Broker and real estate agent: How to become a real estate broker in Maine
Becoming a real estate broker in Maine requires progressing through three license tiers over a minimum of 4 years of licensed experience. The Broker/Designated Broker license is the highest tier, allowing you to operate a real estate agency, supervise other licensees, and perform all brokerage services. The path starts with a Sales Agent license, advances to Associate Broker after 2 years, and culminates in the Broker/Designated Broker license after 2 additional years plus completion of the Designated Broker Course. The distinction between a broker and real estate agent is separate from state licensing: a broker holds a state-issued license with expanded authority, while a REALTOR® is a dues-paying member of the National Association of REALTORS® who may hold any license tier.
Maine's three real estate license tiers
Maine structures real estate practice into three license tiers that the Maine Real Estate Commission[1] issues and regulates. Each tier builds on the one below it, creating a structured progression from real estate agent to broker.
| License tier | Experience required | Course required | Exam | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Agent | None | Sales Agent Course (75% min. grade) | Pearson VUE, scaled 75 | 2 years, non-renewable |
| Associate Broker | 2 years as Sales Agent | 60-hour Associate Broker Course (75% min. grade) | None | 2 years, renewable |
| Broker/Designated Broker | 2 years as Associate Broker | Designated Broker Course (75% min. grade) | None | 2 years, renewable |
All license types share minimum eligibility requirements: applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of application and hold a high school diploma or equivalent.
In Maine, a Sales Agent (the entry-level license) must be affiliated with a licensed real estate agency and may perform brokerage services only under the supervision of the agency's designated broker. A Broker/Designated Broker holds the top-tier license, can act as the designated broker for an agency, and must have been licensed as an associate broker affiliated with a real estate brokerage agency for 2 years within the 5 years preceding application. The Sales Agent license is issued for 2 years and is non-renewable, while the Broker/Designated Broker license is renewable and requires completion of a Designated Broker Course with a minimum grade of 75%.
A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and may be either a licensed real estate agent or a broker; REALTORS® must follow NAR's Code of Ethics. A real estate broker has completed additional education and experience requirements beyond those for an agent and is licensed to work independently, hire agents, and supervise real estate transactions. In Maine, the Broker/Designated Broker is the top license tier, requiring 2 years as an associate broker plus completion of the Designated Broker Course, while a REALTOR® designation is a voluntary membership distinction available to agents or brokers at any level.
From Sales Agent to Associate Broker
The first promotion on the broker pathway is earning the Associate Broker license, which requires 2 years of active practice as a Sales Agent. Under Title 32 §13199[2], the Commission may not issue an Associate Broker license until an individual has completed 2 years as a licensed Sales Agent affiliated with a brokerage agency.
The experience requirement uses a 5-year lookback window: the Sales Agent experience must have occurred within the 5 years immediately preceding the application date. The applicant completes the Associate Broker Course and submits a Documented Field Experience Form as part of the application.
No separate licensing exam is required for the Associate Broker upgrade. The Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook[3] specifies that the application must be submitted no more than 30 days before the Sales Agent license expires and within 5 years of the original Sales Agent license issuance date.
The entry-level Sales Agent Course is a 55-hour Commission-approved course that you must complete with a minimum grade of 75% before taking the licensing exam. For the Associate Broker license, a 60-hour Associate Broker Course (plus a Documented Field Experience Form) is required with a minimum grade of 75%. For the Broker/Designated Broker license, the Designated Broker Course is required with a minimum grade of 75%. All courses must be taken through providers approved by the Maine Real Estate Commission.
How to earn the real estate broker license
Earning the real estate broker license in Maine means completing the Designated Broker Course and filing the application within one calendar year of course completion. The Maine Real Estate Commission[1] requires the applicant to submit the original course completion certificate with the license application.
Maine does not require a separate examination for the broker license. The license is issued based on course completion and prior Associate Broker experience.
To become a Broker/Designated Broker in Maine, you must have been licensed as an associate broker affiliated with a real estate brokerage agency for 2 years within the 5 years immediately preceding your application. You must also complete the Designated Broker Course with a minimum final grade of 75% and apply within one calendar year of completing the course. The application fee is $100 plus a $21 criminal records check fee, and no separate licensing exam is required for the standard broker pathway. The license term is 2 years and is renewable.
No separate broker licensing exam exists in Maine. The broker/designated broker license requires completion of the Designated Broker Course with a minimum final grade of 75%, plus 2 years of experience as an associate broker affiliated with a real estate brokerage agency within the 5 years preceding application. The application must be submitted within 1 year of course completion. Pearson VUE offers practice tests for $19.95 covering general real estate topics, but no state-specific practice tests are available.
To earn a Broker/Designated Broker license in Maine, an applicant must have been licensed as an Associate Broker affiliated with a real estate brokerage agency for 2 years within the 5 years preceding the application, and must complete the Designated Broker Course with a minimum final grade of 75%. The application must be submitted within one calendar year of completing the course. No separate broker licensing exam is required. The progression begins with the 55-hour Sales Agent Course, followed by the 60-hour Associate Broker Course after 2 years of practice as a Sales Agent.
No, a college degree is not required. All Maine real estate license applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of application and hold a high school diploma or equivalent. This minimum applies to every license tier: Sales Agent, Associate Broker, and Broker/Designated Broker.
The Designated Broker Course
The Designated Broker Course is the qualifying education requirement for the Broker/Designated Broker license. Three Commission-approved providers offer it: Center for Real Estate Studies, Real Estate Institute of New England, and The Real Estate Learning Group, per the Maine PFR qualifying education schedule[4].
The course is offered in livestream and hybrid formats, with scheduling varying by provider. Course pricing varies by provider and format and is not set by the Commission.
How long the broker pathway takes
The broker pathway in Maine takes a minimum of 4 years of licensed experience, plus the time to complete coursework at each tier. The Maine Real Estate Commission[1] requires sequential progression through the license tiers, with each tier mandating active practice before the next upgrade.
The Commission does not publish a standard processing time for broker license applications. The limiting factor is the experience requirement at each tier, not the coursework or application review.
The path to a Broker/Designated Broker license in Maine requires at least 4 years of licensed experience. You must first hold a Sales Agent license for 2 years, then upgrade to an Associate Broker license and practice for an additional 2 years affiliated with a real estate brokerage agency. During or after that period, you must complete the Designated Broker Course with a minimum grade of 75% and submit your application within 1 year of completing the course. The broker experience requirement is 2 years as an associate broker within the 5 years immediately preceding the application date.
Broker license fees
The fees to obtain a Broker/Designated Broker license are set by the Maine Real Estate Commission[1].
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application/license | $100 |
| Criminal records check | $21 |
| Active biennial renewal | $100 |
| Late renewal (within 90 days) | $50 |
The active broker license renews every 2 years, with continuing education requirements that apply to all active brokers. The Designated Broker Course cost varies by provider and format.
What a Broker/Designated Broker can do
A Broker/Designated Broker can perform all real estate brokerage services, serve as the designated broker for a licensed agency, and supervise Sales Agents and Associate Brokers. A Designated Broker who operates an agency must also obtain an agency license from the Commission. Branch office licenses are also available.
Commercial transactions fall within the scope of the Broker/Designated Broker license — no separate commercial credential exists in Maine.
In Maine, all license types must be affiliated with a Maine-licensed real estate agency to be eligible to perform brokerage services. A sales agent must work under the supervision of the agency's designated broker and must have made arrangements to affiliate with a licensed agency before applying for a license. The designated broker oversees the agent's brokerage activities and provides the signed recommendation required with the license application.
Maine does not issue a separate commercial real estate license. The state's three license types, Sales Agent, Associate Broker, and Broker/Designated Broker, cover all brokerage services, and no commercial-specific license category exists. To work in commercial real estate, you would follow the standard Sales Agent licensing path: complete the 55-hour Sales Agent Course with a minimum grade of 75%, pass the Pearson VUE Sales Agent exam with a scaled score of 75, and affiliate with a Maine-licensed real estate agency before applying.
Maine does not issue a separate commercial real estate broker license. The Broker/Designated Broker license authorizes all brokerage services, including commercial transactions. To qualify, an applicant must have been licensed as an associate broker affiliated with a real estate brokerage agency for 2 years within the 5 years immediately preceding the application, complete the Designated Broker Course with a minimum final grade of 75%, and submit the license application within one calendar year of completing the course. The application fee is $100 plus a $21 criminal records check fee, and the license term is 2 years.
Out-of-state licensees
Licensees from other states can obtain a Maine broker license through the reciprocal licensing process, which requires passing the Maine Law exam administered by Pearson VUE. The Maine Real Estate Commission[1] requires a Certificate of Licensure from each state where the applicant holds or has held a license.
The Maine Law exam costs $85 and consists of 50 scored items with a 1.5-hour time limit, per the Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook[3]. The passing score is 75 on a 0-100 scale. The same application and criminal records check fees apply as for in-state applicants.
Next steps
To begin the broker pathway in Maine, start by enrolling in a Commission-approved Sales Agent Course if you have not already earned a Sales Agent license. If you currently hold a Sales Agent license, track your 2-year experience milestone and enroll in the Associate Broker Course before your license expires. If you are an Associate Broker with sufficient experience, enroll in the Designated Broker Course from one of the three approved providers and submit your application before the course completion certificate expires. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[5] reports a 2024 median annual wage of $72,280 for real estate brokers, compared to $56,320 for sales agents.
The Maine Real Estate Commission[1] provides application forms, and the qualifying education schedule[4] lists approved course providers.
Sources
- Maine RE Commission — Individual LicensesGovernmentAugust 2026
- Maine Legislature — Title 32 §13199: Associate Real Estate BrokerStatuteMay 2026
- Pearson VUE — Maine Real Estate Candidate Handbook (December 2025)GovernmentAugust 2026
- Maine PFR — RE Qualifying Education Course ScheduleGovernmentAugust 2026
- BLS OOH — Real Estate Brokers and Sales AgentsGovernmentMay 2026