Real Estate License from Rhode Island to Connecticut: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Connecticut accept a Rhode Island real estate license?
Yes — Connecticut has a reciprocity arrangement covering Rhode Island license holders. Apply to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Real Estate Commission under its reciprocity/endorsement track and complete Connecticut's remaining requirements.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Reciprocity agreement
Rhode Island is on Connecticut's recognition list, which puts this move on the streamlined track: your education and national exam are credited, and the requirements below are what Connecticut still insists on — typically its own law exam and a background check. One caution: agreements are directional and revocable. This page's verification date tells you when we last confirmed Rhode Island on the list; the commission link is the live truth.
What's different between Rhode Island and Connecticut
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Connecticut. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Rhode Island to Connecticut (this page): Reciprocity agreement.
Connecticut to Rhode Island (the reverse move): Reciprocity agreement.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from Rhode Island matter?
Coming from Rhode Island matters here: only 12 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into Connecticut.
The others get: licensure by endorsement (38).
- Reciprocity agreements
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.
Rhode Island's reciprocity agreement list names 3 states (Connecticut, Florida, and Massachusetts), including Connecticut.
- Application fee
Connecticut lists $670 for an out-of-state applicant and Rhode Island lists $165 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Processing time
Rhode Island lists 1–2 weeks for the reverse move; Connecticut has no verified processing-time figure on file, so the two cannot be compared here.
- Pre-license education
Connecticut's first-time-applicant standard is 60 hours of pre-license education; Rhode Island's is 45.
Connecticut's is 15 education hours higher than Rhode Island's.
- Exam rules on record
Connecticut and Rhode Island carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Connecticut (this 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
- Rhode Island (the reverse 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.
What changes, Rhode Island → Connecticut
| Rhode Island (current) | Connecticut (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-license education | 45 | 60 |
| Application fee | $165 ($140 to the 'RI General Treasurer' + $25 to the 'Real Estate Recovery Account' (two separate checks/money orders); excludes BCI background-check and E&O insurance costs.) | $670 (Reciprocal salesperson total: $80 application fee + $570 initial license fee + $20 guaranty fund fee) |
| Processing time | 1–2 weeks (Application states to allow 7-10 business days for processing.) | No board-stated timeframe; applicant is invited to register and schedule any required exam only after DCP reviews and approves the application |
| Licensing authority | Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (DBR), Division of Commercial Licensing - Real Estate Section | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Real Estate Commission |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Connecticut sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Connecticut's current requirements on the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Real Estate Commission website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the reciprocity application to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Real Estate Commission (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold an active salesperson license in good standing, originally obtained by examination, in a reciprocal state.
- Provide a certification of license history from the reciprocal state and from every other state where you hold or ever held a license.
- Have a Connecticut-licensed supervising broker (salesperson applicants).
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep selling in Rhode Island after I'm licensed in Connecticut?
Yes — real estate licenses stack. Keep the Rhode Island license active (renewals and CE continue separately) and you hold both; many border-market agents do exactly this.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Connecticut DCP — Real Estate Reciprocal Applications and Instructions (fees, exam rule) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Connecticut DCP — License Reciprocity for Real Estate (list of reciprocal states) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Connecticut DCP — Real Estate Salesperson Initial/Exam Application (60-hour pre-license course) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- RI DBR - Reciprocal Real Estate Salesperson Application (Rev. 11/2023; CT/MA reciprocity, FL mutual recognition, fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- RI DBR - Real Estate Salesperson Application (45-hour pre-license education, fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- RI DBR - Real Estate section (applications and regulation 230-RICR-30-20-2) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com