Understand Vermont’s Regulatory Structure

Real estate licensing in Vermont is overseen by the Vermont Real Estate Commission, within the Office of Professional Regulation. Vermont law requires Commission approval for real estate prelicensing and continuing-education instruction, and the statute establishes a fee for review of an education course.

The available statutes identify requirements for licensed brokers and salespersons, but they do not clearly establish a separate statewide license titled “real estate instructor.” In practice, instructors typically teach through a Commission-approved school, provider, brokerage, association, or other organization that offers approved real estate education.

Before committing to a course or application, ask the Commission or the prospective education provider:

• Whether Vermont currently requires individual instructor approval
• Whether instructors must hold an active Vermont broker or salesperson license
• Whether an instructor may teach only under an approved provider
• Whether the instructor must submit a résumé, license history, references, or sample lesson
• Whether subject-matter experts who are not licensees may teach specialized topics
• Whether separate approval is required for each course or instructor

Typical Path to Becoming an Instructor

1. Obtain relevant real estate credentials

A strong candidate will usually hold an active Vermont real estate license, particularly a broker license. Vermont requires a salesperson applicant to be at least 18, associated with a brokerage firm and principal broker, to pass the required examination, and to complete at least 40 hours of Commission-approved instruction.

A Vermont broker applicant must complete at least 40 hours of approved instruction, pass the required examination, and document at least two years of satisfactory salesperson experience, including at least eight separate and unrelated closed transactions.

Although the statutes do not expressly say that every instructor must be a broker, broker licensure can make an applicant more competitive and may be required by a particular school or course-provider agreement.

2. Build practical experience

Instruction is more credible when supported by current transaction and compliance experience. Develop a record in areas such as:

• Residential or commercial brokerage
• Agency relationships and fiduciary duties
• Contracts, disclosures, and transaction management
• Vermont license law and Commission rules
• Fair housing and consumer protection
• Property management, financing, appraisal, or taxation
• Brokerage supervision and professional ethics

Keep documentation of licenses, employment, transaction experience, professional designations, litigation or disciplinary history, and specialized education. A provider may request this information when evaluating an instructor.

3. Develop teaching qualifications

Vermont’s real estate statutes do not specify a universal degree, teaching certificate, or minimum number of years as an instructor. However, providers commonly look for evidence that a candidate can explain technical material accurately and teach adult learners effectively.

Useful preparation includes:

• Adult-learning or instructional-design training
• Public-speaking or classroom-teaching experience
• Experience leading brokerage training or new-agent orientation
• A structured lesson plan and learning objectives
• Familiarity with examinations and competency-based instruction
• Continuing education in Vermont real estate law and regulatory changes

A law license, accounting credential, appraisal license, lending background, tax expertise, or other professional qualification may support instruction in a specialized subject. It does not necessarily replace any instructor or course-approval requirements imposed by the Commission or provider.

Choose an Approval Route

Teach through an existing approved provider

The simplest route is usually to contact a Vermont-approved real estate school, brokerage, trade association, or continuing-education provider. The provider can explain its instructor standards and may submit courses or instructor information to the Commission as part of its approval process.

When contacting providers, send:

• A current résumé
• Copies of relevant licenses and professional credentials
• A summary of real estate experience
• Proposed course subjects
• A sample syllabus or lesson plan
• Teaching evaluations or references, if available
• Any disclosure required concerning discipline, criminal history, or licensing problems

Ask the provider to identify who is responsible for course approval, recordkeeping, attendance verification, examination procedures, and reporting student completion.

Propose or obtain approval for a course

Vermont law provides for Commission review of education courses and lists a course-review fee. Course approval is distinct from an instructor’s qualifications: a qualified instructor may still need to teach an approved curriculum, and an approved course may need to be taught by an instructor accepted by the provider or Commission.

A course proposal should generally include:

• Course title and description
• Learning objectives
• Total instructional hours
• Detailed outline or timed agenda
• Textbooks, statutes, cases, and other sources
• Instructor résumé and subject-matter qualifications
• Method of delivery, such as classroom or synchronous virtual instruction
• Attendance and participation procedures
• Assessment or examination method, if applicable
• Procedures for handling records and course-completion certificates

Do not advertise a course as satisfying Vermont licensing or continuing-education requirements until the appropriate approval has been confirmed in writing.

Know the Difference Between Prelicensing and Continuing Education

Prelicensing education prepares applicants to qualify for a Vermont salesperson or broker license. Continuing education supports renewal of an existing license. Vermont law states that licensees must complete Commission-approved instruction during the applicable renewal period; the statute specifies 16 hours for salespersons and 24 hours for brokers, subject to the law and rules in effect for the relevant renewal cycle.

An instructor may therefore need to meet different standards depending on whether the course is:

• A salesperson prelicensing course
• A broker prelicensing course
• Mandatory continuing education
• Elective continuing education
• A professional-development course that is not offered for licensing credit

Confirm the classification before preparing the course. The classification affects approval, content, attendance, testing, records, and advertising.

Submit Information and Complete Provider Requirements

Because instructor-specific procedures may vary, obtain the current checklist from the Vermont Real Estate Commission or the approved provider. A typical submission may require:

1. A completed instructor or course-approval form, if one is currently used.
2. Proof of active licensure or other professional credentials.
3. A résumé showing subject-matter and teaching experience.
4. A course outline, learning objectives, and instructional materials.
5. Disclosure of disciplinary, criminal, or licensing history.
6. Payment of any required course-review or application fee.
7. A signed provider agreement concerning attendance, delivery, and records.
8. Commission or provider review before the course is marketed for credit.

The Commission may request revisions, additional documentation, or clarification of the instructor’s qualifications. Keep copies of all submissions and written approvals.

Maintain Compliance After Approval

An approved instructor should monitor Vermont law, Commission rules, forms, and education policies. Real estate education can become outdated quickly, particularly in areas involving agency, contracts, disclosures, fair housing, advertising, licensing renewals, and electronic transactions.

Maintain:

• Current course materials
• Accurate attendance records
• Completion and examination records
• Updated instructor credentials
• Student evaluations and complaints
• Copies of approval letters and renewal correspondence
• A process for revising materials when Vermont requirements change

Do not imply that an instructor, school, or course is Commission-approved unless the approval is current and applies to the specific course and delivery method.

Where to Confirm Current Requirements

Start with the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation and the Vermont Real Estate Commission. Ask for the current rules, education-provider list, instructor requirements, course-approval form, fee schedule, and any policy governing virtual or continuing-education instruction.

Also consult the Vermont Secretary of State’s Rules Service for current Real Estate Commission rules. The Vermont statutes should be used to verify the underlying licensing, education, renewal, and course-review provisions, but statutes alone may not contain every operational requirement used by the Commission or an approved provider.

If the Commission does not publish a separate instructor application, request written clarification about whether approval is handled through the education provider, the individual course, or both.

Authoritative Sources

• Vermont Statutes Online — Title 26, Chapter 41: Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons
• Vermont Statutes Online — 26 V.S.A. § 2292: Broker and Salesperson Licensing Requirements
• Vermont Secretary of State Rules Service — Real Estate Commission Rules
• Vermont Statutes Online — 3 V.S.A. § 125: Professional Regulation Fees
• Vermont Statutes Online — 3 V.S.A. § 136: Continuing-Education Approval and Standards