How to Get a Massachusetts Real Estate License
Jay Gallagher
Real Estate Broker (Advice from an agent like you, not some tech nerd who never sold a home!)
This is a Step by Step Guide on how to get your Massachusetts Real Estate License. No matter where you live, from Boston to Springfield or Pittsfield to my favorite town, Provincetown, or anywhere in between, becoming a real estate agent may be the best decision you ever make.
All the information, documents and links you’ll need to get your Massachusetts real estate salesperson license are below.
I also answer all your burning questions at the bottom of the page.
Click on a question to see the answers:
Meet the State Requirements
Learn exactly what the State of Massachusetts requires before you can get a Real Estate Salesperson License.
Complete Licensing Education
Massachusetts requires only 40 hours of Real Estate Education to get licensed. Find the best Real Estate School for you.
Apply To Take Exams
Make sure you get it right the first time. Check the list, make sure you jumped through all the right hoops and hit send.
Pass the State Exam
Learn the fastest and easiest way to pass the Massachusetts Real Estate Salesperson License Exam the very first time.
Affiliate with a Broker
Meet the new boss! The good news is you get to pick the broker you want to work with. Learn how to pick the best.
Launch Your New Career
Now the fun begins. Learn how to get your new Real Estate Career off on the right foot by doing the right things to get business.
So, How Do You Get a Massachusetts Real Estate License?
1. Meet The State Requirements
To get your Massachusetts Real Estate Salesperson License you must meet the following requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age.
- Have good moral character.
- Have a valid Government Issued ID.
- Have a valid Social Security or Taxpayer ID number.
- Must not be on probation or parole.
- Must pass a background check.
- Take and Pass a Massachusetts approved Real Estate Salesperson Course.
- Pass the National Portion of the Real Estate Salesperson Exam
- Pass the Massachusetts State Portion of the Real Estate Salesperson Exam.
- Have three candidate endorsements from people unrelated to you.
Print out the Massachusetts Real Estate Salesperson Application Instructions here.
2. Complete Pre-Licensing Education
Massachusetts has only one course that has 40 hours of coursework that must be completed before you can apply for your Massachusetts Real Estate License:
- Massachusetts Salesperson Pre-Licensing Course – 40 Hours
They have 4 levels of instruction.
I don’t recommend the basic level at all because it doesn’t included the most valuable part, the Real Estate License Practice Tests.
These practice tests actually guarantee you will pass the Real Estate Exam. Just take the practice tests until you consistently score 90 or higher and you are guaranteed to pass the Massachusetts Real Estate Exam on your first try. I think these practice tests are the easiest way to ensure you pass.
When you successful finish your real estate Pre-Licensing education, you’ll need a copy of the Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Educational Certificate Form that has been completed by your Real Estate Education Pre-Licensing School found at the end of the Candidate Information Bulletin here.
3. Apply to Take the Exams
After you complete your real estate salesperson pre-licensing education you can apply to the Massachusetts Real Estate Board to take the examinations.
To apply to take the exams you must submit the Application For Examination that can be found starting on page 23 of the Candidate Information Bulletin.
- Affix a passport style photo to the application.
- Provide your Social Security number.
- Answer the criminal history questions and provide any documentation.
- Agree to a background check.
- Have three people provide a candidate endorsement.
- Have your Pre-Licensing Education School stamp and sign the form.
- Have the completed Application For Examination Form notarized.
- Email the completed Application form with the applicable examination fee to – MA.ApplicationProcessor@psionline.com
4. Pass the Real Estate Exams
Once you receive approval from Massachusetts to take the exams you can go ahead and schedule them anytime. Massachusetts has two exams you must be pass before you can apply for your Massachusetts Real Estate License:
- Real Estate Salesperson National Exam
- Real Estate Salesperson Massachusetts State Exam
5. Affiliate with a Broker
All Realtors must work under the supervision of a Broker who’s responsible for supervising their activities. The good news is that you get to pick a broker to place your real estate salesperson license under.
If you’re a new agent, I recommend you go with one of the big box real estate brokerages. ReMax, Keller Williams and Century 21 are a good place to start. The reason I recommend these brokerages for new agents is because the big box brokerages have training programs in place to help you make the transition from Rookie Agent to seasoned pro.
Once you chose the right brokerage for you, your broker will go online and notify the Massachusetts Real Estate Board that your license will be affiliated with their broker license. Instructions on how they notify the MREB are here.
6. Launch Your New Career
Now the real fun (and work) begins. The best thing about being a Real Estate Agent is the freedom it gives you. You’re your own boss and you get to decide how to move your real estate career forward.
Books
Continuous learning is the hallmark of all successful agents. Here are some resources to get you going in the right direction.
Below are my best suggestions:
- Best Books to Learn Principles of Success.
- Best Books for Real Estate Agents.
- Best Books for Real Estate Agent Social Media Marketing
Tools
You’ll need some tools to get the job done. At the very least, you’ll need a good Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and a Real Estate Agent Website.
7. Jay Answers Your Questions...
The best (and worst) thing about being a realtor is the freedom you have. Many agents just work part-time and only do 1-3 transactions a year. Other agents work 60+ hours a week and sell hundreds of homes a year.
The best way to answer the question of how much a Massachusetts realtor makes is to show how much you are likely to make per transaction.
The average price of a home in Massachusetts is $575,000. Say the average commission per side of the transaction is 5.5% and the average broker/agent split is 15/85. That means you will earn, on average, about $13,400 per transaction. Not bad.
Of course this number will vary based on the average cost of real estate in your area, your commission rate and your broker split but that’s a good number to start with. Now you can dial up your income based on how hard and how effectively you work.
Massachusetts requires 40 hours of coursework. If you elect to take these courses in a classroom setting, you’ll have to go to a designated place and sit for the entire time.
For this reason, most people take the courses online so they can take the courses at their own pace and any time they wish.
Most people find they can complete the online coursework in a fraction of the 40 hours. A motivated person can complete it in as little as one week but most people will take a month or more if they do a little bit every day.
The Massachusetts Real Estate Exam is not difficult IF you buy a test prep course.
The best test prep courses include practice tests that you can take over and over again until you know the material. If you can consistently take a practice test and score a 90 or higher, then you are practically guaranteed to pass the actual exam.
If you’re someone who gets nervous and their mind goes blank during testing, then maybe you should wait until your score on the practice tests is consistently 95 or better.
The best brokerage is the one that’s the best fit for you.
Call up a few local brokerages and schedule a time to sit down and talk to them. Discuss things like E&O insurance, commission splits, leads and don’t forget to find out about any desk fees, tech fees or insurance fees.
Remember, if you don’t like the brokerage, you can easily change brokers.
I don’t recommend that you use any brokers CRM or email address because those things are the heart of YOUR real estate business and if your clients information is locked into your broker’s CRM, then it will be harder to make the move. That’s why the tools are “free” or included in a tech fee, to make it difficult for you to leave.
Let’s break it all down.
- Pre-licensing Educational courses – $202.00 – $445.00
- Exam Prep Courses – $0.00 – $99.00 – (Some Pre-Licensing Includes Exam Prep)
- Exam costs – $54.00
- Massachusetts Exam Application Processing Fee – $31.00
The cost of getting your Massachusetts real estate license can vary depending on your situation and your needs. The cost for most agents will be as low as $287.00 to as high as $530.00.
Most agents who follow my recommendations will pay about $332.00.
