Montana License Requirements

Montana Real Estate License Requirements

Learn about the Montana real estate education needs for licensing and renewal.

Licensing Board/Commission: Montana Department of Labor & Industry Department of Realty Regulation.

Montana Real Estate License Requirements:

• Montana real estate salesperson license: 60 hours
• Montana real estate broker license: 60 hours (in addition to two years of experience as a licensed salesperson)

Montana State Reciprocity: 

Real estate commissions and boards across the country are adopting policies for a real estate agent in one state to more easily become licensed in another state. Montana has a reciprocal agreement with the licensing jurisdiction of Alberta, Canada.

Applicants from other statees may submit a waiver of examination and/or education. The Montana Department of Labor & Industry will determine if the other state or jurisdiction has licensing standards substantially equivalent to Montana's requirements. The Board may approve to waive all or part of the required prelicense education and/or the exam.

Montana Real Estate Continuing Education (CE) and License Renewal Requirements:

• Real estate professionals in Montana who want to renew their real estate licenses must do so by October 31 every year
• By that date, licensees need to complete 12 hours of real estate CE, of which 8 hours may be electives and 4 hours must be core coursework

Montana Appraisal License Requirements

The information contained below is designed to provide a summary of the minimum education, experience, and examination requirements established by the Montana Board of Real Estate Appraisers. The information provided below can be found on the Board’s website. However, we recommend you contact the Board for more detailed information and for any changes which may have occurred. 

Montana Appraisal Licensure Levels:

• Trainee Appraiser
• Licensed Appraiser
• Certified Residential Appraiser
• Certified General Appraiser 

Montana Appraisal Licensure Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must have a high school diploma or its equivalent
• Must meet the educational requirement for the applying level of licensure
• Must meet the experience requirement for the applying level of licensure
• For Certified Residential level:  A minimum of an Associate’s Degree OR 21 college semester hours in specific subject matters is also required
• For Certified General level:  A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree OR 30 college semester hours in specific subject matters is also required
• Find an approved mentor for the Trainee Appraiser level
• Satisfactory completion of the state examination
• Submit application, required documents, and associated fees

Montana Appraisal Education Requirements:

• 75 hours for the Trainee Appraiser which consist of the following courses:  Basic Appraisal Principles (30 hours), Basic Appraisal Procedures (30 hours), 15 Hour National USPAP Course or its equivalent (15 hours)
• 150 hours for the Licensed Appraiser which include the same hour requirement as the Trainee Appraiser level AND:  Residential Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use (15 hours), Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach (15 hours), Residential Report Writing and Case Studies (15 Hours), Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approach (30 hours)
• 200 Hours for the Certified Residential Appraiser which consist of the same 150 hours of Licensed Residential Appraiser education AND:  Statistics, Modeling and Finance (15 hours), Advanced Residential Application and Case Studies (15 hours), Appraisal Subject Matter Electives (20 hours)
• 300 hours for the Certified General Appraiser which includes the same 200 hours for the Certified Residential Appraiser education AND:  Income Property Appraisal (60 hours), General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies (10 hours), General Appraiser Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use (15 hours)  

Experience Requirements:

• Trainee Appraiser – No experience required
• State Licensed Appraiser – 2000 hours in no less than 18 months
• Certified Residential Appraiser – 2500 hours in no less than 24 months
• Certified General Appraiser – 3000 hours in no less than 30 months

Montana Appraisal Continuing Education Requirements:

• All appraiser licenses expire annually on March 31st   
• Every other renewal, appraisers must complete 28 hours of continuing education courses
• 7 hours must cover the USPAP Update course 

Montana Home Inspection Requirements

Learn about the Montana home inspection courses and qualifications needed for certification and renewal. 

Requirements to Become a Home Inspector:

The Montana Department of Labor & Industry oversees Home Inspector Registration. Effective January 1, 2020, home inspectors in Montana must be licensed.

• Montana home inspection education hours: 40 (if exam is not taken – see below)
• Exam Required:  NHIE or other board approved exam (if education is not completed – see below)
• Application Fee:  $80 (other fees may apply)
• Insurance Requirements:  Minimum of $100,000 general commercial liability insurance and minimum of $100,000 errors and omissions insurance
• Other: Must be a member of a national home inspector association

Home Inspection License Expiration: Every two years from date of issuance

Home Inspection Continuing Education Requirements: 

• 40 hours every two years