Massachusetts Real Estate License · Broker Upgrade

Massachusetts Real Estate Broker License Upgrade

The broker license is an advanced credential, not a first-time path. Here's what's required beyond your salesperson license.

Requires Salesperson License First3 Yrs / 25+ Hrs Weekly Experience40 More Hours of Education$5,000 Surety Bond

RealReady is an independent guide. Confirm current broker licensing requirements, forms, and fees directly with the Board of Registration.

RealReady Massachusetts · Independent Guide
Broker Upgrade Snapshot
PrerequisiteCurrent MA salesperson license
Experience3 yrs, 25+ hrs/week
Additional education40 hours, broker-specific
Surety bond$5,000, original notarized form
Exam fee$106, PSI
Renewal CE12-hr framework applies
Independent planning snapshot — verify current status with the official source.

Upgrading from salesperson to broker

The broker license is not a first-time path — it requires an existing Massachusetts salesperson license, qualifying experience, and additional education.

Prerequisite
Current MA salesperson license
Current Massachusetts salesperson license required.
Experience
3 yrs, 25+ hrs/week
Affiliated with an Active Massachusetts broker; current or completed no more than two years before the broker exam.
Additional education
40 more hours
Board-approved broker-specific education.

Prerequisites for the broker exam

To sit for the Massachusetts broker exam, you generally need to currently hold a Massachusetts salesperson license, have at least three years of experience affiliated with an Active Massachusetts broker at a minimum of 25 hours per week, and complete an additional 40 hours of Board-approved broker education. The experience must be current or completed no more than two years before the broker examination/licensure.

The Employing Broker Certification form

Your employing broker completes an Employing Broker Certification to verify your experience. The current Board guidance explicitly requires the original surety bond. Follow the current eLIPSE application instructions for the submission format of the Employing Broker Certification.

The $5,000 surety bond

Broker applicants secure an original notarized $5,000 surety bond on a Board-provided form, signed by an authorized insurance agent acting as attorney-in-fact and by the candidate. This bond is a consumer-protection instrument tied to the broker license.

The broker exam

Broker candidates complete the 40 additional hours of education, then register with PSI and pass the broker-level General and Massachusetts State exam portions. The current Broker Candidate fee is $106.

Renewal and affiliation for brokers

Current Board guidance applies the 12-hour Active-renewal CE framework to brokers and salespersons. See the renewal & CE guide.

Broker upgrade traps to avoid

Experience gaps can disqualify you
Your three years of qualifying experience must be current or completed no more than two years before the broker exam. A long gap in affiliated experience can be a problem — confirm your specific timeline with the Board.
The bond must be original and notarized
Photocopies of the surety bond form are not accepted. Confirm current form requirements with the Board before submitting.
Don't assume broker CE is different from salesperson CE
Current Board guidance applies the same 12-hour renewal framework to both license types unless the Board says otherwise.

Not yet eligible for the broker upgrade?

Review the standard salesperson renewal and CE path while you build qualifying experience.

Frequently asked questions

Official Sources