Posted On: December 15, 2023

How to Become a Montana Real Estate Agent

Are you thinking about becoming a real estate agent in Montana? Real estate is a rewarding and unique career. To begin your journey, you’ll need Montana real estate licensing. However, in Montana, it should be made clear that there are real estate salesperson and broker licenses.

Two years of experience as a salesperson is one of the requirements for becoming a broker. Salespeople work for an affiliated broker, often as an independent contractor, who trains them, supervises their activities, and pays them a commission from completed sales.

In this blog, we’re going to take you through the steps on how to start your real estate career in Montana and earn your Montana real estate license. By the end of this blog, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how you can become a successful real estate agent in Montana.

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 a $185.00 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):

Completion certificate of 70 hours of pre-licensing education.
Exam results of passing the Montana Salesperson examination (state & national portions).
Official license verification from states and jurisdictions in which the applicant holds or has ever held a professional license of any type.
If you answered yes to discipline questions, include a detailed explanation of the event(s) and documentation from the source.

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 $40,569 and $52,822, 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: