How to Get Your Missouri Real Estate License: 2026 Guide

Missouri has one of the shorter education requirements at 72 hours and a licensing process that can be completed in as little as 4-8 weeks. With markets in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia, it’s a straightforward state to get started in. One quirk to know upfront: the exam has two different passing thresholds – 70% on the national portion and 75% on the state portion.

What You Need Before You Start

You need to be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or lawfully present, and able to pass a background check. Missouri runs checks through both the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) and the FBI.

Step 1: Complete 72 Hours of Pre-Licensing Education

Missouri requires two courses totaling 72 hours:

• 48-Hour Salesperson Pre-Exam Course – Must be completed before you can take the exam. Covers real estate principles, contracts, financing, agency, fair housing, and Missouri-specific law.
• 24-Hour Missouri Real Estate Practice (MREP) Course – A hands-on practical course. Can be completed before or after the exam, but must be done before you apply for your license.

Budget $300-$600 depending on the school. Courses are available online or in-person from MREC-accredited providers.

Step 2: Get Fingerprinted

Missouri uses IDEMIA through the MACHS (Missouri Automated Criminal History Site) system. Use MREC registration number 0004 when registering.

• Cost: ~$41 (IDEMIA $8.50 + MSHP $20 + FBI $12.50)
• Register: machs.mo.gov
• Processing: 1-3 weeks

Step 3: Pass the Missouri Real Estate Exam

The exam is administered by PSI at four testing centers in Missouri: St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Jefferson City. Saturday testing is available (one Saturday per month per location). In-person only.

How to Prepare

Missouri’s first-time pass rate is about 73%, which is decent. The state portion’s higher threshold (75%) is where most failures happen.

• Focus on Missouri law. The state portion requires 75% – you need to know Missouri-specific regulations, MREC rules, and state contract law cold.
• Take practice exams. Free resources: Real Estate License Wizard, Real Estate Exam Ninja, OpenExamPrep

If You Don’t Pass

If you pass one section but fail the other, you have 6 months to retake the failed portion. If you don’t pass within 6 months, you must retake both sections. Unlimited retakes, ~$62 each.

Step 4: Apply for Your License

Submit your application through the MOPRO portal (launched January 2025). The application fee is $100. You’ll need proof of passing the exam, completed MREP course, and fingerprint results.

Step 5: Find a Sponsoring Broker

Your license won’t be active without a supervising broker. Missouri requires broker sponsorship to practice.

• Training and mentorship. Your first year is a learning curve. Find a broker who invests in new agent development.
• Commission structure. Full breakdown: split, cap, fees, E&O. Compare total annual costs.
• Technology. CRM, marketing, lead gen, transaction management. What’s bundled vs. extra.

Comparing brokerage models? Check out our team value breakdown or browse our eXp Realty guides.

Total Costs Breakdown

Missouri falls in the mid-to-low range for total cost. Renewal is every 2 years with 12 hours of CE required (including at least 3 hours of CORE courses – the 2026-2028 cycle requires Fair Housing as the CORE topic).

How Long Does It Take?

• 48-hour pre-exam course: 2-4 weeks
• 24-hour MREP course: ~1 week
• Fingerprinting: 1-3 weeks
• Exam scheduling + taking: 1-2 weeks
• Application processing: 1-2 weeks

Most people complete the process in 4-8 weeks – Missouri is one of the faster states to get licensed in, thanks to the lower education hours and streamlined process.