Do you want to know how to get a real estate license in Massachusetts? Do you want to start a career in real estate but don’t know what the Massachusetts real estate license requirements are? In this article, RealEstate-Prep will explain how to become a Massachusetts real estate agent.
Don’t forget to take our free MA Massachusetts Real Estate practice exam to get familiarized with the format as well as the questions of the actual exam to strengthen your knowledge and skills, as a result, enhancing your chance to pass the Real Estate exam with a high score on your first attempt. Good luck to you!
Requirements For Getting A Massachusetts Real Estate License
Before you can begin the process of getting your license, the Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons has a list of prerequisites you must complete. It is their responsibility to ensure that all agents in Massachusetts are capable, qualified, and legally allowed to work in the state. They have some basic criteria you must meet in order to do so. Luckily, the majority of the MA real estate license requirements are straightforward.
Here are the requirements:
- At least 18 years old.
- You must be a United States citizen or a lawfully admitted alien.
- You must meet their standards for integrity, trustworthiness, and honesty. (Yes, we will answer your questions about this one shortly.)
The first two are pretty simple, but the third is not. The good news is that most of our visitors/users will not be affected. Only if you have any criminal offenses, unpaid judgments, disciplinary actions taken against a professional or occupational license, or have engaged in unlicensed real estate activity should you be concerned.
Reciprocity
Massachusetts has reciprocity agreements with states such as Rhode Island and Connecticut.
How To Obtain Your Massachusetts Real Estate License
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get to the good stuff: how to get a real estate license in Massachusetts. We briefly covered these above, but here is the complete guide to obtaining your MA real estate license:
Step 1. Complete The Prelicensing Real Estate Classes
Before enrolling in a Massachusetts real estate school for prelicensing courses, ensure that it is state-approved. The material must be covered by all of the schools on the following list. We created a buyer’s guide of the 5 Best Online Massachusetts Real Estate Schools to assist you in narrowing down your search. Some of the topics you’ll cover include:
- Property rights.
- Title transfers.
- Basic contract law.
- Agency relationships.
- Brokerage operations and brokerage responsibilities.
- Property disclosures.
- Financing for real estate.
- Property valuation.
- Federal real estate laws.
- Real estate laws in Massachusetts.
- Real estate math.
You’ll discover the financial and legal aspects of buying and selling a home in Massachusetts.
Step 2. Apply for the Massachusetts Salesperson Exam & License
Once you have finished your classes, you will need to complete the application for examination to become a real estate agent in Massachusetts. You cannot take the exam until you have completed the following steps:
- Show proof that you are 18 years old at least.
- Submit a form from your real estate school demonstrating that you have completed 40 hours of prelicensing courses within the last two years.
- Submit 3 character endorsements from people who are not related to you.
- Complete and pay all Massachusetts state tax returns.
- Provide your Social Security number or your tax identification number.
- Pay a $31 application fee along with a $54 exam fee.
Once you’ve been approved to take the MA real estate license exam, you can schedule your exam by going to the testing company’s website. Among the Massachusetts testing sites are
- Auburn.
- Boston.
- Fall River.
- Lawrence.
- West Springfield.
Step 3. Pass the Massachusetts Real Estate Agent Exam
At one of the PSI testing centers, you will take the Massachusetts salesperson exam on a computer. As soon as you complete the exam, you will be notified if you passed.
If you do not pass both sections of the Massachusetts real estate license exam, you will be given a diagnostic report detailing your strengths and weaknesses. This report should assist you in preparing for your retake.
You may retake the exam as many times as you need within two years of completing your prelicensing classes. Each time you schedule a retake, you must pay the exam fee.
Massachusetts is an interesting state in that you can get your license right away if you pass the test. Since the cost of the license is prorated based on your birth month, the fee ranges between $103 and $150 (plus a $12 processing fee).
Step 4. Join a Massachusetts Real Estate Agent
Real estate agents in Massachusetts are required by law to work under the direction of a broker. A broker has real estate experience, additional training, and has passed the broker exam.
Finding the right real estate brokerage can be challenging, which is why we recommend meeting with a few before deciding where to work.
You’ll learn how you’ll split your real estate commissions with the brokerage during these interviews. For example, some brokerages offer a 50/50 split, whereas others may offer a higher percentage but charge a monthly desk fee.
Each brokerage will also discuss your cap, or the maximum amount that the brokerage will deduct from your commissions over the course of a year. Commissions earned above the cap are yours to keep.
How Much Does It Cost To Be a Massachusetts Real Estate Agen?
A Massachusetts real estate license costs around $600. Exam and application fees are two of the fixed costs associated with obtaining a real estate license in Massachusetts. Some costs are variable, such as the classes and exam prep materials required to fulfill the state’s requirements and pass the Massachusetts real estate exam.
Costs of Massachusetts Real Estate License
| Prelicensing Classes (40 Hours) | $249 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Real Estate License Exam Cost | $54 | |||||
| Massachusetts Real Estate License Exam Application Cost | $31 | |||||
| Massachusetts Real Estate License Cost | $103 - $150 (Depending on your date of birth) | |||||
| Total Cost | $437 - $600 |
How Long Will It Take To Obtain A Massachusetts Real Estate License?
Each applicant takes a different amount of time to complete the entire process, but in general, the time required in Massachusetts is less than in other states. This is due to the fact that prelicensing education classes can be completed online, last less time (40 hours), and the license is issued immediately after passing the exam.
If you study two hours per day, five days per week, you can complete the prelicensing education course in one month.
It can take up to two weeks for The Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons to review and approve your Application for Examination. The exam date will be set based on the availability of seats.
FAQs
Is it difficult to become a Massachusetts real estate agent?
The process of becoming a real estate agent in Massachusetts is straightforward, clear, and less complicated than in other states.
You must complete 40 hours of prelicensing education, which is less than in other states, where the requirement can be four times higher. In addition to taking Massachusetts real estate license classes in a classroom, you can also take them online, which simplifies the full procedure of becoming a real estate agent.
You can take the real estate licensing exam after receiving a Real Estate Educational Certificate form that must be completed by a Board-approved Real Estate School. After passing the exam, you can get your license right away, which is an added convenience.
In general, if you pay attention in class, answer the practice questions, and study hard before the exam, you will pass on the first try.
How many times can I take the Massachusetts real estate exam?
You are allowed to retake the real estate licensing exam as many times as necessary until you pass both portions. If you fail one portion of the exam, you are only allowed to retake that portion.
Keep in mind that the results of the first exam are valid for one year, so you must pass both sections of the exam within that time frame.
Does Massachusetts have continuing education requirements?
To keep their license active, real estate salespersons must complete 12 hours of continuing education every two years, according to the Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons.
Is the Massachusetts real estate exam really hard to pass?
To obtain your Massachusetts real estate license, you must score at least 70% on both the general and state-specific exams. The state licensing board does not publish official pass rates, but some students who complete their 40 hours of prelicensing education have a 91% pass rate on the Massachusetts real estate exam. At checkout, enter the promo code Theclose30 to save 30%.
How much can real estate agents make in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, real estate agents earn an average of $84,681. Of course, this salary is entirely dependent on commissions earned from helping clients in buy or sell homes.
It may take some time to grow your real estate business, but hopefully, word will spread about how great your customer service is. You may want to keep your day job until that happens so you can earn money during the building months.
Is it possible to obtain my Massachusetts real estate license online?
All of the prelicensing classes required to earn your Massachusetts real estate license can be completed online, but the state licensing exam must be taken at a testing center. You can probably finish your 40 hours of prelicensing classes in one week!
What if you hold a real estate license in another state?
If you have a real estate license from another state, you may be able to practice in Massachusetts without having to go through the entire licensing process. Each state has its own set of rules, but here are the ones that have “complete reciprocity” with Massachusetts:
- Colorado.
- Connecticut.
- Georgia.
- Iowa.
- Mississippi.
- Nebraska.
- New Mexico.
- Pennsylvania.
- Rhode Island.
- Tennessee.
- West Virginia.
Even if you are not from one of these states, you may be eligible for license reciprocity. However, if you have a real estate license in Massachusetts, you can work as an agent in one of these states without having to go through the entire licensing process:
- Alabama.
- Alaska.
- Colorado.
- Connecticut.
- Delaware.
- Georgia.
- Iowa.
- Kansas.
- Kentucky
- Maine.
- Mississippi.
- Missouri.
- Nebraska.
- New Hampshire.
- New Mexico.
- New York.
- Pennsylvania.
- Rhode Island.
- Virginia.
- Washington.
- West Virginia.
Can I become a Massachusetts real estate agent with a criminal record?
In Massachusetts, having no record automatically disqualifies you from obtaining a real estate license. Each candidate with a criminal record will be given the opportunity to appear before The Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons for a limited time.
Conclusion
If you follow the steps stated above, you will soon be licensed as a real estate salesperson in Massachusetts! This guide should have answered all of your questions about getting your Massachusetts real estate license. If not, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will see you in class!
