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To become a real estate agent in Mississippi, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education, pass the salesperson exam, submit an application, fingerprint criminal history and fees to the Mississippi Real Estate Commission (MREC).
Before you decide to pursue further in this profession, it’s important to know what the role of a real estate salesperson is. To put it simply, an agent acts as an intermediary between buyer and seller in order to facilitate the sale or purchase of property. They help clients find homes that meet their needs and negotiate contracts with sellers for those homes. Some agents also help clients in searching for a rental property or lease out their units.
In this guide, you’ll learn about the step-by-step process to become a real estate salesperson in Mississippi and FAQ on getting the license.
But before we start, I want to give a brief disclaimer. This post is not intended as legal advice or state/federal real estate training. It is for general information only. Please always follow your State laws and best practices.
A Table Summary of Becoming a Real Estate Salesperson in Mississippi
| Eligibility | Education | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
At least 18 years of age Have a valid Social Security Number | 60 hours of pre-licensing courses 30 hours of post-licensing course for first-time licensee 16 hours of CE for subsequent renewals | 120 questions 4 hours of writing time Required passing score – (70% on General Portion) – (75% on State Portion) | Pre-licensing courses – $130 to $300 (approximately) MREC fee – $120 Exam fee- $75 E&O premium – $136 |
8 Steps to Become a Real Estate Agent in Mississippi
Step 1: Meet the eligibility requirement
- At least 18 years old
- Bona fide resident of the State of Mississippi
- Have a social security number
Step 2: Complete the pre-licensing education
You are required to take 60 hours of pre-licensing course from an approved education provider. The curriculum must include the following:
- (a) The provisions of this chapter and any rules and regulations promulgated hereunder;
- (b) Listing property;
- (c) Property valuation/appraisal;
- (d) Real estate arithmetic;
- (e) Characteristics of real property;
- (f) Agency and nonagency relationships;
- (g) Real estate sale contracts/agreements of sale;
- (h) Leasing and property management;
- (i) Transfer of title/ownership/deeds;
- (j) Settlement procedures;
- (k) Financing;
- (l) Professional responsibilities and ethics;
- (m) Fair housing;
- (n) Federal laws affecting real estate.
I just checked with an education provider and the course fee is around $130 to $300.
When choosing a real estate school, I prefer one where you could take the courses online. This way, you could study at your own pace whenever and wherever. The CE Shop is a trustworthy real estate education provider. You may click here to see whether they offer pre-licensing course in your state. (**)
Step 3: Pass the Mississippi Real Estate Salesperson Exam
The Mississippi Real Estate Salesperson Exam has 120 questions with 4 hours of writing time. It consists of the General Portion and the State Portion. The required passing score is 70% or higher on the General Portion and 75% on the State Portion. It is administered by Pearson Vue and the exam fee is $75.
Here’s an Mississippi Real Estate Salesperson Exam Guide covering a lot more in-depth about this test. Be sure to check it out.
Step 4: Join a real estate brokerage
To activate your salesperson license In Mississippi, you must be affiliate with a real estate broker. This is the firm who would sponsor your real estate license.
Finding a good trainer is crucial at the initial stage of your real estate career. It’s important to learn a repeatable and systematic process in running your business profitably. When choosing a real estate brokerage, many people only focus on the commission split, but there are many other factors you also need to consider.
For example, what type of training will they provide? Will they equip you with the skills in finding qualify prospects and closing a sale? Is there a shared office space you could use? Can the brokerage provide you with adequate administrative and marketing support? Will they provide you with leads to work on? Do they utilize up-to-date technology (i.e.: CRM, software subscription) to streamline the daily workflow.
Here’s a page with a job search engine. You may check whether there is any opening position in your area.
Step 5: Submit an application to Mississippi Real Estate Commission
To register with the Mississippi Real Estate Commission, you must submit a copy of the Salesperson License Application. The application needs to be notarized and you must send it to MREC within 60 days of the notary date.
In there, it will ask for your personal details, and background questions. You also need to provide a pre-licensing course completion certificate, photos (with full face view and profile face view.) and signed recommendation from 3 real estate owners who must be a U.S citizen. There is a $120 fee.
There is a section where the sponsoring broker needs to complete and sign.
Once all the required documents are in good order, you may mail them to Mississippi Real Estate Commission (MREC)
- LeFleur’s Bluff Tower, Suite 300, 4780 I-55 North, Jackson, MS 39211 OR
- Post Office Box 12685, Jackson, MS 39236-2685
Step 6: Go through a criminal background check
Since Mississippi Real Estate Commission has the responsibility to protect the public interest, all real estate licensees must go through a criminal history background check. You need to submit a fingerprint scan by calling (601) 321-6970.
Step 7: Obtain a Errors & Omissions Insurance
The E&O policy is to protect your clients should they submit a claim against your wrongdoing. This is mandatory for all real estate licensees in Mississippi.
Rice Insurance Services Company (RISC) LLC provides group E&O coverage, and they are also being mentioned on the MREC website.
I just checked the RISC website. For a premium of $136, the coverage will include $100,000 per claim / $500,000 aggregate with $1,000 damage deductible. But this info could be subjected to change, so you should check with them for the updated terms and conditions.
Once you have the E&O information, you can submit it to the MREC insurance@mrec.state.ms.us.
Step 8: Maintain the real estate license
You will first be issued a temporary license. Within 12 months, you must complete 30 hours of post-licensing courses. The curriculum must include the following:
- At least 24 hours in agency relationships, contracts, earnest money, antitrust, fair housing, ethics, and property condition disclosure.
- The remaining 6 hours may include pricing property, environmental issues, home inspections, leases and property management, and mortgage processes
Once you complete the post-licensing education, you may apply for a permanent license.
All Mississippi real estate licensee must renew their license every two year. And you need to complete 16 hours of real estate continuing education during each license term. (But not during the temporary license period.)
The Commission may conduct random audits to verify the CE credit. Therefore, it’s better to maintain the CE records and proof of completion documents. You may submit the CE info to the MREC at CE@mrec.state.ms.us
You may renew the license through the MREC online portal. The renewal fee is $60 which can be paid by a credit card. (i.e., Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express)
So know your deadlines and don’t wait until the last minute to complete CE and renew your license. Failure to renew on time not only result in late renewal fee, but it can cause interruption to your business.
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A Video on How to Get a Real Estate License in Mississippi
If you are reading up to this point, I bet you must be interested in getting a real estate license. Your first step is to complete the pre-licensing courses. You should select one that has an excellent reputation and long-term track record of satisfying students. The Colibri is exactly that! You may click here to check it out yourself. (**)
FAQ about Real Estate License in Mississippi
How much does it cost to get a real estate license in Mississippi?
It costs approximately $631 to get a real estate license in Mississippi. Here’s the breakdown:
- Pre-licensing courses – $130 to $300 (approximately)
- MREC fee – $120
- Exam fee- $75
- E&O premium – $136
The above are just the costs of getting the salesperson license. In addition, to start a real estate business, there will be other expenses involved such as MLS subscription, phone, internet, and office supplies, post-licensing courses, CE, and renewal fees.
Also, you may want to invest into exam prep. This can increase your chance in passing the exam on the first try, so that you don’t need to waste time and money in retaking it.
How long does it take to become a real estate agent in Mississippi?
It takes approximately 3 months to become a real estate agent in Mississippi. But it also depends on the time it takes you to complete the pre-licensing course, exam, application, and get sponsorship by a licensed real estate brokerage.
What states have reciprocity with Mississippi real estate license?
Although you may apply for a real estate license through reciprocity in Mississippi, I cannot locate any specific state on the MREC website.
However, the MREC License Law states that the commission may give exemption in writing the real estate exam if the licensee already passed an exam in the other state and is equivalent to the one in Mississippi.
You may find more info about applying for the real estate license through reciprocity here.
Can a felon be a real estate salesperson in Mississippi?
The Mississippi Real Estate Commission will consider the applicant’s honesty, trustworthiness, character and integrity. But whether a felon can obtain a real estate license is subjected to case-by-case evaluation.
(b) The commission shall not issue a real estate license if:
…(ii) The applicant has been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony in a domestic or foreign court:
1. During the five-year period immediately preceding the date of the application for licensing; or
2. At any time preceding the date of the application, if such felony involved an act of fraud, dishonesty or a breach of trust, or money laundering.
Quote from §73-35-10 MREC License Law
But don’t get discouraged as everyone has a past. The most important is that you can demonstrate that you will serve the public in a fair, honest, and open manner.
Here’s another post that covers how to apply for a real estate license with a felony record. In there, you’ll find practical ideas which could help your application.
How to become a commercial real estate agent in Mississippi?
To become a commercial real estate agent in Mississippi, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education, pass the salesperson exam, submit an application, fingerprint criminal history and fees to the Mississippi Real Estate Commission (MREC).
Basically, it is the same requirement as we just went through because most states do not issue separate licenses for residential and commercial agents.
Furthermore, if you are going to pursue a career as a CRE agent, you should look for a brokerage that could give you the right support and resources.
Here’s the “Complete Guide to a Commercial Real Estate Agent Career“, where I cover the career outlook, earning potential, and valuable feedback from CRE agents. Be sure to check it out.
I have more questions about the Mississippi real estate license, whom should I contact?
You may contact the Mississippi Real Estate Commission at info@mrec.state.ms.us for more details about the real estate license.
This article is part of the “Mississippi Real Estate Career Series.” If you want to know more about being a real estate agent in Mississippi, I invite you to check out the following articles:
- How to Pass the Mississippi Real Estate Exam?
- How Much do Real Estate Agents Make in Mississippi?
- Business Strategies for Real Estate Agents in Mississippi
(**) Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you. Our company, JCHQ Publishing will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking on the link. Please understand that we include them based on our experience or the research on these companies or products, and we recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make if you decide to buy something through the links. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.
Disclaimer: The information in this post is for general information only, and not intend to provide any advice. They are subjected to change without any notice, and not guaranteed to be error-free. Some of the posts on this site may contain views and opinions from individual not related to JCHQ Publishing. They do not necessarily reflect our view or position.
Reference:
- Mississippi Real Estate Commission (source)
- Mississippi Real Estate Candidate Handbook (source)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics – Real Estate Agents (source)
