Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the nation. Still, thanks to license reciprocity agreements, the Ocean State’s real estate license is recognized in both Connecticut and Massachusetts. This means that you can launch your career in a tristate market with just one test. I’ve researched how to become a real estate agent in Rhode Island, so you don’t have to, and I’ve also compiled a list of the top five online real estate schools so you can get started right away. Let’s take a closer look.

Do you already know the process of how to get a license and are ready to get straight into the best schools in Rhode Island? I’ve got you covered! Click here to jump to the “Best Real Estate Schools” section below.

How to Get a Real Estate License in Rhode Island

Step 1: Meet Rhode Island Requirements
  • You must be at least 18 years old
  • You must be a US citizen or lawfully admitted resident
  • You must possess a high school diploma or GED
Step 2: Complete Prelicensing Courses
Step 3: Get Fingerprints & Background Check
Step 4: Take the Real Estate Exam
  • There are 130 multiple-choice questions, and you have 4 hours to complete the exam
  • The cost is $100 per attempt
  • You need at least a 70% passing score
  • You have one year to apply for your license after passing the exam
  • List of approved proctor locations
Step 5: Apply for Your Rhode Island License
  • Your passing score document
  • Submit your prelicense transcript
  • Fill out the application
  • Pay a $140 fee to RI General Treasurer
  • Pay a $25 fee to Real Estate Recovery Account
  • Include your managing broker sponsor card when you have it
Step 6: Pick a Sponsoring Brokerage
Step 7: Start Your Real Estate Career

The Close’s Top Picks of Online Real Estate Schools in Rhode Island 

Now that you have the details of how to get a real estate license in Rhode Island, you need to pick the best school for your learning style. Let’s dive into the top five picks so you can enroll as soon as you’re ready.

Our Top Picks
Starting Price for Prelicensing
Promo Code
Read More Below
Fortune Academy: Best for reciprocity
$205
Close30—Save 30%
Fortune Academy↓
The CE Shop: Best for national exam prep
$79*
TheClose35—Save 35%
The CE Shop↓
Real Estate Institute of Rhode Island: Best for live instruction
$205
No promo code
Real Estate Institute of Rhode Island↓
Rhode Island Association of Realtors: Best for career resources
$299
No promo code
Rhode Island Association of Realtor↓
Colibri Real Estate: Best for continuing education
$115
TheClose30—Save 30%
Colibri Real Estate↓

*Cost for exam prep, no prelicensing available

Best for Reciprocity: Fortune Academy

Fortune Academy
Pros
  • Course accessible on all devices
  • Exam prep add-on
  • Pass Guarantee
Cons
  • No post-licensing or upgrading options
  • Course access for only six months
  • Fee for coaching and training resources
The Close Score
5
Course Features:
3.5
Value:
2.2
Learning Format & Accessibility:
4.5
Expert Score:
5.0
Help & Support:
5.0
Reputation:
4.9
out
of
5

My Expert Opinion on Fortune Academy

Fortune Academy is backed by The CE Shop, allowing you to choose between in-person, live online, or self-paced delivery for real estate salesperson reciprocity courses. This flexibility allows you to select a learning method that suits your lifestyle. Courses are designed to prepare you for your exam, backed by an 85% first-time pass guarantee. Plus, Fortune Academy offers continuing education courses and 24/7 expert help and student support.

💡Room for Improvement: Rhode Island requires an additional 3-hour lead paint course before getting your license, so Fortune Academy should consider adding this as one of the course options. 

Fortune Academy Cost

Fortune Academy offers courses for those learning how to become a real estate agent in Rhode Island, including prelicensing and continuing education options.

Type of Education
Price Range
Standout Features
Prelicensing
$228-$367
(reciprocity with MA license)
  • Various learning formats
  • Pass guarantee with certain packages
  • e-Books offered
Continuing education
$205
  • Ethics course included in the package
  • Individual courses available for purchase
  • Approved by Rhode Island Real Estate Commission

Use Promo Code: Close30—Save 30%

Best for National Exam Prep: The CE Shop

The CE Shop
Pros
  • Money back guarantee
  • Professional development included in premium package
  • Live instruction
Cons
  • No exam prep in basic package
  • No self-paced class option
  • A little more expensive than other options
The Close Score
4.7
Course Features:
2.9
Value:
3.5
Learning Format & Accessibility:
3.5
Expert Score:
5.0
Help & Support:
4.5
Reputation:
4.0
out
of
5

My Expert Opinion on The CE Shop

The CE Shop is a great tool for getting ready for your real estate license exam in Rhode Island. It offers exam prep, professional development, and career resources. The national exam prep course kicks off with an initial assessment to help you pinpoint what you need to work on. After that, an interactive dashboard will walk you through your study process so you can keep tabs on how you’re doing in each topic. Plus, you don’t have to go through this alone—if you have questions, support is available every day of the week.

💡Room for Improvement: The CE Shop is known for its online learning environment and various course offerings. However, it would benefit from adding a license upgrade course option for those ready to take the next step in their career. 

The CE Shop Cost

Students can choose from multiple course packages based on their learning needs and budget for their state of Rhode Island real estate license online education.

Type of Education
Price Range
Standout Features
Prelicensing
$228-$367
(reciprocity with MA license)
  • Various learning formats
  • Pass guarantee with certain packages
  • e-Books offered
Continuing education
$205-$279
  • Individual and packaged courses
  • Available for both broker and managing broker
  • NAR Ethics course
Exam prep
$79
  • Prep for national portion
  • Unlimited practice exam
  • Interactive dashboards

Use Promo Code: TheClose35—Save 35%

Need to see more before making a decision? Check out our walkthrough video for The CE Shop below: 

Best for Live Instruction: Real Estate Institute of Rhode Island

Real Estate Institute of Rhode Island
Pros
  • Online, live instruction
  • Books and all materials included
  • Free course retake for up to six months
Cons
  • No in-person class options
  • No exam prep
  • Limited course days and times
The Close Score
4
Course Features:
3.1
Value:
2.1
Learning Format & Accessibility:
3.5
Expert Score:
3.7
Help & Support:
3.0
Reputation:
4.4
out
of
5

My Expert Opinion on Real Estate Institute of Rhode Island 

The Real Estate Institute of Rhode Island (REIRI) offers instructor support via live instruction and career guidance Zoom sessions. These instructors are veteran agents with thousands of closed deals and teach day, night, or weekend courses. If you need extra classroom study, you can take the entire course or any individual class over again for free for up to six months after completing the course. Continuing education classes are also offered via The CE Shop.

💡Room for Improvement: It would be great to see some videos of the live instructors to get a preview of teaching styles.

Real Estate Institute of Rhode Island Cost

REIRI keeps it simple for Rhode Island real estate classes, offering one prelicensing course at one price. However, you can choose from multiple days and times. Continuing education is provided through The CE Shop, so pricing is consistent with its courses.

Type of Education
Price Range
Standout Features
Prelicensing
$325
  • Live instruction
  • Books and materials included
  • 3 class schedules to choose from
Continuing education
$205-$279
  • Individual and packaged courses
  • Available for both broker and managing broker
  • NAR Ethics course

Best for Career Resources: Rhode Island Association of Realtors

Rhode Island Association of Realtors
Pros
  • In-person options
  • Lead paint course available
  • Help with job placement
Cons
  • No CE package options
  • Not all instructors with field experience
  • Fee to make up a missed class
The Close Score
3.8
Course Features:
2.9
Value:
1.0
Learning Format & Accessibility:
4.5
Expert Score:
3.8
Help & Support:
3.0
Reputation:
4.5
out
of
5

My Expert Opinion on Rhode Island Association of Realtors 

RI REALTORS Professional Development Center has comprehensive offerings, from prelicensing courses, including the required lead paint course, to classes for veteran brokers. Once you get your real estate license, RIAR will be your go-to source for information, networking, and access to the multiple listing service. The school also helps with job placement and has a list of real estate offices looking to hire new agents. Whether you’re just starting or are a broker looking to level up your credentials, the RI Professional Development Center has many flexible options.

💡Room for Improvement: RIAR offers many options for licensing and CE, but adding separate exam prep would benefit students doing their prelicensing.

Rhode Island Association of Realtors Cost

Real Estate Institute offers a variety of classroom types and packages. Students can access all necessary coursework to get their license, upgrade, or stay active.

Type of Education
Price Range
Standout Features
Prelicensing
$299
  • Live, Zoom instruction
  • Discounted price for lead paint course
  • Digital e-books and materials
Continuing education
$25-plus
  • Individual courses
  • Available for both salesperson and broker
Broker prelicensing
$225
(Price for 27-hour course that goes toward total 90 needed)
  • Live, Zoom or in-person instruction
  • Course valid for 4 years
  • Specifically designed for exam prep

Best for Continuing Education: Colibri Real Estate

Colibri Real Estate
Pros
  • Live instructor Q&A
  • Exam Crammer
  • Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee
Cons
  • No prelicensing or post-licensing courses
  • No license upgrade option
  • Limited course options
The Close Score
3.5
Course Features:
2.8
Value:
2.0
Learning Format & Accessibility:
1.5
Expert Score:
4.6
Help & Support:
3.0
Reputation:
4.4
out
of
5

My Expert Opinion on Colibri Real Estate

When you’re working on your Rhode Island real estate license, it’s important to know what learning style works best for you. Colibri gives you the option of live or self-paced learning, as well as additional benefits such as instructor Q&A and readiness assessments. The CE course offers a comprehensive package, including NAR ethics, which makes it easy for students to meet the requirements. 

💡Room for Improvement: Colibri should consider adding a prelicensing course since there are limited prelicensing courses available for those interested in getting a license in Rhode Island.

Colibri Real Estate Cost

There may not be an abundance of real estate classes in Rhode Island; however, Colibri Real Estate is an excellent source for continuing education and exam prep.

Type of Education
Price Range
Standout Features
Continuing education
$129
  • Online, self-paced
  • NAR ethics course
  • Narrated audio with adjustable speeds
Exam prep
$115-$219
  • Exam crammer webinar
  • Simulated exams
  • Instructor Q&A

Save 35% when you use promo code “TheClose30

Need to see more before making a decision? Check out our walkthrough video for Colibri Real Estate below:

How We Selected the Best Online Real Estate Schools in Rhode Island

In terms of our methodology at The Close, our team of licensed real estate professionals, writers, and editors created a weighted rubric that involves evaluating each school. Our experts have done hours of research to analyze dozens of real estate schools to determine the best for our readers. The features we explored are essential for students to become successful agents and brokers in the real estate industry. 

Our detailed criteria included the following: 

  • Course Features 25%
    • This comprises items that assist agents and brokers in completing their education, like pass and refund guarantees, career and instructor support, coaching, training, interactive study groups, and course extensions.
  • Value 20%
    • Pricing and availability of coursework are important factors to assess. This accounts for real estate school offerings in prelicensing, post-licensing, continuing education, broker prelicensing, and exam prep. 
  • Learning Format & Accessibility 20%
    • Real estate professionals must consider the best format for their learning, which includes self-paced, on-demand video, livestream, and in-person classes. Also, accessibility via multiple devices, like computers, tablets, and mobile devices, determines the convenience for users. 
  • Expert Score 15%
    • The Close closely reviews each course for standout features, details, ease of use, and the value for money spent from a real estate expert’s perspective. 
  • Help & Support 10%
    • If students need additional support, knowing the customer service options through phone, email, live chat, and ticket system is necessary. 
  • Reputation 10%
    • This examines the reputation of each real estate school through the lens of current and past students, reviewing the customer reviews and popularity of each provider. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)



Your Take

Now that we’ve reviewed how to become a real estate agent in Rhode Island, you can move forward with confidence when choosing your real estate school and get ready to ace your exam. At The Close, we’re committed to providing you with tools and strategies to start your career and boost your business. 

Where do you plan to take your coursework? Let us know in the comments!