How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Maine

Checked against Maine Real Estate Commission (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation) · Verified 2026-10-11

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: 2 years
State fee: $121 total, payable to the Maine State Treasurer: $100 application/license fee and $21 criminal records check fee.
Licensed by: Maine Real Estate Commission (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation)

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Who can apply

Be at least 18 years old when you apply for the license.
Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Pass a criminal records check (fee paid with the application).
Arrange to affiliate with a licensed Maine real estate agency before you apply.

Step by step

Complete the Commission-approved Sales Agent Course (at least 55 hours, with 3 quizzes and a final exam) with a final grade of at least 75%.
Schedule the Sales Agent exam with Pearson VUE, pay the $88 fee, and bring your original Course Completion Certificate to the test center in Westbrook or Bangor.
Pass both the general and Maine law portions within 1 year of finishing the course.
Arrange to work for a licensed real estate agency under its designated broker.
Within 1 year of passing the exam, apply online (no sooner than the day after your scores reach the Commission) and pay $121: the $100 license fee plus the $21 criminal records check fee.

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Training and exam

Training: The Sales Agent Course, a Commission-approved pre-license course of at least 55 hours with 3 quizzes and a final exam, passed with a minimum final grade of 75%. The Course Completion Certificate is valid for 1 year, and you must pass the licensing exam within that year.

Exam: Given by Pearson VUE. General (national) portion: 80 scored items, 2.5 hours. Maine law portion: 40 scored items (plus 5–15 pretest items), 1.5 hours. Passing scaled score: 75. Fee: $88, paid when you book. You may retake as many times as needed before your Course Completion Certificate expires (1 year); Pearson VUE gives you only the portion(s) you still need. Wait 24 hours before rebooking. A new Maine law content outline took effect September 1, 2026 (the Sales Agent law portion is still 40 scored items).

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What it costs in Maine

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

55-hour Sales Agent Course tuition$
Pearson VUE exam fee$88
Sales agent license fee$100
Criminal records check fee$21

Estimated total in Maine$209Plus 1 item with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

Pearson VUE exam fee: $88 per attempt.
Sales Agent Course tuition: set by each school; not stated by the Commission.
Sales agent license extension, if granted: $100 extension fee.

Pay in Maine

Before you compare job offers, see what a paycheck takes home in Maine after taxes.

What other sites get wrong about Maine

Myth: The Maine sales agent exam costs $100.

Fact: The Pearson VUE Sales Agent exam fee is $88 per attempt, paid when you book. source

After you're licensed

Renewal: The Sales Agent license lasts 2 years and cannot be renewed. To keep working, you must qualify for the Associate Broker license: practice actively as a sales agent with an agency for the full 24 months, complete the 60-hour Associate Broker Course (with the Documented Field Experience Form) at 75% or better, complete a Commission-approved core course, and apply no more than 30 days before your sales agent license expires and within 5 years of its original issue. The Associate Broker license (fee $100) is issued when the sales agent license expires and renews every 2 years for $100 with 21 hours of approved CE, including the current core course. The Commission advises against putting a sales agent license on inactive status. If you need more time, you can file a Sales Agent Extension Application with the $100 fee.

Good to know in Maine

Agency affiliation: A sales agent may only perform brokerage services for a licensed real estate agency, under the supervision of that agency's designated broker.

Public record: Except for your Social Security number, all information on the application is public.

Out-of-state licensees: A person licensed in another jurisdiction may qualify for a similar Maine license by passing the Maine Law exam (50 scored items, 1.5 hours).

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Maine Real Estate Commission (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation) before you apply.