The requirements for a real estate broker license in Montana include being 18 years of age and having a high school diploma or GED and successfully completing at least 60-hours of approved additional pre-licensing courses. Applicants for the broker license need to have actively held a real estate salesperson license for two years. Within three years of applying for the broker license, the applicant needs to provide proof of a minimum 30 residential real estate transactions, or a minimum of 10 commercial, agricultural or farm/ranch real estate transactions. After completing the educational requirements, the applicant needs to pass the Montana real estate exams with a score of 80% or better. Under some circumstances the Board may approve waiver of all or part of either the pre-licensing education or the examination.

Both real estate brokers and salespersons are required to successfully complete 12 hours of approved continuing education courses annually.

There are seven approved schools (http://www.discoveringmontana.com/dli/bsd/license/bsd_boards/rre_board/licenses/rre/re_test_summary.asp#amp) for real estate agent prelicensing. The applicant can find both classroom courses and distance education provided.

The real estate examinations in Montana are handled by the AMP Testing Center and exam fees are paid directly to AMP (http://www.goamp.com/sched/w_aspen.examinfo).

The original license fee for a real estate broker is $200.00 if licensed in an even year and $100.00 if licensed in an odd year. Applicants pay a one-time Recovery Fee if not currently licensed in Montana. The original license fee for a real estate salesperson is $175.00 if licensed in an even year and $87.50 if licensed in an odd year. Salesperson applicants pay a one time $35.00 Recovery Account Fee.

Renewal of real estate agent licenses can be conveniently be done online (https://app.mt.gov/cgi-bin/renewal/renewal.cgi). The renewal fee for either an active or inactive broker license is $200.00. There is a $200 late fee and $1.50 processing fee. The renewal fee for either an active or inactive real estate salesperson is $175.00. The late renewal fee for a salesperson is $200.00, plus a $l.50 processing fee. The biennial licenses expire on December 31st of odd numbered years.

Montana has reciprocity agreements with twelve other jurisdictions (11 states plus Alberta, Canada). Waiver requirements are available for real estate agents already licensed in these states. They are listed with the regular application forms.

Salesperson real estate application forms and broker real estate application forms may be downloaded (http://www.discoveringmontana.com/dli/bsd/license/bsd_boards/rre_board/licenses/rre/res_lic_summary.asp) for convenience.

Real estate careers are enriched by membership in the many organizations that provide services for the professional agent. Those holding a real estate license usually join organizations like the Montana Association of Realtors (http://www.montanarealtors.org/), the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB (http://www.nareb.com/)), and the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO (http://www.arello.org/)). The National Association of Realtors (NAR (http://www.realtor.org/)), the world?s largest professional association, assists many in locating real estate jobs within the industry. These organizations are also excellent resources of real estate education.

List of approved schools

http://mt.gov/dli/bsd/license/bsd_boards/rre_board/licenses/rre/re_test_summary.asp