Jump to: Pre license FAQ | Online CE FAQ
Pre License FAQ:
Prior real estate knowledge is NOT required to participate in the real estate pre-license salesperson course.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”What is the difference between a Real Estate Salesperson and a Real Estate Broker?”]The basic distinction between a Salesperson and Brokers license is that a salesperson may not work independently nor have other real estate agents working for them. A Broker may work independently. There are other distinctions that will be covered in class. To obtain a broker’s license, you must work as a salesperson for a real estate brokerage firm for at least three years, complete 40 additional hours of instruction and pass the broker’s license exam.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”Do you offer online classes for pre license training?”]Yes! The Board of Registration recently approved that the pre-license classes can be presented in an online format but at least half of the 40 (forty) hour class must be presented with a live instructor. Half of the class is self-directed with pre-recorded videos and the other half via the scheduled webinars with a live instructor.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”How do the online classes work?”]There will be 5 (five) days of 4 (four) hour scheduled webinars. Prior to each class we suggest that students view videos and complete other activities online to be prepared for the live webinar class.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”How do the classroom sessions work?”]There will be 2 (two), 10 (ten) hour classroom sessions. The student will view videos and complete other online activities prior to the classroom sessions. The 2 (two) classroom sessions will be held 1 (one) week apart to give the student sufficient time to complete the self-directed, online video portion of the classes.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”Do you offer weekday pre license classes?”]Yes. Our online option has the webinar portion conducted during the week. Check our class calendar for dates.
PLEASE NOTE: Class schedules are subject to change without notice.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”Where are your classes located?”]Our live classes are currently available in Braintree (Eastern MA) and Sturbridge (Central/Western MA)
[/toggle] [toggle title=”How long will it take to complete my classes?”]All of our classes have 40 (forty) hours of participation as required by the Board of Registration. The online and classroom options will require 20 (twenty) hours of video presentation and related activities and 20 (twenty) hours with an instructor, in either a classroom environment or webinar. The online and classroom options could be completed over a 2 (two) to 3 (three) week period.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”How do I register for pre license classes?”]Browse the class calendar to determine the format you prefer (Classroom, Online or Weekend Warrior) and then select the start date of the live lecture portion of your class. Click that date and it will provide you with more details and a link to register for the class.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”What should I bring to class with me?”]Students should be prepared for class by having a notebook, pen, highlighter, 3 x 5 index cards and a basic calculator. Classroom students may want to pack a lunch and snacks. Some locations do have food available for purchase on-site or nearby.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”Will you send me the manual for the course before I attend?”]All materials are provided online for the online and classroom options. If you prefer to have a hard copy of the book you can purchase it online.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”What is your Refund Policy if I need to cancel my registration for a class?”]If you need to cancel a class registration, full refunds will only be issued for the Salesperson Class with at least 72 hours notice before the class start date and 14 days notice before the Broker Class start date. For cancellations after the cut off date, a cancellation fee of 30% of the tuition will apply. For the Online and Classroom Series, there are no refunds once the online material has been accessed.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”How much study time is required to pass the state exam?”]Of course, this depends on your individual learning style. Students learn in different ways and at different paces. It is highly recommended that you set aside time to study and prepare for the exam outside of your classroom time. We cover a lot of material during class, and most people need to revisit the material on their own time to be ready to take the exam with confidence. Our instructors are well-versed in adult learning techniques and will share with you strategies to help you establish effective study habits.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”How much is the exam fee for Salespersons and Brokers?”]The exam Salesperson exam is $85.00. (PSI Exam Fee: $54 + MA Application Fee: $31) and the Broker exam is $106.00
Please Note: PSI Services, LLC is the vendor for the Massachusetts Real Estate Exam. To learn more about the new company and their procedures, please visit “PSI Frequently Asked Questions.”
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[toggle title=”What if I don’t pass the exam?”]
There are two parts to the exam, the general section and the Massachusetts law section. You need to get 70% on both parts of the exam. If you fail one part, you need only retake the section you failed. The cost to retake is $54.00.
Our Guarantee:
Our goal is for you to pass the State Real Estate exam the first time – but, if for some reason you don’t – you may retake the course option you purchased for FREE!* You have up to 2 (two) years from completion of your initial course to pass both sections of the exam. We also suggest you call us so we can talk about which subjects areas might need extra attention and we’ll help you create a study plan that addresses these areas. (*Pass Guarantee does not apply to the Pre-License Salesperson Express Series Course)
The salesperson license is issued immediately after passing the exam. The fee is prorated based on the day you pass the exam and your birthday. The fee ranges from $103 – $154. The reason for the pro-ration is your new license will be valid for two years from your next birthday at which time you will need to renew. Your only requirement to renew your license will be to complete 12 hours of continuing education classes.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”Can I get a license if I have a felony on my record?”]When you apply to take the exam you will be required to complete a CORI form. If you are concerned about past offences on your record you can review the board website for more details.
[/toggle]Online Continuing Education (CE) FAQ:
Yes, our school is bonded and licensed by the MA Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”Are your online real estate classes approved by MA for Continuing Education?”]Yes, all our online classes are fully-approved for CE credits in Massachusetts.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”Why haven’t I heard of online CE before?”]Online classes were not allowed before 2010. The new law that allows approved real estate schools to teach online classes went into effect February 1, 2010.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”Am I required to take REALTOR® Code of Ethics?”]You are not required to take the REALTOR® Code of Ethics class to renew your Salespersons or Broker license for the state of Massachusetts. It is only required to maintain membership in the National Association of Realtors. NAR recently changed the requirement to take the course every three years from the previous two year requirement.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”Are the online real estate classes approved for residential and commercial agents?”]The MA Board of Registration does not distinguish between residential and commercial agents. You may select any of our course offerings, as they are fully-approved for both residential and commercial agents.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”Are the CE requirements different for salespersons and brokers?”]No, the continuing educations requirements are the same for salespersons and brokers.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”How often do I need to take continuing education courses?”]The MA Board requires that you complete 12 hours of approved continuing education classes every two years. The Board’s approved classes are all in two-hour segments so you would need to take six, two-hour classes. There are no tests or quizzes with CE Classes.
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[toggle title=”How do New England Real Estate Academy’s online Continuing Education (CE) classes work?”]
Our classes are produced in a multi-media video format offering a combination of recorded instructor presentation and PowerPoint slides. After registering for our classes, you will log into our school website and watch the videos for each class at your own pace. You may start and stop the videos at any time, as our system keeps track of where you left off. There is no required reading or any tests to pass. You may watch the videos on most devices (desktop computer, laptop, iPad, etc.). You have access to our videos anywhere there is an internet connection.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”Do I have to pass an exam after taking the online Continuing Education (CE) courses?”]No. There are no tests or quizzes except for REALTOR® Code of Ethics, which is required by NAR. Just watch the videos, and at the conclusion of the courses, you will be asked to acknowledge that you watched the videos yourself. You will then be able to print your certificate of completion from our system to keep for your records. If you take the REALTOR® Code of Ethics you will receive a separate certificate to send to your local REALTOR® board after you pass the test.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”Will the online classes work on my mobile device?”]Yes, our classes are fully functional on iPads, Macs, PC’s and most tablets and smart phones.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”How do I get started?”]It takes three easy steps to get started.
1. Go to our online real estate school page and set up an account.
2. Go to the ‘Catalog’ tab and choose your classes.
3. Pay with a credit card and begin watching the videos.
If you have any questions, please call us at 508-952-1010.
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[toggle title=”How long do I have to complete the courses?”]
You will have 90 days from your registration date to complete the course and go back to review the videos.
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[toggle title=”When I complete my online courses, do I need to mail the certificate of completion to the Board?”]
No. When you complete your courses online with us, you will be able to print a certificate of completion right from our system to keep for your records, but you DO NOT send this certificate to the Board at this time. You will communicate your fulfillment of the requirements to the Board by indicating “Yes” on the renewal form “under the pains and penalties of perjury” that you have completed your 12 hours of continuing education courses. You would only need to send your Certificate of Completion to the Board if you receive an audit letter. The Board uses a quasi-honor system and will periodically audit a number of agents. We also keep a detailed record of your classes in our database, and you may contact us if you need proof of your CE credit completion.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”What is the process to renew my Real Estate license?”]Approximately 2 months before your license renewal date, you will receive a renewal letter in the mail from the MA Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons. It will contain your “Record ID and an Authorization Code”. You will need this information when you renew your license online.
You must complete your renewal online prior to your renewal date, along with a one-time renewal fee. The form includes a section to indicate (“Yes” or “No”) if you have completed the 12-hours of continuing education credits required for renewal. If you answer “Yes”, your license will be renewed and considered to be “active.” If you answer “No” or fail to answer the question, your license will be renewed as “inactive.” When you answer this question, keep in mind that you are attesting to the truth “under the pains and penalties of perjury” and there are consequences for falsifying this information.
It may be helpful to have your certificate available to reference to answer any questions the board may have in the online renewal form.
If you do not have your letter you can contact the board. Explain in the email that you need a “Record ID and an Authorization Code” in order to renew your license. The easiest way is to email them at dplauthcodes@mass.gov
or you can call them at 617-727-2373
Yes, to avoid late fees, you may send in your renewal application before completing your 12-hours of continuing education classes. If you would like to renew your license, but have NOT yet completed the courses, you would answer “No” to the question regarding the completion of continuing education credits and mail the application and renewal fee to the Board. It’s important to understand, however, that your license will be considered current, but “inactive” until you complete the CE requirements and notify the Board.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”If my license is placed in a current, but “inactive” status, how do I re-activate it?”]If your license is current (meaning you have paid the renewal fee), but “inactive” (because you did not complete the CE credit requirements by the renewal date), you will receive a notice informing you that your renewal is “inactive.” This form will have a section to indicate “under the pains and penalty of perjury” that you have completed the continuing education requirements and you want to make your license “active.” The completed form is mailed to the Board. If for some reason you do not receive the “inactive” notice from the Board, you can download a License Reactivation Form from on the Board’s website and mail it to them. Note: There is no additional fee charged when mailing the inactive status notice or License Reactivation form.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”How do I renew my license if it has expired MORE THAN 2 years ago?”]To renew an expired license, you must submit a Request For Reinstatement Application to the board with all applicable fees after you have complete the 12 hours of required CE. Please note that you may be required to pay the licensing fee for all the years that you failed to renew your license and one late fee.
[/toggle] [toggle title=”How do I renew my license if it has expired LESS THAN 2 years ago?”]When your license expires. You have 2 years from the expiration date to reactive your license and pay a late fee. There is no paperwork that you need to complete. Everything is online now. To reactivate your license you need to go to the boards website and pay for your license renewal online. If you don’t have an account you should contact the board. The easiest way is to contact them is via email. dplauthcodes@mass.gov
No. Taking the Broker Pre license class alone will not fulfill the CE requirements for a salesperson. However, if you take the broker class and pass the broker exam prior to your license renewal date, your salesperson license is upgraded to a broker’s license and your next license renewal date will be two years from your next birthday.
[/toggle]For more detailed information about the licensing process in Massachusetts, visit the Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons website.