Is It Hard to Get Hired as a Real Estate Agent?

Mississippi requires at least 60 hours of approved pre-license education for a salesperson license. Completing that course is only one step: you must also apply, pass both portions of the exam, and designate a broker before your license can be issued or activated. (Mississippi REALTORS® Institute FAQ) (Mississippi Real Estate Commission rules) (RealEstateU)

So, is it hard to get hired as an agent? The licensing path is clear, but getting affiliated with a broker is not the same as receiving a paycheck, clients, or a dependable career. I’ll explain what Mississippi requires, what to ask a broker, and why finding a place to affiliate may be easier than building a business.

Getting licensed is a defined process

You must be at least 18 to apply for a Mississippi salesperson license. (Mississippi REALTORS® Institute FAQ) The Mississippi REALTORS® Institute states, “Must complete a minimum of 60 hours of courses in real estate approved education by the Mississippi Real Estate Commission.” (Mississippi REALTORS® Institute FAQ)

After the course, the process includes submitting a resident salesperson license application, passing the exam, and obtaining the license. (Mississippi REALTORS® Institute, Get Your License) New salespersons must also submit fingerprints and undergo state and federal background checks, according to Kaplan. (Kaplan Real Estate Education)

The salesperson exam has national and state-specific portions. Mississippi requires at least 70% on the national portion and 75% on the state-specific portion. (Mississippi Real Estate Commission rules) Once approved to take the examination, applicants have two months to pass both portions. (Mississippi Real Estate Commission rules)

That is a real test, but it is a defined one. Prepare for both portions, complete the application carefully, and give yourself time to study. The evidence available here does not provide a Mississippi salesperson exam pass rate, so a rate from another state would not tell you how likely you are to pass in Mississippi.

A broker must agree to sponsor you

A salesperson works under a Mississippi broker’s supervision. The Mississippi REALTORS® Institute lists this requirement plainly: “Must work under the supervision of a Mississippi real estate broker.” (Mississippi REALTORS® Institute FAQ) A broker designation is more than a detail to handle after you start working.

RealEstateU explains the timing this way: “A sponsoring broker is not required to register for or take the licensing exam, but the license cannot be issued or activated until a Mississippi-licensed broker is designated.” (RealEstateU, Mississippi license guide) In other words, you can complete education and take the exam without first having a sponsor, but you need a broker designated before your license can be issued or activated. (RealEstateU, Mississippi license guide)

Do not assume that “sponsored” means a traditional employee relationship. The licensing information establishes the supervision and affiliation requirement, but it does not establish that all brokerages use the same employment arrangement. Ask how the relationship is classified, how you will be paid, and what you are expected to provide. Get the terms in writing.

There is also a Mississippi-specific restriction to keep in mind when choosing whom to approach. A newly licensed broker generally cannot hire salespersons for 36 months, unless an exception applies. (RealEstateU, Mississippi broker guide) The exceptions described in the guide include having 36 months of cumulative active salesperson experience before applying or completing an alternate 150-hour education pathway. (RealEstateU, Mississippi broker guide) Confirm that a prospective sponsor is eligible to affiliate or hire salespersons.

Sponsorship is not the same as a good fit

A broker may be willing and able to affiliate a new salesperson, but that is not a guarantee for every applicant. The licensing sources explain the requirements and process, but do not provide a statewide hiring rate or show what percentage of Mississippi brokerages accept new licensees. Do not mistake a recruiter’s confidence for evidence that every firm will take you.

Compare the support, not just the brokerage name or commission split. RealEstateU identifies training quality, commission structure, lead-generation support, and available technology as factors to consider when choosing a broker. (RealEstateU, Mississippi license guide) Ask what training includes, who answers contract questions, how you can reach a supervising broker, and what expenses or production expectations apply.

The same guide says commission splits between agents and brokerages typically range from 50/50 to 90/10. (RealEstateU, Mississippi license guide) Treat that as a range reported by the guide, not a Mississippi standard or a promise about what a particular office offers. A higher agent share may come with fewer services, while a lower share may include support that matters to you. Ask for the complete written arrangement, including fees and conditions attached to the split.

Ask how and when commissions are paid, what happens if you leave with a transaction in progress, and whether the brokerage provides leads or expects you to find clients yourself. Those details make the offer clearer than a broad promise of support. A license affiliation is not, by itself, a promise of wages, leads, or sales.

The license is the start of the work

Mississippi requires a new salesperson to complete an approved 30-hour post-license course within one year after receiving a temporary salesperson license. (Mississippi REALTORS® Institute FAQ) Put the deadline on your calendar as soon as the temporary license is issued. It is easy to focus on the exam and overlook the next requirement.

Your first year also calls for a practical plan to learn the business. Sponsorship gives you broker supervision, but it does not automatically create a steady pipeline of clients. Before you commit, ask how you will learn the paperwork, get help with a first transaction, and cover expenses while you establish a routine. Be cautious about making a career decision based on an optimistic income forecast from someone recruiting you.

I cannot give you a reliable Mississippi first-year attrition rate from the evidence available here. The sources provided do not state how many new licensees leave the business after one year. An exam pass rate measures an exam outcome, not whether a new agent earns a living or stays in the field. Treat unsupported claims about first-year success with caution.

So, is it hard to get hired?

The licensing path is specific: meet the eligibility requirements, complete the education, apply, pass both exam portions, and designate a broker. (Mississippi REALTORS® Institute FAQ) (Mississippi REALTORS® Institute, Get Your License) (Mississippi Real Estate Commission rules) You can plan for each step. Sponsorship may be easier to find than a dependable flow of clients, but the available evidence does not show that it is easy for every applicant or that most brokerages accept everyone.

Think of “getting hired” as two separate decisions. First, find a qualified broker willing to supervise and affiliate you. Second, decide whether the brokerage’s training, costs, commission terms, and expectations give you a workable start. The second decision deserves at least as much attention as the first.

If you are considering the career, talk with more than one broker and ask each the same direct questions. If you are already licensed, review your current arrangement against the same criteria. The licensing barrier is real, but the bigger challenge is building a sustainable business after the paperwork is done.

Frequently asked questions

The takeaway

Before you commit to a brokerage, ask for its supervision, training, compensation, expenses, and expectations in writing. Getting affiliated is one step. Knowing what support and obligations come with that affiliation is what helps you make a sound start.