How to Become a Montana Real Estate Agent
Interested in launching your real estate career in Montana? This guide will help you understand what it takes to get started, from meeting licensing requirements to choosing the right career path as a salesperson or broker. Whether you're brand new or looking to switch careers, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to completing your pre-licensing education and start your journey in the Montana real estate market.
Real Estate License Montana Requirements
Each state regulatory agency has developed its own licensing systems and requirements to protect the public from unqualified, unethical real estate professionals.
To buy, sell, or lease property, you must have an active real estate license from the Montana Board of Realty Regulation. According to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, the general requirements for obtaining a Montana salesperson license are:
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have received credit for completing 2 years of entire curriculum study at an accredited high school or equivalent
- Must have completed 70 hours of approved pre-licensing education within the past 24 month
- Must have passed the Montana Real Estate Salesperson Examination within the past 12 months
- Must be employed or under contract with a licensed broker with a supervising broker endorsement
- Proof of Professional Liability & Errors and Omissions Insurance
Education Requirements
Within 24 months of application, you must complete 70 hours of pre-licensing instruction from a school or provider approved by the Board. There are classroom courses available throughout the state, and there are numerous online courses as well.
Then, by the first renewal date following your original license issue date, you’ll have to complete new licensee continuing education, commonly known as the 12-hour rookie course. After that, you must complete 12 hours of continuing education each year.
How To Get a Real Estate License in Montana
- Complete the pre-license course: Complete an approved 70-hour pre-licensing course online or in person.
- Pass the licensing exam: Within the last 12 months, you must pass with a score of 80% or better on the uniform portion and 70% or better on the state portion.
- Find a Supervising Broker: Real estate salespersons must be sponsored by a licensed real estate broker. This broker’s office is where you’ll be working and learning.
- Complete the application: There is an $80.00 application/recovery fee. Note that the application includes a section for the supervising broker to agree that he or she will actively train and supervise you.
- Supply all required documentation: According to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, the following documents and additional forms are required in addition to the basic application. Here are the required documents to submit for application for real estate salesperson (new licensee):
For more information, visit the Montana Board of Realty Regulation website. States periodically update their requirements, so it’s smart to visit the Board website occasionally to stay up to date.
Real Estate License Montana Exam Tips
Here are some helpful tips for your real estate exam in Montana:
1. Practice and Training
The more you practice and train, the more comfortable you’ll be not just about the exam but in the real estate real world in general.
2. Educate Yourself and Listen to Mentors
If you are completely new to the materials to be covered in the exam, you must start studying and training earlier than most. If you want the job, then it’s just fair to expect that you’ll put the extra effort in whenever necessary. If you know you are weaker in certain areas than others, spend additional time studying those subjects.
3. Stay Motivated, but Don’t Exhaust Yourself
If you stay up all night the night before your exam, you’re not going to be able to focus on the actual day of the test at all. Even if you seem familiar with the topics and despite some easy questions, you might still end up letting a few critical points go because you won’t have enough energy to focus or complete the exam. So, it’s best to plan ahead and get the rest and energy you need.
For more helpful tips, read our informative blog on Top Real Estate Exam Tips for Test Day →
What Else Should I Know About Becoming a Montana Real Estate Agent?
Here is some additional information you might find helpful before and during your real estate journey:
The Current Real Estate Market
According to Salary.com, the salary range for real estate sales agents in Montana typically falls between $42,895 and $68,193, but this varies according to location, niche, and an agent’s motivation. A real estate salesperson’s pay comes from a portion of commissions based on the sales price of completed transactions.
Montana Board of Realty Regulation
The Montana Board of Realty Regulation, a division of the Department of Labor and Industries, regulates real estate education requirements, issues, revokes, and suspends licenses, and adopts rules to carry out the Montana Real Estate License Law provisions.
Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO)
The Association of Real Estate License Law Officials regulates real estate practice and enforces real estate law for governmental agencies or other organizations around the world that provide real estate licenses and registrations. When you see the ARELLO seal, it means that the real estate school has met the standards required by ARELLO.
National Association of REALTORS®
The largest professional association in the real estate industry is the National Association of REALTORS®, which was first organized in 1908. To be a full member of this association, a person must be licensed in an individual state to sell real estate and must join the local association of the NAR. A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who subscribes to a strict code of ethics known as the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
Learn Real Estate From the Best
Make sure you’re learning from and getting your real estate salesperson license from a top education provider. This is the first step toward a successful real estate agent career. With Agent Campus by 360training, you don’t even have to leave your house to take and complete the education necessary to become a Montana salesperson.
Agent Campus by 360training is a leading Montana online real estate license school with over 25 years of experience. We offer regulatory-approved online pre-licensing courses that meet the state's requirements. This includes:
- Pre-license Packages
- Montana 70-Hour Basic Pre-License Package
- Montana 70-Hour Ultimate Success Pre-license Package
If you’re ready to take a step forward in your career, sign up today!
