How to get your Mississippi real estate license

You must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED to apply for a Mississippi real estate license. A criminal background check is required — most non-violent offenses are reviewed case-by-case.

Note: 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.

Mississippi uses PSI to administer the licensing exam. You'll need a passing score of 70% on the national portion (56 of 80) and 75% on the state portion (30 of 40). The exam fee is $75. Expect roughly 100 national questions and 40–50 state-specific questions. Format: 120 multiple-choice questions (80 national + 40 Mississippi state), computer-based, in person at a PSI test center — no remote online proctoring.

• 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.

Your Mississippi license stays inactive until a licensed broker sponsors you. Interview at least 2–3 brokerages, compare commission splits, training, and lead sources, and pick the one that fits your career goals — not just the highest split.