Article Summary: This article will help anyone looking for information pertaining to a real estate license in the state of Massachusetts or anyone looking to become a real estate agent or realtor in Massachusetts. Contents of this article may include information on real estate education, schools, training courses, continuing education, tests and exams, laws, license requirements, renewal information, forms and more..
The Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure (
DPL)
is an agency within the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business
Regulation. The DPL regulates over 40 professions and trades, one of which is
the Massachusetts Real Estate Board. There are approximately 74,430 real estate
salespersons and brokers in the Commonwealth. The full License Law and Regulations
are available
online.
The requirements for a
real estate salesperson license in Massachusetts include being at
least 18 years of age and completing 24 classroom hours of approved real estate courses.
These 24 hours are waived if the applicant has successfully completed a course in real property
while enrolled in an accredited law school. After completing the educational requirement,
the applicant needs to successfully pass the real estate examination for a salesperson.
The requirements for a
real estate broker license in Massachusetts include
being at least 18 years of age. The applicant's principal residence needs to be
in Massachusetts for at least one year prior to the issuance of the license. The
applicant needs to submit proof of having been actively affiliated with a Massachusetts
real estate broker as a salesperson for at least one year. The broker applicant
is required to take 30 classroom hours of approved real estate courses before
taking the real estate exams. After passing the examinations, the applicant needs
to provide a
surety
bond in the amount of $5,000. An attorney at law in the commonwealth is not
required to take the education courses or the examination or to have his principal
residence in the commonwealth. However, the attorney still needs to submit an
application and pay a $45 fee.
All real estate agents are required to successfully complete between 6 to 12 hours of
continuing education courses during the 24 months prior to each renewal. All licenses expire
on December 31st and are good for two years.
The
approved
Real Estate Schools for prelicensure and continuing education are located
throughout the state. Correspondence courses are not acceptable for fulfilling
the requirement.
Massachusetts license
renewal
fees for a two-year period are $127 for a broker license, $127 for an associate
broker, and $93 for a salesperson. There is a $57 late renewal fee in addition
to the regular fee.
Massachusetts has reciprocity agreements with all states except Vermont. An automated attendant
at 617-727-2373 can provide full information on each state.
Some Massachusetts
real estate forms are
available
online and some are provided by the real state schools upon completion of
the courses. Others are available from the Real Estate Board.
Real estate careers are enhanced by membership in the many organizations
that provide services for the professional agent. Those holding a real estate
license usually join organizations like the Massachusetts Association of Realtors
(
http://marealtor.com/), the
National Association of Real Estate Brokers (
NAREB),
and the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (
ARELLO).
The National Association of Realtors (
NAR),
the world's largest professional association, assists many in locating
real
estate jobs within the industry. These organizations are also excellent resources
of real estate education and networking.
We also offer information and resources for Massachusetts Commercial Mortgage