Below are the 14 core modules of Virginia’s REALTOR® Institute program. Nine of these modules are “required” to be completed and students will need to take three of the five optional modules or take equivalent credit to earn their designation, for a total of twelve modules.
In addition, equivalent courses have been approved for optional GRI credit as follows:
- The ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative) two-day designation course (elective courses do not apply)
- Introduction to Commercial Investment Real Estate (CCIM class)
- Introduction to Property Management (8-Hour Class)
- At Home With Diversity
- Certified Buyer Representative (CBR) designation course
- Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation course
- RLI’s Land 101 Course
- The Certified New Homes Sales Program and the CRS 107: Mastering the Art of Selling New Homes (for RI 412 only)
- e-Pro (for RI 404 only)
You must send in written verification of successful completion of equivalent courses taken to VAR. Other courses will be considered for credit if requested in writing.
All Realtor® Institute course work must be completed within five years. If you have questions about the GRI designation program, please contact VAR by phone at (800) 755-8271 or e-mail at educator@VARealtor.com.
RI 401: Understanding Agency - Includes a detailed review of Virginia's law that governs brokerage relationships with buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants. Agency disclosure, property disclosure, and confidentiality will also be covered. Required
(CE 3 Hours Real Estate Agency; 4 Hours Real Estate Related OR
PL 3 Hours Mandatory Residential Real Estate: Agency Law)
RI 402: Financing Alternatives - This course will cover financing options available for real estate transactions and provide you with the knowledge you need to handle more difficult deals. Required
(CE for 7 hours Real Estate Related OR PL 3 Hours Elective Residential Real Estate: Finance)
RI 403: Personal Promotion - Includes developing a personal marketing plan, identifying your market niche, creating personal promotion materials and other image building techniques. Optional
RI 404: The Cyber-REALTOR® - This session will focus on how REALTORS® can take advantage of modern technology to gain an edge on the competition. Learn what hardware you need, which software makes sense and how communications technologies (Internet and e-mail) can make you more effective. Required
(PL 3 Hours Elective Residential Real Estate: Technology)
RI 405: Marketing the Property: Pricing, Listing, and Marketing - This course includes working with clients to determine the proper price, showcasing property, proper use of marketing technologies and identifying appropriate marketing plans. Required
(CE 4 Hours Real Estate Related and PL 3 Hours Elective Residential Real Estate: Property Valuation/Listing Process)
RI 406 : What Did I Agree To? - This session covers the writing and presenting of all types of real estate agreements (sales contracts, representation agreements, leases, deposits, etc.). Required
(CE for 2 hours law; 2 Hours of Real Estate Contracts; 3 Hours Real Estate Related OR PL 3 Hours Mandatory Residential Real Estate: Offer to Purchase and
PL 3 Hours Mandatory Residential Real Estate: Real Estate Law )
RI 407: Managing Risk - Includes fair housing, equal services, environmental concerns, state and federal regulations (lead paint, property disclosure, anti-trust, ADA). Required
(CE for 2 Hours Law; 2 Hours Fair Housing; 3 Hours Real Estate Related OR
PL 3 Hours Mandatory Residential Real Estate: Fair Housing)
RI 408: Tax & Investment Strategies for Real Estate - This session covers capital gains, tax-free exchanges, and special techniques necessary to be successful in buying/selling investment real estate. Optional
(CE for 7 hours Real Estate Related)
RI 409: Business Development - Includes goal setting, business planning, working with an assistant and cultivating a positive professional image. Required
(PL 3 Hours Elective Residential Real Estate: Business Planning)
RI 410: The Code of Ethics IS Good Business - Includes a comprehensive review of the Code of Ethics, Case Interpretations and procuring cause as they relate to your everyday practice. This is not a list of “do's and don'ts”, but rather, it is a plan for business success. Required
(CE for 3 hours Ethics and 4 Hours Real Estate Related OR PL 3 Hours Mandatory Residential Real Estate: Ethics & Standards of Conduct/Current Industry Trends; Satisfies NAR's Quadrennial Ethics Requirement)
RI 411: Successful Settlement- Managing the Transaction (formerly “From Contracts to Closing”) - Includes communication and organization strategies to prevent or overcome difficulties in the transaction leading up to and beyond the closing table. Required
(CE Approved for 6 hours Real Estate Related OR PL 3 Hours Elective Residential Real Estate: Selling Process)
RI 412: Residential Construction and Selling New Homes - Learn the special challenges involved while helping a client or customer buy/build a new home. This session covers warranties, construction techniques and materials, new home/construction financing, working with building inspectors and special selling techniques. Optional
(CE for 4 hours Real Estate Related OR PL for 1 Hour Elective Residential Real Estate: Land Use)
RI 413: Psychology of the Sale - This session covers communications and negotiation techniques to help you close more deals. Learn how to identify different personality types, body language and effective negotiation strategies. Optional
RI 414: Negotiation: Working for a Yes – This course is designed to familiarize the student with the various types and styles of negotiations and negotiators. This will be accomplished by using situations that Realtors® encounter daily. The student will leave the class with a logical plan to handle these situations. Optional
Continuing Education: You must have a total of 16 hours of continuing education with 8 hours in the mandatory topics which includes 2 hours in Fair Housing, 3 hours in ethics and standards of conduct, and the remaining hours must be a minimum of 1 hour in each of the following categories: Legal Updates, Real Estate Agency, Real Estate Contracts. The remaining hours may be in real estate related topics or in the mandatory topics.
Attention Principal Brokers, Associate Brokers and Sole Proprietor Licensees: As of 7/1/08, you will need 8 hours in approved Broker Management courses. This is in addition to the 16 hours noted above.
Post License Education (licensed after 1/1/04 and in your first licensing period): N