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RE License Guide

Massachusetts real estate licensing

Massachusetts Real Estate Salesperson License requirements

A practical, source-checked guide to qualifying, passing the exam, applying, and keeping this license active.

Gabriel Giner

By Gabriel Giner, Editor  ·  Verified  ·  RE License Guide Editorial Desk

Source checked 8 official references Next review 2026-12-01
Required education
40 hours of Board-approved pre-licensure salesperson education
Exam fee
$85
Published fees
See fee table
Typical timeline
eLIPSE approval before PSI is the sequence that surprises people who used the old handbook-then-PSI path
01

What to know first

Massachusetts is a 40-hour state with a portal that is not PSI. The live Mass.gov prepare-and-schedule page (mass.gov/how-to/prepare-for-and-schedule-your-real-estate-license-exam, fetched 2026-09-02) is the hour bible: be at least 18; complete 40 hours of real estate education; provide a Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Educational Certificate of Completion from a Board-approved school; get 3 candidate endorsements (not from people related to you or fellow classmates; out-of-state endorsers are allowed); pass the licensing exam. Live FAQ (fetched 2026-09-02) restates forty (40) hours at a Board-approved school and the June 1, 2011 §87SS amendment that locked those hours in. A Michigan 40 that bakes in 4 civil-rights hours, a Rhode Island 45, or a Connecticut 60 is not this 40.

PSI's Massachusetts CIB (Updated 06/12/2025; test-takers.psiexams.com/mare; (855) 340-3704; fetched 2026-09-02 via the Mass.gov CIB) is the sitting bible after eLIPSE approval. Examination Summary Table: Salesperson General 80 (80 points) / 150 minutes; State 40 (40 points) / 90 minutes; Both 120 (120 points) / 240 minutes. "You need to score a minimum of 70% to pass" — 56 of 80 and 28 of 40, independently. Experimental questions (5 to 10) may be administered; they are not scored but count against examination time. CIB Examination Fee: Salesperson $54 / Broker $52. Retake for all salesperson and broker candidates $54. CIB application fee line: salesperson $31 / broker $52. Live Mass.gov prepare page packages those as Salesperson Candidate $85 / Broker Candidate $106 per person, exam fee not refundable or transferable and valid one year from the date paid; miss the exam and pay a $54 retake fee. This hub reports both live tables and does not invent a third cart.

CIB licensure process: candidates are eligible for the two-part examination when the application and supporting documentation are approved by the Board. If you have passed both portions, the license will be available in the eLIPSE profile after paying the licensing fee; PSI does not print licenses on site; digital license 24 hours after passing. Live Mass.gov prepare page still prints a lag sentence that licenses are printed and issued at the testing centers and to be prepared to pay the license fee at the testing center — this hub follows the CIB's eLIPSE / 24-hour digital-license sentence (Updated 06/12/2025) and notes the how-to-page lag. Original license fees are prorated under M.G.L. c. 112 §§ 87XX and 87ZZ; live reciprocity page prints salesperson initial license fee range $103–$150. License term: issue date is the pass date; expiration is the candidate's date of birth; no less than two years and no more than three (CIB example: pass March 15, 2024, birthday April 1, expire April 1, 2026). This paper cannot be renamed to another state: three endorsements that classmates may not sign, a notarized CORI, a birthday expiration, and a $5,000 bond that is a broker object are Massachusetts items.

02

Your path to the license

Follow these steps in order. Deadlines and affiliation requirements can make a passed exam unusable if they are missed.

  1. Complete 40 hours at a Board-approved school and obtain the Educational Certificate

    §87SS / live FAQ forty (40) hours. Michigan's 40 including 4 civil rights will not post. Certificate is valid two years.

  2. Open eLIPSE: upload certificate, three endorsements, and notarized CORI; pay the candidate fee

    Endorsements: no relatives, no classmates; out-of-state allowed. Incomplete applications sit 180 days then are abandoned. Mass.gov salesperson candidate $85 (CIB $31 application + $54 exam).

  3. PSI after Board approval: 80/150 min pass 56 + 40/90 min pass 28 (combo 120/240 min) at 70% each

    Must test in Massachusetts. CIB Updated 06/12/2025. Passed portion lives until the certificate expires.

  4. Pay the prorated license fee in eLIPSE within 30 days of notice of passing; affiliate with a Massachusetts broker to practice

    CIB: digital license 24 hours; PSI does not print on site (Mass.gov how-to still prints a test-center sentence — follow the CIB). Expiration is your birth date, two or three years out. First renewal: 12-hour CE before renewing active; $103.

03

Education and eligibility

Minimum age
18 years old
Identification
A Social Security number is required. An ITIN is not confirmed as a substitute.
Residency and identification
CIB: at least 18; complete 40 hours; Educational Certificate; three endorsements; apply and pass within two years of completing the salesperson education. Salesperson applicants are not under the one-year Massachusetts principal-place-of-abode rule that §87SS writes for resident broker applicants. Nonresidents complete Board-approved 40-hour education and CORI. Valid SSN and/or Tax Identification number is mandatory (CIB). Reciprocity is a named 254 CMR 2.00 list on the live reciprocity page, not a handshake at PSI.
Qualifying education
Live Mass.gov prepare page and FAQ (fetched 2026-09-02) and CIB: complete forty (40) hours of pre-licensure salesperson education at a Board-approved school; obtain the Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Educational Certificate completed by that school. M.G.L. c. 112 §87SS (effective June 1, 2011) is the statutory lock. Law-school real-property coursework in the Commonwealth can substitute under the statute — confirm with the Board rather than assuming. Create the eLIPSE account and upload the school-stamped certificate, three endorsements, and notarized CORI before scheduling PSI. Prelicense hours do not count as CE (live FAQ). A Rhode Island 45 or a Connecticut 60 is not this 40 unless the live educational-waiver path says so.
Education or filing deadline
CIB and live FAQ: apply for and pass the licensure examination within two (2) years of the date of completing the required salesperson education. Educational Certificate remains valid for two years following the completion date. If it expires, retake all education and reapply as a new applicant. Exam fee is valid one year from payment. Passed portion remains valid until the certificate expires. License issues on the pass date and expires on the birth date two or three years out. Pay the license fee within 30 days of notice of passing (254 CMR 2.00(5)) or re-sit.
Character review
CORI plus three endorsements from individuals unrelated to the applicant who are not classmates from the real estate course. Disclose convictions. CIB: the Board does not currently license applicants who are on probation or parole. Good Moral Character policy is on the Board Policies and Guidelines page. Tax-filing certification under M.G.L. c. 62C §49A.
Background process
Notarized DOL CORI authorization via eLIPSE, with the application, not after PSI. No fingerprint dollar on the live pages this hub fetched.
Experience
No licensed experience for the salesperson hanging. Affiliation with a Massachusetts broker is required to practice on active status. Broker later: three years affiliated with an active Massachusetts broker at a minimum of 25 hours per week, current or completed no more than two years before the broker exam, plus 40 additional hours and the original $5,000 surety bond.
Broker affiliation
A Massachusetts salesperson practices under a licensed broker. Live FAQ: the Broker of Record must report affiliations and terminations on the eLIPSE portal. Inactive salespersons may receive a referral fee from an active broker; they may not practice sale or lease. An active salesperson cannot have control or access to escrow funds — that is the broker's account. Mandatory Consumer Disclosure (agency) is a scored state item and a first-personal-meeting duty.

Documents to prepare

  • Board Educational Certificate (40 hours) from a Board-approved school
  • Three candidate endorsements (not relatives, not classmates; out-of-state endorsers allowed)
  • Notarized DOL CORI authorization
  • eLIPSE approval, then PSI national 80/150 min at 56 and Massachusetts 40/90 min at 28 (or combo 120/240 min)
  • Prorated license fee via eLIPSE within 30 days of notice of passing
  • Massachusetts broker affiliation to practice on active status
04

The licensing exam

PSI Massachusetts CIB, Updated 06/12/2025, fetched 2026-09-02. test-takers.psiexams.com/mare; (855) 340-3704. Board approves the application in eLIPSE first; then schedule. Salesperson General 80 items (80 points) / 150 minutes; State 40 items (40 points) / 90 minutes; Both 120 (120 points) / 240 minutes. 70% on each portion (56 of 80 and 28 of 40). Experimental 5–10 count against time. National salesperson outline (same PSI national grid): Property Ownership 10%, Land Use 5%, Valuation 8%, Financing 10%, Contracts 19%, Agency 13%, Disclosures 7%, Property Management 3%, Transfer 6%, Practice 12%, Calculations 7%. Massachusetts state outline (salesperson item bands on the live CIB): Duties and Powers of the Board 2; Licensing Requirements 4 (activities requiring a license, active/inactive/expired, renewal and CE, Board notifications); Requirements Governing Licensees 13 (advertising, broker/salesperson relationship, commissions, consumer/licensee-relationship disclosure, conflict of interest, rental-fee disclosures, agency, documents, monies, home-inspector responsibility); Contracts 2 (offer to purchase, P&S, leases, listing and buyer agreements); Consumer Protection Laws 5 (property disclosures, misrepresentation, privacy, sanctions); Environmental Issues and Hazardous Materials 4 (lead, private sewage disposal, smoke and carbon monoxide detection, wetlands and rivers protection); Massachusetts Fair Housing Law 4 (protected classes that differ from Federal, MA-specific exceptions, MCAD, ADA); Landlord Tenant Law 4 (rental deposits, receipts and statement of condition, State Sanitary Code, short-term vacation or recreational rentals); Additional Topics 2 (ownership, condominiums/cooperatives/timeshares, registered land). You must test in the state of Massachusetts (CIB). Centers: Auburn, Boston/Charlestown, Fall River, Lawrence, West Springfield. Arrive 30 minutes early with two signature-bearing IDs matching the legal name on the registration. Score on screen; emailed report. Passed portion remains valid until the Educational Certificate expires (two years from course completion); if the certificate expires, the partial pass expires and both portions again.

PSI Services LLC after Board approval in eLIPSE (test-takers.psiexams.com/mare; (855) 340-3704; CIB Updated 06/12/2025). Independently scored portions at 70%. Live Mass.gov salesperson candidate $85; CIB examination $54 plus application $31; retake $54. · Fee: $85

Part Questions Minutes Pass
Salesperson National (General) 80 150 80 items (80 points); 150 minutes on the live CIB Examination Content Outlines table (Updated 06/12/2025). 70% = 56 of 80. Combo with state is 120 items (120 points) / 240 minutes. Experimental 5–10 count against time. Contracts 19%, agency 13%. You must test in Massachusetts. Mass.gov candidate line $85 packages the CIB $31 application + $54 exam
Salesperson Massachusetts State 40 90 40 items (40 points); 90 minutes on the live table; 70% = 28 of 40. Board 2, licensing 4, governing licensees 13 (rental-fee disclosures, home inspectors), contracts 2, consumer protection 5, environmental 4 (lead, Title 5 septic, smoke/CO, wetlands), MA Fair Housing 4, landlord-tenant 4, additional 2 (registered land). Passed portion lives until the Educational Certificate expires, not a free extra year

Live Mass.gov: salesperson candidate $85; miss the exam and pay a $54 retake fee; exam fee valid one year, not refundable or transferable. CIB: examination $54 salesperson / $52 broker; retake $54 for all; application $31 / $52. Failed portion must be completed within two years from the Educational Certificate date; if the certificate expires, the partial pass expires and both portions again. Cannot schedule a retake the same day; a Wednesday fail can call Thursday and retest as soon as Friday if space exists. Cancel 2 days ahead or forfeit. Unlimited attempts inside the certificate window. After both pass, pay the prorated license fee in eLIPSE within 30 days of notice (254 CMR 2.00(5)) or re-sit. Digital license 24 hours (CIB). Licensees who have been issued a Massachusetts license in the past must renew or reinstate that license — a new original is invalid and will be voided (CIB).

What to study

  • 40-hour Massachusetts salesperson prelicensure

    Board-approved school (live Authorized Real Estate Schools list)

    Educational Certificate is valid two years. School does not push PSI eligibility — eLIPSE does, after the Board approves the file.

  • PSI Massachusetts CIB (Updated 06/12/2025) — 80/150 min + 40/90 min at 70%

    PSI / Board

    State outline: lead, Title 5, smoke/CO, wetlands, MCAD, Sanitary Code, registered land, rental-fee disclosures. Combo 120/240 min. Must test in Massachusetts.

  • Mandatory Consumer Disclosure / 254 CMR agency and escrow rules

    Board

    First personal meeting to discuss a specific property. Escrow is a broker duty; salespersons cannot control the account.

  • M.G.L. c. 112 §87SS and 254 CMR

    Massachusetts legislature / Board

    40 hours, three endorsements, two-year certificate, 30-day license-fee clock, attorney exemption, reciprocity list.

  • Modern Real Estate Practice / Mastering Real Estate Math (latest edition)

    Dearborn — national 80

    Contracts 19%, agency 13%, calculations 7%.

05

Application costs

These are commission or testing-vendor amounts we can cite. School tuition and optional preparation products are private-market prices.

Fee Amount
Application$31
Examination$54
Renewal (every 2 years)$103

Live Mass.gov prepare page (fetched 2026-09-02): Salesperson Candidate $85 / Broker Candidate $106 per person; $54 retake if you miss the exam; exam fee valid one year, not refundable or transferable. CIB Updated 06/12/2025 splits the candidate line: application $31 salesperson / $52 broker, examination $54 salesperson / $52 broker, retake $54 for all. This hub stores application 31 and examination 54 as that CIB split; the Mass.gov $85 is those two added, not a third fee. Live renew page: salesperson $103, broker $142, business $221, school $264, school branch $147. Original license fees are prorated under §§87XX/87ZZ; live reciprocity page prints salesperson initial $103–$150. $5,000 surety bond is a broker condition, not a salesperson fee. No fingerprint dollar on the live pages. Confirm live eLIPSE carts before you pay — a vendor convenience fee may apply on some online transactions (live reciprocity page).

Commission

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

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.

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.
Pre-licensing

40 hours of Board-approved pre-licensure salesperson education

Live Mass.gov prepare page and FAQ (fetched 2026-09-02) and CIB: complete forty (40) hours of pre-licensure salesperson education at a Board-approved school; obtain the Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Educational Certificate completed by that school. M.G.L. c. 112 §87SS (effective June 1, 2011) is the statutory lock. Law-school real-property coursework in the Commonwealth can substitute under the statute — confirm with the Board rather than assuming. Create the eLIPSE account and upload the school-stamped certificate, three endorsements, and notarized CORI before scheduling PSI. Prelicense hours do not count as CE (live FAQ). A Rhode Island 45 or a Connecticut 60 is not this 40 unless the live educational-waiver path says so.

CIB and live FAQ: apply for and pass the licensure examination within two (2) years of the date of completing the required salesperson education. Educational Certificate remains valid for two years following the completion date. If it expires, retake all education and reapply as a new applicant. Exam fee is valid one year from payment. Passed portion remains valid until the certificate expires. License issues on the pass date and expires on the birth date two or three years out. Pay the license fee within 30 days of notice of passing (254 CMR 2.00(5)) or re-sit.
Sponsoring broker

A Massachusetts salesperson practices under a licensed broker. Live FAQ: the Broker of Record must report affiliations and terminations on the eLIPSE portal. Inactive salespersons may receive a referral fee from an active broker; they may not practice sale or lease. An active salesperson cannot have control or access to escrow funds — that is the broker's account. Mandatory Consumer Disclosure (agency) is a scored state item and a first-personal-meeting duty.
Fingerprints

Notarized DOL CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) authorization submitted through eLIPSE, as the live prepare page and reciprocity page currently name. This is not IdentoGO, not Fieldprint, and not California Live Scan. The live CIB, Mass.gov prepare page, FAQ, and renew page this hub fetched do not print a fingerprint dollar — do not invent one. Out-of-state endorsers are allowed; relatives and classmates are not. A "yes" on discipline questions may affect licensure; the Board does not currently license applicants who are on probation or parole (CIB). Renewal also wants a notarized CORI authorization (live renew page).
CE / renewal

Live FAQ, CIB, and renew page (fetched 2026-09-02): 12 hours of Board-curriculum CE each license term as a prerequisite to renewing active. MUST be completed BEFORE renewing active — no exceptions. Pre-licensure cannot be used as CE. Miss it and the Board must, by law, renew the license inactive. Inactive licensees may collect referral fees but may not practice. Attorneys of the Commonwealth in good standing who are real estate brokers are the statutory CE exemption. Reciprocal license holders: confirm the live Board rule on home-state CE versus Massachusetts 12. Upload a notarized CORI authorization at renewal (live renew page). License available for renewal 90 days before expiration; renew on your birthday during a renewal year.

Live FAQ: expired more than two years — follow the Reactivate or reinstate a real estate license page. Reinstatement of an expired license to active still wants the 12 hours (except attorneys of the Commonwealth). Confirm live reinstatement dollars on eLIPSE rather than inventing a late fee the renew page did not print. Wallet cards take 4–6 weeks; eLIPSE status updates immediately.
Recovery fund

Massachusetts does not operate a consumer recovery fund on the Ohio/Arizona/Virginia model. Brokers post a $5,000 surety bond (original, Board form, signed by the insurance agent and the candidate, witnessed) as a licensing condition. Salespersons do not post that bond. Do not treat the bond as E&O and do not buy one as a salesperson because a blog said "Massachusetts requires a bond."
06

Mistakes that delay applicants

  • Booking PSI before eLIPSE approval

    CIB: eligible when the application is approved. The old Candidate Handbook-then-self-schedule path is not the current portal sequence.

  • Using a classmate or a relative as an endorser

    Live prepare page and CIB: classmates known only from the course may NOT sign; relatives may not sign. Out-of-state endorsers are allowed.

  • Importing a Michigan 40-hour civil-rights course or a Rhode Island 45

    Massachusetts is a different 40 at a Board-approved school unless you are on the live 254 CMR 2.00 reciprocal list or an approved educational waiver.

  • Buying the $5,000 broker bond as a salesperson

    The bond is a broker condition. It is not a recovery fund and it does not authorize independent practice.

  • Letting the Educational Certificate hit two years with only one portion passed

    Partial pass dies with the certificate. Then both portions again, and a new 40 if the certificate is dead.

  • Waiting more than 30 days after notice of passing to pay the license fee

    254 CMR 2.00(5) / live FAQ: re-sit. Not a friendly reminder.

  • Treating the Mass.gov "printed at the testing center" sentence as current issuance

    CIB Updated 06/12/2025: PSI does not print licenses on site; pay via eLIPSE; digital license 24 hours. Note the how-to-page lag.

  • Renewing active without all 12 CE hours

    Live FAQ: the Board must renew you inactive. Partial hours do not count. Prelicensure is not CE.

  • Reading lead paint, Title 5, or registered land as extra-credit trivia

    They are scored Massachusetts state items. This paper cannot be renamed to Connecticut or Rhode Island.

  • Calling Pearson, or sitting a Rhode Island paper, for a Massachusetts score

    Massachusetts real estate is PSI under the 06/12/2025 CIB after eLIPSE approval. Reciprocity is a named 254 CMR 2.00 application, not a score transfer.

  • Applying for a new original after you already held a Massachusetts license

    CIB: LICENSEES WHO HAVE BEEN ISSUED A MASSACHUSETTS LICENSE IN THE PAST MUST RENEW OR REINSTATE THAT LICENSE. THEY MAY NOT BECOME LICENSED ANEW. A new original is invalid and will be voided.

07

Reciprocity and recognition

Partner / path Accepted exam Conditions
Connecticut Passed the examination in Connecticut Live Mass.gov reciprocity page (254 CMR 2.00), fetched 2026-09-02: certified letter of Good Standing (issue date, expiration, how issued, discipline, status), notarized CORI, passport-style photo. Brokers also need the original $5,000 surety bond. Application $31 salesperson / $52 broker plus prorated initial license $103–$150 / $142–$200. Review at least 10 business days for a complete file.
Rhode Island Passed the examination in Rhode Island Same 254 CMR 2.00 reciprocal path as Connecticut. A Rhode Island 45-hour classroom course is not Massachusetts prelicensure if you are not on this reciprocal list path.
West Virginia Passed the examination in West Virginia Named on the live 254 CMR 2.00 list. Certified letter of Good Standing plus CORI plus photo.
Nebraska Passed the examination in Nebraska Named on the live list.
Iowa Passed the examination in Iowa Named on the live list.
Tennessee Passed the examination in Tennessee Named on the live list. A Tennessee affiliate-broker certificate is not automatically a Massachusetts salesperson hanging — follow the reciprocal application, not a PSI waiver you invent.
Mississippi Passed the examination in Mississippi Named on the live list.
Colorado Passed the examination in Colorado Named on the live list.
Georgia Passed the examination in Georgia Named on the live list.
Pennsylvania Passed the examination in Pennsylvania Named on the live list.
New Mexico Passed the examination in New Mexico Named on the live list.
Oklahoma Licensed in Oklahoma for 2 years (salespersons and brokers) Live reciprocity page: salespersons and brokers from Oklahoma who have been licensed for 2 years, not merely "passed the exam" like the other named states. Confirm the two-year clock before you skip the 40.

Live Mass.gov reciprocity page (fetched 2026-09-02): only brokers and salespersons who have passed their examination in the named states may apply for reciprocity (254 CMR 2.00), plus Oklahoma licensees licensed 2 years. Everyone else may submit an educational waiver with a certified letter of Good Standing from the original state and still sit the Massachusetts exam. Attorneys of the Commonwealth are a separate exam-exempt attorney-broker product (§87SS), not reciprocity. This hub copies the live named list, not a school-blog compact chart.

08

Renewal and staying active

Live FAQ, CIB, and renew page (fetched 2026-09-02): 12 hours of Board-curriculum CE each license term as a prerequisite to renewing active. MUST be completed BEFORE renewing active — no exceptions. Pre-licensure cannot be used as CE. Miss it and the Board must, by law, renew the license inactive. Inactive licensees may collect referral fees but may not practice. Attorneys of the Commonwealth in good standing who are real estate brokers are the statutory CE exemption. Reciprocal license holders: confirm the live Board rule on home-state CE versus Massachusetts 12. Upload a notarized CORI authorization at renewal (live renew page). License available for renewal 90 days before expiration; renew on your birthday during a renewal year.

Late renewal: Live FAQ: expired more than two years — follow the Reactivate or reinstate a real estate license page. Reinstatement of an expired license to active still wants the 12 hours (except attorneys of the Commonwealth). Confirm live reinstatement dollars on eLIPSE rather than inventing a late fee the renew page did not print. Wallet cards take 4–6 weeks; eLIPSE status updates immediately.

Business licenses $221, school $264, school branch $147 on the live renew page, every 2 years on their own anniversary. Confirm live fees. A vendor convenience fee may apply on some online transactions.

Applicant checklist

  • 40-hour Board-approved salesperson course and Educational Certificate (2-year clock)
  • eLIPSE: certificate, three endorsements (not relatives, not classmates), notarized CORI; $85 candidate (CIB $31+$54)
  • PSI after approval: 80/150 min pass 56 + 40/90 min pass 28 (combo 120/240 min); must test in Massachusetts
  • Prorated license fee in eLIPSE within 30 days of notice of passing; digital license 24 hours (CIB)
  • Massachusetts broker affiliation to practice; 12-hour CE before each active renewal; $103 on the birthday cycle
09

How Massachusetts is different

Rhode Island: 45 classroom hours. New Hampshire: 40 hours with a printed distance-education cap. Vermont: PSI national plus an OPR-administered state portion. Connecticut: 60-hour Principles, May 31 even-year expiration. Michigan: a different 40 that includes 4 civil-rights hours. Massachusetts: 40 hours, eLIPSE then PSI, 80/150 min + 40/90 min at 70% each, three endorsements, CORI, 12-hour CE, birthday-tied 2-to-3-year term, and a $5,000 bond only on the broker side. Live reciprocity page names CT, RI, WV, NE, IA, TN, MS, CO, GA, PA, NM, plus Oklahoma licensees licensed 2 years — everyone else may seek an educational waiver and still sit.

10

Frequently asked questions

How many prelicense hours?
Forty (40) hours at a Board-approved school. Live Mass.gov prepare page, live FAQ, and CIB (Updated 06/12/2025), fetched 2026-09-02. Verified from those live pages, not a school blog. A Michigan 40 including 4 civil-rights hours is not this 40.
What is the sitting?
After eLIPSE approval, PSI. CIB: General 80 items (80 points) / 150 minutes, State 40 (40 points) / 90 minutes, Both 120 / 240 minutes. 70% each portion (56 of 80 and 28 of 40). Experimental 5–10 count against time. Must test in Massachusetts.
How much does the candidate / exam cost?
Live Mass.gov: Salesperson Candidate $85, Broker Candidate $106; $54 retake if you miss. CIB: application $31 salesperson / $52 broker, examination $54 salesperson / $52 broker, retake $54 for all. This hub treats $85 as the $31+$54 package, not a third fee.
Do I book PSI before eLIPSE?
No. CIB: candidates are eligible when the application and supporting documentation are approved. Live prepare page: applications through eLIPSE, including a DOL CORI form, then schedule with PSI. Incomplete files sit 180 days then are abandoned.
Do I need the $5,000 bond as a salesperson?
No. The original $5,000 surety bond on the Board form is a broker condition (live prepare page and CIB). Buying one as a salesperson does not let you open a shop and is not a recovery fund.
When does the license expire, and what CE applies?
Issue date is the pass date; expiration is your date of birth; valid no less than two years and no more than three (live prepare page + CIB). First renewal and every subsequent active renewal: 12 hours of CE completed BEFORE renewing active (live FAQ and CIB). Miss CE and the Board must renew you inactive. Prelicensure does not count as CE. Attorneys of the Commonwealth in good standing who are brokers are the statutory CE exemption. Renewal $103 salesperson / $142 broker (live renew page), plus a notarized CORI at renewal.
If I pass one portion and fail the other?
CIB: retake only the failed portion inside two years from the Educational Certificate date. If the certificate expires, the partial pass expires and both portions again. Live FAQ confirms the Board will not automatically invalidate a passing score when the certificate is still in date.
How long to pay for the license after I pass?
Live FAQ / 254 CMR 2.00(5): within thirty (30) days of being notified that you passed. Miss it and re-sit. CIB: digital license 24 hours after paying via eLIPSE; PSI does not print on site. Mass.gov how-to still prints a test-center issuance sentence — follow the CIB.
Licensed in another state — do I still take the 40?
Live reciprocity page names CT, RI, WV, NE, IA, TN, MS, CO, GA, PA, NM (passed their exam) plus Oklahoma licensees licensed 2 years. Everyone else may seek an educational waiver with a certified letter of Good Standing and still sit. Attorneys of the Commonwealth are a separate exam-exempt product.
Where is the Board and who seats the exam?
One Federal Street, Suite 600, Boston, MA 02110-2012. Board (617) 701-8661. Welcome Center (617) 701-8895. realestateboard@mass.gov. PSI (855) 340-3704, test-takers.psiexams.com/mare. CIB centers: Auburn, Boston/Charlestown, Fall River, Lawrence, West Springfield. You must test in Massachusetts.
What is scored Massachusetts, not NAR trivia?
Lead paint, Title 5 private sewage disposal, smoke and carbon monoxide detection, wetlands and rivers protection, MCAD fair housing (protected classes that differ from Federal), State Sanitary Code, short-term vacation rentals, registered land, rental-fee disclosures, and the Mandatory Consumer Disclosure. This paper cannot be renamed to Rhode Island's 45 or Connecticut's 60.
What can I do with an inactive license?
Live FAQ: you cannot work as a real estate agent; you may receive a referral fee from an active broker. Doing part of the 12 hours does not entitle you to active status. You must complete all 12 before renewing active.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

  1. Mass.gov — Prepare for and schedule your Real Estate license exam (40 hours; 3 endorsements; $85/$106; 70%; 2–3 year birthday term)
  2. Mass.gov FAQ (40 hours; 40 additional broker hours; 3 years at 25 hours/week; 12-hour CE; 2-year certificate; 30-day license-fee clock)
  3. Mass.gov — Renew a real estate license (12-hour CE; CORI; $103/$142/$221)
  4. Mass.gov — Reciprocity (254 CMR 2.00 named states + Oklahoma 2 years; $31/$52 application; initial $103–$150 / $142–$200)
  5. PSI Massachusetts CIB (Updated 06/12/2025; 80/150 min + 40/90 min at 70%; $54/$52 exam; $5,000 bond is broker)
  6. PSI Massachusetts Real Estate (schedule)
  7. M.G.L. c. 112 §87SS (40 hours, 40 additional broker hours, 3 years, attorney exam exemption)
  8. Massachusetts eLIPSE

Verified 2026-09-02  ·  Next scheduled review 2026-12-01