How to Get a Mississippi 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 Mississippi Real Estate License. No matter where you live, from Jackson to Biloxi or Southaven to my favorite town, Gulfport, 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi requires before you can get a Real Estate Salesperson License.
Complete Licensing Education
Mississippi requires only 60 hours of Real Estate Education to get licensed. Find the best Real Estate School for you.
Pass the State Exam
Learn the fastest and easiest way to pass the Mississippi Real Estate Salesperson License Exam the very first time.
Pick a Sponsoring 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.
Submit Fingerprint Cards
Time this step right. Once you get fingerprinted, you only have 90 days to complete the entire process.
Get a Background Check
It takes a few weeks to process your background check once you submit your fingerprints for review.
Get E and O Insurance
Get E&O Insurance coverage through your Real Estate Broker, the state program or shop around on your own.
Submit the Application
Make sure you get it right the first time. Check the list, make sure you jumped through all the right hoops and hit send.
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 Your Mississippi Real Estate License?
1. Meet The State Requirements
To get your Mississippi Real Estate Salesperson License you must meet the following requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age.
- Have a Social Security number.
- Have proof of legal presence and legal name in the United States.
- Must pass a background check.
- Take and Pass a Mississippi approved Real Estate Salesperson I Course.
- Pass the National Portion of the Real Estate Salesperson Exam
- Pass the Mississippi State Portion of the Real Estate Salesperson Exam.
- Provide 2 photos, one front view and one side view.
Print out the Mississippi Real Estate Salesperson Application Instructions and Application here.
2. Complete Pre-Licensing Education
Mississippi has only one course that has a minimum of 60 hours of coursework that must be completed before you can apply for your Mississippi Real Estate License:
- Real Estate Practices Salesperson Course – 60 Hours of Coursework
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 Mississippi Real Estate Exam on your first try. I think these practice tests are the easiest way to ensure you pass.
I also suggest that you go ahead and buy the Premium package because it includes the needed 30 hour Post-Licensing Education you’ll need.
After you submit your application, the MREC will issue you a temporary license that’s valid for only 1 year. You won’t be issued a permanent license until you’ve completed a 30 hour post-license education course. You have to complete the entire 30 hour course within 12 months of issuance of your temporary license or your temporary license will be placed on inactive status. A temporary license is not able to be renewed.
You basically have to start from scratch again, so please don’t forget to complete this post-licensing education. Take my advice and just buy the post licensing education as part of the pre-licensing education package here.
3. Pass the Real Estate Salesperson Exams
Mississippi has two exams you must be pass before you can apply for your Mississippi Real Estate License:
- Real Estate Salesperson National Exam
- Real Estate Salesperson Mississippi State Exam
Mississippi Real Estate tests are proctored by PSI, the MREC’s private third party testing company. You can download the Mississippi Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin here that has all the details on testing protocols and procedures. Make sure that you follow all the security protocols as PSI enforces them all very stringently. After you’ve completed your Pre-licensing Education, you can take the test at any time.
You can schedule the exam by going to the PSI website here or you can schedule by phone by calling PSI at 855-557-0620.
The most common question that I hear from most people is about how difficult it will be to pass the Mississippi real estate exams. This is why I recommend that you buy Pre-Licensing education that includes the online practice tests. If you take these tests until you can score a 90 or above then you will pass the exams the first time every time. They actually guarantee that you will pass.
Don’t worry about the tests. You’re gonna do great.
4. Pick a Sponsoring 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.
A Sponsoring Broker must sign your Mississippi Salesperson Application for License and it must be notarized.
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.
5. Get Fingerprinted
The MREC requires you to be fingerprinted for a background check. You have to call the MREC at 601 321-6974 in order to schedule a time to get fingerprinted.
If you’re not close to the MREC call them to arrange for the fingerprint cards to be mailed to you and you can then take them to a local Law Enforcement Agency to be fingerprinted.
The MREC will then forward your fingerprints to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Identification Division for the background checks.
6. Get a Background Check
You need to give permission for your background check information to be sent to the MREC. You can print a copy of the MREC Authorization To Release Information Form here.
The MREC will run both a state and federal FBI background check by running your information and fingerprints through both databases.
7. Get Errors and Omissions Insurance
The Mississippi Real Estate Commission requires proof of Errors and Omissions Insurance within 30 days of your license being issued. Check with your sponsoring broker and see if you will be covered under their insurance.
If you are covered by your Sponsoring Broker, then get a copy of their proof of insurance and submit that to the MREC.
If your Sponsoring Broker requires you to supply your own insurance you can buy insurance through a Group Insurance Program that is sponsored by the MREC.
You are also free to shop around chose your own Insurance provider.
Simply submit proof of insurance to the MREC.
8. Submit Your Application
To get your Mississippi real estate license, the following items need to be submitted to the Mississippi Real Estate Commission:
- Completed Mississippi Salesperson Application Form.
- Proof of completion of the Pre-Licensing Salesperson Course.
- Passing grade report for National Portion of the Exam.
- Passing grade report for Mississippi State Portion of the Exam.
- Proof of Errors and Omissions Insurance.
- Two passport style photos one front, one side attached.
- 3 Business References.
- 3 Property Owner Recommendations.
- Certified License History if ever licensed in another state.
- Application with Sponsoring Broker Signature must be notarized.
- Payment of applicable fees.
9. Launch Your New Real Estate 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.
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 Mississippi realtor makes is to show how much you are likely to make per transaction.
The average price of a home in Mississippi is $175,000. 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 $4000 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.
Mississippi requires 60 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 60 hours. A motivated person can complete it in as little as two weeks but most people will take a month or more if they do a little bit every day.
The Mississippi 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.
- Fingerprint/Background check – $49.00
- Pre-licensing Educational courses – $140.00 – $445.00
- Exam Prep Courses – $0.00 – $99.00 – (Some Pre-Licensing Includes Exam Prep)
- Exam costs – $75.00
- Errors and Omission Insurance – $148.00
- Mississippi Application Fee – $120.00
The cost of getting your Mississippi real estate license can vary depending on your situation and your needs.
If your Responsible Broker will be covering you with their Errors and Omissions Insurance, that will save you about $148.00. The cost for most agents including E&O will be as low as $590.00 to as high as $834.00.
Most agents who follow my recommendations will pay about $509, not including E&O and about $657.00 with E&O.
