40-Hour Massachusetts Broker Pre-Licensing Courses
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5 Steps Toward Getting A Massachusetts Broker License

Getting your Massachusetts real estate license might seem daunting, but we’re here to guide you through the process.

Read on to learn about the 5 steps you’ll need to complete before starting your career in Massachusetts real estate. To learn about how much it costs to get your real estate license, visit our Massachusetts Pre-Licensing pricing page.

How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Massachusetts

Requirements:

  • Be at least eighteen years of age.

  • Have a current Massachusetts salesperson license.

  • Have been licensed and affiliated with a Massachusetts broker in the capacity of a Massachusetts real estate salesperson for three years at a minimum of twenty-five hours per week. The experience requirement must be no more than two years old when the examination is taken.

1

Complete 40 hours of approved Massachusetts Pre-Licensing broker education.

Complete 40 hours of approved Pre-Licensing education, as required by the Massachusetts Real Estate Board. The CE Shop is an approved education provider in the state of Massachusetts.

The CE Shop’s LEAP platform is an advanced web-based portal that offers the best of the classroom environment with the convenience and flexibility of online learning. Through interactive exercises, real-world scenarios, and practical examples, you'll learn everything you need to pass your broker licensing exam and start a successful career in real estate.

2

Pass the final exam for your course.

You must complete all the course materials, meet the minimum time requirement of 40 hours, and pass the practice exam. The course also contains a 120-question final exam that must be passed.

3

Fill out or obtain completed forms.

Have a $5,000 surety bond on the original enclosed form (a copy is not acceptable) completed and signed by the insurance agent, signed by the principal candidate/examinee, and witnessed.

Obtain three complete candidate endorsements from individuals unrelated to the applicant. They do not need to be Massachusetts residents. See form here.

The Broker must endorse the Employing Broker Certification form. The Employing Broker Certification form must be completed in its entirety by only the employing broker. Only the original completed form will be accepted. Copies are not permitted.

An applicant for a broker’s license may use prior salesperson experience so long as the experience is not over two years old and/or there has not been a two year gap in time between the current and past salesperson experience. In the event that a salesperson affiliates with more than one broker at various times, two employing broker certification forms are provided. If more than two forms are required, signed and dated letter(s) must be obtained from the additional broker(s), preferably using their business letterhead(s), and MUST include all features of the original Employing Broker Certification.

Starting June 16, 2025, the Division of Occupational Licensure (DOL) will process Real Estate Broker and Salesperson applications through the new eLIPSE platform. PSI will no longer handle these applications. The last day to submit applications through PSI is June 13, 2025. All applications received after that deadline will be returned to the applicant. No applications will be accepted the weekend of June 14th and 15th*. Starting June 16th all applications must be submitted via eLIPSE.* PSI will continue to offer the licensing exams. After passing, digital licenses will be issued via eLIPSE. For application instructions and updates, visit the Board’s website.

4

Schedule and take the Massachusetts Real Estate Exam with PSI.

Candidates must mail their application to the PSI office in Las Vegas to get pre-approved to take the licensing exam. Brokers should include:

  • Application for examination

  • Current MA license number and issue date is indicated

  • Current Picture

  • Correct fee or credit card information included (no cash)

  • Employing broker cerification form

  • Candidate endorsements

  • $5000 Surety Bond form

  • CORI acknowledgment form

The exam consists of 80 general points with a time limit of 150 minutes and 40 state points with a time limit of 90 minutes. In addition to the number of points per examination, a small number of five to ten "experimental" points may be administered to candidates during the examinations. These points will not be scored and the time taken to answer them will not count against the examination time. A full breakdown of topics can be found in the Candidate Information Bulletin.

The cost for the exam is $106. Costs may change at any time.

5

Receive your license.

Once you pass the exam, you will pay a fee and receive your license at the testing center. The fee is between $142 and $200, in addition to a $12 PSI licensing fee. Fees may change at any time. Your original Massachusetts salesperson license or inactive license notice will be collected. See more information in the Massachusetts Candidate Information Bulletin.

Questions?