Rhode Island Real Estate Practice Test (Free)
The Rhode Island real estate salesperson exam has 130 questions and a 4 hours limit. Below are the exact numbers the RI exam uses, and a free practice test to see where you stand.
The Rhode Island exam at a glance
- License
- Real Estate Salesperson
- Administered by
- Pearson VUE, under contract with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (DBR), Real Estate Section
- Total questions
- 130 (80 national and 50 Rhode Island-specific)
- Time limit
- 4 hours
- Passing score
- A scaled score of 70 or higher on each part. The national part and the Rhode Island state part are scored separately and both must be passed. Scores are equated and reported on a 0 to 100 scaled range, so 70 is neither 70 percent nor a raw count of correct answers. The scale is set by the DBR with Pearson VUE, and numeric scores are released only to failing candidates.
- How it is taken
- In person at Pearson VUE test centers (East Providence, RI, plus centers in Massachusetts) or remote online proctored through Pearson VUE OnVUE. Report 30 minutes before your appointment. After one failed attempt per part through OnVUE, all further attempts on that part must be taken at a physical test center.
- If you fail
- A candidate who fails a part may retake just that part; a part already passed is not repeated. Passing results on either part are valid for one year, and the license application must be filed within one year of passing the later part. If the one-year window lapses, the entire examination must be retaken (230-RICR-30-20-2, section 2.6(B)). The retake fee is the same as the original per-part fee: $53 for the national part or $50 for the state part. No separate waiting period is published between attempts.
What Rhode Island requires before you can sit the exam
- Minimum age
- 18+
- Pre-license education
- 45 hours
- 45-hour salesperson pre-licensing course from a DBR-approved school, delivered in a classroom with an in-person instructor. Online or distance education credits are not accepted for new license applicants (230-RICR-30-20-2, section 2.7(D)). Classroom hours completed more than two years before the application date will not count toward the 45 hours.
- 3-hour Lead Poisoning and Lead Hazard Mitigation course from a DBR-approved provider, required in addition to the 45-hour pre-licensing course.
- Exam / application fee
- $103
- License term
- 2 years
- Background check
- Fingerprints and a criminal history check are required.
Free Rhode Island practice questions
10 questions written for the Rhode Island exam, drawn from 12 in the ApexAgent bank. The correct answer and the reasoning are under each one.
1. What is the minimum age for an applicant for a Rhode Island real estate salesperson license?
- A. 16
- B. 18 ✓
- C. 21
- D. There is no minimum age
Why: R.I. Gen. Laws section 5-20.5-3(c) provides that an applicant for a real estate salesperson license must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and a citizen or legal resident of the United States. A broker applicant, by contrast, must be at least the legal age of majority.
2. An applicant for a Rhode Island salesperson license must complete how many classroom hours of approved pre-licensing education?
- A. 30
- B. 45 ✓
- C. 60
- D. 90
Why: R.I. Gen. Laws section 5-20.5-4(b) requires a salesperson applicant to submit evidence of completion of a minimum of forty-five (45) classroom hours at a school defined in section 5-20.5-19. Regulation 230-RICR-30-20-2, section 2.7(A), repeats the 45-hour figure and adds that the 90-hour broker course cannot reuse those same hours.
3. For a new Rhode Island salesperson applicant, where must the 45 hours of pre-licensing education be taken?
- A. Entirely in a classroom with an in-person instructor ✓
- B. Online, at the applicant's own pace
- C. By correspondence from an accredited college
- D. Either online or in a classroom, at the applicant's choice
Why: Regulation 230-RICR-30-20-2, section 2.7(D), states that all pre-licensing courses must be taken in a classroom and taught by an instructor appearing in person, and that online or distance education credits will not be accepted for new license applicants. The department's approved course list identifies these as classroom courses.
4. The Rhode Island Real Estate Commission consists of how many members appointed by the Governor?
- A. Five
- B. Seven
- C. Nine ✓
- D. Eleven
Why: R.I. Gen. Laws section 5-20.5-12(a)(1) creates a commission of nine (9) appointed members, at least one from each county, including three current licensed brokers and four members of the general public. The Attorney General and the director of the Department of Business Regulation also serve as non-compensated ex-officio voting members.
5. Under Rhode Island law, the most a person aggrieved by the fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit of one licensee may recover from the Real Estate Recovery Account is:
- A. $20,000
- B. $50,000 ✓
- C. $100,000
- D. $250,000
Why: R.I. Gen. Laws section 5-20.5-5(a)(1) allows a court to order recovery from the real estate recovery account of not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for any one licensee. The cap applies per licensee, and claims are paid in the order the judgments were awarded.
6. If the balance in the Rhode Island Real Estate Recovery Account falls below a set amount on December 31, licensees pay an additional $25 into the account when renewing that year. What is that amount?
- A. $100,000
- B. $150,000
- C. $200,000 ✓
- D. $500,000
Why: R.I. Gen. Laws section 5-20.5-5(b) provides that if the balance in the recovery account on December 31 is less than two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000), every licensed broker and salesperson renewing during that year pays an additional twenty-five dollars ($25) for deposit into the account.
7. How long must a Rhode Island broker or salesperson preserve records of funds deposited in an escrow or trustee account relating to a real estate transaction?
- A. One year
- B. Two years
- C. Three years ✓
- D. Five years
Why: R.I. Gen. Laws section 5-20.5-26(a)(1)(i) requires an escrow or trustee account of funds deposited in connection with a real estate transaction to be kept for three (3) years, showing to whom the money belongs, the date deposited, the date of withdrawal, and to whom paid. Failing to preserve transaction records for three years is also a disciplinary ground under section 5-20.5-14(a)(6).
8. When the ownership of deposit monies held by a Rhode Island broker is in dispute, within how many days of the original deposit must the broker deposit the monies with the general treasurer?
- A. 30 days
- B. 60 days
- C. 120 days
- D. 180 days ✓
Why: R.I. Gen. Laws section 5-20.5-26(a)(1)(iv) provides that when ownership of deposit monies is disputed by the parties, the broker or salesperson must deposit the monies with the general treasurer within one hundred eighty (180) days of the date of the original deposit. The parties may agree in writing to extend that period.
9. After a failed Rhode Island real estate transaction, an escrow agent must pay out the sums held in escrow within how many days of receiving a written release signed by all parties?
- A. 5 days
- B. 10 days ✓
- C. 20 days
- D. 30 days
Why: R.I. Gen. Laws section 5-20.5-26(d) requires an escrow agent to pay the sums held in escrow as instructed by the parties to a failed real estate transaction within ten (10) days of receipt of a written release signed by all the parties. Failing to make that payment is a disciplinary ground under section 5-20.5-14(a)(37).
10. How many hours of approved continuing education must a Rhode Island real estate licensee complete during the preceding two-year period for renewal?
- A. 12 hours, including 3 hours of fair housing
- B. 24 hours, including 3 hours of fair housing ✓
- C. 24 hours, with no fair housing requirement
- D. 30 hours, including 6 hours of fair housing
Why: R.I. Gen. Laws section 5-20.5-6(b) requires all applicants for renewal to complete a minimum of twenty-four (24) classroom hours of approved real estate education during the preceding two-year period, of which a minimum of three (3) hours must cover federal, Rhode Island, or local fair housing law and the treatment of protected classes under chapter 37 of title 34.
Want more Rhode Island-specific questions? Practice the full Rhode Island state-law set.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Rhode Island split the real estate exam into a national part and a state part?
- Yes. The Rhode Island salesperson exam is two separately scheduled and separately scored parts: a National/General part of 80 scored questions in 2.5 hours, and a Rhode Island state law part of 50 scored questions in 1.5 hours. Each part requires a scaled score of 70 to pass, and you must pass both parts. The parts are booked and paid for separately through Pearson VUE.
- What score do you need to pass the Rhode Island real estate exam?
- A scaled score of 70 on each part. The scaled score is not a percentage and is not the number of questions you answered correctly. The exam forms are equated for difficulty, and Pearson VUE reports numeric scores only to failing candidates, so you cannot convert the 70 into a fixed number of correct answers.
- What education and other requirements does Rhode Island set before you can sit the exam?
- You must complete all pre-licensing education before you test: a 45-hour salesperson course from a DBR-approved school, taken in a classroom, plus a separate 3-hour Lead Poisoning and Lead Hazard Mitigation course. You must be at least 18 and a citizen or legal resident of the United States, and you must bring your education completion certificate to the test center. After you pass both parts you file the license application, which also requires a Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) background check from the Rhode Island Attorney General, proof of errors and omissions insurance, and a sponsoring broker's signature.
- How long are Rhode Island exam results good for, and can you retake a part you fail?
- Passing results on either part are valid for one year. If you fail one part, you retake only that part, within the one-year limit. If the one-year window expires before you retake, you must sit the entire exam again. The license application must be filed within one year of the date you passed the later part; otherwise you must retake the examinations.
- How much does it cost to get a Rhode Island real estate license, and how long is it valid?
- Exam fees are paid to Pearson VUE: $53 for the national part and $50 for the state part. The license application carries two separate payments to the DBR: $140 to the RI General Treasurer and $25 to the Real Estate Recovery Account, for $165 total. A Rhode Island license is valid for two years, expiring on the anniversary date it was issued, and the current salesperson renewal fee is $130. Reinstating an expired license adds a $100 late fee.
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- Pearson VUE, Rhode Island Real Estate Candidate Handbook, January 2026 (publication #094000): salesperson exam is two parts; National part 80 scored questions plus 5 pretest in 2.5 hours for $53; State part 50 scored questions plus 10 pretest in 1.5 hours for $50; passing scaled score 70 for all levels; passing results valid one year and application must be filed within one year (one-year clock starts on the later part date); retake only the failed part; after one OnVUE failure per part all further attempts at a physical center; pretest questions are unscored; report 30 minutes early; education completion certificate must be shown at the test center) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Pearson VUE, Rhode Island Real Estate Content Outlines (publication #094001): National/General portion is 80 scored items for both salesperson and broker; Rhode Island state examination is 50 scored items for salespersons and 60 for brokers, and both state examinations also contain 10 pretest items that do not affect the score; state outline effective August 21, 2025) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Rhode Island DBR, Real Estate Salesperson Requirements and Application (revised 12/29/2023): fees of $140 to the RI General Treasurer and $25 to the Real Estate Recovery Account; original Pearson VUE score report; 45-hour pre-licensing certificate; 3-hour Lead Poisoning/Lead Hazard Mitigation certificate; BCI background check from the RI Attorney General; errors and omissions insurance; principal broker affidavit; all licenses expire every two calendar years on the anniversary date issued; exam must be taken before applying) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Rhode Island DBR, Real Estate Renewal Application: salesperson renewal fee $130; reinstating a license after expiration adds a $100 late fee in addition to the renewal fee) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Rhode Island DBR, Real Estate section page: Real Estate Salesperson Application, reciprocal salesperson requirements, and Regulation 230-RICR-30-20-2 are hosted here; the section licenses brokers and salespersons and contracts a testing vendor for the licensing exams) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Rhode Island Department of State, 230-RICR-30-20-2, Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons: section 2.6 Examinations (a failed section may be retaken within the one-year limit; if the limit expires the entire exam must be retaken); section 2.7 Pre-Licensing Education (salesperson minimum 45 classroom hours per RIGL 5-20.5-4(b); classroom hours older than two years do not count; all pre-licensing courses must be taken in a classroom and online or distance education is not accepted for new applicants); section 2.8 Fees ($25 into the Real Estate Recovery Fund Account before an original license issues); section 2.9 License Renewal Term (two-year term, renewed May 1 of each even-numbered year)) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Rhode Island General Laws, Title 5, Chapter 5-20.5, Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (2025): section 5-20.5-3(c) applicant must be at least 18 for a salesperson license and requires a sponsoring broker affidavit; section 5-20.5-4(b) salesperson needs 45 classroom hours and attorneys may be licensed without examination; section 5-20.5-5 recovery account recovery capped at $50,000 per licensee and $25 renewal fee when the account balance falls below $200,000; section 5-20.5-6 license terms up to three years and 24 hours of continuing education per two-year period including 3 hours of fair housing; section 5-20.5-11 fees and renewals; section 5-20.5-12 commission of nine members appointed by the Governor; section 5-20.5-14 grounds for discipline; section 5-20.5-25 errors and omissions insurance required; section 5-20.5-26 escrows) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Exam details are checked against the Rhode Island Real Estate Commission, Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (DBR), Division of Commercial Licensing, Real Estate Section and its testing vendor. Always confirm current requirements with the board before your exam.