How To Become A Real Estate Agent In Massachusetts

Professional education is a crucial part of holding a Massachusetts real estate license.

Before you apply, you need specific coursework to give you the basics and prepare you for the state license exam. You also need continuing education before each license renewal.

Unfortunately, we don't offer real estate courses in Massachusetts at the moment. You should visit the Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure (DLP)'s website for a list of approved training providers.

Even though we don't have a stake in your success, we're aware how overwhelming the licensing process can be and we want to make sure you understand the necessary steps. You can learn more about what real estate licensing in Massachusetts entails below.

What Are Massachusetts's Real Estate Pre-Licensing Education Requirements?

The Massachusetts Department of Real Estate requires 40 hours of pre-licensing coursework from an approved provider.

The curriculum lays the foundation for passing the official license exam, which covers:

• General/National
  • Property ownership
  • Land use controls and regulations
  • Valuation and Market Analysis
  • Financing
  • General principles of agency
  • Property disclosure
  • Contracts
  • Leasing and property management
  • Transfer of title
  • The practice of real estate
  • Real estate calculations
• Massachusetts portion
  • Duties and powers of the Board
  • Licensing requirements
  • Requirements governing licensees
  • Contracts
  • Consumer Protection laws
  • Environmental issues and hazardous materials
  • Massachusetts Fair Housing law
  • Landlord/Tenant law
  • Additional topics including ownership, condos/cooperatives/timeshares, and registered land

Who is Eligible to Become a Real Estate Agent in Massachusetts?

To be eligible for a salesperson license in Massachusetts, you need to be at least 18 and possess a social security number.

What Else Do I Need to Do to Earn My Massachusetts Real Estate License?

Aside from passing your pre-license education, you need to:

• Get 3 candidate endorsements from unrelated individuals
• Apply for approval to take the licensing exam
• Pass the Massachusetts salesperson exam
• Find a broker to sponsor you

What is the Massachusetts Real Estate Licensing Exam Like?

You need to take your license exam within 2 years of completing your coursework.

The Massachusetts licensing exam is administered by PSI, a third-party testing service. It contains 80 national topic questions with a 2.5-hour time limit and 40 state-specific questions with a 1.5-hour time limit.

You'll get a score report before you leave. If you pass both sections, they can issue your license on the spot, as long as you're prepared to pay your licensing fee.

How Often Does a Massachusetts Real Estate License Have to Be Renewed?

You need to renew a Massachusetts real estate license once every 2 years.

What Are Massachusetts's Continuing Education Requirements for Real Estate?

Massachusetts requires you to complete 12 Continuing Education hours from an approved provider, which you must complete before your renewal.

Topic areas include Fair Housing, the Americans with Disabilities Act, agency law, environmental issues, appraisal, finance, zoning and building codes, property tax assessments and valuations, real estate board regulations, and more

What Kind of Jobs Can I Get with a Massachusetts Real Estate License?

Getting a real estate license in Massachusetts can open doors to a variety of career options, including:

• Residential real estate agent
• Commercial real estate agent
• Real estate broker
• Property manager

Your career will also be shaped by the niche and/or specialty you choose. Some practice areas are more bankable than others, and often, these require additional licenses or certifications.

You can get a general idea of the salary you can expect as a real estate agent in Massachusetts based on 2019 wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Job Title	Average Hourly Wage	Average Yearly Wage
Sales Agents	$32.80	$68,220
Brokers	$33.10	$68,850
Property Managers	$38.19	$79,430

A real estate agent's salary is typically based on commission, so your income will depend directly on how well you sell. Some agents work part-time and earn supplemental income. On the other hand, the top 90th percentile of sales agents in Massachusetts make $128,780.

Check out our Resources page to learn more about your career opportunities, potential real estate niches, and how commissions work.