License Requirements

### Section: License Requirements Estimated study time: 45 minutes Content: To obtain a Massachusetts real estate salesperson license, an applicant must: (1) be at least 18 years old; (2) complete 40 hours of approved pre-licensure education from a Board-approved real estate school (M.G.L. c.112 §87SS); (3) pass the Massachusetts real estate salesperson examination administered by PSI Services; and (4) be affiliated with a licensed Massachusetts real estate broker who co-signs the license application. There is no prior experience requirement for a salesperson license. The 40-hour education requirement covers Massachusetts license law, property rights, contracts, financing, agency, closing procedures, and fair housing — topics aligned with the exam content outline. Attorney exemption (§87SS): Attorneys licensed in Massachusetts are exempt from the examination requirements and from the one-year residency requirement for broker licenses. Exam administration (§87SS): The Board or a designated testing service must hold salesperson exams at least 8 times per calendar year, with no cap on applicants per date. The Massachusetts salesperson examination has two portions: a national portion covering general real estate principles and a state-specific portion covering Massachusetts law and practice. Applicants must pass both portions, though some states have reciprocity agreements allowing licensees from other states to waive the national portion. Massachusetts has reciprocity with Connecticut, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Nebraska, Iowa, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Colorado, and several other states — the specific agreements are subject to change and should be verified with the Board. A criminal background check (CORI/SORI) is required; a prior criminal record does not automatically disqualify an applicant but the…