Maine · ME
Maine Real Estate License Checklist (2026)
Every step, fee, and deadline on one page — designed to print cleanly to PDF and check off as you go.
Before you start
- You are at least 18 years old
- You hold a high school diploma or GED
- You can pass a criminal background check / fingerprinting
Education
Maine's entry-level license is the Sales Agent license, which requires a 55-hour Sales Agent course passed with a final grade of at least 75%. Heads up: it's a one-time, non-renewable 2-year license — the on-ramp to Maine's broker track, not a career destination by itself.
- Complete the 55-hour Sales Agent course through a Maine-approved provider (Arthur Gary School of Real Estate, the Center for Real Estate Studies, and approved online schools are common choices) with a minimum final grade of 75%.
- Keep your ORIGINAL course completion certificate — Pearson VUE requires you to bring it to the exam site, and a copy won't cut it.
- Review the Maine Real Estate Candidate Handbook from Pearson VUE for the content outline and scheduling rules.
- Schedule your Sales Agent exam with Pearson VUE — testing is offered in Westbrook and Bangor — and pass it within one year of finishing your course.
Application & exam
- Pass both sections of the Pearson VUE exam within one year of completing your course, then apply for your license within one year of passing the exam.
- Apply online with the Maine Real Estate Commission and pay $121 total, payable to the Maine State Treasurer — that's a $100 application/license fee plus a $21 criminal records check fee (a records check, not fingerprinting).
- Submit your original examination results and original course completion certificate with the application.
- Affiliate with a licensed Maine real estate agency — a sales agent may only perform brokerage services in the employ of a licensed agency under the supervision of its designated broker, so you need a brokerage to actually practice.
- Confirm you meet the baseline requirements: at least 18 at the time of application and a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Mark your calendar: the Sales Agent license runs exactly 2 years and cannot be renewed — to keep working you must complete the 60-hour Associate Broker course (with 2 years of active affiliation) before it expires, or pay $100 for a one-time extension.
Budget
| Item | Estimate | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 55-hour Sales Agent course (approved Maine provider) | $550 | |
| Pearson VUE Sales Agent exam fee (per attempt) | $85 | |
| License application ($100) + criminal records check ($21) | $121 | |
| Estimated total | $756 |
Key deadlines
- Heads up: it's a one-time, non-renewable 2-year license — the on-ramp to Maine's broker track, not a career destination by itself.
- 2-year term, but the Sales Agent license is non-renewable — you must complete the 60-hour Associate Broker course and upgrade within your 2-year term (a $100 extension is available if you run out of time)
- Schedule your Sales Agent exam with Pearson VUE — testing is offered in Westbrook and Bangor — and pass it within one year of finishing your course.
- Pass both sections of the Pearson VUE exam within one year of completing your course, then apply for your license within one year of passing the exam.
- Mark your calendar: the Sales Agent license runs exactly 2 years and cannot be renewed — to keep working you must complete the 60-hour Associate Broker course (with 2 years of active affiliation) before it expires, or pay $100 for a one-time extension.
- The deadlines are generous — you have a year after the course to pass the exam and another year after passing to apply.
- Budget extra later for the required 60-hour Associate Broker course within your first two years.
- Do I need a broker before I apply for my Maine license?