A salesperson must be affiliated with and supervised by a licensed broker at all times.
Before you read
Test yourself first: 3 questions
Question 1 of 3
Which Massachusetts body issues, regulates, and disciplines real estate salesperson and broker licenses?
Answer: B. Real estate licensing in Massachusetts is administered by the Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons, which operates under the state's Division of Occupational Licensure. The Realtors association is a private trade group, not the licensing regulator.
Question 2 of 3
The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons is best described as:
Answer: B. The Board is a state regulatory body composed of appointed members. It administers the licensing law, adopts regulations, and oversees licensee conduct. It is neither a private association, a federal agency, nor a court of law.
Question 3 of 3
In Massachusetts, what is the primary purpose of disciplinary penalties such as license suspension, revocation, or fines imposed by the Board?
Answer: B. Real estate licensing and discipline exist to protect the public. Board penalties are regulatory; they do not compensate licensees, fund associations, or bar an injured consumer from also pursuing a separate civil action for damages.
Keep the streak going with more questions like these, each with a full rationale.
Must-know rules
- Regulator: Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons, under the Division of Occupational Licensure (DOL).
- Salesperson pre-license education: 40 classroom hours from an approved school.
- A salesperson must be affiliated with and supervised by a licensed broker at all times.
- A salesperson cannot operate independently, hold escrow funds personally, or be paid commission directly by the public.
- The broker holds the salesperson's license and is responsible for the salesperson's licensed activities.
- Applicants must meet good-moral-character and minimum-age requirements and pass the state exam.
- License acts are governed by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 112 and the Board's regulations.
MA License Law & Regulator Quick Sheet: FAQs
Is MA License Law & Regulator Quick Sheet on the real estate exam?
Yes. State License Law is a scored domain on the Massachusetts real estate licensing exam, and this topic appears in the state license-law portion.
Is this cheat sheet free?
Yes — every page on Cinna RE's resource library is free to read, print and share. The app adds practice questions, mock exams and a readiness score.
Does Massachusetts test this differently?
Massachusetts applies its own license law on top of the national portion. This page covers the Massachusetts rules specifically, which is what the state section of your exam tests.
