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Before you can begin the process of becoming a real estate agent in Virginia, understand each state has different requirements for who is eligible. In Virginia, in order become a real estate agent you must:  Be at least 18 years of age. Have a high school diploma or its equivalent, like a GED. Pass both the state and national PSI exams, the Virginia real estate board's testing service. Have successfully completed 60 hours of course work, approved by Virginia's Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, on the principles of real estate. Have completed an application and paid the appropriate fee. Before you can take the real estate exam, and before you have a chance at passing, 60 hours of specific coursework are required.  Make sure the course you enroll in is approved by the DPOR, the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. If it isn't, the 60 hours you complete won't qualify you to take the PSI exam. The course should advertise itself as DPOR approved and you can search the DPOR website to find a list of approved coursework. If you are unsure, phone the DPOR during office hours and ask them about the course you're considering. The courses you take will provide a basic overview of real estate practices, laws, and policies in addition to the basics of sales, negotiations, and closings. You also learn real estate vocabulary and math. You can either take courses online or in-person, depending on your preference. Online courses can save time and money, but require more self motivation than in-person courses. In-person courses are often more expensive and more cumbersome to get to, but many find face-to-face interactions ideal to a learning environment. While you're taking the proper courses, which can take a long period of time, try getting some experience in the field. This will give you a glimpse into the industry to make sure it's right for you before you launch your career.  Get an internship or office job at a real estate firm. This way, you can make a connection in your field - which can lead to jobs down the line - and get a feel for the world of real estate. Ask a real estate agent if you can shadow them for a day or a week. This can provide invaluable on-the-field information on your career path. Even after you complete your training, you might still feel under-prepared for your exam. The exam is comprehensive and follows a specific format, and knowing the format can be as vital to successfully passing as knowing the information itself.  Online, many sites allow you to take practice exams for free. Taking a series of practice exams in the weeks leading to the test can be a great way to prep as you'll know what to expect and where you weak areas are during the exam.  Books are available for purchase online or from Amazon that contain valuable information on vocabulary and exam questions and also have practice tests you can take at home.  Kaplan University and other outlets offer online test prep courses and products for the Virginia real estate exam. These can be a bit pricey, however. At Kaplan, for example, it's $99 to take a test prep course but it might be worth it if you prefer a more structured environment for studying.
Know the requirements. Find and enroll in approved courses. Get experience in the field. Engage in test preparation.