How to get a Real Estate Sales Agent license in Maine

Maine real estate agent licenses

Maine issues 3 real estate agent credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the Maine real estate agent licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 3)

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old³

High school diploma or GED

Required³

Background check

Background check required⁴
The Commission may consider criminal history records under 5 M.R.S. ch. 341; applicants must disclose and document any discipline on any professional license.⁴

Also required

Good reputation for honesty, truthfulness, fair dealing and competency¹¹

Also required

Letters of good standing from every state where a real estate license is or was held⁴

Also required

Application information except the Social Security Number is public¹²

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

Apply online

www1.maine.gov³

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years⁶¹³

From another state

2. Every license level except Real Estate Sales Agent

Requirements

Exam

Not required³⁹

Residency or citizenship

Evidence of legal residence¹¹

Fees

Renewal

When it expires

Renews every 2 years; renewal may be filed online up to 60 days before expiry; CE hours must be earned within the 2 years before renewal.³

Renewal fee

$100⁵ (Active license; the same $100 applies to an inactive license renewal)

Continuing education

At least 21 clock hours each renewal period¹⁵

Required topics

3 clock hours: the Commission core course current at the time of renewal (remaining 18 hours: any approved courses)¹²¹³
Core course from April 1, 2027: "Evolving Risk and Responsibility Core Course" (required if the license expires on or after April 1, 2027); licenses expiring and renewed before then may use "Reasonable Care and Diligence Core Course" or the new course.¹⁶

Approved courses

Courses must be approved by the Maine Real Estate Commission; asynchronous distance courses need a grade of at least 85%; NAR ethics courses and other states' courses do not count unless individually approved before renewal.¹⁷

Exemptions

Inactive licenses have no CE requirement while inactive (CE or the Maine Law exam is required to reactivate).³

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $50³ (renewed 1-90 calendar days after expiration, in addition to the $100 renewal fee)

If it expires

Renewal up to 90 calendar days after expiry with the $50 late fee; no brokerage may be done while expired.³
More than 90 days after expiry: pass the Maine Law exam (Pearson VUE, 75%) and file a new license application within one year of passing.³
Inactive status: $20 change-of-license fee; reactivate with 21/28/36 CE hours (inactive up to 2 / 2-4 / 4-6 years) or the Maine Law exam; 6+ years inactive requires the Maine Law exam.⁴

Renew online

www1.maine.gov³

Who needs a Real Estate Sales Agent license

Entry-level, non-renewable 2-year license: performs brokerage in a training capacity only in the employ of a licensed agency, under the designated broker's supervision, and only services the designated broker authorizes.³

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Owners/lessors and their regular employees dealing with the employer's real estate (conditions apply)¹⁸
• Attorneys acting as attorneys (not if regularly engaged in brokerage)¹⁸
• Licensed auctioneers calling bids who do not prepare contracts or hold funds; timeshare transactions under 33 M.R.S. ch. 10-A¹⁸

Requirements for a Real Estate Sales Agent license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

At least 55 clock hours²
The Sales Agent Course (Commission-approved qualifying education), passed with a final grade of at least 75%⁶
Who may teach it: Course must be Commission-approved and given by a degree-granting institution, a proprietary school or a public school adult education program¹⁹

Exam

Sales agent licensing examination³
Given by: Pearson VUE²⁰
Passing score: 75%³
When you can take it: After completing the Sales Agent Course with at least 75%; the original course completion certificate (valid one year) is presented at the test center⁴
Time limit: Pass the exam within 1 year of completing the course; apply for the license within 1 year of passing the exam⁴

Residency or citizenship

Applicant must provide evidence of legal residence (Maine residency is not required; nonresidents may qualify)¹¹

Business requirements

Must be affiliated with a licensed real estate agency; the Designated Broker's Authorization of Agency Affiliation form is filed with the application³

How much a Real Estate Sales Agent license costs

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, Pearson VUE²⁰, when you schedule.

How to apply

1. Complete the 55-hour Commission-approved Sales Agent Course with a final grade of at least 75%.³
2. Within one year of the course, book and pass the sales agent exam with Pearson VUE (75% to pass); bring your original course completion certificate.²⁰
3. Arrange to affiliate with a licensed Maine real estate agency; its designated broker signs the Authorization of Agency Affiliation form.⁴
4. Within one year of passing the exam, apply online and pay $121 ($100 license fee + $21 criminal records check), with your exam results and course certificate.²¹ licensing.web.maine.gov²²
5. Before the 2-year license ends, complete the Associate Broker Course to move up (the sales agent license cannot be renewed); an extension of up to one year may be requested for $100.²¹

Temporary or provisional license

No temporary license; the sales agent license itself is a limited 2-year license, extendable once for one year⁴

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Issued for 2 years and cannot be renewed; a new sales agent license cannot be issued within 5 years of the previous one; holder must qualify as an associate broker (or obtain a one-year extension).⁶

If it expires

Expired sales agents cannot reinstate through the Maine Law exam route³
Inactive status is not advised: the 2 years of active affiliation count toward the associate broker license³

Associate Broker

Renewable license to perform all brokerage acts under the chapter on behalf of a licensed agency (cannot act as designated broker).⁷

Requirements

Education or training

At least 60 clock hours⁸
The Associate Broker Course, passed with at least 75%, including the Documented Field Experience Form³
Who may teach it: Commission-approved course from a degree-granting institution, proprietary school or public school adult education program¹⁹

Education or training

3 clock hours¹⁷
A Commission-approved core course (certificate submitted with the application)³

Experience

At least 2 years⁷
Licensed as a real estate sales agent affiliated with a brokerage agency⁷
Supervision: Affiliated with a licensed agency under its designated broker; the designated broker signs the Authorization of Agency Affiliation form⁴
License you must hold first: Maine Real Estate Sales Agent (2 years within the last 5); application no earlier than 30 days before the sales agent license expires⁴

Business requirements

Must be affiliated with a licensed real estate agency³

How to apply

1. Hold an active Maine sales agent license, affiliated with an agency, for 2 years (within the last 5).⁷
2. Complete the 60-hour Associate Broker Course (75%+) with the Documented Field Experience Form, plus the current 3-hour core course.³
3. No earlier than 30 days before your sales agent license expires, apply online with the designated broker's affiliation form and course certificates; pay $100 + $21.⁴ www1.maine.gov²²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Real Estate Broker/Designated Broker

All brokerage acts on behalf of an agency, including serving as an agency's designated broker (responsible for the agency and its licensees). Every brokerage agency must have a designated broker.⁹

Requirements

Education or training

At least 50 clock hours¹⁰
The Broker/Designated Broker Course, final grade at least 75%; apply within one year of completing it⁴
Who may teach it: Commission-approved course provider¹⁹

Experience

At least 2 years⁹
Licensed as an associate broker affiliated with a brokerage agency⁹
License you must hold first: Maine Associate Broker (2 years within the last 5); application no earlier than 30 days before the initial associate broker term expires⁴

Business requirements

Broker must be affiliated with a licensed agency; agency license ($100, 2 years) needs a designated broker, a fixed place of business and a federally insured trust account³

Fees

How to apply

1. Be licensed as an associate broker affiliated with an agency for 2 years within the last 5.⁹
2. Complete the 50-hour Broker/Designated Broker Course with at least 75%.¹⁰
3. Within one year of the course, apply online with the course certificate and the designated broker affiliation form; pay $100 + $21 criminal records check.³ www1.maine.gov²²
4. To open your own firm, also apply for a real estate brokerage agency license (online) naming a designated broker.²²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Associate BrokerState license only; no municipal real estate agent license identified.¹

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a real estate agent in Maine, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Maine is on the Maine license lookup page.

Look up a license

pfr.maine.gov²²

File a complaint

maine.gov²³

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• 32 M.R.S. §13200 (real estate sales agent)
• 32 M.R.S. ch. 114 (Real Estate Brokerage License Act), §13001 definitions
• 32 M.R.S. §13003 (license required)
• 32 M.R.S. §13007
• 32 M.R.S. §13191 (general qualifications)
• 32 M.R.S. §13193 (nonresidents) and §13193-A (endorsement)
• 32 M.R.S. §13194 (license renewal)
• 32 M.R.S. §13197 (continuing education)
• 02-039 CMR ch. 390 (Licensing Procedures and Requirements), eff. Oct. 26, 2025
• 02-039 CMR ch. 360 (Qualifying Education Courses)
• 02-039 CMR ch. 370 (Continuing Education)
• 02-041 CMR ch. 10 §5(35)
• 32 M.R.S. §13199 (associate real estate broker)
• 32 M.R.S. §13198 (real estate broker)

Rule changes since January 2024

• October 26, 2025: 02-039 CMR ch. 390 (licensing procedures) repealed and replaced; adds the Designated Broker's Authorization of Agency Affiliation form to applications.⁴

Common questions

Real estate agent licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
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• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
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• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
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• Oklahoma
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• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
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• Texas
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