Real Estate License from Connecticut to Rhode Island: Does It Transfer? (2026)

What's different between Connecticut and Rhode Island

Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Rhode Island. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.

Route, each way

Connecticut to Rhode Island (this page): Reciprocity agreement.

Rhode Island to Connecticut (the reverse move): Reciprocity agreement.

The route is the same in both directions.

Does coming from Connecticut matter?

Coming from Connecticut matters here: only 3 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into Rhode Island.

The others get: licensure by endorsement (47).

Reciprocity agreements

Rhode Island's reciprocity agreement list names 3 states (Connecticut, Florida, and Massachusetts), including Connecticut.

Connecticut's reciprocity agreement list names 12 states (Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island), including Rhode Island.

Application fee

Rhode Island lists $165 for an out-of-state applicant and Connecticut lists $670 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.

Processing time

Rhode Island lists 1–2 weeks; Connecticut has no verified processing-time figure on file, so the two cannot be compared here.

Pre-license education

Rhode Island's first-time-applicant standard is 45 hours of pre-license education; Connecticut's is 60.

Rhode Island's is 15 education hours lower than Connecticut's.

Exam rules on record

Rhode Island and Connecticut carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.

• Rhode Island (this move): Connecticut and Massachusetts resident salespersons obtain a reciprocal RI license with NO examination; Florida residents (mutual recognition) must pass only the RI state portion of the exam; applicants from all other states must complete RI pre-license education and pass the full salesperson exam.
• Connecticut (the reverse move): Reciprocal-state applicants licensed by examination skip the Connecticut exam, EXCEPT applicants from Florida, Illinois, Indiana or Ohio, who must pass the state portion of the Connecticut Real Estate Examination (PSI); non-reciprocal-state licensees may also license by passing the CT state portion

What changes, Connecticut → Rhode Island

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Rhode Island sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

1. Confirm Rhode Island's current requirements on the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (DBR), Division of Commercial Licensing - Real Estate Section website (linked below) — rules change.
2. Submit the reciprocity application to the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (DBR), Division of Commercial Licensing - Real Estate Section (application linked below).
3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
4. Be a non-resident holding an active salesperson license in Connecticut or Massachusetts (or Florida under mutual recognition).
5. Rhode Island BCI background check plus a home-state Criminal History Record.
6. Complete a 3-hour Lead Poisoning/Lead Hazard Mitigation course.
7. Provide a Certificate of Errors and Omissions insurance and a letter of good standing.
8. Be employed/sponsored by a Rhode Island principal broker.
9. Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.

Official links

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