Mississippi real estate school: How to get your real estate license
15 min read·
Getting a Mississippi real estate license requires completing 60 hours of pre-licensing education from an MREC-approved real estate school, submitting an application to the Mississippi Real Estate Commission (MREC), passing a fingerprint-based background check, passing the two-part licensing exam administered by PSI Services LLC, and completing a 30-hour post-license course within your first year. MREC regulates all real estate licensing in the state and oversees every step from application through license activation.
Mississippi real estate license requirements
Mississippi sets four statutory requirements for salesperson licensure under License Law Section 73-35-7[1]: age, residency, pre-licensing education, and examination. The state does not require a high school diploma or GED. The statute, the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin[2], and MREC application forms list no education-level prerequisite, though the application does ask applicants to indicate their highest year of school completed as informational data.
The background investigation covers Mississippi and FBI criminal history databases. MREC sends fingerprint cards after processing the application. As of August 2026, MREC does not charge a separate fee for the background check; effective October 1, 2026, a $25 fee takes effect, per MREC's fee change notice[3].
Mississippi salesperson applicants must be at least 18 years old, be a bona fide resident of Mississippi, and complete 60 hours of approved pre-licensing education. All applicants must undergo a fingerprint-based criminal history records check through Mississippi and FBI databases, and must pass the state licensing exam administered by PSI with at least 70% on the national portion and 75% on the state portion. After passing, a sponsoring broker must be designated before the license can be issued. The licensee then receives a temporary license and must complete a 30-hour post-license course within 12 months to obtain a permanent license.See the answer for every state
Complete pre-licensing education
The state requires approved pre-licensing education from an MREC-approved provider before you can apply for a license. Upon finishing, your real estate school issues a completion certificate that must accompany your license application.
Salesperson applicants must complete 60 classroom hours of real estate courses from a college, community college, or MREC-approved pre-license education provider. Broker applicants must complete 120 total hours of real estate courses, which includes the 60-hour salesperson pre-license course plus 60 additional hours of broker-specific coursework. Broker applicants who have not held an active salesperson license for at least 36 months must complete 150 classroom hours from a degree-granting program at a college or university approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Pre-license courses must meet ARELLO standards, and no more than 8 hours may be earned in a single day. Course content must cover license law and rules, listing property, property valuation, real estate arithmetic, agency relationships, real estate sale contracts, leasing and property management, transfer of title, settlement procedures, financing, professional ethics, fair housing, and federal laws affecting real estate.See the answer for every state
Yes, Mississippi allows pre-licensing courses to be completed online. Mississippi License Law Section 73-35-14.4 authorizes the commission to approve distance learning courses, including online, correspondence, and video/DVD formats, for pre-license education. These courses must meet standards set by the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO). The state's 8-hour-per-day cap on pre-license hours applies to online courses as well, meaning a 60-hour salesperson course requires a minimum of 8 calendar days to complete.See the answer for every state
MREC maintains a list of approved pre-license education providers on its website. Courses are available from accredited colleges and community colleges, as well as from MREC-approved proprietary schools offering online, classroom, and livestream formats. A college or university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or a comparable authority is automatically an approved education provider. Any "Real Estate Class" completed at an accredited college or community college may be used for pre-licensing credit, with each semester hour equaling 15 classroom hours. Applicants should consult the state's approved-education list on the MREC website for current providers.See the answer for every state
Submit your application to MREC
The salesperson license application requires a $100 fee, your course completion certificate, a notarized application form, and three recommendations from citizens who have been property owners for at least 3 years and have known you for at least 3 years, as outlined in MREC's application instructions[4]. MREC must receive the application within 60 days of the notary date. The application form and instructions are available through the MREC applicants page[5]; MREC's office is at 4780 I-55 North, Jackson, Mississippi 39211, phone (601) 321-6970.
Once MREC processes the application, the commission sends fingerprint cards and background check instructions. After the background check clears, MREC issues an eligibility notice that allows you to schedule the licensing exam.
To obtain a Mississippi salesperson license, complete 60 hours of approved pre-licensing education, then submit an application to the Mississippi Real Estate Commission (MREC) with a $100 fee and required photographs. Undergo a fingerprint-based criminal background check, and once MREC approves the application, schedule and pass the PSI-administered exam with at least 70% on the national portion and 75% on the state portion. After passing, designate a sponsoring broker to activate the license. MREC issues a temporary license valid for one year, during which the licensee must complete a 30-hour post-license course to receive a permanent license.See the answer for every state
Mississippi requires 60 hours of pre-licensing education, which takes a minimum of 8 calendar days because state law caps coursework at 8 hours per day. Full-time students can finish the coursework in about 2 weeks, while part-time schedules take longer depending on class frequency. After completing coursework, applicants submit an application to the Mississippi Real Estate Commission (MREC), which processes it and issues an eligibility notice before the candidate can schedule the licensing exam through PSI. A fingerprint-based background check is also required for all applicants. After passing the exam and affiliating with a broker, new licensees must complete a 30-hour post-license course within 12 months of receiving the temporary license. The full process generally spans several months.See the answer for every state
Register for and take the licensing exam
After MREC approves your application, you have a 2-month window to schedule and complete the licensing exam. The exam costs $75 per attempt, covering one or both portions. Fees are non-refundable and expire one year after registration, per the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin[2].
The state portion may be attempted only twice during the eligibility window. If you fail twice, you must wait 3 months before reapplying. The national portion may be retaken without limit within the eligibility period if the state portion was passed. Test centers are located in Jackson, Mississippi; Metairie, Louisiana; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama; and Memphis, Tennessee.
The Mississippi real estate licensing exam is administered by PSI Services LLC and consists of a national portion and a state portion. The salesperson exam has 80 national questions (2.5 hours) and 40 state questions (1.5 hours), with passing scores of 70% and 75% respectively. The broker exam has 75 national questions (2.5 hours) and 40 state questions (1.5 hours), with passing scores of 75% and 80%. The exam fee is $75 per attempt, and both portions must be passed within the same 2-month eligibility period. Five to ten unscored experimental questions may be administered, and the time taken on those does not count against the exam time.See the answer for every state
The Mississippi salesperson exam consists of 80 national questions (2.5 hours) and 40 state questions (1.5 hours), with passing scores of 70% and 75% respectively. The broker exam has 75 national questions and 40 state questions, with passing scores of 75% and 80%. The national portion covers property ownership, financing, contracts (19% of the exam), agency (13%), property disclosures, and real estate calculations. The state portion covers MREC powers and duties, licensing requirements, trust accounts, broker responsibilities, and advertising rules. PSI offers official practice exams through its online store, and the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin provides a detailed content outline with topic percentages. Candidates should arrive 30 minutes before the appointment with one form of valid, unexpired photo ID, and may cancel without forfeiting the fee if notice is received 24 hours in advance.See the answer for every state
PSI Services LLC, the official exam administrator for Mississippi, offers practice exams through its online store. The national salesperson practice test includes 100 questions simulating the actual exam experience and costs approximately $22.82, with 365 days of access. PSI also offers a study and practice bundle with over 1,150 sample questions and a complimentary mini-diagnostic with free sample questions. These practice tests cover the national portion only and do not include state-specific content. The PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, available on the MREC website, provides a detailed content outline with topic percentages for both the national and state portions of the exam.See the answer for every state
PSI, the official testing vendor for Mississippi real estate exams, offers a complimentary mini-diagnostic with free sample questions through its online store. PSI also sells a National Real Estate Salesperson Practice Test with 100 questions for approximately $22.82, along with a study and practice bundle containing more than 1,150 sample questions. The practice test covers the national portion only and does not include state-specific content.See the answer for every state
Receive your temporary license and complete post-license education
Upon passing the exam and meeting all other conditions, MREC issues a temporary license. The temporary license cannot be renewed and must be converted to permanent status through post-license education.
A Mississippi temporary real estate license is valid for one year following the first day of the month after its issuance and is not subject to renewal. Permanent licenses are renewed on a two-year cycle. The holder of a temporary license must complete a 30-hour post-license course within 12 months of issuance to receive a permanent license; failure to do so places the license on inactive status, and the temporary license expires if the course is not completed within the year.See the answer for every state
New Mississippi licensees must complete a 30-hour post-license course within 12 months of receiving their temporary license. The course must be offered in no less than 15-hour increments, with no more than 8 hours earned in a single day. For salespersons, at least 24 of the 30 hours cover agency relationships, contracts, earnest money, antitrust, fair housing, ethics, and property condition disclosure. For brokers, at least 24 hours cover managing escrow accounts, intraoffice confidentiality, broker responsibilities, office policies, and MREC-required forms. Failure to complete the course within 12 months places the license on inactive status, and the temporary license expires if not completed within one year.See the answer for every state
If the post-license coursework deadline passes without completion, the license is placed on inactive status. If it remains incomplete, the license expires and lapses. The applicant must then restart the entire process: reapply, retake the exam, and undergo a new background check.
Activate your license with a sponsoring broker
An active salesperson license requires designation of a principal broker who supervises your work.
A sponsoring broker is not required to register for or take the licensing exam, but the license cannot be issued or activated until a Mississippi-licensed broker is designated. After passing the exam, the licensee must affiliate with a broker who supervises their real estate activities and takes responsibility for their actions. Commission splits between agents and brokerages typically range from 50/50 to 90/10, and factors to consider when choosing a broker include training quality, commission structure, lead generation support, and available technology tools.See the answer for every state
All active licensees must carry errors and omissions (E&O) insurance with a minimum per-claim limit of $100,000 and a maximum deductible of $2,500 per claim for damages, under Mississippi License Law[1]. New licensees must provide proof of E&O coverage within 30 days of licensure, and the coverage period runs 12 months beginning October 1, per MREC Rules and Regulations[6]. If you change brokers without notifying the commission, your license is automatically canceled.
Renew your license and meet continuing education requirements
Mississippi requires 16 clock hours of approved continuing education per two-year license renewal cycle. Of those 16 hours, 8 are mandatory: 2 hours in Mississippi License Law, 2 hours in Contract Law, and 4 hours in Agency Law. The remaining 8 hours are elective. Up to 6 excess hours earned in the final 3 months of a renewal period may be carried over to the next cycle. Licensees who have held a license for at least 25 years and are older than 65 are exempt from CE requirements.See the answer for every state
As of August 2026, the renewal fee is $100 per period for both brokers and salespersons. Effective October 1, 2026, fees increase to $150 for brokers and $120 for salespersons, per MREC's fee change notice[3]. A 100% late penalty applies during the grace period.
Out-of-state licensees
Mississippi maintains reciprocity arrangements with other states under License Law Section 73-35-13(6)[1], which authorizes the commission to exempt licensees of other states from the examination if the other state's exam is equivalent and the state extends the same privilege to Mississippi licensees. MREC does not publicly list the specific states or requirements covered by these agreements. The commission's nonresident reciprocal application instructions[8] (rev. 07-2024) state that "requirements vary greatly by state and are not listed on our website." Contact MREC directly for state-specific reciprocal requirements.
Real estate agents, brokers, and real estate agents explained
In Mississippi, salespersons work under broker supervision, and brokers face higher qualification thresholds: a minimum age of 21 and 12 months of active salesperson experience. The term "REALTOR®" refers to trade association membership, not a state license type.
A real estate salesperson (agent) must work under the supervision of a licensed broker and cannot operate independently, while a broker is licensed to manage a real estate business and oversee salespersons. In Mississippi, a salesperson must be at least 18 years old and complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education, while a broker must be at least 21, have held an active salesperson license for 12 cumulative months, and complete 120 hours of education. Brokers can own their own businesses and employ salespersons; agents earn a portion of commissions from transactions they handle under their broker's supervision.See the answer for every state
A real estate agent is anyone licensed by a state real estate commission to help clients buy, sell, or lease property. A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who holds a license and also belongs to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). NAR members pay annual national dues plus a special assessment for consumer advertising, and they must complete Code of Ethics and Fair Housing training every three years. All REALTORS® are real estate agents, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®, since NAR membership is voluntary.See the answer for every state
To become a REALTOR®, a person who holds an active real estate license must join their local REALTOR® association, which automatically grants membership in the state association and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). NAR national dues for 2027 are $156 per member, plus a $45 special assessment for the Consumer Advertising Campaign, totaling $201 per year. Local and state association dues vary and are paid in addition to national dues. REALTORS® must complete Code of Ethics and Fair Housing training every three years as a condition of membership. Prospective members should contact their local REALTOR® association for application details and specific dues amounts.See the answer for every state
Next steps
Start by selecting an MREC-approved real estate school and enrolling in the pre-licensing course. You can find approved providers on the MREC applicants page[5]. While completing your coursework, gather your recommendations from property owners and prepare your application materials. Once you submit your application, MREC will process it, send fingerprint cards, and issue an exam eligibility notice that lets you schedule your test with PSI.
