How to become a real estate agent in Mississippi
When finding out the new opportunities for your career growth in Mississippi, you shouldn’t miss such a professional niche as real estate. No matter, if you are living in Jackson or smaller cities like Brandon or Columbus, the realty business, can become your launchpad to a happy and prosperous life. Why so, you may ask. The reason is simple enough the real estate industry in MS remains stable and in recent years, the attractiveness of living in this state and buying its property increased due to affordable home pricing and a diversified economy. Thus, people buy homes and commercial property, and sell their residences, and in this flow, the navigation under the guidance of a successful real estate agent is a must.
Do you want to become such a realtor in Mississippi? We are sure that you do! Let’s learn what you need to start your real estate career and, at the same time, focus on the main requirements set by this state for the RE licensing of a candidate. At last, that’s what the content of this blog guide is intended for and you are welcome to read it here.
6 Steps to Getting a Real Estate License in Mississippi
The first argument to note to become a realtor is that you need a special license to work as a real estate salesperson in Mississippi. That’s quite a common requirement in terms of the US, and MS is no exception. Besides, the licensing process in this state offers some specifics which differ from other states, for example, California, Georgia, Colorado, or New York. What are they? Let’s list the licensure types.
So, the very first step to take is consistently pass the way to your temporary, and then regular license as a real estate agent. We’re going to help you with it and ease this way for you.
For your convenience and the clearest view of all the processes you should undergo, we divided the licensing procedure information into six basic steps. So, let’s go to the first of them!
1. State of Mississippi real estate license requirements
So, you are on your path to a real estate career. Being an applicant, the first and foremost thing is to meet the conditions provided by the state real estate regulators for salespersons. We shall write them in the following list of information.
Besides, the proof of your higher education might be a benefit. So, don’t forget to show your high school certificate, college diploma, or other certificates when applying for a license.
2. Complete 60 hours of required pre-licensing education
After you ensure that you meet all the requirements which are the basis for your real estate licensing application, you might complete special required pre-license education courses. They must be provided by a licensed and state-approved school. Fortunately, there are plenty of such pre-licensing schools in Mississippi, so you have a good choice. You can select full-time in-person courses and regularly visit a training center to get all the necessary knowledge and practice or even acquire a partner for further work. If you are too busy, online courses are a perfect match for you. They are held as real-time classes with an instructor or as remote learning courses downloaded to a special educational platform with online access.
In any case, a student has to complete 60-hour course of a real estate coursework before they apply for a license. And that’s not the end. After you succeed with your courses, you have to get a portion of continuing education to transform your temporary license into a regular one. That’s a 30-hour additional course you have to get after you complete the course exam.
As for the education centers accredited in Mississippi, there are top three of them listed below.
- The CE Shop works state-wide and provides online classes in Mississippi as well as in Florida, Wyoming, Idaho, and other states.
- The Real Estate Training Institute is a local school which focuses on specifics of Mississippi requirements for real estate agents.
- MS REALTORS Institute has worked since 1973 and boasts the highest number of students in the area.
When choosing courses to complete, please, don’t forget to consider your budget as you have to pay for your VE. Well, it won’t be too costly as the price for a real estate course pack in Mississippi is lower than in the lion’s share of states, and it varies from $149 to $498 depending on the type of education schedule and the reputation of a school.
3. Pass the course final exam
Once you complete your studies, you meet the first challenge. That’s your final exam in the training facility. You take this test in your school and it’s the best idea for your state licensing exam prep. The exam results should be attached to your real estate license application. The number of tries is not limited. Please, schedule the day of the examination test in advance.
4. Find a brokerage firm or a sponsoring broker
The next step for your real estate licensing is finding a broker or a brokerage company. In most US states, this requirement is a must. Mississippi follows the process in this prerequisite. So, only when you contact a broker who will become your affiliated sponsor, you will be allowed to place the application for the test. Sponsorship of a broker means that after you obtain a salesperson’s license, you’ll get any of the multiple jobs provided by this broker. A brokering company offers you a position as a real estate community associate, an agent, or even a virtual brokerage. It’s up to you to choose something that fits your skills and strives and earn money under professional supervision. Besides, you can check reviews by other salespeople to ease the process.
5. Apply for a Real Estate License
So, you completed a course exam and you are guaranteed to have a sponsoring broker. Now the next step is your application for the license. You should fill in the form on the website of MREC (Mississippi Real Estate Commission). Please, add to the document you fill in your criminal background check report, 2 photos with front and profile view, and your course certificate.
At this stage, please, do not skip the payment of the state licensing fee. It costs $120 and it allows you to get a letter which provides approval/eligibility for your temporary salesperson’s license before you get your continuing education part of skills. Then, when your state exam is completed, and your 30 hours of courses are taken, you’ll get a regular license as a real estate agent which provides sales and complete deals in home sales and construction development.
6. Pass the Mississippi real estate examination
Then it’s time to submit your knowledge and prove that you are ready for your professional real estate career. In general, this is assumed in a national real estate license exam. This testing is held in the approved network of state examination PSI Examination Services based on major topics required for your job. You can register to schedule your exam online, yet passing it is allowed only in person. In Mississippi, the PSI testing facilities are located at 2679 Crane Ridge Dr, Jackson, MS 39216. The examination is held every month and once you submit an application for it, you’ll be given a chance to pass the exam in the nearest 30 days.
How hard is the Mississippi real estate exam?
You can see that the exam is not too hard, especially if you studied thoroughly or if you have knowledge in management, marketing, finance, human rights, and law before. As stats say, over 70% of students manage to undergo their exam on their first attempt.
How many questions are on the Mississippi permit test?
The full Mississippi real estate licensure exam consists of 120 questions on different topics which include law, finance, marketing, property management, math, psychology, etc. They are divided into two sections, National and State. It’s important to mention that you have a limited time to complete all the tasks. How much time do you have? In Mississippi, available time limits are four hours per examination.
What score do you need to pass the MS real estate exam?
The total exam score a student needs to gain to pass a real estate exam is 75%. Thus, if you answered more than 80 questions right, you succeeded!
What happens if you fail the real estate exam in Mississippi?
Of course, the licensing exam is purposely difficult but if you fail, it’s not the end of your way. You can take as many tries as you need to succeed with your exam. The only condition is that you must pass this exam within two months after your temporary license is issued.
Mississippi real estate license renewal
Since you received your real estate license, you must renew it every 2 years. It’s not as daunting as it seems because you can check its expiration date on the site and besides, the licensing commission will send you a standard letter a month before the expiration time.
Then, how to act further?
- Apply for the renewal online before the anniversary date of your initial licensure.
- Receive 16 hours of advanced CE including a mandatory 8 hours of Mississippi License Law, Contract Law, and Agency Law in the CE course in an approved CE provider.
- Pay a fee as a real estate salesperson – it’s $120 (in case you are a broker or a company, you pay a reserved $150 fee).
How much does it cost to get a real estate license in Mississippi?
The license requires some essential expenses from you. What costs you should expect to spend on your real estate licensing? We’ve embodied them in a convenient table you can read below.
| Cost item | Price |
|---|---|
| Education costs | $199-$499 |
| Application commission | $120 |
| National exam fee | $75 |
| Criminal background report | $32 |
| Total: | $426-$676 |
Mississippi real estate license reciprocity
The last information concerning real estate licensing in Mississippi refers to those who obtained their real estate agent status in other states. The good news is Mississippi allows real estate agents to work legally with their licenses issued by the following states:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
That is, you can move here from any state and get approval without additional examination if the government of Mississippi considers your home state’s licensing conditions to be similar to theirs.
Mississippi Real Estate Commission (MREC)
Mississippi Real Estate Commission is the main regulator which approves licenses in the industry. This institution provides support, training, licensure renewals, activation and inactivation of licenses throughout the state of Mississippi.
You can contact MREC in the following ways:
Jackson, MS 39236
Below is a summary of what we offered you to read about real estate license requirements in Mississippi. We’ve wrapped the information in a FAQ section of this guide to make it easy to read and comprehend.
Becoming a real estate agent in MS: FAQs
Can I get my Mississippi real estate license online?
You can apply for it online, yet, taking the exam is mandatory provided in person.
How long does it take to become a real estate agent in Mississippi?
Typically it takes from a couple of months to 1 year to pass all the procedures. The length of the process depends on how long it takes for you to study real estate course material and which resources you use for your education. At least, it is 2 months if you choose a full-time class.
How much money can I make as an MS real estate agent?
The salary for a real estate salesperson in Mississippi is approximately $86,500+ annually. It depends on your experience, the type of property you specialize in, the requirements and support of your home real estate agency, and the type of commission splits.
Can a felony be a real estate agent in the Mississippi?
You cannot get a license if you are still under arrest or probation. Yet, if your criminal history is not flawless but all your deeds are in the past, you can try and apply for MREC’s approval. Its requirements are not impossible, at last.
Resources:
- 719 Lending. “How Many Real Estate Agents in the USA?”, https://www.719lending.com/how-many-real-estate-agents-in-the-usa/#:~:text=The%20states%20with%20the%20most,fewest%20of%20the%20U.S.%20Territories
- Mississippi Real Estate Commission. “Rules and Regulations”, https://www.mrec.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MREC_RULES_AND_REGULATIONS_REV_07-01-2023.pdf
- PSI Services LLC. “PSI Examination Services”, https://www.psiexams.com/en-gb/
- Mississippi Real Estate Commission. “Change in Renewal FEES Effective July 1, 2024”, https://www.mrec.ms.gov/notice-of-renewal-fee-changes-effective-july-1-2024/
