Best Real Estate Courses & Schools in Maine (2026)

2026 Guide · Updated Regularly

Best Real Estate Schools in Maine

Compare Maine’s top pre-licensing and continuing education providers — by format, focus, and value — so you can pick the right one whether you’re getting licensed or renewing.

KL Reviewed by Kerry Lucasse, 20-year real estate industry veteran · Updated for 2026
Compare Schools → See Licensing Steps

Maine at a Glance

Everything you need before you enroll

Pre-license hours required55 hrs
Initial license type2-yr, non-renewable
Passing score required75 scaled (both sections)
Time to complete3–6 mos
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How We Choose What to Recommend

We only recommend courses and providers we believe are genuinely valuable and well-regarded — based on independent research into their curriculum, format, and student support, not on which schools pay us the most. Building Better Agents may earn a commission when you enroll through some of the links on this page, at no additional cost to you. You can read our full Affiliate & Editorial Disclosure for more detail.

Quick Snapshot

All Maine Schools at a Glance

Jump to any school below for the full breakdown.

SchoolBest ForKey Takeaway
The CE ShopOverall value, high pass rateHandles your licensing, continuing ed, and exam prep all in one place.
Colibri Real EstateExam prepDedicated Maine exam prep product plus self-paced coursework.
The Real Estate Learning GroupLocal, career-focusedMaine-based, focused on building a career, not just passing a test.

Maine’s Top Real Estate Schools, Reviewed

Our picks, based on curriculum quality, flexibility, and student outcomes — updated for 2026.

Self-Paced Online

Colibri Real Estate

✓ Prelicensing — Continuing Ed ✓ Exam Prep

Widely regarded as the easiest platform to navigate, with a genuinely dedicated Maine exam prep product on top of the pre-licensing course — worth pairing with your coursework given Maine’s lighter 55-hour requirement leaves more to self-study.

Best for exam prep
$$$$ mid-range
See current pricing →
  • State-approved 55-hr pre-license curriculum
  • Dedicated Maine exam prep product available separately
  • Self-paced format
  • Support by chat, email, or phone during business hours
Where it could improveColibri doesn’t have a dedicated ME pre-licensing affiliate link yet, so this points to our general enrollment link. No livestream option confirmed for Maine specifically.
View Course
Maine local Online, Self-Paced or Live Zoom

The Real Estate Learning Group

✓ Prelicensing ✓ Continuing Ed — Exam Prep

A Westbrook-based team of Maine real estate instructors and consultants with real front-line brokerage experience. Their philosophy is explicit: helping students build a career, not just pass a test — a genuinely different framing from the national platforms, and they also offer Maine’s 60-hour Associate Broker upgrade course, which you’ll need within 2 years anyway.

Best for local, career-focused instruction
$$$$ budget
See current pricing →
  • State-approved 55-hr pre-license curriculum, Westbrook-based
  • Also offers the 60-hr Associate Broker upgrade course you’ll need in 2 years
  • Free live CE classes for Maine and NH licensees
  • Instructors with real front-line brokerage and consulting experience
Where it could improveNo standalone exam prep product — pair with practice questions from another source if you want dedicated drilling before test day.
View Course

New to all this? If terms like “self-paced,” “hybrid,” or “livestream” are throwing you off, we’ve put together a quick glossary to clear things up.

Choosing Your School: Formats, Terms, & Test Prep Strategy

Before you pull out your credit card, make sure you understand what you’re actually buying. From self-paced online courses to interactive livestream classrooms, every provider offers a different learning environment.

  • Need help picking a provider? Read our guide on [What to Look for When Choosing a Real Estate Course →] to compare refund policies, pass rates, and course formats.
  • Already finished your hours? Don’t let study decay set in before test day. Read Is Real Estate Exam Prep Worth It? → to see if standalone tools like ExamScholar or PrepAgent are worth adding to your routine.

Real Estate Courses + Exams: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many pre-licensing education hours does Maine require?

Maine requires 55 hours of Real Estate Principles and Practice coursework — the lowest requirement in New England — plus a final grade of at least 75% on the course exam.

How long does it typically take to complete a pre-licensing course in Maine?

Studying online at your own pace, most students finish the 55-hour course in 3 to 6 weeks. Add time for exam scheduling and finding a sponsoring broker, and most people are licensed within 3 to 6 months total.

How difficult is the Maine real estate exam?

The exam has 120 questions (80 general/national, 40 Maine Law), and you’ll need a scaled score of 75 on each section independently to pass. Since Maine’s 55-hour education requirement is on the lighter side, expect to do a fair amount of self-study, especially for the Maine-specific portion.

What if I fail the real estate exam in Maine?

You can retake just the section you failed, and you have up to one year from your original course-passing date to pass both sections. You’ll need to pay the $85 exam fee again for each retake.

How many questions are on the Maine real estate exam?

120 multiple-choice questions: 80 general/national questions (2.5 hours) and 40 Maine Law questions, administered by Pearson VUE.

What’s the passing score on the Maine real estate exam?

A scaled score of 75 on each section independently.

Is Maine’s Sales Agent license renewable?

No — this is genuinely unique to Maine. Your initial Sales Agent license is a 2-year, non-renewable credential. Instead of paying a renewal fee, you must upgrade to an Associate Broker license before it expires, which requires a 60-hour Associate Broker course, 40 hours of Documented Field Experience, and 2 years of active experience. Once you’re an Associate Broker, that license renews every 2 years like normal.

Are there any free practice tests I can take?

Most Maine-approved pre-licensing courses include practice exams as part of the coursework. For additional free practice questions, check YouTube for study walkthroughs, or ask your course provider whether sample questions are available before purchasing standalone exam prep.

What are some tricks to pass the Maine real estate exam?

Take as many practice exams as you can — repetition is what turns recognition into recall. Since Maine’s 55-hour requirement is lighter than most states, don’t assume the coursework alone will fully prepare you for the Maine Law section; dedicate extra self-study time there.

Can I take the Maine real estate licensing exam online, or do I have to go to a testing center?

You must take the official exam at a physical testing center. Unlike some states that offer at-home web-proctored testing, Maine requires you to sit for the 120-question exam in person at an official Pearson VUE facility (locations include Westbrook, Bangor, and Presque Isle). While your school’s 55-hour final exam can usually be proctored online, the state licensing exam is strictly on-site. Choose a school package that includes simulated, timed test banks so you are comfortable taking a computer-based exam under testing-center conditions.

What makes the Maine-specific section of the exam tricky, and do standard prep tools cover it?

The Maine portion of the Pearson VUE exam consists of 40 state-specific questions focusing heavily on local real estate law, agency disclosures, and Maine’s unique environmental regulations—such as mandatory Shoreland Zoning rules, subsurface wastewater (septic) disclosures, and seasonal property laws. Generic national study guides skip these local environmental nuances entirely. Look for a school package or standalone exam prep study tool that features dedicated Maine State Law question banks so you aren’t surprised on test day.


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