Jacqueline Kyo Thomas
Stressed about passing your Rhode Island real estate test? Not sure what to study, when to study, or even how to study? We’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll go over what you need to know to pass your exam and earn your real estate license in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
First, You Don’t Have to Take the Rhode Island Real Estate Test if You Want Both Licenses
Crazy advice, right? If you want to get licensed in Rhode Island, shouldn’t you take the Rhode Island real estate test?
It sounds reasonable. And yes, you could do that. But there’s another option that’s even better.
Instead of taking the Rhode Island real estate exam, consider getting your license in Massachusetts. Then, leverage the reciprocity agreement that exists between Rhode Island and Massachusetts. This allows you to become a practicing agent in Rhode Island when you earn your real estate license in Massachusetts, and be licensed to practice in both states.
This is just one of the many benefits of getting licensed to sell real estate in the state of Massachusetts.
Thanks to the real estate license reciprocity that exists between our two states, if you pass the exam and earn your license in Massachusetts, you are also eligible to become a state-licensed real estate agent in Rhode Island, too. And you don’t have to pick one state or the other to work in. You can use your licenses to work in both states.
The Benefits of Getting Licensed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts
This hack to getting two real estate licenses for one offers a lot of benefits:
- It will also save you time. You only need to take one course, not two.
- You’ll get more bang for your buck. Instead of paying for two separate real estate courses, you can just pay for one course (the Massachusetts/Rhode Island dual real estate course) and then use the reciprocity agreement to get licensed almost simultaneously in both states. If you take the course with us, you won’t pay extra for the Massachusetts real estate salesperson license course. Learn more about our Massachusetts/Rhode Island real estate course here.
- Get licensed in Connecticut, too. Did we say you’d be licensed in two states? We meant to say three. When you get your real estate license in Massachusetts, you can get licensed in both Rhode Island and Connecticut. Both states have a reciprocal agreement with Massachusetts.
The Path to Getting Your Rhode Island Real Estate License via Reciprocity
To get your Rhode Island real estate license the smart way, start off by getting licensed in Massachusetts. Then apply for your Rhode Island license. If you take this path, you won’t study for the Rhode Island real estate exam. Instead, you’ll study for the Massachusetts one. And if you already have your Massachusetts license, read on for more information about becoming licensed in Rhode Island.
Below is a quick guide to getting both real estate licenses at the same time. (By the way, these tips apply to those who haven’t started taking classes for the Rhode Island real estate test yet.)
1. Meet the Legal Requirements for Obtaining a Massachusetts Real Estate License
The state of Massachusetts requires that you meet the following conditions before you can sit for a real estate licensing exam:
- Be at least 18 years of age. You must be a legal adult before you can get licensed to sell real estate in Massachusetts. If you're not 18 yet, don't worry, your time will come.
- Have a social security number. The state requires all licensed real estate agents to have a social security number.
That's it. Fortunately, these are the only two basic requirements for getting licensed to sell real estate in the state of Massachusetts.
2. Take a Course for the Massachusetts Real Estate License
With our Summit plan, you can get the following:
A 40-hour Massachusetts salesperson pre-licensure course. The state of Massachusetts requires you to take a pre-licensure course before you can sit for the exam. Not only are we licensed by the state of Massachusetts to provide pre-licensure real estate classes, but we were also the first company to create a state-approved online real estate licensing course in Massachusetts. We make it easy, affordable, and convenient to pursue your real estate license from the comfort of your own home. In addition to on-demand classes, take advantage of up to 80 hours of live-streaming classes.
You can take this 40-hour course in person or online if that works better with your schedule. We offer classes at times that will work with any schedule, including day, weekend, and night classes. If you prefer the energy of an in-person class, you'll be welcome to join. Or if you like the flexibility of working through your course from home (and on your own schedule), you can do that, too. Freedom Trail Realty School is flexible and built to help you succeed.
What should you expect during your time with us?
We're focused on helping you become a success in your career as a real estate agent. We'll start off by teaching you what you need to learn to pass the real estate test. This includes plenty of interaction and class participation through class activities and Q&A sessions. We'll check your knowledge through quizzes at the end of each lecture, and we'll check your pulse by mixing it up so that you're not stuck doing the same thing over and over again.
Towards the end of the course, you'll get valuable test-taking skills. We know that not everyone's a good test taker, but plenty of “bad test takers” have passed the real estate exam. It's all about preparation and knowing what to expect. We'll make sure you're prepared by providing full practice tests and convenient access to our knowledgeable real estate instructors.
3. Take Your Massachusetts Real Estate Exam
Now for the fun part: The test.
Please note that you can't sit for the exam before taking a course. PSI Exams, the exam administrator, requires an application to ensure that you've completed the required coursework first.
After completing your course, you can schedule a time to take your exam.
The Massachusetts real estate test is provided in a multiple choice format.
It is separated into two sections. The first section is the National section. It contains 80 questions related to general real estate laws. The second section is specific to Massachusetts real estate law, which is, as you probably guessed, similar to Rhode Island. This state-specific section contains 40 questions. To pass the Massachusetts real estate exam, you'll need to score 70% on each section individually.
The Massachusetts real estate test is administered by PSI Exams. When taking the test, you have two options. You can take your test at an on-site test center or you can do it online. If you choose online, the test will be proctored, meaning that a trained PSI proctor will monitor you as you take your test.
You have four hours to complete the course, but you can take breaks if you opt for the in-person exam. Keep in mind that any breaks you take will be counted against your four hours. In other words, the clock doesn’t stop. However, you shouldn’t need all four hours to complete the test. Unfortunately, you cannot take breaks if you opt for the online exam because the proctor has to watch you at all times.
4. Take the RI Lead Paint Class and Apply for Your Massachusetts Real Estate License
After you've passed the test, you can get your Massachusetts license right away. You'll then need to take a 3 hour lead paint class and then apply to the Rhode Island Real Estate Commission for a Rhode Island real estate license.
Note that you cannot practice in Rhode Island with a Massachusetts license; you need to also get a Rhode Island license. But the Massachusetts license entitles you to apply for a Rhode Island license, so you can get both licenses with one class and test.
And if you already have your Massachusetts real estate license? You can take that lead paint class and apply for reciprocity right now! Check out our elective non-credit Rhode Island laws class to learn more about applying for reciprocity and to learn about the RI laws.
But why stop there?
Consider getting your Connecticut license. Here's a closer look at the requirements for getting both Rhode Island and Connecticut real estate licenses once you've become licensed in the state of Massachusetts.
What’s Next?
Thanks to real estate license reciprocity, getting multiple real estate licenses has never been easier. If you're already licensed in the state of Massachusetts, you can use the above tips to get licensed in our neighboring state of Rhode Island (and Connecticut, too).
Learn more about our online Rhode Island reciprocal classes here.