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LicenseReciprocity

Transfer Your Real Estate License to Massachusetts: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure) ↗

Massachusetts recognizes real estate licenses from 12 named states (Connecticut, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Nebraska, Iowa, Tennessee, Mississippi, Colorado, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Oklahoma). Licensees from those states apply to the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure) under the agreement — Salespersons who passed their licensing examination in a reciprocal state are licensed in Massachusetts WITHOUT taking the Massachusetts exam or the 40-hour course (reciprocity is granted on the strength of the home-state exam and an active good-standing license). Applicants who passed an examination in a NON-reciprocal state may apply to sit for the Massachusetts exam with an educational waiver (submitting a certified letter of Good Standing) - i.e., the 40-hour education can be waived but the Massachusetts exam must be passed.. From any other state, you apply as a new applicant. Fee: $134–$181 (Reciprocal Salesperson Application Fee $31 plus a Reciprocal Salesperson Initial License fee prorated by the applicant's date of birth in the range $103-$150 (two-year cycle), for a combined $134-$181. A separate vendor convenience fee applies to online payments.).

Moving to Massachusetts from a specific state?

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Verdict

Reciprocity with 12 states

Massachusetts's agreement is a list, and the list is the law: if your state appears on it, the streamlined track below applies; if not, no amount of experience substitutes — you use the new-applicant track. Check the list before anything else, and remember it describes states Massachusetts recognizes, which says nothing about the reverse direction.

Per 254 CMR 2.00 the Board recognizes exam-passing licensees from 11 named states plus Oklahoma (Oklahoma requires 2 years of licensure): Connecticut, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Nebraska, Iowa, Tennessee, Mississippi, Colorado, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico. IMPORTANT: Arizona and California are NOT on the Massachusetts reciprocity list (contrary to the seed fact) - reciprocal applicants from those states do not qualify, though they may apply for the educational waiver and sit for the Massachusetts exam. The 12-state list is the current official roster; there is no ~13-state list including AZ/CA.

Massachusetts requirements at a glance

Out-of-state real estate license transfer requirements for Massachusetts, verified 2026-07-21
ExamSalespersons who passed their licensing examination in a reciprocal state are licensed in Massachusetts WITHOUT taking the Massachusetts exam or the 40-hour course (reciprocity is granted on the strength of the home-state exam and an active good-standing license). Applicants who passed an examination in a NON-reciprocal state may apply to sit for the Massachusetts exam with an educational waiver (submitting a certified letter of Good Standing) - i.e., the 40-hour education can be waived but the Massachusetts exam must be passed.
Training hours40 hours
Additional requirements
  • Hold an active, good-standing salesperson license obtained by examination in a reciprocal state (Oklahoma licensees must have been licensed for 2 years)
  • Submit a certified letter of Good Standing from the reciprocating state showing issue date, expiration date, how the license was issued, any discipline, and current status
  • Submit a notarized Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) form signed by the applicant
  • Provide a recent passport-style color photograph
  • Apply online through the DOL eLIPSE portal
Fees$134–$181 (Reciprocal Salesperson Application Fee $31 plus a Reciprocal Salesperson Initial License fee prorated by the applicant's date of birth in the range $103-$150 (two-year cycle), for a combined $134-$181. A separate vendor convenience fee applies to online payments.)
Processing timeBoard does not publish a processing time; applications and required documents are submitted and reviewed through the eLIPSE portal.

Step by step

  1. Confirm Massachusetts's current requirements on the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure) website — rules change.
  2. Submit the reciprocity/endorsement application to the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure) (application linked on this page).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Hold an active, good-standing salesperson license obtained by examination in a reciprocal state (Oklahoma licensees must have been licensed for 2 years).
  5. Submit a certified letter of Good Standing from the reciprocating state showing issue date, expiration date, how the license was issued, any discipline, and current status.
  6. Submit a notarized Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) form signed by the applicant.
  7. Provide a recent passport-style color photograph.
  8. Apply online through the DOL eLIPSE portal.
  9. Pay the fees ($134–$181 (Reciprocal Salesperson Application Fee $31 plus a Reciprocal Salesperson Initial License fee prorated by the applicant's date of birth in the range $103-$150 (two-year cycle), for a combined $134-$181. A separate vendor convenience fee applies to online payments.)) and allow Board does not publish a processing time; applications and required documents are submitted and reviewed through the eLIPSE portal..

Official links

Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure) ↗Massachusetts application ↗

Coming from a specific state?

Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Massachusetts:

California → MassachusettsColorado → MassachusettsConnecticut → MassachusettsFlorida → MassachusettsGeorgia → MassachusettsIllinois → MassachusettsIowa → MassachusettsMichigan → MassachusettsMississippi → MassachusettsNebraska → MassachusettsNew Mexico → MassachusettsNew York → MassachusettsNorth Carolina → MassachusettsOhio → MassachusettsOklahoma → MassachusettsPennsylvania → MassachusettsRhode Island → MassachusettsTennessee → MassachusettsTexas → MassachusettsWest Virginia → Massachusetts

Frequently asked questions

Does my real estate license transfer to Massachusetts?

Massachusetts recognizes real estate licenses from 12 named states (Connecticut, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Nebraska, Iowa, Tennessee, Mississippi, Colorado, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Oklahoma). Licensees from those states apply to the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure) under the agreement — Salespersons who passed their licensing examination in a reciprocal state are licensed in Massachusetts WITHOUT taking the Massachusetts exam or the 40-hour course (reciprocity is granted on the strength of the home-state exam and an active good-standing license). Applicants who passed an examination in a NON-reciprocal state may apply to sit for the Massachusetts exam with an educational waiver (submitting a certified letter of Good Standing) - i.e., the 40-hour education can be waived but the Massachusetts exam must be passed.. From any other state, you apply as a new applicant. Fee: $134–$181 (Reciprocal Salesperson Application Fee $31 plus a Reciprocal Salesperson Initial License fee prorated by the applicant's date of birth in the range $103-$150 (two-year cycle), for a combined $134-$181. A separate vendor convenience fee applies to online payments.).

Do I have to retake real estate exams in Massachusetts?

Salespersons who passed their licensing examination in a reciprocal state are licensed in Massachusetts WITHOUT taking the Massachusetts exam or the 40-hour course (reciprocity is granted on the strength of the home-state exam and an active good-standing license). Applicants who passed an examination in a NON-reciprocal state may apply to sit for the Massachusetts exam with an educational waiver (submitting a certified letter of Good Standing) - i.e., the 40-hour education can be waived but the Massachusetts exam must be passed..

What does a Massachusetts real estate license cost an out-of-state applicant?

$134–$181 (Reciprocal Salesperson Application Fee $31 plus a Reciprocal Salesperson Initial License fee prorated by the applicant's date of birth in the range $103-$150 (two-year cycle), for a combined $134-$181. A separate vendor convenience fee applies to online payments.) (Reciprocal Salesperson Application Fee $31 plus a Reciprocal Salesperson Initial License fee prorated by the applicant's date of birth in the range $103-$150 (two-year cycle), for a combined $134-$181. A separate vendor convenience fee applies to online payments.).

How long does the Massachusetts process take?

Board does not publish a processing time; applications and required documents are submitted and reviewed through the eLIPSE portal. — Board does not publish a processing time; applications and required documents are submitted and reviewed through the eLIPSE portal..

Which states does Massachusetts have real estate reciprocity with?

Connecticut, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Nebraska, Iowa, Tennessee, Mississippi, Colorado, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Oklahoma (12 states, verified 2026-07-21 against the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure)). Licensees from all other states use the standard application.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]