Taking your Virginia real estate course online
Online is a legitimate path in Virginia — if the provider and the proctoring meet Board requirements.
Is an online Virginia real estate course legitimate?
Yes. Virginia permits distance learning and self-study formats for the 60-hour Principles of Real Estate pre-license course, provided the course and provider carry current VREB approval. Online is not a lesser or unofficial path — it is one of several approved formats.
What to verify before enrolling
Before paying for an online course, confirm: the provider is currently VREB-approved, the specific course listing carries full 60-hour credit, and the platform actually administers a proctored, identity-verified final exam rather than an unmonitored quiz. Board approvals can lapse or change, so check current status directly with DPOR rather than relying on a provider's website alone.
The proctoring requirement doesn't go away online
Regardless of format, Virginia law requires strict identity verification and proctoring before a certificate of completion is issued. An online course that skips proctoring on its final exam is not compliant, and a certificate from a non-compliant course will not support your PSI exam registration.
After an online course
Once you pass the proctored final, your completion is reported the same way as a classroom course, and you become eligible to register with PSI for the state exam. See the exam guide.