Real Estate Agent License Requirements in Massachusetts
- Training hours
- 40 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $85
- Exam
- Massachusetts Real Estate Salesperson Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. Applicants must be at least 18, obtain 3 candidate endorsements (using the Board's Personal Reference Form) from people who are not relatives or fellow classmates from the real estate course, and submit a notarized Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) authorization form as part of the online eLIPSE application. Massachusetts licenses salespersons before brokers -- there is no direct-to-broker path; brokers must first hold a salesperson license and complete 3 years/25+ hrs-per-week working for an active broker. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 40 hours of training at a state-approved program. Applicants must complete 40 hours of real estate education at a Board-approved real estate school and provide the school's Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Educational Certificate of Completion. Education certification remains valid for 2 years from completion; if it expires before the exam is passed, all education must be retaken. [1]
- 3
Massachusetts Real Estate Salesperson Examination
Pass the Massachusetts Real Estate Salesperson Examination (fee: $85). Passing score of 70% or higher required The exam fee is non-refundable/non-transferable and valid for one year from payment. A $54 retake/no-show fee applies if a scheduled exam is missed. The license is printed and issued at the PSI testing center upon passing (or by mailed instructions for virtual/online-proctored exams). [1]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure). [2]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure) issues your Real Estate Salesperson License for Massachusetts.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | None specified |
| License fee [2] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [2] | $103 |
| Massachusetts Real Estate Salesperson Examination [1] | $85 |
The Board's fee pages do not publish a fixed dollar figure for the original (non-reciprocal) salesperson license fee -- it is paid at the PSI testing center upon passing the exam, within 30 days of notification, and is prorated based on the applicant's date of birth (since the license expires on the licensee's birthday). The reciprocal-applicant salesperson license fee, by comparison, ranges $103-$150 depending on proration. The renewal fee is a flat $103 (all license terms renew for the same fee regardless of the 2-3 year term length).
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 12 continuing education hours required per cycle.
Massachusetts licenses have an unusual expiration rule: the issue date is the exam-pass date, but the expiration date is always the licensee's date of birth, making the actual term run between 2 and 3 years depending on when in the year the license was issued. Licensees must complete 12 hours of continuing education before each renewal to keep 'active' status (except Massachusetts attorneys in good standing, who are exempt); completing only part of the 12 hours does not permit active renewal -- the license instead renews as 'inactive' (no exam/re-education required to reactivate, but referral fees only, no active brokerage work, until CE is completed).
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Under 254 CMR 2.00, only brokers/salespersons who passed their original licensing exam in one of these states/situations may apply for reciprocity: Connecticut, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Nebraska, Iowa, Tennessee, Mississippi, Colorado, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and Oklahoma (Oklahoma applicants must have held their license for at least 2 years). Reciprocal applicants skip the MA exam but must submit a certified Letter of Good Standing from the reciprocating state, a notarized CORI form, and a passport-style photo; the reciprocal salesperson application fee is $31 plus a $103-$150 license fee. Applicants who passed their exam in any other state may instead apply for an educational waiver (submitting a certified Letter of Good Standing) but must still sit for the Massachusetts exam.
Cost calculator
- $85
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of pre-license education does Massachusetts require?
40 hours at a Board-approved real estate school, with the school issuing a certificate of completion needed to register for the PSI exam.
Who administers the Massachusetts salesperson exam, and what does it cost?
PSI administers the exam for an $85 fee; a passing score is 70% or higher. The license is issued at the test center upon passing.
When does a Massachusetts real estate license expire?
On the licensee's birthday -- not a fixed number of years after issuance. Depending on when during the year the license was issued, the actual term can run between 2 and 3 years.
What continuing education is required to keep an active license?
12 hours per license term, required before renewal. Completing only part of the requirement results in the license renewing as 'inactive' rather than active.
Does Massachusetts have reciprocity with other states?
Yes, with Connecticut, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Nebraska, Iowa, Tennessee, Mississippi, Colorado, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and Oklahoma (2-year minimum licensure). Applicants from other states can apply for an educational waiver but must still take the Massachusetts exam.
Sources
- [1] mass.gov/how-to/prepare-for-and-schedule-your-real-estate-license-exam — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] mass.gov/how-to/renew-a-real-estate-license — accessed 2026-07-12
- [3] mass.gov/info-details/frequently-asked-questions-real-estate-brokers-and-salespersons — accessed 2026-07-12
- [4] mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-reciprocity-as-an-out-of-state-real-estate-brokers-or-salespersons-license — accessed 2026-07-12