Massachusetts real estate exam
Format, passing score, fees and what to study — compiled from the official candidate handbook and state sources, with a link and a confidence level for every fact. Last verified 2026-10-31.
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Massachusetts exam format and requirements
| Fact | Value | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulator | Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure) | Official source | Link |
| Exam provider | PSI Services LLC CIB effective 10/21/2026 (earlier mass.gov copy: updated 6/12/2025). | Official source | Link |
| National-portion questions | 80 80 scored (80 points); 1-10 experimental items (~10%) may be added. | Official source | Link |
| State-portion questions | 40 40 scored (40 points). | Official source | Link |
| Exam time (minutes) | 240 General 150 min + State 90 min = 240 min. | Official source | Link |
| Passing score | 70% minimum on each portion Pass one portion, fail other: retake only failed portion; must complete within 2 years of the education certificate date. | Official source | Link |
| Exam fee (USD) | $56 $56 salesperson exam fee (and retake). Application fee $31 paid to Board; license fee paid on exam day after passing. Older CIB (2025) listed $54. | Official source | Link |
| Pre-licensing hours | 40 40 hours of pre-licensure salesperson education; must apply and pass within 2 years of completing it. Three candidate endorsements required. | Official source | Link |
| Languages | English Handbook/bulletin describes no non-English exam version; English presumed. | Secondary source | Link |
“Official source” = read in a state agency page or the exam provider’s candidate handbook on 2026-10-31. Anything marked “Vendor claim” or “Not verified” should be confirmed before you rely on it. Fees and formats change.
What this means for your study plan
- Time per question: about 2 minutes each (240 minutes ÷ 120 questions). Practice at that pace.
- Both portions count: you must reach the pass mark on each portion — a strong national score does not make up for a weak Massachusetts score.
- Where people lose points: math word problems, wording traps (NOT/EXCEPT), and state rules that differ from the national rule. Our formula sheet covers the math.
- Good to know: Massachusetts is notable for a high-weight state fair housing section (15%) and for lead paint, Title 5, and Landlord-Tenant (security deposit) content. Digital license issued via eLIPSE portal. Active-duty military/veteran fee also $56.
State-portion topics published for Massachusetts
- Duties and Powers of the Board (5%; 2 items)
- Requirements for Licensing (8%; 3 items)
- Requirements Governing Licensees (30-33%; 12 items): advertising, broker/salesperson relationship, compensation, disclosures, agency & non-agency (designated, dual, facilitator, sub-agency), documents, funds, home inspectors
- Contracts (8%; 3 items): offer to purchase, purchase & sale agreement, rep. agreements
- Consumer Protection Laws (10-12%; 5 items): property disclosures, misrepresentation, privacy (WISP)
- Environmental Issues and Hazardous Materials (8%; 3 items): lead, Title 5 septic, smoke/CO detectors, wetlands
- Massachusetts Fair Housing Law (15%; 6 items)
- Landlord Tenant Law (10%; 4 items): rental deposits, State Sanitary Code
- Additional Topics (5%; 2 items): condominiums/co-ops, legal descriptions
Sample Massachusetts practice questions
Original questions written from the law, each with an explanation and a citation. Massachusetts-specific questions are coming soon; these samples come from the national portion.
Which item is NOT one of the six pieces of information that make up an 'application' triggering the Loan Estimate requirement?
- The consumer's name
- The property address
- Employment history
- The loan amount sought
Answer: C. For TRID purposes an application consists of six items: the consumer's name, income, Social Security number to obtain a credit report, property address, an estimate of the property's value, and the mortgage loan amount sought. Employment history may be collected later but is not part of the definition.
Topic: Real Estate Finance · Source: 12 C.F.R. § 1026.2(a)(3) (definition of application)
Tenant Ivy, with three years left on her lease, sublets her apartment to Jay for one year and keeps the rest of the term. Jay never promised the landlord anything, and he stops paying. Under the traditional rule, the landlord
- may sue Jay directly for the rent, because Jay is in privity of estate with the landlord
- must accept Jay as the new tenant and release Ivy from the lease
- may sue only Jay, because Ivy transferred possession of the apartment to him
- may hold Ivy liable for the rent, but generally has no direct rent claim against Jay
Answer: D. In a sublease, the tenant transfers less than her entire remaining interest and keeps a reversion, so the subtenant is in privity with the tenant, not with the landlord. Ivy remains liable to the landlord for the rent, while the landlord generally cannot sue Jay directly on the lease covenants because Jay never assumed them. Jay is liable to Ivy under the sublease.
Topic: Contracts & Leasing · Source: Black's Law Dictionary (12th ed. 2024), "sublease"; "privity of estate"
When a servicer sets up an escrow account for taxes and insurance as a condition of a new mortgage loan, Regulation X requires that the borrower receive an initial escrow account statement:
- within 10 business days after the first payment
- only after the end of the first escrow computation year
- at settlement or within 45 calendar days of settlement
- within 90 days, together with the first tax bill
Answer: C. Under Regulation X, the servicer must give the borrower an initial escrow account statement at settlement or within 45 calendar days of settlement for an escrow account established as a condition of the loan. Annual escrow account statements are then due within 30 days after each computation year ends.
Topic: Transfer of Title & Closing · Source: 12 C.F.R. § 1024.17(g)(1)
Try the full 20-question Massachusetts quiz
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Massachusetts real estate exam?
The Massachusetts exam format we found is 80 national questions plus 40 Massachusetts questions (120 in total) in 240 minutes. Confirm in the official handbook before exam day.
What is the passing score for the Massachusetts real estate exam?
70% minimum on each portion (Official source).
How much does the Massachusetts real estate exam cost?
The exam fee we found is $56, paid to PSI Services LLC. Fees change, so check the current handbook.
How many pre-licensing hours does Massachusetts require?
40 hours for the entry-level license, according to the sources below. Pre-licensing education must come from a state-approved school; GablePrep is exam prep and is not an approved course.
Official sources for Massachusetts
- Regulator: Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure)
- Exam provider: PSI Services LLC
- Official candidate handbook / content outline
Independent exam prep. Not affiliated with any state real estate commission or testing provider. Not an approved pre-licensing course. Not legal advice.