Which Real Estate and Mortgage Loan Officer Course Fits You?

Last Updated: November 7, 2026

Table of Contents

• How the Real Estate Virtual Academy Differs at a Glance
• Course Format, Mobile Access and Pacing
• Structure, Instructor Access and Support
• Pricing, Package Options and Total Cost Beyond the Sticker Price
• Exam Preparation, Practice Questions and the Proctored Final
• State Approval, Licensing Requirements and Choosing Between Online Real Estate and Mortgage Loan Officer Pre-Licensing Courses
• Which Pre-Licensing School Fits Your Schedule and Goals
• Your Next Step Before Enrolling
• Frequently Asked Questions

Choosing between schools for your real estate and or mortgage loan officer licensing often comes down to how you learn best and how much you want to spend. This guide compares the criteria that matter most when you're committing time and money. Our goal is to help you pick the course that fits your schedule, your learning style and your budget.

How the Real Estate Virtual Academy Differs at a Glance

The core difference is structure. The question is which one matches the way you study.

Think about how you'll study on your schedule, whether you want to learn on your phone, tablet... The Real Estate Virtual Academy’s courses are accessible from a desktop, laptop, tablet and smartphone 24-hours a day. Log in and off at your schedule, not the school’s.

Is the course self-taught with a lot of reading and understanding on my own? The Real Estate Virtual Academy’s courses have a real instructor there to teach and answer your questions. You are never alone and never left behind.

If you're also weighing other options, our guide to best online real estate and mortgage loan officer pre-licensing courses focus on the criteria below. Our own comparison of anchor words shows a broader view of other top-rated online options before you commit.

Course Format, Mobile Access and Pacing

Mobile access is one of its strongest points. Check directly on the school's site before you enroll, since platform features change over time.

Structure, Instructor Access and Support

Instructor access and support are a key part of the decision. Ask any school directly what kind of help is available, how quickly questions are answered and whether live options exist for your state.

Pricing, Package Options and Total Cost Beyond the Sticker Price

A career in real estate or mortgages should be approached as a business decision beginning with a budget. If the school and the course is state or NMLS approved, then the curriculum meets the state or NMLS requirements. Paying more for the same approved course is not a wise business financial decision as there are other fees you will read shortly.

Other factor to consider is schools commonly offer a base pre-licensing package and a higher tier that bundles extras, so compare what each tier includes. Ask each school two questions before you pay: what is included in the base tier for my state, and what does the upgrade add that I cannot get elsewhere for less? A bundled continuing-education credit is only valuable if you plan to renew in that state; otherwise you are prepaying for a product you may not use.

For your business budget, you must also consider fees outside the course price. These are the line items that you need to add to your budget:

• State exam fee. Your state or its testing vendor charges a per-attempt fee to sit for the licensing exam. This is separate from the school and is not refundable if you fail.
• Fingerprinting and background check. Most states require an FBI-style background check before licensure, and the vendor fee is paid by you, not the school.
• License application and activation fees. The state real estate commission charges an application fee, and some states add a separate license activation or issuance fee.
• Retake fees. If you miss the state exam, you pay the exam fee again. Some schools also charge for a retake of their own final exam or for extended course access.
• Continuing education. Once licensed, you owe renewal CE hours on a state-set cycle. A package that includes the first CE cycle may be a wasted expense if you choose not to renew your license.
• Exam-prep add-ons. Practice-question banks, timed simulated exams, and instructor-led review sessions are sometimes sold separately. Price them into the comparison rather than assuming they are included.

Build a simple spreadsheet with one column per school and one row per fee above, then compare the bottom line. That number, not the advertised price, is what you are actually deciding between.

Watch out: promotional pricing and state-specific package contents change frequently, so confirm the current price and the exact inclusions for your state directly with Real Estate Virtual Academy LLC or the provider on the day you enroll.

The advertised course price leaves out several fees, so here is how the cost items line up:

Exam Preparation, Practice Questions and the Proctored Final

Exam prep is a key part of any course. Learn a step-by-step strategy for passing the state exam on your first try. Compare providers on the mechanics you will actually experience: how practice questions are delivered, how the final exam is proctored, what happens on a failed attempt, and what technical setup is required.

Practice questions. Ask each school how many practice items are in the bank for your state, whether they are drawn from the same content outline as the state exam, and whether the practice exams are timed. A large bank is less useful than a bank that mirrors your state's exam blueprint. Choose the delivery style that fits how you study. The Real Estate Virtual Academy courses include unlimited practice exams from a pool of over 1,000 questions. These unlimited practice exams can be used for end of course exam and state exam.

The proctored final. This is the step students often underestimate. Each state has its own rules on how an end of course exam is to be administered. Some states require the end of course exam to be proctored, some do not. The Real Estate Virtual Academy advises each student on these requirements, and which is the most effective to pass the exam and the least expensive (some are free). Remember your business budget.

1. Which proctoring vendor is used for my state, and is the proctoring fee included in the course price or billed separately?
2. Is the final exam scheduled on demand or within a fixed window?
3. What are the technical requirements (webcam, microphone, browser, operating system) and what happens if my equipment fails mid-exam?
4. How many attempts are allowed, what is the waiting period between attempts, and is there a retake fee?

Retakes and the state exam. A course final exam is not the state exam. Completion of a course final and the state exam are separate steps, and the state exam is a state-administered test with its own fee and retake policy. Confirm both paths separately with the school and your state commission.

What reviews tell you. Treat any single review as an anecdote, and look for patterns across many reviews dated within the last year. Reviews written before a provider changed its proctoring vendor or other processes may no longer reflect the current experience.

Watch out: proctoring vendors, technical requirements, and retake policies change without much notice, so confirm the current rules with the school and with your state real estate commission before you schedule your final.

State Approval, Licensing Requirements and Choosing Between Online Real Estate and Mortgage Loan Officer Pre-Licensing Courses

Before you compare schools, confirm that the course is approved for real estate licensing in your state and NMLS approved for mortgage loan officer. Licensing requirements required course hours, and exam rules vary by state, so the right course for someone in one state may not qualify in another.

The Real Estate Virtual Academy is an NMLS Approved Provider (ID #1405121)

Check three things before you enroll:

1. The course is approved by your state's real estate regulator or NMLS for mortgage loan officers.
2. The required number of pre-licensing hours matches your state's rules.
3. The school's approval status is listed clearly on its website.

Your state is the authoritative source for current requirements. Consult it directly before you pay for any course.

Our anchor words includes a state-approved pre-licensing package if you want to see what a complete, approved course looks like before comparing providers.

Which Pre-Licensing School Fits Your Schedule and Goals

The best choice depends on your situation:

• Compare total cost including exam, background check and license fees before deciding.
• Confirm state approval and required hours for your state first.

If you have a demanding job or family schedule, a self-paced format with predictable structure often works best. Be honest about how you study. A course that matches your habits will do more for you than one with the most features.

Your Next Step Before Enrolling

Pick the course that fits how you actually learn, not just the one that looks best on paper. Verify state approval, compare the full cost and check the practice exam and support details with each provider before you pay.

When you're ready, enroll with Real Estate Virtual Academy LLC and start working toward your license on a schedule that fits your life.

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