondence course offered by an extension department of an accredited college or university. The director, in his or her sole discretion, may require any additional evidence or proof as to the honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, good reputation, and competency of any applicant.
(c) Any successful applicant who fails to remit the original license fee as provided in § 5-20.5-11 within one year of the date of that examination may be required by the director to re-submit to and pass a written examination as provided in subsection (a) of this section.
(d) When an attorney-at-law licensed by the supreme court of the state desires to have a real estate broker’s license or a real estate salesperson’s license, the attorney, by application, and upon payment of the applicable fee as provided in § 5-20.5-11, shall be granted a license without examination.
(e) A certificate of licensure shall be issued by the real estate division of the department of business regulation within thirty (30) days after it is requested at a cost of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each certificate issued.
History of Section.P.L. 1973, ch. 215, § 2; P.L. 1981, ch. 249, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 75, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 353, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 376, art. 23, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 317, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 595, art. 30, § 3; P.L. 2004, ch. 608, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 102, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 113, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 459, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 476, § 1; P.L. 2021, ch. 211, § 1, effective January 1, 2022; P.L. 2021, ch. 322, § 1, effective January 1, 2022.

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