Puerto Rico has its own real estate licensing system, separate from any US state. To work as a paid real estate salesperson on the island, candidates must pass the reválida de bienes raíces and obtain a licence from the Junta de Corredores, Vendedores y Empresas de Bienes Raíces. The exam is conducted entirely in Spanish and draws from Puerto Rican statute. This guide covers what the licence is, who needs it, what the prerequisites are, and how the five exam topics are weighted.
What is the Puerto Rico real estate salesperson licence?
A real estate salesperson licence is issued by the Junta de Corredores, Vendedores y Empresas de Bienes Raíces, a board attached to the Department of State. Law 10 of 1994 (Ley Núm. 10 de 1994) defines the salesperson as a natural person who, holding a Junta licence, is employed or contracted by a licensed broker and works under that broker’s direction, control, supervision, and responsibility. A salesperson cannot operate an independent real estate office; that requires a broker licence.
The Junta also licences brokers (corredores) and real estate firms (empresas de bienes raíces). Salespersons must keep the Junta informed at all times of the broker they work with.
Who needs to take the reválida?
Anyone who wants to earn compensation as a real estate salesperson in Puerto Rico must hold a Junta licence, and passing the reválida is the required step. Covered transactions include sales, purchase options, exchanges, leases, auctions, and property management where a licensed professional acts as intermediary.
One practical note: the exam is conducted entirely in Spanish. Candidates who are not fluent in written Spanish should budget extra preparation time before sitting the test.
What are the prerequisites before the exam?
Three conditions apply before you can take the reválida:
- 72-hour pre-licensing course: You must complete a course approved by the Junta. No course completion means no eligibility to sit the exam.
- High school diploma (diploma de escuela superior): A diploma or its equivalent is required.
- Age 18 or older: You must be at least 18 years old.
When you later apply for the actual licence, a $10,000 surety bond (fianza) is also required. The bond is not needed to take the exam, but it is part of the overall cost of licensure, so plan for it in advance.
How many questions are on the reválida?
The exam has 75 questions: 60 scored and 15 unscored pilot questions. The pilot questions look identical to the real ones; you will not know which 15 are pilots during the test. Only the 60 scored questions count toward your result.
The pass mark is 70%, meaning 42 of the 60 scored questions correct. The format is multiple-choice with four answer choices per question.
The Junta does not publish an official time limit for the salesperson exam. (A figure of roughly two and a half hours is sometimes cited online, but that applies to the 100-question broker exam.) Confirm current timing directly with the Junta before your test date.
What five topics does the reválida cover?
The exam specification (Anejo A, the table of specifications) allocates the 60 scored questions across five areas:
- Aspectos jurídicos y legales (Legal and juridical aspects): 32 questions, 53% of the exam. This is by far the largest section. It covers Law 10 of 1994 itself (definitions, the Junta’s structure, licence types, the broker-salesperson relationship, prohibited practices, penalties), and relevant provisions of the Puerto Rico Civil Code of 2020 (property rights, mortgages, types of ownership, co-ownership, and the promise-to-sell contract).
- Ética y aspectos profesionales (Ethics and professional conduct): 11 questions, 18%. Professional duties to clients, the rules on dual representation (a salesperson may only represent more than one party with the express consent of all parties), and prohibited conduct under Law 10.
- Financiamiento (Financing): 8 questions, 13%. Mortgages, the escrow account (cuenta en plica) that brokers must maintain, RESPA, TRID, and the basic steps of the loan process.
- Codificación y permisos (Zoning and permits): 7 questions, 12%. Construction and use permits in Puerto Rico, subdivision (segregación), continuing education, and licence renewal requirements.
- Registro de la Propiedad (Property Registry): 2 questions, 4%. Inscription of real property interests, the foundational registry principles (priority, legality, publicity, and traceable title chain), and how registry inscription relates to ownership transfer.
Because the legal section covers more than half the exam, candidates who know Law 10 definitions and Civil Code property chapters have the biggest gain from their study time.
What is the official legal source for the reválida?
The exam draws from two public-domain texts published by the Puerto Rico government:
- Ley Núm. 10 de 1994 (as amended): the foundational real estate licensing law, available from the Office of Management and Budget at bvirtualogp.pr.gov.
- Código Civil de Puerto Rico de 2020 (Ley 55-2020): the modernised civil code governing property, contracts, and obligations.
Both texts are public-domain government law. The study app is an independent tool built from those sources. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Junta or the Government of Puerto Rico.