Prospective Real Estate Students
Wondering how to get your real estate license in Massachusetts? Interested in starting a career in real estate, but can't figure out what the requirements are? This article will go over how to become a real estate agent in Massachusetts.
There are two basic requirements to get a MA Real Estate Salesperson license.
Wondering how to get your real estate license in Massachusetts? Interested in starting a career in real estate, but can't figure out what the requirements are? This article will go over how to become a real estate agent in Massachusetts.
There are two basic requirements to get a MA Real Estate Salesperson license.
- Be over the age of 18. You have to be at least 18 years old to get your real estate license in Massachusetts.
- Have a social security number. Massachusetts real estate license requirements mandate that candidates must have a social security number (though you don't have to be a Massachusetts, or even an US resident
- Take the 40 hour pre-licensing class.
- The State of Massachusetts requires that all candidates for a MA real estate license take a 40 hour pre-license course before receiving certification to sit for the real estate license exam. Course must be taken at a Massachusetts real estate school that has been approved by the Board of Real Estate Salespersons and Brokers(that's us).
- The classes are focused on teaching you the material you need to pass the real estate test and start a career as a real estate agent. Between lectures you'll take loads of pre-exam quizzes to check comprehension and progress all along the way. Classes are supplemented with group activities, guest speakers, and quiz games to break up the lectures. There is plenty of time for questions and answers built into the 40 hour class, and student interaction and participation are very much encouraged!
- Taking the class alone will not guarantee getting a real estate license! You definitely need to take some time to study the material covered in the course to be sure that you pass the both parts of the real estate exam.
- Pass the Massachusetts Real Estate Exam.
- After you finish your real estate pre-license class, you receive certification from the real estate school and you will be eligible to register for and take the Massachusetts real estate exam. The real estate exam is the most important step for becoming a real estate agent in MA.
- The MA real estate exam is 120 questions broken down into two sections: general real estate knowledge, and Massachusetts real estate law. You need to score at least a 70% on each section to pass. The exam is administered by PSI, and they offer the exam weekly at several testing centers around Massachusetts (registering online at www.psiexams.com is very easy and convenient )
- Here's what to expect on test day:
- When you show up at the testing facility you'll check in at the front desk. They'll take your photo, and bring you into the testing room, and sit you down at a computer to take your test.
- You will need to show proper identification and provide the completed Candidate Hand Book to the exam center staff. All forms should be filled out completed. The School certification will be in the Candidate Handbook.
- The real estate test is all multiple choice, and you can review your answers before finishing. You can take breaks during the test to use the restroom, but keep in mind that you have four hours to finish the test, and any breaks you take count against your time, althought the test probably won't take the full four hours to complete!
- You will be given scratch paper and a calculator for the math problems.
- When you finish the test, you will return to the front desk, and the exam center staff will tell you if you passed or failed. If you pass you'll get your license on the spot, the picture on the day of the exam will be the picture on your real estate license. You are now a licensed Massachusetts real estate salesperson! You may start your real estate career as soon as you find a License Broker to put your license under.
- Here's what to expect on test day:
- Pay the licensing fee.
- If you pass the test you'll get your real estate license on the spot. Congratulations! Don't forget you will be taking a picture for your license, so come prepared to pass the test and take a picture. All that's left to do is pay the MA real estate salesperson license fee.
- The fee for a new license is, at most, $150. It is prorated based on your birthday and will be good for a minimum of 2 years. You'll pay your fee to the registrar when you pass the test, and you'll leave the test center with your new real estate license in hand. Congratulations on receiving your MA real estate license and be sure to come prepared to pay your fee on the day of the test!
- After you pass the test, you'll probably want to go to work for a real estate agency (that's us) and you may be wondering how difficult it will be to find a job. Good news: it is super easy to find work as a real estate agent. We are a full service Real Estate Brokerage and I invite you to interview with me. Whether you interview with us or another agency, just be sure that whichever agency you end up working for offers thorough sales training so that you'll be prepared to work as soon as possible, because real estate agents are usually paid on a commission only basis (at Unlimited Realty Solutions, our commission splits are the best in the area, call us after passing your exam to schedule an interview).
- To maintain your real estate license and keep it from expiring, Massachusetts requires real estate salespersons to complete 12 hours of continuing education classes within two years of receiving his or her license (this is required for salespersons and brokers). Conveniently, you can complete your continuing education requirement easily anywhere you have an internet connection. When the time comes to complete your continuing education classes be sure you check out our online continuing education classes .
- The real estate salesperson license is not the same as the real estate broker license, and there are a few extra steps to become a Broker.
- What the difference? Basically, real estate salespeople have to work for a broker for 3 years, real estate Brokers can work for themselves and open their own real estate company or manage a real estate office of another Broker.
- First, you have to obtain your real estate salesperson license, since it's a pre-requiste for getting a real estate broker's license. After you get your salesperson license you'll need to work for a brokerage for at least three years, complete another 40 hour real estate Brokers course, get a surety bond then you must pass the MA real estate Broker's test at PSI.