The Maine Real Estate Commission oversees licensing for every broker and real estate agent in the state, issuing three license types: Sales Agent, Associate Broker, and Broker/Designated Broker. Getting a Maine real estate license involves completing a Commission-approved pre-licensing course, passing a two-part Pearson VUE exam, and arranging affiliation with a licensed agency before you submit your application. The process typically takes several months from starting coursework to receiving your license.
To obtain a Sales Agent license in Maine, you must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or equivalent. Complete the 55-hour Sales Agent Course with a minimum grade of 75%, then pass the Pearson VUE Sales Agent exam, which has 80 scored national items and 40 scored Maine Law items, with a scaled passing score of 75. You must arrange to affiliate with a Maine-licensed real estate agency before applying, and submit the license application within 1 year of passing the exam. The application fee is $100 and the criminal records check fee is $21.See the answer for every state
The Maine Real Estate Commission does not publish an official processing timeline, but the full process generally takes 2 to 6 months. The 55-hour Sales Agent pre-licensing course can be completed in a few weeks in a self-paced online format, followed by scheduling and passing the Pearson VUE exam, affiliating with a licensed real estate agency, and submitting the license application with a criminal records check. Individual timelines vary based on study pace, exam availability, and application processing.See the answer for every state
Maine's three real estate license types
Maine structures real estate licensing in three tiers, each with distinct prerequisites and privileges. All three license types require agency affiliation to perform brokerage services, and each carries a 2-year term, according to the Maine Real Estate Commission's individual licensing page[1].
The Sales Agent license expires after 2 years and cannot be renewed. The Associate Broker license is permanent and renewable, requiring prior practice as a Sales Agent and additional coursework. The Broker/Designated Broker license sits at the top of the progression. Under Maine statute Title 32, Section 13199[2], the Commission may not issue an Associate Broker license until an individual has completed two years as a licensed Sales Agent.
License type
Prerequisite
Required course
Term
Renewable
Sales Agent
None
Sales Agent Course
2 years
No
Associate Broker
2 years as Sales Agent
60-hour Associate Broker Course
2 years
Yes
Broker/Designated Broker
2 years as Associate Broker
Designated Broker Course
2 years
Yes
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%.See the answer for every state
Sales Agent license eligibility requirements
To qualify for a Sales Agent license in Maine, applicants must be 18 or older at the time of application, have graduated from high school or earned an equivalent credential, and demonstrate a reputation for honesty, truthfulness, fair-dealing, and competency, according to the Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook[3]. The Maine Real Estate Commission requires a criminal records check of all applicants.
To obtain a Maine Sales Agent license, you must be at least 18 years old at the time of application, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and complete a Commission-approved 55-hour Sales Agent Course with a minimum final grade of 75%. You must then pass the Pearson VUE Sales Agent licensing exam with a minimum scaled score of 75 and submit your license application within one year of passing the exam. The application fee is $100 and the criminal records check fee is $21; you must also arrange to affiliate with a licensed real estate agency before applying.See the answer for every state
Complete the pre-licensing course
The first mandatory step on the licensing path is completing a Commission-approved Sales Agent pre-licensing course from a state-approved real estate school. Your course completion certificate is valid for one year from the completion date, and you must pass the licensing exam before that certificate expires, according to the Maine Real Estate Commission's examinations page[4].
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.See the answer for every state
Yes. All five Commission-approved Sales Agent Course providers offer the course through continuously available distance education online. Some providers also offer in-person and livestream formats. The 55-hour course must be completed with a minimum grade of 75%.See the answer for every state
Pass the Pearson VUE licensing exam
After completing the pre-licensing course, you must pass the Pearson VUE Sales Agent licensing exam, which consists of a national portion and a Maine Law portion, each requiring a scaled passing score of 75. You must pass both portions within the validity period of your course completion certificate.
The Maine real estate licensing exam for Sales Agent candidates is administered by Pearson VUE and consists of two portions: a national/general portion with 80 scored items (2.5 hours) and a Maine Law portion with 40 scored items (1.5 hours), for a total of 4 hours. The passing score is 75 on a scaled score of 0 to 100, and the exam fee is $88 per attempt. Candidates must present their original Course Completion Certificate at the test center, and certificates are valid for one year from the course completion date.See the answer for every state
Reservations can be made online or by phone at (877) 543-5220, at least one calendar day prior to the desired test date, per the Pearson VUE Maine real estate page[5]. The Pearson VUE handbook covers content outlines and admission requirements for both exam portions.
Pearson VUE, the official exam vendor for Maine, offers an online practice test for $19.95 covering general real estate topics, but no state-specific practice test is available. The Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook, available as a free PDF download from Pearson VUE's website, includes detailed content outlines for both the national and Maine Law portions of the exam. Some third-party providers also offer free practice exams with sample questions, though these generally cover national content rather than Maine-specific law.See the answer for every state
Affiliate with a licensed real estate agency
Before you can apply for a Sales Agent license, you must arrange affiliation with a licensed Maine real estate agency. The designated broker at that agency signs your license application, confirming that you will work under their supervision. This requirement applies to all three license types, per the Maine Real Estate Commission's licensing hub[6].
Maine requires Sales Agent candidates to arrange affiliation with a licensed real estate agency before applying for a license, and the agency's designated broker must sign the license application. To find a sponsoring brokerage, candidates can research firms online, attend networking events, and interview brokers about training, mentorship, commission splits, desk fees, and lead generation resources. Speaking with agents who joined a firm within the past year can also provide perspective on the office environment.See the answer for every state
Submit your license application
Once you pass the exam, you can submit your Sales Agent license application online starting the day after your scores are transmitted to the Commission. The required fees include the $88 Pearson VUE exam fee, a $100 license fee, and a $21 criminal records check fee, according to the Maine Real Estate Commission[1]. You must submit the application within one calendar year of passing the entire exam.
Upgrading to Associate Broker and Broker
You must qualify for the Associate Broker license before the Sales Agent license expires. The Associate Broker upgrade requires practice as a Sales Agent and completion of an Associate Broker Course, per the Maine Real Estate Commission[1]. The application must be submitted no more than 30 days before the Sales Agent license expires and within 5 years of the original issuance date, according to the Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook[3].
The Broker/Designated Broker license is the highest tier, requiring additional experience as an Associate Broker and further coursework.
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.See the answer for every state
Yes, online continuing education courses are accepted in Maine, provided they are offered by Maine Real Estate Commission-approved providers. For distance education courses, the course provider must score a required examination with a grade of 85% or better and issue a certificate for the course to be considered complete. CE certificates are not submitted at renewal; the Commission conducts random monthly audits, so licensees should keep certificates for four years covering the current and previous renewal terms.See the answer for every state
Licensees who wish to use the REALTOR® designation can join the National Association of REALTORS® through a local association, according to NAR's membership page[8].
To become a REALTOR®, you must hold a real estate license, join a local REALTOR® association (which provides membership in state and national associations), and pay membership dues. The principal of a real estate firm must join a REALTOR® association before any non-principal agents at that firm may join. For 2027, NAR national dues are $156 per member, plus a $45 special assessment for the Consumer Advertising Campaign, totaling $201 annually.See the answer for every state
Maine also issues equal licenses to holders of current, active real estate licenses from other jurisdictions, requiring passage of the Maine Law exam and verification of good standing from all states where licensed, per the Maine Real Estate Commission's reciprocal licensing FAQ[9].
Real estate license reciprocity varies by state: some states offer full reciprocity (allowing license transfer from any other state with minimal requirements), others offer partial or selective reciprocity, and some offer none. States commonly identified as offering full reciprocity include Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Even in full reciprocity states, applicants must hold a current and active license in good standing with no disciplinary action, and most states require passing a state-specific law examination. Reciprocity classifications can change over time.See the answer for every state
Getting started
Begin by enrolling in a Commission-approved Sales Agent pre-licensing course from a provider on the Maine Real Estate Commission's approved list[6]. After completing the course, schedule your Pearson VUE exam, arrange affiliation with a licensed agency, and submit your license application through the Commission's online portal. Each step has a deadline tied to your course completion date, so plan your timeline before you start.
