How To Get Your Massachusetts Real Estate License

The information given here is only a synopsis of the official requirements. Please refer to the latest edition of the Massachusetts Real Estate Candidate Handbook for the latest, complete requirements. This Handbook will be given to you at the completion of your studies at an accredited Massachusetts real estate school. Properly completed, it will become your 'ticket' to the Massachusetts real estate licensing examination. Specific questions should be directed to your real estate school's director and/ or to the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons.

The calls and emails that we receive at Annex Real Estate School are generally from people like yourself who would like to start a new career by selling real estate. They say "I would like to become a real estate broker" or... "a Realtor®". Most people don't realize that each of these words has a specific meaning. What is the difference between a salesperson, a broker and a Realtor®?

In Massachusetts, the first step in your real estate sales career is to become a licensed Real Estate Salesperson. ( unless you are a Massachusetts attorney* ) As a Real Estate Salesperson, you cannot go into business or work on your own. As a Real Estate Salesperson, you must work for a Massachusetts licensed Broker.

A Realtor ®, is a licensed person, Salesperson or Broker, who has joined the professional trade group called the National Association of Realtors. As a member of that Association, you will be entitled to use the Realtor designation "Realtor ®". Please understand that all you need to sell real estate is your license and a real estate office where you will work. If you go to work in a Realtor® office, then that office has pledged that all of the sales associates in that office will join the Realtor® association.

In addition to your personal qualifications, you start by taking the first step by completing twenty four (24) hours of classroom instruction at a Massachusetts Approved Real Estate School, like Annex Real Estate School. (These classroom hours will increase to forty (40) if two bills currently in the Massachusetts legislature become law.) The real estate school must follow the curriculum that is approved by the Mass Board of Registration, and have an approved Real Estate Instructor in the classroom.

Do not be scammed. Online instruction does not qualify you to take the Massachusetts real estate licensing examination. Nor does Massachusetts currently qualify any online instruction to meet the requirement of twelve (12)Continuing Education hours.

After completing your required education, your next step is to take the state examination. The examination is given for the state by a testing service, Pearson Vue (formerly Promissor). Your instructor will explain to you the steps to apply for that state examination.

Once you have passed the examination, "Congratulations!" You are now a licensed Real Estate Salesperson and can go to work in a Massachusetts real estate firm under the supervision of a Real Estate Broker. Upon obtaining your Massachusetts Real Estate License, you may apply for an interview at Century21 Annex Realty.

What are some of the personal qualifications you need to meet prior to taking the examination?

        a) You must be at least 18 years old and have a valid Social Security number.

        b) You must be have three acquaintances, who are not in your class and not members of your immediate family, vouch for you. In doing so, they will sign in your Candidate Handbook that they know you, and that you are a person of "good moral character".

        c) Also, at this time, the Board does not license applicants who are currently on probation or who are on parole.

As you might expect, there are some exceptions to the procedure rules..Massachusetts attorneys, law students in an accredited Massachusetts law school, and non-residents.

If you are a Massachusetts Attorney, you may apply for a Massachusetts Real Estate Brokers License without the pre-licensing class and examination.

The second exception applies to law students who have successfully completed a course in Real Property at a Massachusetts, accredited law school. You may substitute that course for the twenty four (24) hour pre-licensing course, and apply to take the Massachusetts Real Estate Salesperson examination.

The third exception applies to residents of another state, who are licensed in another state and wish to become licensed in Massachusetts . There are various rules of reciprocity that apply. (Non-residents can also follow all of the steps and meet the same requirements as a Massachusetts resident, and get their Massachusetts license).

You should read about these special circumstances on the pages of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons, and find the page on Reciprocal Licensure, Attorney Li censure, and Waivers. (This last link is a PDF).

At Annex Real Estate School, your Instructor will go over all of the requirements with you and fully explain the licensing process.

After reading the Home page, click on the link to Catalog. There you will find a synopsis of the different Courses offered by Annex Real Estate School

Applications for the current Classes in the HIGHLIGHTS column on the left. For your convenience, links to the Applications are provided on all of the major pages. Sometime, postings about classes, including advanced notices, may be found on Craig's List Boston. They would be under Services>Real Estate Services or Services>Lessons and Tutoring.

Annex Real Estate School is conveniently located in the Wollaston section of Quincy, Massachusetts, and is near the Wollaston T stop on the Red Line.

NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW: There is a bill going thru the Massachusetts Legislature that will increase the number of mandatory pre-licensing class hours needed prior to taking your Mass State Real Estate Salesperson examination from 24 to 40. This action will take place soon. Check back here, as we will post the latest information about this law as soon as it is made public.

Class Availability Depends Upon Enrollment. Class Size Is Limited to Assure Class Quality.

After reading this you can sign up to ASK US A QUESTION without obligation and with an ebook download option.

* The Commonwealth of Massachusetts will allow Massachusetts licensed attorneys to become licensed as Real Estate Brokers, upon application. You should visit the site of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons to read about that.

This information is being presented by Annex Real Estate School as a service to those interested in obtaining a Massachusetts Real Estate Salesperson License. Final decisions on the Rules and Regulations is with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen.

Information You Need to Know to Become

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson in Massachusetts.