R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-14.4-2: License required.

No person, partnership, or corporation may engage in business as an apartment listing service without first obtaining a real estate broker’s license from the department of business regulation. Any apartment listing service that is issued a real estate broker’s license under the authority of this chapter shall be subject to all the rights, duties, and liabilities of a real estate broker as provided for in chapter 20.5 of title 5. Further, the apartment listing service shall also be subject to the rules and regulations that govern the conduct of real estate brokers promulgated by the department of business regulation.