How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Massachusetts

Checked against Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure) · Verified 2026-10-11

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: First license lasts 2 to 3 years and expires on your birthday; after that, every 2 years on your birthday
State fee: Application fee: $31 (PSI bulletin). License fee: paid in eLIPSE after you pass; it is prorated by your birth date (the Board lists the salesperson initial license fee as $103–$150 on its reciprocity page). Renewal: $103.
Licensed by: Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure)

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Who can apply

Be at least 18 years old.
Complete 40 hours of salesperson education at a Board-approved real estate school.
Get 3 candidate endorsements from people who are not related to you and are not classmates from your real estate course. They do not need to live in Massachusetts.
Have filed all Massachusetts tax returns and paid all state taxes owed, and provide a Social Security number or Tax ID number.
Pass the salesperson exam within 2 years of finishing the 40-hour course.

Step by step

Complete the 40-hour salesperson course at a Board-approved school and get the Board's Educational Certificate of Completion from the school.
Collect 3 candidate endorsements on the Board's endorsement form.
Apply online through the eLIPSE portal, upload the required documents (including the DOL CORI form) and pay the $31 application fee.
Once approved, schedule the exam with PSI, at a test center or by online proctoring.
Pass both the general and state portions with at least 70% each.
Pay the license fee in eLIPSE; the digital license is available about 24 hours after you pass.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: 40 hours of pre-licensure salesperson education at a Board-approved real estate school (the Board publishes a list of authorized schools). The school issues the Board's Educational Certificate of Completion. You must pass the exam within 2 years of finishing the course; if the certificate expires, any partial exam pass also expires.

Exam: Given by PSI at test centers or online with a live proctor. Two portions: general (80 questions, 150 minutes) and state (40 questions, 90 minutes); 120 questions and 240 minutes in total. Passing score is 70%. If you pass one portion and fail the other, you retake only the failed portion. PSI's current fee is $56 and the retake fee is $56 (PSI bulletin updated 09/23/2025 and PSI's live test page); the Board's exam page still lists an $85 candidate fee and a $54 retake fee. The exam fee is non-refundable and valid for 1 year from payment.

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What it costs in Massachusetts

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

40-hour pre-licensure course (Board-approved school)$
Application fee (eLIPSE)$31
Exam fee (PSI)$56
License fee, prorated by birth date (paid in eLIPSE after you pass)$103–$150

Estimated total in Massachusetts$190–$237Plus 1 item with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

Exam fee: $56 per attempt (PSI; the Board's page lists $85)
Retake fee: $56 (PSI; the Board's page lists $54)
Pre-licensure course tuition: not stated by the Board

How long it takes

PSI's Massachusetts bulletin says that after you pass and pay the license fee in eLIPSE, your digital license is available 24 hours after passing the exam.

What other sites get wrong about Massachusetts

Myth: The Massachusetts salesperson application fee is $150.

Fact: The application fee is $31. The separate license fee, prorated by your birth date, is paid in eLIPSE after you pass. source

After you're licensed

Renewal: Renew online in eLIPSE starting 90 days before your license expires on your birthday. You must finish 12 hours of continuing education before renewing as active; without it the license is renewed as inactive and you cannot practice. A notarized CORI authorization form is also required. Pre-licensure hours do not count as CE. Renewal fee: $103.

Good to know in Massachusetts

Incomplete applications: Incomplete applications are held open for 180 days. After that they are abandoned and you must apply and pay again.

Reciprocity: Salespersons who passed their exam in Connecticut, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Nebraska, Iowa, Tennessee, Mississippi, Colorado, Georgia, Pennsylvania or New Mexico, and Oklahoma licensees with 2 years of licensure, may apply by reciprocity ($31 application fee plus a $103–$150 prorated license fee). Others may request an educational waiver and sit for the Massachusetts exam.

Moving up to broker: Brokers need 3 years working for a Massachusetts broker at least 25 hours a week, 40 more hours of education and a $5,000 surety bond.

License fee deadline: After you are notified that you passed, you must pay the license fee within 30 days. Otherwise you must retake the exam and pay the fees again (254 CMR 2.00(5)).

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure) before you apply.