How to Get Your Missouri Real Estate License (2026)
Requirements at a Glance
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.
Quick Overview
Age: 18+ | Education: 72 hours (2 courses) | Exam: 140 questions, 4.5 hours, 70-75% to pass | Total cost: ~$500-$800
Table of Contents
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.
6-Month Deadline
Everything must be completed within 6 months of finishing the 48-hour pre-exam course: exam, MREP course, fingerprinting, and application. Miss this window and you start over.
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.
Exam Format
National: 100 questions, 70% to pass | State: 40 questions, 75% to pass | Total: 140 questions, 4.5 hours | Fee: ~$62/attempt | Schedule at goAMP.com
| Detail | National Portion | State Portion |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 100 | 40 |
| Passing Score | 70% (70 correct) | 75% (30 correct) |
| Total Time | 4.5 hours (140 questions) | |
| Fee | ~$62 per attempt | |
| Provider | PSI (in-person only, 4 MO locations) | |
| Retakes | Failed section within 6 months; otherwise redo both | |
| First-Time Pass Rate | ~73% | |
Two Different Passing Scores
Missouri is one of the few states with different thresholds per section: 70% on the national portion and 75% on the state portion. The state section is both harder to pass and held to a higher standard.
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
What You’ll Spend
Pre-licensing (72 hrs): $300-$600 | Application: $100 | Exam: ~$62 | Fingerprinting: ~$41 | Total: ~$503-$803
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Pre-licensing courses (72 hrs) | $300 – $600 |
| Application fee | $100 |
| Exam fee | ~$62 |
| Fingerprinting (MACHS/IDEMIA) | ~$41 |
| Total | $503 – $803 |
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Doug Smart
Co-Founder, Smart Agent Alliance
Licensed real estate agent - license #02191298 (CA) - Brokered by eXp Realty
Top 1% eXp team builder. Designed and built this website, the agent portal, and the systems and automations powering production workflows and attraction tools across the organization.
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