6 Best Online Real Estate Schools in Montana 2022
Gina is a licensed real estate salesperson, experienced trainer, and former high school educator of 1,000+ learners. She writes for Fit Small Business with a focus on real estate content.
This article is part of a larger series on How to Become Successful in Real Estate.
There are many schools providing online real estate courses in Montana, so you can choose the school that best fits your needs at each particular stage of your real estate career. Montana requires 70 hours of initial real estate license courses and ongoing education. Finding an online school with engaging content, quality instructor support, and reasonable pricing is paramount to your success as a real estate agent or broker. We’ve researched dozens to find the top six Montana online real estate courses:
- Real Estate Express: Best for self-paced, affordable prelicensing education for aspiring new agents
- McKissock Learning: Best for bundled continuing education packages for new or experienced agents and brokers
- The CE Shop: Best customizable continuing education courses for salespersons, brokers, and property managers
- WebCE: Best for being the most affordable continuing education for agents requiring license renewal
- Cooke Real Estate School: Best for experienced agents looking to upgrade to a broker license
- Connole-Morton Professional Education for Montana: Best for initial licensing education for individuals seeking livestream instruction
School | Education Provided & Starting Price | Learning Formats | Pass Guarantee | Customer Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Prelicensing: $299 CE: $19.95 Exam Prep: $99 |
| ✔ | Phone, email, and live chat |
 | CE: $19.95 |
| ✔ | Phone and email |
 | CE: $15 Exam Prep: $69 |
| ✔ | Phone, email, and live chat |
 | CE: $29.95 |
| ✕ | Phone, email, and live chat |
 | Prelicensing: $349 Broker licensing: $419 Exam Prep: $99 |
| ✕ | Phone and email |
 | Prelicensing: $725 |
| ✔ | Phone and email |
Things you need to know before enrolling in Montana real estate license courses: Along with education requirements, there are additional steps to completing your real estate licensure. Check out our Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Real Estate Agent in Montana to help you get started.
Real Estate Express: Best Self-paced & Affordable Prelicensing Courses
Real Estate Express
Overall Score: 4.24 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Tiered packages
- Career Hub with additional resources
- Learning management system (LMS) with goal setting and progress tracking
What's Missing
- Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee in Basic package
- Individual course options for prelicensing
- Livestream course format not offered
Additional Features
- Customer support via phone, email, and live chat
- Six months of course access
- Student forum
- Free downloadable materials
- Available on all devices
- Customer review rating of 4.3 out of 5
- Accredited by Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO), International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC), and MBRR
To begin a successful real estate career, Real Estate Express is your to-go for an online Montana real estate license course. The school’s LMS supports you throughout your online real estate classes with productivity and accountability tools like in-course note taking and progress tracking. In addition, you get access to expert instructors five days a week for live question and answer (Q&A) sessions to gain practical advice and real-world knowledge.
Compared to other schools, Real Estate Express offers the best pricing for real estate prelicensing education in Montana. Although the pass guarantee is not available in the lowest-tiered package, you have the choice of adding components to your educational experience with higher-tiered package options.
Customer Reviews
Students who left Real Estate Express reviews said they enjoyed the freedom of taking online courses at their own pace, and thought the interactive elements included in the Real Estate Express platform kept them engaged. Unfortunately, real estate agents seeking to upgrade to a broker license in Montana won’t find broker classes here. Consider Cooke Real Estate School or Connole-Morton Professional Education for Montana for Montana broker prelicensing courses.
Pricing
As a national education provider, Real Estate Express has a wide array of pricing plans to coincide with specific learning features in tiered packages.
Prelicensing: Starting at $299
All packages include online courses with the 70 prelicensing hours required to become a real estate agent in Montana, three e-books, and instructor support.
- The Basics: $299 (includes only the above)
- Exam Preparation: $358 includes everything in The Basics plus “Pass or Don’t Pay” guarantee and exam prep
- Exam Preparation Plus: $425 includes everything in the packages above plus dictionary, instructor-led Q&A, and live exam crammer series
- Ultimate Learning: $514 includes everything in the packages above plus printed textbook and one-year professional development membership
Continued Education: Starting at $19.95*
- 12-hour Broker & Salesperson Renewal Package with NAR Ethics: $79.95
- 12-hour Supervising Broker Renewal Package with NAR Ethics: $89.95
- Montana McKissock CE PLUS Membership: $126 includes access to all continuing education (CE) courses in Montana, a real estate coaching tool, access to the extensive pro-series on-demand webinar library, how-to videos, over 100 job aids (worksheets, scripts, and checklists), product and service discounts, and knowledgeable education specialists.
- Individual courses: $19.95 to $99 based on credit hours
*Offered through its partner company, McKissock Learning
Exam Prep: $99
Pro tip: Start your real estate education today with a special offer for our readers from Real Estate Express. Use promo code FSB25 for 25% off your purchase.
McKissock Learning: Best for Bundled Continuing Education Courses
McKissock Learning
Overall Score: 4.21 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Bundled and customizable individual courses
- Satisfaction guarantee
- Extensive courses, tools, and resources
What's Missing
- Prelicensing courses not offered directly
- No livestream course format
Additional Features
- Prelicensing courses offered through partner company Real Estate Express
- Montana CE Plus Membership with coaching, webinar library access, and job aids
- Instructor support via phone and email
- Customer review rating of 4.5 out of 5
- Accredited by ARELLO, IDECC, and MBRR
McKissock Learning specializes in continuing education (CE) courses while its partner company, Real Estate Express, focuses on prelicensing real estate courses in Montana. Bundled packages include CE for Montana real estate agents seeking license renewal as a salesperson, broker, or supervising broker. Although they do allow for some customization, the school’s comprehensive full packages include all the classes you need to complete Montana real estate license renewal requirements.
Unique to McKissock Learning is the CE membership package that gives you unlimited access to all CE classes in Montana along with additional features to enhance your learning experience and real-world tools. Courses are self-paced, but the supplemental materials include on-demand videos to add variety to your education and enable you to pursue specific topics that interest you.
Customer Reviews
Most McKissock reviews from students said they had a great overall experience with McKissock Learning, finding it was user-friendly and provided a wealth of knowledge. Others found it difficult to complete all the education within the allotted time frame. If you feel you need extra time to complete your learning, take a look at Connole-Morton Professional Education for Montana.
Pricing
Although McKissock Learning does not offer prelicensing courses, they do offer extensive course options for continuing education that can be tailored to your interests while fulfilling course and license renewal requirements.
Continued Education: Starting at $19.95*
- 12-hour Broker & Salesperson Renewal Package with NAR Ethics: $79.95
- 12-hour Supervising Broker Renewal Package with NAR Ethics: $89.95
- Montana McKissock CE PLUS Membership: $126 includes access to all continuing education (CE) courses in Montana, a real estate coaching tool, access to the extensive pro-series on-demand webinar library, how-to videos, over 100 job aids (worksheets, scripts, and checklists), product and service discounts, and knowledgeable education specialists.
- Individual courses: $19.95 to $99 based on credit hours
The CE Shop: Best Customizable Continuing Education Classes
The CE Shop
Overall Score: 4.04 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Self-paced classes
- Low cost
- Frequently offers discounts
What's Missing
- No prelicensing courses offered
- Lack of multiple course formats
Additional Features
- Available on all devices
- Course access expires after 12 months
- 30-day refund policy
- Customer support available seven days a week
- Customer review rating of 4.7 out of 5
- Accredited by ARELLO
The CE Shop utilizes its LEAP 2.0 interactive course delivery system to offer CE options to agents, brokers, and supervising brokers in Montana to renew their licenses. Uniquely, The CE Shop also has online Montana real estate courses for property managers. Classes are 100% self-paced, so you can work around a busy schedule while completing your education.
Although the school offers packages and individual courses for purchase like McKissock Learning does, The CE Shop is priced more competitively, and has courses such as Property Inspection Issues, Personal Safety, and Preparing a Market Analysis, which are extremely applicable for your everyday dealings as a real estate professional.
Customer Reviews
Many of The CE Shop’s reviews said course topics were relevant and interesting, and students enjoyed the flexibility of self-paced learning. However, The CE Shop doesn’t offer prelicensing classes, so if you’re just starting your real estate education in Montana, take a look at Real Estate Express or Cooke Real Estate School.
Pricing
Similar to national provider McKissock Learning, The CE Shop doesn’t offer prelicensing courses but does provide packages and customizable course choices for online Montana CE classes.
Continued Education: Starting at $15
- Two full 12-hour CE packages: Available for $89 for salesperson, broker, or property manager courses
- Full 8-hour CE package for supervising brokers: $59
- Individual courses: From $15 to $65
Exam Prep: $69
WebCE: Most Affordable Continuing Education
WebCE
Overall Score: 3.82 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Affordable pricing
- Build your own package option
- Strictly CE-focused
What's Missing
- No prelicensing courses
- Exam prep not offered
Additional Features
- Audio and video components
- Free resources through up-to-date blog
- Instructor assistance
- 12 months of course access from purchase
- Customer review rating of 4.5 out of 5
- Accredited by ARELLO and MBRR
Not only is WebCE the most affordable continuing education option for Montana real estate agents, but the school also offers a variety of learning methods to tailor to your educational needs. Class formats include read-it-to-me audio, video, and interactive elements to enhance your learning experience.
Written by industry experts, WebCE guarantees that its content is up-to-date and uses multiple learning styles to illustrate complex ideas and reinforce important concepts. An additional free feature students enjoy is the school’s real estate blog that is filled with articles reinforcing proper real estate practice.
Customer Reviews
People loved the option for audio learning and found the teachers to be informative and fun. WebCE reviews included high ratings for customer service via phone, but those seeking live chat support will not find it at WebCE. If this is important for you, check out The CE Shop.
Pricing
Continued Education: Starting at $29.95
- Full 12-hour package: $74.95 for salespersons or brokers
- Individual courses: $29.95
Cooke Real Estate School: Best for Upgrading a Broker License
Cooke Real Estate School
Overall Score: 3.64 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Self-paced format
- Prelicensing courses for salespersons and brokers
- Includes recorded video instruction
What's Missing
- Budget-friendly pricing
- Continuing education classes
- Refund policy
Additional Features
- Six months of access from purchase
- Prelicensing courses for Montana property managers available
- Email and phone customer support
- Customer review rating of 4.7 out of 5
- Accredited by MBRR
If you’re an experienced agent who wants to take the leap and upgrade to a broker license in Montana, Cooke Real Estate School is a great choice for you. Cooke Real Estate School provides self-paced classes with a live interactive twist that enables live study groups to engage with fellow prelicensing students as well as recorded video instruction.
Unlike other Montana real estate license course providers that also offer online CE courses, Cooke Real Estate School focuses on prelicensing courses and Montana real estate exam prep in order to prepare you at the beginning of your real estate career. Those who want hard copy textbooks along with classes have many options with each tiered package option.
Customer Reviews
Cooke Real Estate School reviews showed students found the training materials useful in preparing them for the Montana real estate exam, and were pleased with the instructor’s accessibility. Other users wished they had more career services available after course completion; you may want to look at Connole-Morton Professional Education for Montana for access to local expertise.
Pricing
Although the school’s pricing is not as low as others, the additional features of textbooks, flashcards, and bonus courses provide additional value for your money.
Prelicensing: Starting at $349
All courses include the 70 required hours of online Montana real estate license courses, textbooks, and live interactive study group.
- Bronze Package: $349 includes everything above
- Silver Package: $459 includes everything in the Bronze package plus additional textbooks and exam prep course
- Gold Package: $529 includes everything in the packages above plus additional textbooks and flashcards
- Platinum Package: $599 includes everything in the packages above plus additional textbook and sales and marketing 101 course
Broker Prelicensing: Starting at $419
All courses include the 60 required hours of Montana broker prelicensing courses and textbooks.
- Bronze Package: $419 includes everything above
- Silver Package: $499 includes everything in the Bronze package plus additional textbooks
- Platinum Package: $599 includes everything in the packages above plus additional textbook and Sales and Marketing 101 course
Exam Prep: Starting at $99
- State Exam Prep: $99
- National Exam Prep: $169
- Available for salespersons and brokers
Visit Cooke Real Estate School
Connole-Morton Professional Education for Montana: Best Livestream Prelicensing Education
Connole-Morton Professional Education for Montana
Overall Score: 3.47 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Livestream format
- Prelicensing for salespersons and brokers
- Expert instructors
What's Missing
- CE and exam prep courses not offered
- Schedule flexibility
- Lacks budget-friendly pricing
Additional Features
- Courses taught via Zoom
- 2 years of course access from purchase
- Customer support via email and phone
- Pass the Exam guarantee
- Customer review rating of 5 out of 5
- Accredited by MBRR
Many schools offering online Montana real estate license courses have self-paced classes with interactive elements, but Connole-Morton Professional Education for Montana is the only school on our list offering classes in a livestream format. Expert instructors teach the online courses using Zoom. While this limits schedule flexibility, it’s the closest to an in-person classroom environment you can get with online schools.
Connole-Morton is a local school that focuses on prelicensing education only and does not offer options for other types of classes needed throughout your real estate career. However, they do extend a “Pass the Exam” guarantee. If you don’t pass the Montana real estate exam, you can repeat the course free for up to two years.
Customer Reviews
With perfect 5 out of 5 customer reviews, Connole-Morton is our highest customer-rated real estate school. Students thought the teachers were knowledgeable, entertaining, and helped them pass the exam on the first try. Unfortunately, since Connole-Morton only has prelicensing courses, you’ll have to seek education at schools like McKissock Learning or WebCE for CE courses.
Pricing
Similar to Cooke Real Estate School, Connole-Morton offers only online real estate prelicensing courses in Montana, and only offers packages instead of individual courses.
Prelicensing: $675
- Offered for salespersons or brokers
Visit Connole-Morton Professional Education for Montana
How We Evaluated the Top Real Estate Schools in Montana
The Montana Board of Realty Regulation (MBRR) requires 70 hours of education to become a real estate agent in The Big Sky State plus 12 hours of continuing education and 60 more hours of Montana real estate courses to upgrade to a broker license. Accredited schools with online real estate courses in Montana provide high-quality learning environments, more flexibility than in-person classes, interactive elements, and format variety to give your education an in-classroom feel from the comfort of your home.
After evaluating many of Montana’s online real estate schools, Real Estate Express is our top choice for prelicensing courses because of its affordability and self-paced formatting. Tiered packages allow students to choose additional features to elevate their learning experience and lead them to begin a successful real estate career.
Additional criteria we used to evaluate the top schools for Montana online real estate courses are:
30%
Pricing
25%
Course Features
20%
Customer Reviews
15%
Expert Score
10%
Help & Support
30% of Overall Score
Based on the cost and availability of pre- and post-licensing online Montana real estate courses, continuing education, and exam prep for each online institution.
25% of Overall Score
Consists of various formatting and learning styles for each course to meet the specific needs of the agent as well as ease of course accessibility.
20% of Overall Score
Based on customer feedback for each program, with particular attention given to reviews of the product and popularity of the provider, to certify the school’s Montana real estate license course meets user satisfaction.
15% of Overall Score
Expertise in the field and firsthand experience with the providers allow us to evaluate the standout features, value for the money, and ease of use for each school.
10% of Overall Score
We looked into the convenience and attainability of customer service for technical support and instructor assistance.
*Percentages of overall score
