How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Maine (2026 Guide)

Ready to get your Maine real estate license?

Dreaming of a flexible, high-earning career in the Vacationland property market? Getting your Maine real estate license is faster and more achievable than you think.

In fact, Maine offers the quickest path to becoming a real estate agent in New England. To earn your official “sales agent” license, you only need to complete 55 hours of pre-licensing education—the lowest requirement in the region. Pass the state exam, pair up with a sponsoring broker, and you’re ready to start closing deals.

Whether you’re looking for a total career pivot or a profitable side hustle, this step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know about Maine real estate requirements, course costs, and exam prep to get licensed fast.

We’ll cover:

4 Steps to Get a Real Estate License in Maine

The Maine Real Estate Commission (MREC) has a few requirements to become a sales agent. You must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma (or equivalent), and be a lawful US resident. If you meet the prerequisites, you can complete the following steps:

STEP 1 | Complete the 55-Hour Sales Agent Course

  • Maine’s 55-hour Real Estate Principles and Practice course covers real estate law, property ownership, zoning, contracts, agency, fiduciary duties, financing, valuation, and Maine-specific escrow procedures. You’ll need a final grade of at least 75% on the course exam to get your Course Completion Certificate, which you’ll need on exam day.

STEP 2 | Schedule + Pass the Maine Real Estate Exam

  • Once you complete your course, you can schedule your state exam with Pearson VUE. The exam fee is $85, paid directly to Pearson VUE (payment isn’t accepted at the test center).
  • The exam has 120 questions: 80 general/national questions (2.5 hours) and 40 Maine Law questions. You’ll need a scaled score of 75 on each section to pass, and you must pass within one year of passing your sales agent course. See our FAQs section to learn more.

STEP 3 | Find a Sponsoring Broker

  • Maine sales agents must affiliate with a designated broker in order to activate their license. Keep reading below for tips on what to look for when picking a brokerage.

STEP 4 |  Submit Your Maine Real Estate License Application

  • Once you’ve passed your exam and lined up a sponsoring broker, submit your sales agent license application within one year of your exam date. The application fee is $121, which includes your criminal background check. Once MREC approves your application, you’re officially a licensed Maine sales agent!

How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License?

Once you decide to become a real estate agent in Maine, you’re probably excited and want to get started immediately.  Before you leave your current position, it’s important to understand how long the process can take.  Here is what an average timeline looks like:

  • 3 to 6 weeks to complete your 55-hour Maine pre-licensing course
  • 1 to 2 weeks to get your state real estate exam scheduled
  • 1 to 3 weeks to interview and select a sponsoring broker
  • 1 to 2 weeks for MREC to process your license application

While this timeline may seem a little daunting, there are a few ways to expedite things. First, taking an online course is the way to go.  Instead of attending scheduled in-person classes, you can learn at your own pace online.  We also highly recommend interviewing brokerages while you are finishing up your real estate course, so you are ready to hang your license with a broker as soon you pass the state exam.  All in all, it’s definitely possible to become a real estate agent in Maine in about 3 to 6 months.

Find the Top Real Estate Schools in Maine

To get your real estate license, you’ll have to attend a school that’s approved by the Maine Real Estate Commission. There are approved real estate schools throughout the state. Some are online, others in person, and a few do a combination of the two. Please note that a few of the schools are affiliate partners, so we may earn a commission if you enroll, at no extra cost to you.

Here are a few of the most popular pre-license courses:

SEE OUR SCHOOL COMPARISON GUIDE >

When shopping for the best online real estate schools, you’ll want to compare pricing, but there are a few other things you will need to consider:

  • Do they share their “pass rate”? This will tell you what percentage of their students passed the state exam on the first try.
  • Does the school offer any guarantees if you don’t pass? For example, one school will pay the fee for you to retake the state exam.
  • Are practice tests given to the students or is there any additional charge?
  • Do they offer a separate exam prep course or a weekend cram course?

Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Maine

There are several expenses involved in earning your Maine real estate license. Your exact total will depend primarily on the real estate school and course package you select.

Licensing expenseEstimated cost
55-hour prelicensing courseApproximately $250–$550
Maine Sales Agent exam$85 per attempt
License application and background check$121, including the $100 application and license fee and $21 criminal-records check
Exam preparation courses or materialsApproximately $25–$150, optional

Total required cost to get a Maine real estate license: $456–$756

If you purchase optional exam-preparation materials, your total may be closer to $481–$906.

More Costs to Expect as a Brand-New Real Estate Agent

Getting your license is just the beginning. What many aspiring agents don’t initially realize is that there are several additional expenses to consider when becoming a real estate agent. You’re essentially opening a new business, so it’s important to budget for professional memberships, MLS access, brokerage fees, marketing, and other startup costs.

One thing that is genuinely unique about Maine is that the entry-level Sales Agent license is valid for two years and cannot be renewed. To continue working in real estate after that initial period, you must qualify for an Associate Broker license. This requires two years of active experience as an affiliated sales agent, completion of the 60-hour Associate Broker Course and its documented field-experience activities, and completion of an approved three-hour core course.

Initial Business and Membership Expenses

ExpenseEstimated cost
Local, state, and national REALTOR® associationsCosts vary by location and organization. See the example below.
Multiple Listing Service (MLS)Approximately $150–$175 per quarter
SentriLock or Supra eKEY accessApproximately $100–$200 per year
Brokerage joining feeTypically $0–$500, with approximately $250 being common
Monthly brokerage feesApproximately $0–$350 per month
Business cards and signageVaries based on the brokerage and the materials purchased
Marketing and advertisingVaries based on how the agent chooses to promote their business

Example of Maine REALTOR® Association Dues

AssociationEstimated dues
Greater Portland Board of REALTORS® (GPBR)Approximately $622 for a new primary member’s first year, including GPBR, Maine Association of REALTORS®, and NAR dues, plus the $175 one-time application fee

Maine has five local REALTOR® boards, nine councils, and a statewide commercial association. Contact the organization serving your area for current dues and application fees.

Estimated Cost to Get Licensed and Launch Your Business

When you combine the required licensing expenses with the most common costs of joining a brokerage, REALTOR® association, and MLS, you should plan to spend approximately $1,800–$2,800 to launch your real estate career in Maine. This estimate does not include optional exam preparation, marketing expenses, business cards, signs, or ongoing monthly brokerage fees.

Total estimated cost to get licensed and launch your Maine real estate business: $1,800–$2,800

Costs to Upgrade to an Associate Broker License

Because the Maine Sales Agent license cannot be renewed, you’ll need to prepare for several additional expenses during your first two years.

Upgrade expenseEstimated cost
60-hour Associate Broker CourseApproximately $300–$600
Documented field experienceThe required activities are estimated to take at least 40 hours and are completed as part of the Associate Broker course requirements
Approved three-hour core courseVaries by education provider
Associate Broker application and background check$121

After becoming an Associate Broker, you’ll need to complete 21 hours of approved continuing education and pay a $100 license-renewal fee every two years. The continuing-education requirement includes the three-hour core course designated by the Maine Real Estate Commission for that renewal period.


How to Select a Maine Real Estate Broker

In Maine, you must affiliate with a designated broker in order to actively help home buyers and sellers. Picking the right brokerage to work with can be key to your success as a newly licensed agent.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING A BROKER >>

While many newly licensed agents are looking for the best commission splits when shopping for brokers, we would highly recommend that you make that #2 or #3 on your list. The most important thing you should look for in a brokerage is how they SUPPORT brand new real estate agents.

Since your Sales Agent license only gives you 2 years before you need to upgrade, this matters even more in Maine. Do they have a formal training program? Will you have at least 3 people you can reach out to if you have questions? Are they available outside traditional business hours? Do they have mentors – and what exactly will the mentors do to assist you? All important things to consider when you are ready to become a real estate agent in Maine!

Getting a Real Estate License in Main: FAQs

How difficult is the state real estate exam in Maine?

The exam has 120 questions: 80 general/national questions and 40 Maine Law questions. You’ll need a scaled score of 75 on each section to pass, and you’ll have 2.5 hours just for the national portion. Since Maine’s education requirement (55 hours) 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?

It’s not uncommon for people not to pass the exam on the first try, so don’t be too hard on yourself! 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.

Can I get a Maine real estate license if I have a misdemeanor or felony on my record?

Having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you. MREC evaluates applications individually based on the nature of the offense and how much time has passed. If you have concerns about your background, we’d recommend contacting MREC directly before investing in a pre-license course.

I have a real estate license in another state. Does Maine offer reciprocity?

Yes! Maine has one of the more agent-friendly reciprocity policies in the country. If you currently hold an active license in another state, Maine will generally accept it in place of the 55-hour pre-licensing course — you won’t need to retake the full coursework. You’ll still need to pass Maine’s state exam. Contact MREC directly to confirm what applies to your specific license.

How much do real estate agents make in Maine?

According to Indeed.com, the average Maine real estate agent makes about $109,646 a year. Keep in mind real estate agents are commission-based, so your actual earnings depend heavily on how many homes you sell and the price points in your market — Portland and Maine’s coastal vacation-home markets tend to be among the state’s strongest.

PRO TIP: To calculate how many homes you’ll need to sell, look up the average home sales price in your city (just google it!). For example, if the median sales price in your area is $450,000 and you earn 2.5% commission on a sale, your gross commission would be about $11,250 per sale. To earn the Maine average, you’d have to sell about 10 homes.

Is Getting a Maine Real Estate License Worth It?

Honestly, it depends on what your goals are.  If you just want to sell a few homes each year to friends and family, you’ll have to crunch the numbers to see if the cost of getting and maintaining your real estate license is worth it.
If you plan to jump in and make a career in selling homes in Maine, then absolutely!  Portland’s growing urban market and Maine’s stunning coastline and strong vacation-home sector both offer real opportunity.  It can be a challenge moving from a salaried position to a commission-based business, so it’s important to have at least six months of savings in the bank.  If you don’t have that yet, then you may want to keep your current job for a short period of time until you lay the foundation for your new real estate business.