TL;DR
- License required: Managing rental property for others for pay is a real estate activity in Virginia, and it takes a license from the Virginia Real Estate Board.
- Salesperson or broker: A salesperson license means managing under a broker's oversight; a broker's license means operating on your own.
- Entry education: To become a salesperson, you’ll need to complete a 60-hour Principles of Real Estate course before the exam.
- Exam: PSI administers the two-part salesperson exam, national and Virginia portions.
- Cost: State fees run around $340, including PSI fingerprinting ($60 exam, $230 application, $52 prints), plus tuition for your course.
- Owners exempt: Owners managing their own property don't need a license.
- Penalty for unlicensed work: Unlicensed practice without the proper credentials is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
If you’re managing rental property professionally in Virginia, you need a property management license. Virginia requires one before you can collect rent or sign a lease on an owner’s behalf. If you manage without a license, the Real Estate Board won’t look the other way and there could be consequences.
On the other hand, licensing is an attainable option. Virginia property managers follow the same licensing path as real estate agents. First, you’ll need to start with a salesperson license and work under a supervising broker. Next, you’ll need to earn a broker’s license if you want to operate independently. Below, we’ll discuss how to become a property manager in Virginia, including the requirements, costs, and what to expect once you start your property management journey.
Duties of a Property Manager
Owners hire a property manager to run the day-to-day work a rental demands, and the job breaks down into several duties, which include:
- Marketing property, advertising vacancies, and filling empty units
- Collecting rent and managing owner disbursements, processing payments, and paying owners
- Drafting, executing, and enforcing lease agreements, while handling terms and renewals
- Coordinating and logging maintenance requests, dispatching vendors, and paying them
- Screening tenants and managing vacancies, vetting applicants, and turning units
- Handling tenant communication and coordinating move-ins and move-outs
- Trust accounting and owner financial reporting, tracking client funds, and producing statements
- Conducting inspections,s documenting condition at move-in, move-out, and mid-lease
- Ensuring fair housing compliance by applying fair housing and landlord-tenant law
Many property managers use a property management tool to keep all their tasks organized in one place.
Does Virginia require a property management license?
Yes. Virginia defines a real estate broker as anyone who, for compensation, leases or rents real estate on behalf of another. That definition puts third-party property management into licensed territory (Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2100).
While the license covers the daily work itself (collecting rent, advertising vacancies, signing lease agreements, etc.) for an owner, each of those acts carries legal and financial duties to owners and tenants alike. So the state gates them behind a credential.
The licensing requirement depends on whose property you manage. You need a license to manage someone else’s rental for pay, but not to manage property you own. The Virginia Real Estate Board, which is part of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, oversees licensing.
Virginia Property Manager License Requirements
Virginia uses the same qualifications for property managers as it does for real estate salespersons:
Age and Residency
You must be at least 18 with no residency requirement, and you must hold a high school diploma or its equivalent. Live outside Virginia? You can qualify on the same terms once you consent to service of process through the department.
Pre-Licensing Education
Start by completing a Board-approved, 60-hour Principles of Real Estate course. You’ll need to choose one that covers both national real estate principles and Virginia law before you take the exam. Broker applicants must complete 180 hours since they can operate a firm without another broker’s supervision.
Background Check
You’ll also need to turn in a fingerprint-based criminal background check with your application. Once the results come back, your finished file must arrive within 90 calendar days, or you’ll have to get fingerprinted again. A report involving fraud or breach of trust can disqualify you, though Virginia must review disclosures case by case.
Errors and Omissions Insurance
Virginia does not require errors and omissions insurance for those who want to hold a real estate license. Many property managers decide to carry a policy anyway, since it protects personal assets against costly claims.
How to Get Your Virginia Property Management License
To become a property manager in Virginia, you must complete the salesperson licensing steps in order (and affiliate with a broker) to activate your license:
1. Complete the Pre-Licensing Coursework
First, you’ll need to enroll in a 60-hour Principles of Real Estate course through a Board-approved school, either online or in a classroom. Tuition varies, and you must finish the course before registering for the exam.
2. Pass the Virginia Real Estate Exam
PSI administers the salesperson exam, which is split into a national portion and a Virginia portion. You must pass the national section at 70 percent, and the state section at 75 percent, and each attempt costs $60. Passing scores are valid for one year from the date of testing.
3. Submit Your License Application
Next, you’ll need to mail the salesperson application to the Virginia Real Estate Board with the $230 fee, as Virginia offers no online option to do so. Your completed application must reach Richmond within one year of the exam date, and no later than 90 calendar days after you submit your fingerprint results.
4. Affiliate With an Employing Broker
Your license must be affiliated with a principal broker who supervises your work and remains legally responsible for your actions. That oversight protects property owners and their funds while you gain experience. Earning a broker’s license will eventually allow you to work independently without supervision.
Costs and Timeline
Fixed state fees come in around $340 (when fingerprints are run through a PSI center), before course tuition, and are as follows:
- Pre-licensing course (60 hours): Tuition varies
- State exam fee: $60 per attempt
- Application fee: $230
- Fingerprinting: $52 at a PSI walk-in center
- E&O insurance: Optional
How long the process takes depends mostly on how quickly you finish the course and how long the mailed application takes to process. Keep two deadlines in mind: your exam results remain valid for one year, and the Board must receive your application within 90 days of fingerprinting.
Important note: After earning your license, you must complete 30 hours of post-license education during your first year to keep it active.
Who is exempt from Virginia's license requirement?
The requirements for becoming a property manager apply only when the work serves someone else. Two exemptions come up most often:
Owners and their regular employees: Virginia property owners and their regular employees don’t need a license to manage their own property (Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2103).
Employees of a licensed broker: Employees of a licensed broker whose role is administrative don’t need to hold a license, either. These employees can show available units, provide basic rental information, accept applications, deposits, and rent, and sign leases or disclosures the broker has already approved. They cannot negotiate the lease terms, monthly rent, or security deposit, however (Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2103).
What happens if you manage property without a license in Virginia?
If you manage other people’s rentals for pay without a license in Virginia, you could face the following consequences:
Board enforcement: The Virginia Real Estate Board can order an unlicensed manager to cease activity, and may also impose a fine of up to $1,000 for each real estate transaction (or the compensation earned from it), whichever is greater (Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2105.2).
Criminal exposure: Practicing a licensed profession without the required Virginia license is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Three convictions within 36 months are a Class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-111).
Unenforceable contracts: If you perform licensed work without a license, you can’t legally collect on the management agreement or recover unpaid fees.
Business risk: An enforcement action can damage your reputation, and most owners will hire someone without one.
Beyond the License: Starting Your Virginia Property Management Career
Licensing is the first hoop to jump through, but running a full property management operation means marketing units, collecting rent, coordinating maintenance, and keeping owners current.TenantCloud’s property management software pulls all of that into one system.
As your portfolio grows and you bring on more employees, each person needs the right access rather than full control. TenantCloud’s team management scopes permissions by role, so nobody has access to any information they don’t need. Your business will run on cash flow and clean books, which is why you need integrated accounting as soon as you’re up and running.
Start a free 14-day trial with TenantCloud and learn the platform before the first client signs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a real estate license to be a property manager in Virginia?
Yes. Virginia requires a real estate license if you’re paid to manage rental property for someone else, whether it’s one duplex or 100 units. A salesperson works under a supervising broker, while a broker can work independently. You do not need a license to manage property you own.
How long will it take to get my Virginia property management license?
The 60-hour course usually determines how long the process takes, while exam scheduling and mail-in processing can add extra time. Exam scores remain valid for 1 year, and your application must be submitted within 90 days of fingerprinting. Already licensed in another state? You only need to take the Virginia portion of the exam.
How much does a property management license cost in Virginia?
If you’re using PSI for fingerprinting, expect to pay about $340 in state fees: $60 for the exam, $230 for the application, and $52 for fingerprints. Fieldprint lists its fee when you schedule, and course tuition varies by school. Virginia does not require errors and omissions insurance, so that expense is yours to decide on.
Can I manage a rental property in Virginia without a license?
Only property you own personally. If you manage someone else’s rental for money without a license, the Real Estate Board will send cease-and-desist orders if they find out. Willful unlicensed practice is also a Class 1 misdemeanor.
What are the main differences between a real estate salesperson license and a broker's license?
A salesperson license lets you manage rental property, but you must work under a broker who oversees the business and remains responsible for your work. A broker’s license allows you to operate independently and own a firm. To qualify, you need 180 hours of coursework and 36 months of active salesperson experience within the previous four years.
