Real estate license requirements in Massachusetts
Massachusetts doesn’t charge a flat license fee — it’s prorated by your birthdate under state law, so the amount you pay at the PSI test center ($103–$150) depends on when your license term will actually run.
Education
The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons requires a 40-hour pre-licensing course for the Salesperson tier. The Broker tier above it requires the same 40 hours plus 3 years of active affiliation as a licensed salesperson — not something you need for your first license.
| Tier | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Salesperson (entry-level) | 40 hours | What this page covers |
| Broker (upper tier) | 40 hours + 3 years affiliation | A later step, not required to get licensed initially |
What Massachusetts calls your first license
Massachusetts’s entry-level license is a standard “Salesperson” license. The real quirk to know about isn’t the title — it’s that your license fee isn’t a flat number. It’s prorated by your birthdate under Massachusetts law, so two people passing the exam on the same day can pay different amounts depending on when their license term will run.
The licensing exam
Massachusetts contracts with PSI.
| Portion | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|
| General | 80 items | 150 minutes |
| State | 40 items | 90 minutes |
| Combined sitting | 120 items | 240 minutes |
Passing score is 70%. The exam fee is $85 for first-time Salesperson candidates ($106 for Broker candidates), $54 for any retake, and $54 for active-duty military and veterans.
Under Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 112, §§87X/87Z, your license fee is prorated to your birthdate and runs $103–$150, paid at the PSI test center on exam day, plus a separate $12 PSI licensing fee. Don't assume it'll match a number you saw for someone else.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| License fee (prorated) | $103–$150, depending on your birthdate | Paid at the PSI test center on exam day, under MGL Ch.112 §§87X/87Z |
| PSI licensing fee | $12 | PSI, in addition to the prorated license fee |
| Exam fee | $85 first-time salesperson ($54 retake or active-duty military/veteran) | PSI |
| Background check (CORI) | Fee not published (~$30 secondary estimate, unconfirmed) | Massachusetts DCJIS (name-based court records check, no fingerprinting) |
A separate ~$31 application-processing fee through Massachusetts’s eLIPSE system has been reported but isn’t independently confirmed — budget for the possibility and confirm current totals with the Board before you apply.
How to apply, step by step
Massachusetts pays its license fee at the test center rather than through a separate mailed application, which is a bit different from most states.
Salesperson tier.
General and Massachusetts state portions.
Paid at the test center on exam day — the license fee ($103–$150) depends on your birthdate.
Name-based check through Massachusetts DCJIS — no fingerprinting.
Required to activate your Salesperson license.
Due 2–3 years after your initial license, prorated to your birthdate.
After you’re licensed: staying current
We found no distinct post-licensing course for Massachusetts salespersons — only the standard 12-hour continuing education requirement due before your first renewal, which happens 2–3 years after your initial license and is also prorated to your birthdate.
Reciprocity
Massachusetts doesn’t publish a fixed reciprocity state list. The Board reviews “Reciprocal Licensure” and “Educational Waiver” applications case-by-case. We found secondary sources suggesting fuller waivers for several states and more limited waivers for a few others, but couldn’t independently confirm that list from a primary source — so rather than publish an unverified list, we recommend contacting the Board directly with your specific home state to find out what applies to you.
Common questions
Why is Massachusetts's license fee a range instead of a flat number?
State law (MGL Ch.112 §§87X/87Z) prorates the license fee to your birthdate, since your license term is tied to that date. You’ll pay somewhere between $103 and $150 at the test center, plus a separate $12 PSI fee.
Does Massachusetts fingerprint applicants?
No. Massachusetts uses a CORI check — a name-based review of Massachusetts court records through DCJIS — rather than fingerprinting.
Does my out-of-state license qualify for reciprocity in Massachusetts?
Possibly, but the Board reviews applications case-by-case rather than publishing a fixed list of reciprocal states. Contact the Board directly to ask about your specific state.
Is there a distinct post-licensing course in Massachusetts?
No. Beyond the standard 12-hour continuing education requirement before your first renewal, we found no separate post-licensing tier.
What's the difference between the Salesperson and Broker exam fees?
First-time Salesperson candidates pay $85; first-time Broker candidates pay $106. Retakes and active-duty military/veteran candidates pay $54 regardless of tier.
Next step
MA Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons — https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-registration-of-real-estate-brokers-and-salespersons
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