Licensing: Who Needs One, Renewal, Change of Status
Area II is worth 2 of the 40 scored items and covers activities requiring a license, license renewal, and change in license status or information. Montana licenses individuals only: 37-51-301(3), MCA says corporations, partnerships and associations may not be licensed, though they may act as a licensee if every officer or partner performing licensee functions is licensed.
Activities requiring a license
It is unlawful to act as a broker or salesperson, or to advertise as one, without a license (37-51-301(1), MCA), and any single act within the statutory definitions of 'broker' or 'salesperson' is enough to constitute engaging in the business (37-51-301(4)(b)). Supervising salespersons requires more than a broker license: a valid active Montana broker's license and a supervising broker endorsement (37-51-301(2)). Exemptions in 37-51-103 cover owners and lessors dealing with their own property, attorneys at law, court-appointed appraisers in probate, receivers, trustees, executors, public officials, hydrocarbon and hard-mineral dealings, certain right-of-way and condemnation work, and property managers licensed under 37-56-105. Property managers are separately licensed under Title 37, chapter 56 — the old part 6 of chapter 51 was repealed in 2023 — but 37-56-104(2) provides that a broker or salesperson licensed under chapter 51 may act as a property manager, and a salesperson may not do so without a supervising broker.
Renewal, lapse, expiration, termination
Renewal dates are set by department rule and licences renew under 37-1-141, MCA. A lapsed license may be reactivated within 45 days after the renewal date, and a licensee practicing with a lapsed license 'is not considered to be practicing without a license' (37-1-141(3), (6)(a)). Past that, the license is expired, and a licensee who practises after expiry 'is considered to be practicing without a license' (37-1-141(6)(b)). An expired license may be reactivated within 2 years (37-1-141(4)); one not renewed within 2 years of the most recent renewal date automatically terminates and cannot be reactivated (37-1-141(8)). The board keeps disciplinary jurisdiction for 2 years after a license lapses (37-1-141(9)). Continuing education is a renewal condition: 12 hours of continuing real estate education every licensing year between November 1 and October 31 (ARM 24.210.667(1)), plus 4 hours a year of supervising broker education to keep that endorsement (ARM 24.210.604(3)); a supervising broker endorsement cannot be placed on inactive status and, once terminated, cannot be reinstated (ARM 24.210.604(8), (9)).
Change in status or information
A broker who moves must notify the department before the removal or within 10 days after it, designate the new physical address and pay the required fee (37-51-308(3), MCA). A salesperson changing supervising brokers notifies the department promptly in writing and pays the fee, the successor supervising broker notifies the department of acceptance, and the salesperson may not work for the new broker until a new license is issued (37-51-309(2)). A salesperson who leaves without a new supervising broker goes automatically to inactive status at no fee and may not practice during that period (37-51-309(3)). Termination by the supervising broker is not effective until both the salesperson and the board have been notified (37-51-309(4)). ARM 24.210.607(1) gives the salesperson ten days from the board's receipt of the termination to name a new supervising broker or go inactive, and requires the supervising broker within five calendar days to notify all principals that the listings and pending transactions are now the supervising broker's responsibility. Inactive licensees must still renew each period to avoid lapse, expiry or termination, and must show current professional liability coverage and the continuing education that would have been required, capped at 24 credits, to return to active status (ARM 24.210.624).
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State-specific details
State exam facts
- State regulator
- Montana Board of Realty Regulation (DLI)
- Exam vendor
- Pearson VUE
- Prelicensing education
- 60 hours of broker pre-license education, in addition to the salesperson hours
- Passing score
- Scaled score of 75 on each portion
- Scored questions
- 120
- Time limit
- 240 minutes
Who regulates real estate brokers in Montana?
The Montana Board of Realty Regulation, within the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), licenses brokers and salespersons under Title 37, chapter 51 MCA. Pearson VUE delivers the licensing exams. Property managers are licensed separately by the department under Title 37, chapter 56 MCA, though a licensed broker may act as a property manager without that separate credential.
What experience do I need before the Montana broker exam?
A broker applicant must be at least 18, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and have been actively engaged as a licensed real estate salesperson for 2 years or have equivalent experience or special education as determined by the Board (37-51-302(2), MCA). The applicant must also furnish evidence of 60 classroom or equivalent hours beyond the salesperson requirement, completed within the 18 months before application, and show 30 points earned in the 36 months before application from transactions, qualifying degrees and designations, or brokerage supervision (ARM 24.210.611(9)).
How is the Montana broker exam structured?
Two separately scored portions delivered by Pearson VUE: a national broker portion of 80 scored items plus 5 pretest items in 150 minutes, and a Montana state portion of 40 scored items plus 10 pretest items in 90 minutes — 120 scored items and 240 minutes in total. A passing score of 75 is required on each portion, and you retake only the portion you fail.
Sources: https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/realty-regulation/, https://www.pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/092700.pdf, https://www.pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/092701.pdf
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