Who Grants a License: Licenses are granted by the Massachusetts Board of Registration for Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (“DPL-Board”).
Qualifications to receive a License: A candidate must complete 40 clock hours of study at a school approved by the DPL-Board (search schools here), pass a school-administered final exam, and pass a state exam. All candidates must submit a three candidate endorsements. All candidates must be at least 18 years of age, and be current on all filings of state tax returns and state tax payments.
Applying for the Exams: Candidates should apply to take the state exam through the PSI website.
Test Content: The Massachusetts state real estate licensing exam is comprised of two separate portions, the national test and the state-specific portion. Five questions on the national portion and five to ten questions on the state-specific portion are considered "experimental" questions and are not scored. Both portions are comprised of multiple choice questions with four answer choices provided for each question. Test takers are allotted 4 hours to complete both portions of the exam. A scaled score of at least 70 on each portion of the exam is required to pass. Students who pass only one portion need only take the retake un-passed portion, but must pass that portion within two years of passing the first portion. The exam is presented in a computer-based format, but accommodations for paper-based tests and/or oral testing can be provided with special arrangements.
The national test consists of 85 questions (80 are scored, 5 are not scored) and tests the candidate's knowledge of general real estate concepts, including the following subject areas:
Real property characteristics
Property valuation and appraisal
Contracts and relationships with buyers and sellers
Property conditions and disclosures
Federal laws governing real estate activities
Financing the transaction, and settlement
Leases, rents, and property management
Brokerage operations
The state-specific test consists of 45-50 questions (40 are scored, 5-10 are not scored) and tests the candidate's knowledge of the state-specific concepts, including the following subject areas:
Duties and powers of the Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons
Licensing requirements
Requirements governing licensees
Additional topics
How to Apply for the License: Upon passing both portions of the exam, the candidate is asked for the license fee; and any further required information. The candidate receives a license at the test center.
Fees: The DPL-Board charges a license application fee, which is prorated and calculated by the test center at the time of licensure.
Who administers the test: The DPL-Board and PSI.
License Renewal Requirements – A Massachusetts real estate licensee must take 12 credit hours of continuing education (either online or in the classroom) from a DPL-Board-approved provider every two years. (Search approved providers here.) Further information is provided on the DPL-Board website, here.
Applicable Regulations: Real estate licensees in Massachusetts are regulated under the Massachusetts General Laws, Section 87AAA3/4, and the Massachusetts Rules and Regulations Governing Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons.
To prepare for your Real Estate Agent exam, use our 300 question practice test, with answers fully explained, by expert Karen Bohler.
For more information on real estate agent licensing and exam preparation, go to Tests.com’s
Real Estate Agent Exam Guide and Real Estate Broker Exam Guide.
And take Tests.com’s free Real Estate Agent Practice Test and Real Estate Broker Practice Test.
For real estate agent exam preparation products, such as study guides, flashcards and courses, go to Tests.com’sReal Estate Agent Exam and Real Estate Broker Exam listings.
