Obtaining a Montana Real Estate Broker License is crucial if you’re looking to advance your real estate career. Despite the streamlined online application process, many aspiring real estate brokers find the requirements and procedures complex and challenging.
This How to Get a Broker License in Montana article will guide you through each step of the process, ensuring you have a clear understanding of what it takes to achieve this license and elevate your real estate career as quickly as possible.
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Montana Real Estate Broker License
In order to get your Montana real estate broker license and take your career to the next level, there are several key steps you’ll need to complete, including:
- Ensuring You Meet the Eligibility and Experience Requirements
- Completing the Mandatory Pre Licensing Education
- Passing the Montana Broker Licensing Exam
- Obtaining Errors and Omissions Insurance
- Submitting a License Application
In the sections below, we’ve explored each of these steps in more detail.
Note: If you’re just starting out, you’ll need to check out our Montana Real Estate License guide instead.
Step 1: Meet the Montana Eligibility and Experience Requirements
Before proceeding with the application process for your Montana real estate broker license, you’ll need to first make sure that you meet the following general prerequisites under MCA 37-51-302:
- You must be at least 18 years of age
- You will need to have graduated from an accredited high school (or an accepted equivalent)
- You will need to have at least two years of experience working as a licensed real estate salesperson
According to ARM 24.210.611(9)(b), all candidates are required to provide the Board with acceptable evidence that they’ve accumulated a total of 30 points in the 36-month period immediately preceding their application for the purposes of meeting the active experience requirement above.
In this context, “points” refer to a system used to quantify and track a real estate salesperson’s experience, whereby different real estate activities or transactions are assigned specific point values, and you must achieve a total of 30 from any combination of the following activities:
- Transactions (Residential & Vacant Lot)
- Transactions (Commercial, agricultural, farm, and ranch)
- Education
- Supervision of Real Estate Activity
Note: You can find additional clarification of what constitutes each of these activities — as well as how many points each of them are worth — on the Broker Points Sheet.
Step 2: Complete the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education
Beyond the general requirements mentioned earlier, you must also fulfill specific educational prerequisites as outlined in MCA 37-51-302 and ARM 24.210.611(9) to be able to apply for a Montana real estate broker license.
In particular, this will involve completing a total of 60 hours of pre-licensing education within the 18 months prior to submitting your license application; this coursework must be from an education provider that is approved by the Montana Board of Realty Regulation.
Once that is completed, you will receive a Certificate of Completion, which you must present at the exam site in order to sit for your state licensing exam.
Important
Even though completing a course is mandatory, it would be a mistake to think of it as just “checking a box”. This is because your pre-licensing education is what will prepare you to both pass your exam and become a licensed broker.
For this reason, we always encourage our readers to invest in high-quality and reliable courses, as their study materials (like real estate practice tests and flashcards) can be invaluable during the exam prep stage.
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Step 3: Pass the Broker Licensing Exam
In Montana, this three and a half hour exam is administered by PSI and comprises 115 questions divided across two sections: a National portion and a State-Specific portion.
In order to schedule your real estate broker exam, you’ll need to make an online reservation using the PSI website. Note that you’ll need to create an account for this service if this is your first time using it, after which you’ll be shown step-by-step instructions on how to complete your reservation.
Keep in mind that you’ll be required to pay a $106 fee at the time of reservation, as this cannot be paid at the exam center; this fee will remain the same regardless of whether you’re sitting one or both portions of the exam.
In order to pass, you’ll need to score at least 75% on each portion of the exam; if you don’t pass one section, you’ll only need to retake that specific part.
You’ll find out how you performed on this exam immediately after finishing and should receive your passing exam score sheet with a full breakdown a few days afterwards.
Note: Keep in mind that, according to Rule 24.210.611(3), your exam results will only remain valid for a period of one year from the date of your examination — after this period you’ll need to retake both exam as your previous results will be invalid.
Step 4: Obtain Errors and Omissions Insurance
According to MCA § 37-51-325, you’ll be required to obtain Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance to protect yourself against potential legal claims related to your real estate activities.
This can be done in one of two ways:
- Montana Board of Realty Regulation’s Group Policy: The Montana Board of Realty Regulation offers a state-approved group E&O insurance policy through RISC. This policy is specifically designed for Montana licensees and offers comprehensive coverage at a more affordable rate by sharing the risk among many licensees (currently $168 per calendar year)
- Private Insurance Provider: Alternatively, you may choose to obtain E&O insurance through a private provider, as long as the policy meets or exceeds the state’s minimum coverage requirements. This gives you flexibility to shop around for a plan that best suits your needs, but be sure to confirm that the coverage aligns with the state’s regulations before proceeding
After you’ve obtained your E&O insurance, you’ll be ready to proceed to the final step: submitting your license application.
Step 5: Submit a License Application
After completing your pre-licensing education and ensuring that you satisfy all other licensing requirements, you’ll be ready to move on to submitting your license application.
This can be done in one of two ways: either online through the Montana Department of Labor and Industry Citizen portal, or by downloading the Broker Application form and mailing it to the following address:
Montana Board of Realty Regulation
PO Box 200513
301 S Park, 4th Floor
Helena, MT 59620-0512
Regardless of which method you choose, you will need to pay a $90 licensing fee; the Board will begin processing your submission as soon as the payment is received.
Step 6: Application Review
If you’ve managed to get this far, congratulations!
The Montana Board of Realty Regulation will typically take about 5 business days to process your application, after which your licensing document will be sent to you by mail.
Be sure to take some time to celebrate your accomplishment. You’ve put in a lot of work and effort and deserve a celebration!
Montana Real Estate License Renewal
In order to keep your real estate broker license valid, you’ll need to renew it by October 31st each year.
In Montana, this can be completed electronically through the Montana Department of Labor and Industry Citizen portal by logging into your account and paying a $90 renewal fee.
Keep in mind that to be eligible for renewal, you will need to complete 12 hours of continuing education each year, with 4 of those hours specifically dedicated to supervising broker courses.
We always encourage our readers to think of the post licensing course they take as an investment in their future career — higher quality, more reliable course content is a central part of ensuring you continue to grow professionally.
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Note: Due to potential delays in online systems, holidays, and other unforeseen factors, we recommend renewing your license 60 days prior to the expiration date to ensure it’s processed on time.
Montana Department of Labor & Industry
Physical Address:
Board of Realty Regulation
301 S. Park Avenue 4th Floor
Helena, MT 59601
Mailing Address:
Board of Realty Regulation
PO Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513
Phone: (406) 444-6880
Email: DLIBSDHELP@MT.GOV
Website: https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/realty-regulation/license-information/real-estate-broker
Montana Real Estate Broker License FAQ
How long does it take to become a broker in Montana?
It will take you at least 2 years to qualify for a broker’s license, as you will need that much work experience as a licensed real estate salesperson.
After qualifying, you should expect to spend around 4 months completing the required pre-licensing education, passing the state licensing exam, and submitting your license application.
How much does it cost to get a real estate broker license in Montana?
To become a licensed real estate broker in Montana, you will need to pay $106 for the state licensing exam, $90 for submitting your license application, and approximately $168 for obtaining Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance if you choose the state-approved group policy.
You’ll also need to cover the cost of the required pre licensing instruction courses from a board-approved real estate school, with prices varying depending on the provider you choose.
How hard is the Montana broker exam?
The Montana broker exam can be challenging, as it requires a solid understanding of both national and state-specific real estate concepts.
To increase your chances of passing on your first attempt, we suggest setting aside at least 2-4 weeks of focused study time for each exam section.
Interested in finding out more? You can check out our state specific How to Become a Real Estate Broker guide.
Who can hold a broker’s license in Montana?
In Montana, anyone who is at least 18 years old, has graduated from high school or obtained a GED certificate, and has at least two years of experience as a Montana real estate agent can hold a broker’s license, provided they complete all other state licensing requirements.
For more information on how to become a licensed Montana broker, real estate salespersons can have a look at our How to Get a Montana Real Estate Broker License guide.
What additional qualifications are required to supervise other real estate agents in Montana?
To supervise other real estate agents in Montana, you must hold a real estate broker license and obtain a supervising broker endorsement.
This endorsement will allow you to oversee other agents who also hold real estate licenses.