How to Get a Montana 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 Montana Real Estate License. No matter where you live, from Billings to Missoula or Bozeman to my favorite town, Kalispell, 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 Montana 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 Montana requires before you can get a Real Estate Salesperson License.
Complete Pre-Licensing Education
Montana requires only 70 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 Montana 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.
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 a Montana Real Estate License?
1. Meet The State Requirements
To get your Montana Real Estate Salesperson License you must meet the following requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Must have completed 2 years of study at an accredited high school or equivalent.
- Must have completed 70 hours of pre-licensing education within the past 24 months.
- Must have passed the Montana Real Estate Salesperson Exam in the past 12 months.
- Must be employed and have a supervising broker complete an endorsement form.
- Proof of Professional Liability & Errors and Omissions Insurance.
Print out the Montana License Requirements and Application Checklist Real Estate Salesperson Form here.
2. Complete Pre-Licensing Education
Montana has one course that has a minimum of 70 hours of coursework that must be completed before you can apply for your Montana Real Estate License:
- Montana Real Estate Salesperson I Course – 70 Hours of Coursework
They have 2 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 Montana Real Estate Exam on your first try. I think these practice tests are the easiest way to ensure you pass.
3. Pass the Real Estate Exams
Montana has two exams you must be pass before you can apply for your Montana Real Estate License:
- Real Estate Salesperson National Exam.
- Real Estate Salesperson Montana State Exam.
You can schedule the exams online by going to the PSI Website here or you can call them at (855) 898-0716.
If you are like most people, you are a bit worried about passing the exams the first time. This is why I recommend that you purchase the Pre-Licensing Education that includes the online practice tests. These tests are the best way to pass the tests the very first time. Just take the online practice tests over and over until you can score a 90 or higher. Once you can do that you are ready to take the exams.
Don’t worry about the exams. You’re gonna do great.
4. Pick a Supervising Broker
All Realtors must work under the supervision of a Broker who’s responsible for monitoring their activities. The good news is that you get to pick a broker to place your real estate salesperson license under.
You must have your new broker sign either this Supervising Broker Agreement Form or part 5 of your Real Estate Salesperson Application Form if you plan on applying using a paper application through the mail.
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 Errors and Omissions Insurance
The Montana Board of Realty Regulation requires all applicants to have Errors and Omissions Insurance. Check with your sponsoring broker and see if you’ll be covered under their insurance.
If you’re covered by your Sponsoring Broker, then get a copy of their proof of insurance and submit that with your application.
If your Sponsoring Broker requires you to supply your own insurance you can buy insurance through a Group Insurance Program here that is sponsored by the MDRR. You can go online pay and download your insurance certificate all in one step. You’ll need to submit this certificate to the MBRR before they will issue you your license.
You are also free to shop around chose your own Insurance provider as long as the insurance meets the MDRR minimum standards of coverage. Simply submit proof of insurance along with your application.
6. Submit an Application
You can apply for a license by creating a new account online at the Montana Board of Realty Regulation Website here.
If you want to go old school and submit a paper application through the mail you can download a Montana Real Estate Salesperson Application Form here.
I recommend that you apply online.
Either way, to get your Montana Real Estate license, the following items need to be submitted to the Montana Real Estate Commission:
- Completed Montana Real Estate Salesperson Application Form.
- Completion certificate of 70 hours of pre-licensing education.
- Official license verification from states and jurisdictions in which the applicant holds or has ever held a professional license of any type.
- If you answered yes to discipline or criminal history questions, include an explanation on the event and documentation from the source.
- Passing grade report for National Portion of the Exam.
- Passing grade report for Montana State Portion of the Exam.
- Pay the appropriate fees.
7. 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.
8. 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 Montana realtor makes is to show how much you are likely to make per transaction.
The average price of a home in Montana is $460,000. (Damn Californians.) 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 $10,700 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.
Montana requires 70 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 70 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 Montana 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 – $321.00 – $545.00
- Exam Prep Courses – $0.00 – $99.00 – (Some Pre-Licensing Includes Exam Prep)
- Exam costs – $106.00
- Errors and Omission Insurance – $168.00
- Montana Application Fee – $80.00
The cost of getting your Montana 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 $168.00. The cost for most agents including E&O will be as low as $675.00 to as high as $899.00.
Most agents who follow my recommendations will pay about $568.00, not including E&O and about $736.00 with E&O.
