MA real estate licensing guide

Massachusetts

Massachusetts salesperson is a 40-hour Board-approved course, then eLIPSE (Educational Certificate, three endorsements that classmates and relatives may not sign, notarized CORI) before PSI, then PSI independently scored at 70% — national 80 items (80 points) / 150 minutes pass 56, Massachusetts 40 items (40 points) / 90 minutes pass 28, combo 120 / 240 minutes — with a Mass.gov salesperson candidate cart of $85 (CIB application $31 + exam $54), a birthday-tied term of two to three years, and 12-hour CE to renew active at $103. Broker is 40 additional hours, three years at 25 hours per week under an active Massachusetts broker on an original Employing Broker Certification Form (current or no more than two years old, no grandfathering after June 1, 2011), an original $5,000 surety bond, and PSI 75 items carrying 80 points / 150 minutes at 70% of 80 points plus state 40 / 90 minutes, Mass.gov $106 (CIB $52+$52), renewal $142. Reciprocity is a named 254 CMR 2.00 list (CT, RI, WV, NE, IA, TN, MS, CO, GA, PA, NM, plus Oklahoma licensees licensed 2 years), not a compact you invent. Lead paint, Title 5, MCAD, registered land, and the $5,000 bond that salespersons do not post are Massachusetts items — this paper cannot be renamed to Rhode Island's 45 or Connecticut's 60.

Verified 2026-09-02

The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons sits at One Federal Street, Suite 600, Boston, MA 02110-2012. Phone (617) 701-8661. realestateboard@mass.gov. Statute: M.G.L. c. 112 §§87PP–87DDD½ and 254 CMR. PSI delivers the exam under the Candidate Information Bulletin Updated 06/12/2025 (test-takers.psiexams.com/mare; (855) 340-3704; fetched 2026-09-02). The live Mass.gov prepare page fetched 2026-09-02 is the hour bible: 40 hours, three endorsements, then the exam; broker adds 40 hours, three years at 25 hours/week, and the original $5,000 bond. A Rhode Island 45 is a reciprocal product, not that 40.

PSI seats 80 general items in 150 minutes (pass 56) and 40 Massachusetts items in 90 minutes (pass 28) at 70% each. Mass.gov salesperson candidate $85; CIB splits $31+$54. eLIPSE approval before you schedule. CIB: PSI does not print licenses on site; digital license 24 hours after eLIPSE payment — the how-to page still prints a test-center sentence this hub notes as lag. Expiration is your birthday, two or three years out. 12-hour CE before renewing active; $103. No fingerprint dollar on the live pages; CORI is the background instrument.

Broker is 40 additional hours, three years at 25 hours/week, original $5,000 bond, PSI 75 items/80 points/150 min at 70% of 80 points + 40/90 min, $106, renewal $142. Virginia's recovery fund, Rhode Island's 45, and Connecticut's May 31 even-year expiration are neighbor comparisons, not Massachusetts's thesis. This paper cannot be renamed to another state: classmates may not endorse, the bond is a broker object, and the license dies on your birthday.

Licensing authority

Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure)

MA Board / DOL

The Board under the Division of Occupational Licensure that licenses Massachusetts real estate salespersons and brokers through eLIPSE, then PSI. Live Mass.gov prepare page (fetched 2026-09-02): salesperson 40 hours of real estate education, three candidate endorsements (not relatives, not classmates), Board educational certificate, then the exam; broker 40 additional hours, three years at 25 hours/week under an active Massachusetts broker, current Massachusetts salesperson license, original $5,000 surety bond. There is no consumer recovery fund on the Virginia/Ohio model — the $5,000 bond is the broker instrument. Live candidate fees: Salesperson $85 / Broker $106. CIB splits those as application $31 salesperson / $52 broker plus examination $54 salesperson / $52 broker; retake $54. Licenses issue on the pass date and expire on the candidate's date of birth, valid no less than two years and no more than three.

M.G.L. Chapter 112, §§ 87PP–87DDD½ (including §87SS 40-hour salesperson / 40 additional broker hours / three-year affiliation at 25 hours per week; §§87XX and 87ZZ prorated original license fees). 254 CMR (including 254 CMR 2.00 reciprocity list and 254 CMR 2.00(5) 30-day license-fee clock). Live Mass.gov prepare-and-schedule page, FAQ, renew page, and reciprocity page fetched 2026-09-02. PSI Massachusetts Division of Occupational Licensure Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons Candidate Information Bulletin, Updated 06/12/2025, at test-takers.psiexams.com/mare, fetched 2026-09-02 (Mass.gov CIB download). eLIPSE at elicensing.mass.gov. Incomplete applications are held 180 days then abandoned. One Federal Street, Suite 600, Boston, MA 02110-2012 Board (617) 701-8661. Welcome Center (617) 701-8895 (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.). realestateboard@mass.gov. PSI examinations (855) 340-3704.

Official commission site

License types in Massachusetts

Next steps

Budget

Verified state fees

Application, exam, and fingerprint fees we could confirm. School tuition is not estimated.

Mobility

Reciprocity, endorsement, recognition

Mutual recognition, endorsement, Act 41, and the states that waive nothing.

Testing

National vs state portions

Pearson VUE, PSI, DRE, and DOS — and what actually fails people.