Mississippi · MS
Mississippi 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
Mississippi requires 60 classroom hours of real estate courses from a college/community college or an MREC-approved pre-license provider. But the education doesn't stop at licensure — every new salesperson must also complete a 30-hour post-license course within the first year of holding the license, so think of it as 90 hours total spread across your first year.
- Confirm you're at least 18 and a Mississippi resident — MS is one of the few states that requires residency at the time you submit your application.
- Complete 60 classroom hours of real estate coursework through a college/community college or an MREC-approved pre-license education provider.
- Gather your proof of education (official transcript, grade report, or certificates) to submit with your application.
- Plan ahead for the 30-hour post-license course — it's due within one year of receiving your license, and skipping it puts your license on ice.
Application & exam
- Line up your responsible broker FIRST — Mississippi's application requires your sponsoring broker's signature before you can even sit for the exam.
- Mail MREC your completed application with the $120 fee, full-face and profile photos, proof of your 60 hours of education, your broker's signature, and contact info for three unrelated real estate property owners as references.
- Complete the fingerprint background check: pay the $50 processing fee to MREC, which sends you a fingerprint kit with cards and an authorization code after your application is received.
- Once MREC approves your application, schedule your exam with PSI ($75) and pass both the national and state portions in person at a PSI test center.
- After passing, MREC issues your license through your responsible broker — you practice under their supervision from day one.
- Complete the 30-hour post-license course within one year of licensure, or your license will lapse into inactive status until you do.
Budget
| Item | Estimate | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 60-hour pre-licensing course (typical online package) | $250 | |
| MREC application fee | $120 | |
| Fingerprint background check processing fee | $50 | |
| PSI exam fee | $75 | |
| Estimated total | $495 |
Key deadlines
- But the education doesn't stop at licensure — every new salesperson must also complete a 30-hour post-license course within the first year of holding the license, so think of it as 90 hours total spread across your first year.
- Every 2 years — $120 renewal fee plus 16 hours of continuing education per cycle (8 mandatory hours covering License Law, Contract Law, and Agency Law, plus 8 elective hours).
- Plan ahead for the 30-hour post-license course — it's due within one year of receiving your license, and skipping it puts your license on ice.
- Line up your responsible broker FIRST — Mississippi's application requires your sponsoring broker's signature before you can even sit for the exam.
- Complete the fingerprint background check: pay the $50 processing fee to MREC, which sends you a fingerprint kit with cards and an authorization code after your application is received.
- After passing, MREC issues your license through your responsible broker — you practice under their supervision from day one.
- Complete the 30-hour post-license course within one year of licensure, or your license will lapse into inactive status until you do.
- Usually 1 to 2.5 months.