Commonly Asked Questions and Answers

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR BECOMING A REAL ESTATE AGENT:

Q: Is the school approved by the State of Massachusetts to provide Real Estate Pre-licensing & Continuing education?

A: Yes. Our authorized school code is #1290. We are fully licensed and bonded. We can teach the Salesperson and Broker Pre-licensing courses as well as the state approved continuing education curriculum.

Q: How long does the course take?

A: State of Massachusetts requires all students complete 40 hours of pre-licensing education through a state approved school in order to qualify and sit for the state licensing exam.   We offer a "Weekend Warrior" class which runs on Saturdays & Sundays over two back to back weekends.   

​Q: How long do I have to complete the exam? 

A: 4 hours time to complete exam. There are 2 sections of the exam - General & State. You must get a 70% on each portion to pass. The exam is computer based and consists of 100 general real estate questions and 40 state specific questions. All questions are multiple choice. The exam will also have some scenario based questions. Upon passing, you will receive your license.  If you did not pass, you will receive your score before leaving the testing site. You will also see the areas of content which improvement is needed to help you study. 

Q: Are additional classes required to get or maintain my license?

A: Additional classes are not needed to get your license. However, once becoming licensed, current licensees who are renewing their license must complete 12 hours of Continuing Education every two years. The CE credits can be earned via online education or in a classroom setting by an approved real estate school. 

Q: Where do I take the state exam?

A: PSI Services is the state's testing agency. (www.psiexams.com) The examination centers are located in Auburn, Charleston, Fall River, Lawrence & West Springfield. An online proctored examination is also now available. Computer used must have a camera & be compatible with PSI's software program. A link is provided to confirm compatibility.  Exams are available weekly. 

Q: How soon after I pass the exam do I get my real estate license? 

A: Candidates are expected to pay a license fee immediately upon passing. The Exam Cost is $85, re-takes are $54/each, honorably discharged Veterans $54. Salesperson License Fee is $103-$150 prorated; based on your birthday. Licenses expire every two years on your birthday. Real Estate Brokers License Fee is between $142-$200 as prorated.

Q: What if I don't pass both parts of the exam? 

A: Candidates who pass one section only need to retake the section they didn't pass. A test summary will be provided showing areas of strengths & weaknesses. When you retake the examination, you'll only be allotted 2.5 hrs. for the General portion & 1.5 hours to complete the State portion. 

Q: Are there other requirements to be met before I get a license? 

A: Yes, you must be 18 years of age. Candidate needs to secure 3 personal character references who are unrelated. Candidates must complete the Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form which needs to be notarized by a Notary.  If you have a record or felony, the board will review your license application & CORI and may require a personal meeting with you to answer any questions or concerns they may have. Ultimately, the board can prohibit or delay you from taking the exam. You must have filed & paid all state tax returns to date.  If you are currently on a payment plan with the state, you should contact the real estate board to confirm your qualification. The board will not approve anyone currently on parole or probation. You also need 2 forms of current signature ID  (Payment by: credit card, debt card. (NO CASH will be accepted) 

Q: How will the examination center  know I completed the pre-licensing class? 

A: You'll receive a course Completion Certificate upon completing 40 hours of education. An authorized representative of the school will sign &  stamp the Certificate.  You'll need to send the board your paperwork in advance so they can run your CORI and approve you to schedule the exam.

Q: How long is my Completion Certificate good for? 

A: You have 2 years from the class completion date to pass the exam. If the time expires, you'll have to retake the pre-licensing class.

 Other important info:

Candidates should read the Candidate Information Bulletin carefully and pay very close attention to PSI's cancellation policy as outlined. 

A calculator is provided by PSI. No phones or study materials are permitted.

BROKERS LICENSING -

Same as above and;

Must obtain Employing Broker Certification - certifies the Salesperson has been affiliated with a real estate brokerage for at least 3 years, actively engaged in the business. If you've worked for multiple brokerages over the 3 year period, you'll need to obtain certifications from as many agencies needed to make up the 3 year requirement. The experience requirement cannot be more than 2 years old.

Affiliated Broker must certify Salesperson has worked at least 25 hours per week - actively engaged in real estate. 

Candidate must obtain $5,000 Surety Bond. Typical costs is approx. $50 +/- for a 

5 year bond.