How To Become a Real Estate Agent in Massachusetts

A real estate agent is a great potential career choice for people who are highly social and highly motivated, especially in Massachusetts where the Massachusetts Realty Commission oversees a profession that offers unlimited earning potential through a commission-based income structure.

How To Get a Real Estate License in Massachusetts

Becoming a real estate agent in Massachusetts is a pretty straightforward process, provided you meet the basic requirements and properly complete the necessary steps required by the Massachusetts Realty Commission.

In many ways, this process moves a lot more quickly than in other states, namely because the pre-licensing education hours are on the lower side, and how quickly agents receive their licenses after passing the test.

Must Haves For Becoming a Real Estate Agent in Massachusetts

Basic requirements include:

• Minimum age and education requirements
• Completing education requirements
• Sending in the proper documentation for your license and exam application, including appropriate fees, consent to a background check, and endorsements from 3 people. These people cannot be relatives or people you met at real estate school.
• Being of good moral character. You can review the Real Estate Board guidelines for specifics.¹

Prerequisite Age and Foundational Education Needs

The foundational requirements to become a real estate agent in Massachusetts are simply being at least 18 years old and having a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Stipulated Training Time For Licensing

Massachusetts law, as enforced by the Massachusetts Realty Commission, requires real estate agents to undergo 40 hours of pre-licensing education. You can take these classes either in person or online.

However online classes must contain at least 21 hours of live online delivery where you are learning directly from a teacher. The remaining 19 hours of material are self-paced and can be completed in any order.

If you take classes in person, there are usually a number of options. Some may offer daily classes for a set period of time, or break it up over a few weekends.

Real Estate School Pre-License Course Fees

Massachusetts pre-licensing course fees vary widely depending on a number of factors, but generally range between $300 and $700. In-person classes tend to be more expensive than online courses.

Many online schools offer a number of packages that contain additional resources and support in addition to the core course material.

Some of these features include extended enrollment without having to pay an additional fee, practice tests, exam prep materials such as flashcards, a pass guarantee, business building courses, and continuing education classes for the first renewal to name a few.

Pre-Requisite Background Screening for Real Estate

The Division of Professional Licensure (DPL) requires all real estate agent applicants to submit to a background check to receive their license. Fingerprinting is not required.

You will provide the authorization for the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) to run your name when you submit your application to receive your license and take the state exam. This form must be notarized.

This check, called the Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) retrieves records from the Massachusetts court system only.²

When consenting to the check, you will also authorize the DPL to run subsequent checks within one year of the date you sign the authorization form.

In addition to the check, you will be asked a number of questions regarding any criminal history on the application. You will be asked if you have ever been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor crimes or if you have any pending or open charges against you.

If either of these scenarios applies to you, you must send in the relevant court documentation as well as an explanation of the circumstances and the outcome.

Can I Become a Real Estate Agent if I Have a Criminal History?

Having a criminal history does not automatically preclude you from getting a real estate agent license. The Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons has a set of guidelines to determine what sorts of crimes may be serious enough to result in the denial of a license.³

If you have committed any major crimes, you are automatically disqualified for 10 years from the date of conviction. Examples include murder, a variety of sexual crimes, or armed assault with the intent to rob or kill.

Certain crimes may require an applicant to meet additional requirements before being able to reapply once the disqualification period has ended.

Certain crimes may require you to appear in person at the Board Review.

When deciding whether to deny a license, some factors taken into account include:

• Requirements of public protection
• Relationship between the scope of the practice and public protection
• Time since the conviction
• Age of the applicant/licensee at the time of the offense
• Seriousness and specific circumstances of the offense(s)
• The number of offense
• Whether the applicant/licensee has pending charges;
• Any relevant evidence of rehabilitation or lack thereof
• Submission of false information on an application for licensure and/or failure to provide required notification of new information
• Any other relevant information, including information submitted by the applicant/licensee or requested by the Board.

If someone believes their CORI check is inaccurate, they can put their license application on hold for up to six months.

Denials will be issued as soon as possible after the Board has made their decision. The letter must include factual and legal reasons for the denial as well as when an applicant can resubmit an application.

There is a right to request a limited hearing on the board’s reasoning for the denial. The request must be filed within 14 days of the date of the letter and specifically refute the facts the Board used to deny the license.