Montana Real Estate Practice Test (Free)
The Montana real estate salesperson exam has 120 questions and a 4 hours limit. Below are the exact numbers the MT exam uses, and a free practice test to see where you stand.
The Montana exam at a glance
- License
- Real Estate Salesperson
- Administered by
- Pearson VUE, under contract with the Montana Board of Realty Regulation
- Total questions
- 120 (80 national and 40 Montana-specific)
- Time limit
- 4 hours
- Passing score
- Montana gives the salesperson exam as two separately scored portions. The national portion is 80 scored items in 150 minutes and the state portion is 40 scored items in 90 minutes, for 120 scored items and 240 minutes across the two sittings. Each portion is scored on its own 0 to 100 scaled scale and requires a scaled score of 75 to pass, so you must pass both portions. The 75 is a scaled cut score set by the Board with Pearson VUE, not a plain percentage of questions correct: because exam forms differ slightly in difficulty, raw scores are equated to a common scale. Numeric scores are reported only to candidates who fail.
- How it is taken
- In person at Pearson VUE test centers, or online proctored through Pearson VUE OnVUE. The national and state portions are separate exams with separate fees and may be taken on the same day or on different days. Report to the test center at least 30 minutes before your appointment. Walk-in examinations are not available.
- If you fail
- Pearson VUE states no waiting period; you simply make a new reservation through Pearson VUE (re-examinations cannot be booked at the test center) and pay the $95 fee again for the portion you retake. Candidates who pass one portion and fail the other retake only the failed portion. Once you pass, you have 12 months from the exam date to apply for licensure or the exam result is invalidated (ARM 24.210.611(3)).
What Montana requires before you can sit the exam
- Minimum age
- 18+
- Pre-license education
- 70 hours
- 70 hours of Board-approved pre-licensing education, completed within the 24 months immediately preceding the license application (ARM 24.210.611(8)). MCA 37-51-302(4)(a)(iv) sets the statutory range at 60 to 80 classroom or equivalent hours as determined by the board, and the board has set 70. The course must cover real estate principles, real estate law and ethics, real estate finance, and related topics, and the applicant must pass the school's own course examination.
- Exam / application fee
- $95
- License term
- 1 years
Free Montana practice questions
10 questions written for the Montana exam, drawn from 12 in the ApexAgent bank. The correct answer and the reasoning are under each one.
1. Under Montana law, the minimum age for a person applying for a real estate salesperson's license is:
- A. 16
- B. 18 ✓
- C. 19
- D. 21
Why: Montana Code Annotated 37-51-302(4)(a)(i) provides that an applicant for a salesperson's license must be at least 18 years of age. The same section requires two years of full curriculum study at an accredited high school or the equivalent, and a license may be granted only to an individual the board considers to be of good repute (MCA 37-51-302(1)).
2. How many hours of approved pre-licensing education must a Montana real estate salesperson applicant complete before applying for a license?
- A. 40 hours
- B. 60 hours
- C. 70 hours ✓
- D. 90 hours
Why: The Montana Board of Realty Regulation requires 70 hours of approved pre-licensing education, and ARM 24.210.611(8) requires that the 70 hours have been obtained within the 24 months immediately preceding the application. MCA 37-51-302(4)(a)(iv) sets the statutory range at between 60 and 80 classroom hours as determined by the board, and the board has set the current requirement at 70.
3. The Montana Board of Realty Regulation is composed of how many members, and how are they classified?
- A. Three licensed brokers and two public members
- B. Five members: four real estate brokers or salespeople and one public member ✓
- C. Seven members: five licensees and two public members
- D. Nine members, all of them licensed brokers
Why: MCA 2-15-1757 provides that the Board of Realty Regulation consists of five members, four of whom are real estate brokers or salespeople and one of whom is a public member. MCA 37-51-102(3) confirms that the 'board' referred to throughout the real estate licensing chapter is the board of realty regulation provided for in 2-15-1757.
4. Under Montana's agency disclosure law, a broker or salesperson is presumed to be acting as which type of licensee unless an agreement or disclosure says otherwise?
- A. A seller agent
- B. A buyer agent
- C. A statutory broker ✓
- D. A dual agent
Why: MCA 37-51-102(23) defines a statutory broker as a broker or salesperson who assists one or more parties without acting as an agent or representative of any party, and states that a licensee is presumed to be a statutory broker unless the licensee has entered into a listing agreement with a seller, a buyer broker agreement with a buyer, or has disclosed another relationship as required by the chapter.
5. For a Montana broker or salesperson to act as a dual agent representing both the buyer and the seller, what does MCA 37-51-314 require?
- A. Only verbal notice to both parties
- B. The signed, written consent of both the seller and the buyer ✓
- C. Approval from the Board of Realty Regulation before closing
- D. Nothing further, because dual agency is prohibited in Montana
Why: MCA 37-51-314(5) requires a buyer agent or seller agent who becomes a dual agent to disclose the relationship to the buyer and seller and receive their consent. The mandatory disclosure text in MCA 37-51-314(6)(b) states that a broker or salesperson may not act as a dual agent without the signed, written consent of both the seller and the buyer.
6. Which of the following is expressly excluded from the definition of 'adverse material fact' under Montana law?
- A. A documented health risk to occupants of the property
- B. A fact that materially affects the structural integrity of the property
- C. The fact that the property was the site of a suicide or felony ✓
- D. A fact that materially affects the buyer's ability to perform under the contract
Why: MCA 37-51-102(1)(a) defines an adverse material fact as a fact significant enough to affect a person's decision to buy or sell, including facts that affect value or structural integrity or present a documented health risk. MCA 37-51-102(1)(b) expressly excludes the fact that an occupant has or has had a communicable disease and the fact that the property was the site of a suicide or felony.
7. Montana requires every active broker and salesperson to carry errors and omissions insurance. Under the group policy described in MCA 37-51-325, what is the minimum per-claim limit?
- A. $50,000
- B. $100,000 ✓
- C. $300,000
- D. $1,000,000
Why: MCA 37-51-325(4)(b) requires the board's approved group policy to have a minimum per-claim limit of $100,000, a minimum annual aggregate limit of $300,000, and a deductible maximum of $2,500 per claim. MCA 37-51-325(1) requires continuous coverage during the period of licensure, and MCA 37-51-321(1)(w) makes failing to maintain that coverage unprofessional conduct.
8. The Montana Department of Labor and Industry may issue a citation to a broker who fails to comply with trust account maintenance requirements. What is the civil fine for each cited violation?
- A. $25
- B. $50 ✓
- C. $100
- D. $500
Why: MCA 37-51-324(3) sets the applicable civil fine for failure to comply with trust account maintenance requirements at $50 for each cited violation. Under MCA 37-51-324(5) the cited broker may pay the fine or file a written dispute with the board within 5 business days of issuance, and a person who accepts the citation without disputing it in writing is demonstrating unprofessional conduct.
9. When a licensed Montana broker removes the business from its designated physical address, the broker must notify the department of the new address within what time frame?
- A. Before removal or within 10 days after removal ✓
- B. Before removal or within 30 days after removal
- C. Within 60 days after removal
- D. Before the next license renewal only
Why: MCA 37-51-308(3) requires a broker who removes from the designated address to notify the department before removal or within 10 days after removal, designating the new physical address and paying the required fee. MCA 37-51-308(1) also requires the broker's current license to be prominently displayed at the designated physical address.
10. A Montana salesperson applicant passes one subject portion of the examination but fails the other. Under MCA 37-51-303, within what period must the applicant pass the remaining portion without repeating the passed portion?
- A. 6 months
- B. 12 months ✓
- C. 18 months
- D. 24 months
Why: MCA 37-51-303(2)(b) provides that if an applicant passes one subject portion of the salesperson examination, the applicant is not required to repeat that portion if the remaining portion is passed within 12 months. ARM 24.210.611(3) separately requires all individuals who pass the examination to apply for licensure within 12 months of the examination date.
Want more Montana-specific questions? Practice the full Montana state-law set.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Montana split the real estate exam into a national part and a state part?
- Yes. Unlike single-exam states such as Florida, Montana licenses salespersons through two separately scored Pearson VUE portions. The national portion has 80 scored items in 150 minutes and the state portion has 40 scored items in 90 minutes, and each portion is paid for and passed on its own. You must pass both portions, but you may sit them on the same day or on different days, and if you pass one and fail the other you only retake the failed portion.
- What score do you need to pass the Montana real estate exam?
- A scaled score of 75 on each portion. The scaled score is not the percentage of questions you answered correctly; Pearson VUE equates the raw score from your particular exam form onto a common 0 to 100 scale so that no candidate is advantaged or disadvantaged by form difficulty. The cut score is set by the Montana Board of Realty Regulation together with Pearson VUE. Numeric scores are reported only to candidates who fail.
- How many questions and how much time does each Montana exam portion take?
- The national portion is 80 scored questions in 150 minutes. The state portion is 40 scored questions in 90 minutes. Both portions also contain unscored pretest questions that look identical to scored items and do not affect your score. Because the two portions run 150 and 90 minutes, the full set takes about four hours of testing time, and you should answer every item since there is no penalty for guessing.
- Do I need a broker before I can be licensed in Montana?
- Yes. Montana salesperson applicants must be employed by, or under contract with, a licensed Montana broker who holds a supervising broker endorsement, and the broker must recommend the applicant and agree to supervise and train them (MCA 37-51-302(4)(b), and MCA 37-51-301(2) makes supervising salespersons without that endorsement unlawful). Applicants must also show proof of professional liability and errors and omissions insurance coverage (MCA 37-51-325), which every active licensee must keep continuously in force.
- How long is a Montana real estate license good, and what continuing education is required?
- Montana licenses run on a one year cycle that expires every October 31, with the renewal window opening around September 1. Each active licensee must complete a minimum of 12 hours of continuing real estate education every licensing year between November 1 and October 31, and no hours carry over to the next year (ARM 24.210.667). A brand new salesperson first receives an interim license that terminates on October 31 of the year it was issued and must complete the board's new licensee mandatory course, while the standard 12 hour requirement begins with the second year of licensing (ARM 24.210.661).
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- Montana Board of Realty Regulation, Licensing Requirements and Application Checklist, Real Estate Salesperson (updated 11/2025): age 18; two years of full high school curriculum or equivalent; 70 hours of pre-licensing education within the past 24 months (ARM 24.210.611(8)); pass the salesperson exam within the past 12 months; supervising broker endorsement; proof of professional liability and errors and omissions insurance (MCA 37-51-325); $80 application fee; online application recommended) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Pearson VUE, Montana Board of Realty Regulation Candidate Handbook, #092700, January 2026 (available exams table: National Salesperson $95, 150 minutes, 5 pretest, 80 questions, passing score 75; State Salesperson $95, 90 minutes, 10 pretest, 40 questions, passing score 75; $95 exam fee; scaled score 0 to 100; numeric scores reported only to failing candidates; retake only the failed portion; authorization period for salespersons is 5 years; report 30 minutes early; in-person or OnVUE online proctoring) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Pearson VUE, Montana Real Estate Content Outlines, #092701 (Effective April 1, 2025: national portion is 80 scored items plus 5 pretest items; Effective January 1, 2025: state specific exam is 40 scored items for salesperson and broker candidates plus five to ten (5 to 10) pretest items; lists the Board of Realty Regulation statutes and rules tested) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Montana Board of Realty Regulation, program page (Pearson VUE contract; errors and omissions group policy enrollment; Board contact details; 70 hour salesperson and 60 hour broker pre-licensing courses offered by approved providers) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Montana Code Annotated 37-51-302, Broker's or salesperson's license, qualifications of applicant, supervising broker endorsement (age 18; two years of full high school curriculum; salesperson pre-licensing range of 60 to 80 classroom hours as set by the board; broker recommendation certifying good repute and supervision; supervising broker endorsement) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Montana Code Annotated 37-51-303, Broker or salesperson examination (applicant must pass the examination; if the applicant passes one subject portion, the remaining portion must be passed within 12 months) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Montana Code Annotated 37-51-313, Duties, duration, and termination of relationship between broker or salesperson and buyer or seller (seller agent, buyer agent, statutory broker, and dual agent duties; adverse material fact disclosure; agency relationship duration) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Montana Code Annotated 37-51-314, Relationship disclosure requirements (written initial and subsequent disclosures; dual agency requires the signed written consent of both seller and buyer; required disclosure text) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Montana Code Annotated 37-51-321, Unprofessional conduct, sanction of license (misleading advertising; failing to account for money; undisclosed commissions; paying a commission to an unlicensed person unless exempted; salesperson must place entrusted money in the supervising broker's custody as soon as practicable; failure to maintain E and O insurance) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Montana Code Annotated 37-51-325, Professional liability insurance required, errors and omissions insurance coverage (continuous coverage required; group policy minimum per claim limit of $100,000 and annual aggregate of $300,000 with a deductible maximum of $2,500) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Montana Code Annotated 37-51-324, Penalty for failure to comply with trust account requirements (department may issue a citation; the civil fine is $50 for each cited violation; a person who refuses a citation without disputing it is demonstrating unprofessional conduct) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Montana Code Annotated 37-51-308, Broker's office, display, notice to department of change of address (broker must notify the department before removal or within 10 days after removal and pay the required fee) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Montana Code Annotated 2-15-1757, Board of realty regulation (the board consists of five members, four real estate brokers or salespeople and one public member) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Montana Administrative Rules 24.210.611, Application for license, salesperson and broker (applicants must apply within 12 months of the examination or the results are invalidated; salesperson pre-licensing education of 70 hours obtained within the 24 months immediately preceding the application) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Montana Administrative Rules 24.210.667, Continuing real estate education (each active licensee completes a minimum of 12 hours of continuing real estate education every licensing year between November 1 and October 31; 90 percent attendance of the first hour and 100 percent of each additional hour; no carry over credit) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Montana Administrative Rules 24.210.661, New licensee mandatory continuing education, salespersons (all new sales licensees receive an interim license that terminates October 31 of the year of initial license date; the board's new licensee mandatory course must be completed by the renewal date; the new licensee requirement does not replace the 12 hour continuing education requirement, which begins in the second year) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Montana Board of Realty Regulation, Renewal Application form (salesperson renewal fee is $80 active or $40 inactive; broker renewal fee $90 active or $45 inactive; renewals postmarked after October 31 are assessed a 100 percent penalty fee; licensees must comply with the continuing education rule ARM 24.210.667 and carry errors and omissions insurance under MCA 37-51-325) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Exam details are checked against the Montana Board of Realty Regulation, Business Standards Division, Montana Department of Labor and Industry and its testing vendor. Always confirm current requirements with the board before your exam.