How to become a real estate agent or broker in Montana

Montana regulates real estate practice through the Montana Board of Realty Regulation, which issues salesperson and broker licenses under Montana Code Annotated §37-51-302^[1]. Earning a salesperson license involves pre-licensing education, a Pearson VUE exam, broker affiliation, and a formal application to the Board. Whether your goal is to work as a salesperson or eventually advance to become a broker and real estate agent who can practice independently, the path starts here.

Montana real estate license requirements

To qualify for a real estate salesperson license in Montana, you must be at least 18 years old, have completed 2 years of full curriculum study at an accredited high school or equivalent, and obtain errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. These requirements appear in MCA §37-51-302^[1] and are detailed on the Board's salesperson licensing page^[2].

The Board's official salesperson checklist^[3] lists six qualifications for licensure. Montana does not require fingerprinting or a criminal background check for real estate license applicants; the checklist does not include either among its requirements.

E&O insurance is mandatory, as listed in the Board's salesperson checklist^[3] under MCA §37-51-325. You must maintain proof of professional liability and errors and omissions coverage throughout your licensing period.

Montana issues two primary real estate license types: salesperson and broker.

Complete 70 hours of pre-licensing education

Montana requires 70 hours of Board-approved pre-licensing education for salesperson applicants, completed within the 24 months preceding your application date. This requirement appears in MCA §37-51-302^[1] and ARM 24.210.611(8)^[4].

Both online and in-person courses are available through providers approved by the Board. After completing the coursework, you receive a completion certificate that you submit with your license application.

Register for and take the Pearson VUE exam

Pearson VUE administers the Montana real estate licensing exam under contract with the Board. The exam fee is $95 per portion (national and state), as stated in the Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook^[5] revised January 2026. You register and schedule your exam through the Pearson VUE Montana real estate page^[6].

The exam includes a national portion covering general real estate principles and a state portion covering Montana-specific laws and practices. You must achieve a scaled score of 75 on both portions to pass. Scores are scaled from 0 to 100, and the passing score is not a raw percentage.

Exam results are valid for 12 months under ARM 24.210.611(3)^[4]. You must pass both portions within that window to apply for your license.

Pearson VUE offers Broker and Sales practice tests for $19.95 each, covering general real estate topics. State-specific practice tests are not available. You can also download the free Candidate Handbook and content outlines from the Pearson VUE website^[6].

Find a sponsoring broker

Your salesperson license cannot become active until you affiliate with a broker holding a supervising broker endorsement. The Board establishes this requirement in MCA §37-51-302^[1], with implementing rules in ARM 24.210.611(8)^[4].

A supervising broker endorsement is issued to brokers who complete an 8-hour approved pre-endorsement course, per the Board's continuing education page^[7]. You can secure broker affiliation before or after passing the exam, but the Board will not issue an active license without it.

Submit your license application

You pay an $80 fee to the Montana Board of Realty Regulation when you submit your salesperson application. You can apply online or by mail to PO Box 200513, Helena, MT 59620-0513.

Your application must include:

• Completion certificate for pre-licensing education
• Exam results showing passage of both national and state portions
• Proof of E&O insurance under MCA §37-51-325
• Official license verification from every state where you hold or have held a license
• Broker affiliation information (employer or sponsoring broker with supervising broker endorsement)

The Board evaluates each applicant for good repute and competency to transact business in a manner that safeguards the interests of the public, as stated on the Board's license information page^[8].

Out-of-state applicants

Montana does not grant automatic license transfers from other states.

If you hold a license in another state, you must pass the Montana state portion of the salesperson exam, as required by ARM 24.210.611^[4]. You must also submit license verifications from every jurisdiction where you hold or have held a license.

After your license is issued

Montana real estate licenses expire on October 31 every year, and the renewal window opens 60 days prior, from September 1 through October 31. The active salesperson renewal fee is $80, or $40 for an inactive license, per the Board's salesperson licensing page^[2].

Each active licensee must complete 12 hours of approved continuing education annually, from November 1 through October 31, under ARM 24.210.667^[7].

Becoming a real estate agent in Montana

A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who joins the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics. "REALTOR®" is a membership designation, not a license status, and only NAR members may use the term.

To become a REALTOR®, you affiliate with your local REALTOR® association and pay membership dues after receiving your real estate license. NAR national dues were $156 in 2024, according to the NAR membership page^[9]. A firm's principal broker must hold NAR membership before other licensed agents at the firm can join.

Advancing from salesperson to broker

To become a real estate broker in Montana, you must complete 60 hours of Board-approved broker pre-licensing education within the 18 months before application, have at least 2 years of experience as a licensed salesperson, and accumulate 30 experience points from transactions within the last 36 months. The broker application fee is $90, per the Board's broker licensing page^[10]. These requirements appear in MCA §37-51-302^[1] and ARM 24.210.611(9)^[4].

Getting started

Start by enrolling in a 70-hour pre-licensing course from a Montana Board of Realty Regulation-approved provider. Once you complete the coursework, register for the Pearson VUE exam and begin contacting brokers who hold a supervising broker endorsement. The Board's salesperson licensing page^[2] and the Pearson VUE Montana real estate page^[6] are your primary resources throughout the process.