How to get a Real Estate Salesperson license in Massachusetts

Massachusetts real estate agent licenses

Massachusetts issues 2 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 every Massachusetts real estate agent license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old⁴

Background check

Background check required⁴
CORI check; discipline questions on the application; the Board does not currently license applicants on probation or parole (Good Moral Character policy).³

Social Security number

Valid Social Security number and/or Tax Identification number required³

Also required

Three candidate endorsements from unrelated people (not real estate classmates; need not live in Massachusetts)³

Also required

Must have filed all state tax returns and paid state taxes (M.G.L. c. 62C, s. 49A)³

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

occupationallicensingandpermitting.mass.gov⁴

Processing time

Digital license about 24 hours after passing the exam and paying; reciprocal applications take at least 10 business days⁵

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years⁶

When it expires

Renew every 2 years on your birthday; the first license is prorated to run 2 to 3 years, expiring on your birthday. Renewal opens 90 days before expiry.⁷

Continuing education

At least 12 hours each renewal period⁷

Required topics

At least 6 hours on compliance with laws and regulations (fair housing, equal employment opportunity, accessibility, agency law, environmental issues, zoning and building codes, appraisal and financing, property tax, Board regulations)¹⁰
Six different 2-hour modules make up the 12 hours¹¹

Approved courses

Board-approved courses taken within the 24 months before renewal; pre-licensure courses do not count²

Exemptions

Massachusetts attorneys in good standing who are brokers²

If it expires

Renewing without the 12 CE hours makes the license inactive: no agent work, referral fees only.²
Expired more than 2 years: reinstatement required (12 CE hours; brokers need a bond)¹²

Renew online

mass.gov⁷

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Reduced $54 exam fee for active duty military and veterans (with orders or DD-214)³

Who needs a Real Estate Salesperson license

Does any brokerage act (selling, buying, renting, leasing, negotiating real estate for a fee) except completing the negotiation of the transaction, and only as the representative of a licensed broker.⁸

Requirements for a Real Estate Salesperson license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

At least 40 clock hours²
40 hours of pre-licensure salesperson education at a Board-approved real estate school, documented on the Board Educational Certificate⁴
Who may teach it: Board-approved real estate school²
Alternative: A real property course completed at an accredited Massachusetts law school also qualifies a candidate to sit for the exam⁹
Alternative: Education certificate is valid for 2 years; after that all 40 hours must be retaken²

Exam

Massachusetts Real Estate Salesperson Examination (General and State portions)³
Given by: PSI³
Passing score: 70% minimum⁴
When you can take it: After the Board approves the eLIPSE application (education certificate and endorsements on file)³
General portion: 80 questions (80 points), 150 minutes³
State portion: 40 questions (40 points), 90 minutes³
Retakes: Retake only the failed portion; the partial pass lasts only as long as the 2-year education certificate. Missed exam: pay the $54 retake fee to reschedule.³
Time limit: Within 2 years of completing the required salesperson education³
Exam waived: Massachusetts attorneys are licensed as attorney-brokers without the exam; reciprocal applicants from listed states skip the exam.²

Business requirements

Must work under a licensed broker who is responsible for the salesperson; one broker at a time; no salesperson license for a corporation or partnership¹³

How much a Real Estate Salesperson license costs

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

1. Complete 40 hours of salesperson pre-licensure education at a Board-approved school and get the Board Educational Certificate from the school.⁴
2. Get three candidate endorsements from people who are not related to you and were not your classmates.⁴
3. Apply online in eLIPSE, uploading the education certificate, endorsements and a notarized DOL CORI form, and pay the candidate fee.⁴ occupationallicensingandpermitting.mass.gov⁴
4. Once the Board approves you, schedule the General and State exam portions with PSI (test center or online proctored).³
5. Pass both portions with at least 70%, within 2 years of finishing your education.⁴
6. Pay the prorated license fee in eLIPSE within 30 days of passing; the digital license follows about 24 hours after passing.²
7. Affiliate with a licensed Massachusetts broker before working; the broker reports the affiliation to the Board.¹⁴

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal fee

$103⁷ (Per 2-year renewal)

Moving to Massachusetts with a license from another state

These are the routes the Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons publishes for the Real Estate Salesperson license. The other real estate agent licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Real Estate Broker

For a fee, sells, exchanges, buys, rents or leases real estate for others, or negotiates those transactions; may run a brokerage and supervise salespersons.⁸

Requirements

Education or training

At least 40 clock hours⁹
40 additional hours of broker pre-licensure education at a Board-approved school (on top of the salesperson 40 hours)²
Who may teach it: Board-approved real estate school⁴
Alternative: Massachusetts attorneys may be licensed as attorney-brokers without the exam²

Experience

At least 3 years⁹
3 years affiliated with an active Massachusetts broker as a licensed salesperson, at least 25 hours a week, certified by the employing broker⁴
Supervision: Employing broker completes and signs the Employing Broker Certification (original only)³
License you must hold first: Current Massachusetts salesperson license (active or inactive at exam time)³
Substitute: Older salesperson experience counts only if it is no more than 2 years old and without a 2-year gap²

Exam

Massachusetts Real Estate Broker Examination (General and State portions)³
Given by: PSI³
Passing score: 70% minimum⁴
When you can take it: After the Board approves the eLIPSE application (education certificate and endorsements on file)³
General portion: 75 questions (80 points), 150 minutes³
State portion: 40 questions (40 points), 90 minutes³
Retakes: Retake only the failed portion; the partial pass lasts only as long as the 2-year education certificate. Missed exam: pay the $54 retake fee to reschedule.³
Time limit: Within 2 years of completing the required broker education³
Exam waived: Massachusetts attorneys are licensed as attorney-brokers without the exam; reciprocal applicants from listed states skip the exam.²

Residency or citizenship

A Massachusetts resident applying for a broker license must have lived in Massachusetts for the year before issuance (attorneys excepted)⁹

Surety bond

$5,000⁴

Business requirements

Corporations, partnerships and other entities get a broker license only through a designated officer or partner who holds an individual broker license; resident brokers must keep a place of business in Massachusetts¹³

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

1. Hold a Massachusetts salesperson license and build 3 years of affiliation with an active broker at 25+ hours a week; have the employing broker complete the Employing Broker Certification.⁴
2. Complete 40 hours of broker pre-licensure education at a Board-approved school and get the Educational Certificate.⁴
3. Buy a $5,000 surety bond on the Board form (original, notarized) and collect three candidate endorsements.³
4. Apply in eLIPSE with the documents and a notarized DOL CORI form, and pay the candidate fee.⁴ occupationallicensingandpermitting.mass.gov⁴
5. After Board approval, schedule and pass both broker exam portions with PSI (70% minimum) within 2 years of your broker education.³
6. Pay the prorated broker license fee in eLIPSE within 30 days of passing.²

Renewal

Renewal fee

$142⁷ (Per 2-year renewal)

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

mass.gov¹⁵

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• M.G.L. c. 112, s. 87PP (definitions)
• M.G.L. c. 112, s. 87RR (license required)
• M.G.L. c. 112, s. 87SS (qualifications, education, examination)
• M.G.L. c. 112, s. 87UU (entity broker licenses)
• M.G.L. c. 112, s. 87VV (salesperson restrictions)
• M.G.L. c. 112, s. 87XX (license term, renewal)
• M.G.L. c. 112, s. 87XX1/2 (continuing education, inactive status)
• M.G.L. c. 112, s. 87AAA (discipline)
• 254 CMR 2.00 (licensure; cited by the Board for reciprocity)

Common questions

Real estate agent licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Texas
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming