Montana Real Estate Pre Licensing Classes and Course Requirements

Montana requires 70 hours of Board-approved pre-licensing education before you can schedule the real estate salesperson licensing exam, and real estate pre licensing classes in the state cover both national real estate principles and Montana-specific statutes. The Montana Board of Realty Regulation (BRR), operating under the Department of Labor and Industry, approves all course providers and sets the curriculum standards that prepare applicants for the Pearson VUE-administered exam. Coursework must be completed within 24 months of submitting your license application, and the completion certificate is a required document in the application packet.

Montana pre-licensing course requirements

Montana law requires salesperson license applicants to complete Board-approved pre-licensing education before scheduling the licensing exam. Under Montana Code Annotated 37-51-302^[1], applicants must be at least 18 years old and have completed two years of full curriculum study at an accredited high school or equivalent.

The BRR also approves separate pre-licensing courses for brokers and a pre-endorsement course for supervising brokers, both listed on the Board's website^[2]. These are distinct education tracks for licensees advancing beyond the salesperson level.

What the pre-licensing curriculum covers

A Montana real estate pre licensing course divides instruction into national real estate topics and Montana-specific content, matching the two-part structure of the state licensing exam. The Pearson VUE content outlines for Montana^[3] define the exam topics that Board-approved courses are built around.

The national portion covers the following subject areas:

The Montana state-specific portion covers topics unique to practicing real estate in the state:

Providers may organize these topics into 20 to 25 sessions or modules, but the content must align with the Board-approved curriculum and the Pearson VUE content outlines. Real estate agent training at this level is designed to prepare you for both the national and state portions of the licensing exam in a single course.

Online, in-person, and hybrid course formats

Montana pre-licensing courses are available in three delivery formats: fully online self-paced, in-person classroom, and live-streamed hybrid. The Board approves all three methods, and the format you choose does not change the required hours or the curriculum content.

Online self-paced courses let you complete the required hours on your own schedule. Providers use seat-time tracking to verify that the full instructional requirement is met, and access windows range from 60 days to 12 months depending on the provider. In-person courses compress the curriculum into an intensive schedule, with the Board's website^[2] listing providers offering week-long classroom sessions in cities including Billings, Hamilton, and Missoula. Hybrid options deliver live instruction via video conferencing, combining scheduled class times with remote attendance.

Board-approved course providers in Montana

Applicants should verify a provider's approval status before enrolling, using the provider list on the Board's website^[2]. Approved providers include 406 Real Estate Academy, which offers in-person and livestream classes across multiple Montana cities. The Montana Association of REALTORS®^[4] identifies additional approved online education vendors for Montana pre-licensing coursework.

Prices differ across providers and course formats, with online packages generally costing less than in-person options. The Board does not publish pass rates for individual schools, so there is no official data for comparing providers on exam outcomes.

Course completion and certificate validity

To earn a completion certificate, you must finish all required instructional hours and pass the course final exam. Online providers enforce seat-time requirements to verify the full 70 hours are completed, and Board-approved courses require a passing score on a final exam to issue a certificate of completion. The completion certificate is the document you submit with your license application, as outlined in the Board's salesperson checklist^[5].

Your course completion is valid for 24 months preceding the date you submit your license application, per ARM 24.210.611(8)(a)^[6]. This is separate from the 12-month exam results validity period under ARM 24.210.611(3). Some course providers state a 12-month education window, but this conflates the exam deadline with the education deadline. The Board's checklist confirms 24 months for education and 12 months for exam results as distinct requirements.

How the course aligns with the licensing exam

The pre-licensing curriculum is built to cover every topic tested on the state licensing exam, administered by Pearson VUE in two parts: national and state. Board-approved courses structure their national and state-specific sessions to mirror this two-part exam format, so the topics you study in the course directly correspond to the content outlines published by the exam vendor.

While the course provides the foundational knowledge tested on the exam, many students supplement with a real estate exam prep course or practice tests to reinforce specific content areas before test day.

Choosing a pre-licensing course

Selecting the right pre-licensing course depends on your preferred learning format, schedule, and budget. If you need flexibility, an accredited real estate school offering online self-paced courses lets you study around work or family obligations. If you prefer structured instruction and live interaction, in-person or hybrid formats provide a set schedule and direct access to an instructor.

Before enrolling, verify the provider's approval on the Board of Realty Regulation website^[2], review the course access window to ensure it fits your timeline, and confirm the curriculum covers both national and Montana-specific topics. Once you complete the course and receive your certificate, your next step is to schedule the licensing exam through Pearson VUE^[3].