State Licensing FAQs

• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age. 

• Complete forty (40) hours of pre-licensure salesperson education. 

• Obtain a completed Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Educational Certificate form to be completed by a board-approved Real Estate School.

• Obtain three (3) complete candidate endorsements from individuals unrelated to the applicant. They do not need to be Massachusetts residents. Classmates known by the applicant from only the real estate course may NOT sign the candidate endorsement. 

• Pay the $31 application fee.

• An applicant cannot be on probation or parole at the time of application. 

• All of the applicant's state income taxes must be filed and paid. If not paid in full, a payment agreement must be entered and all payments must be current.

• If an applicant has a past felony or criminal record, the examination is subject to the real estate board's approval. The board may request the applicant provide additional documentation and or appear before the board to answer additional questions/inquiries.

• See the Candidate Information Bulletin for acceptable forms of identification (Primary & Secondary).

The topics covered on the State portion of the real estate exam include the following:

• Duties and Powers of the Board

• Licensing Requirements

• Requirements Governing Licensees

• Contracts

• Consumer Protections Laws

• Environmental Issues

• Massachusetts Fair Housing Law

• Landlord Tenant Law

The total exam cost is $85. The Massachusetts real estate exam fee is $54, and the application processing fee is $31. 

Can I retake the exam if I fail and how much does it cost?

• If you don't pass the exam on the first attempt, the cost to retake is $54. If you pass one side of the exam (i.e. the National but fail the State) then you only have to take the side that you didn't pass. 

• The issue date is the date the candidate passed their examination. 

• The expiration date is the candidate’s date of birth. 

• The license will be issued for no less than two (2) years, but not greater than three (3) years. 

  • For example, the examination pass date is March 15, 2024 – this is the issue date. The candidate’s date of birth is April 1 and thus the expiration of the license will be April 1, 2026.

APPLICANTS CURRENTLY LICENSED IN ANOTHER STATE 

• Candidates currently licensed in another jurisdiction should visit  Apply for Reciprocity to review the Board’s policy on Reciprocity and/or Educational Waivers. 

• To view the policy, click on the “Applications and Forms” link and then click the respective application type: 

  • Attorney Licensure 

  • Educational Waivers 

  • Reciprocal Licensure. 

• The Board, after review, will notify the candidate of its decision. 

• The license in the other state must be current or a waiver will not be issued.