6 Best Online Real Estate Schools in Maine for 2022

Maine’s highest-performing online real estate schools offer instructor support, great pricing, and multiple learning formats to fulfill 55 hours of sales agent education. They also support ongoing educational needs to upgrade to broker status and maintain your real estate license. We researched education providers based on these criteria to help you find the best online real estate schools in Maine—those that fit your learning style.

We determined the following Maine Real Estate Commission (MREC)-approved real estate schools offer the best value for aspiring and experienced agents to complete their education:

• The Real Estate Learning Group (TRELG): Best overall for aspiring agents and designated brokers looking for comprehensive real estate education in Maine
• Center for Real Estate Studies (CRES): Ideal for aspiring agents looking for a self-paced Maine prelicensing course
• The CE Shop: Best for Mainers looking for a self-paced and intuitive National Exam Prep course
• McKissock Learning: Recommended for agents looking for affordable continuing education (CE) packages
• The Real Estate Class: Top choice for licensed agents from other states looking to be licensed in Maine (ME)
• Real Estate Institute of New England: Best for students looking for livestream prelicensing classes

Best Online Real Estate Schools in Maine at a Glance

See fullscreen table

The Real Estate Learning Group: Best Overall for Comprehensive Courses for All Stages of Your Career

If you’re looking for a local real estate school in Maine that offers a variety of course features and formats, The Real Estate Learning Group (TRELG) is our top choice. It offers all the real estate education you need in Maine, from prelicensing to exam prep, associate broker, designated broker, and CE courses. Licensed agents in other states who want to get a Maine reciprocal license can also enroll in the Maine Law Exam Prep course.

TRELG also provides various course formats for agents with different learning styles. You can either take 100% self-paced courses or attend livestream and in-person classes. If you need more variety, the school offers hybrid learning—a combination of self-paced and livestream or in-person classes. While its course packages can be more expensive than those offered in other schools, TRELG provides multiple resources to aid your learning. These include reading, videos, audio, case studies, and learning exercises.

Another great feature of TRELG that you can’t find in other local real estate schools in Maine is its on-demand CE course library. For 90 days, you can have 24/7 access to fun, engaging, and informative on-demand videos. Once you finish the videos, you can immediately get your credit certificate. This is a very convenient way to earn CE credits based on your interest and schedule.

If you plan to open your own firm, you can also complete the required 50-hour education with TRELG. Its designated broker course is offered in hybrid format, which includes both self-paced study and live Zoom and in-person meetings. Experienced instructors will teach you about business planning (including creating a company policy manual) and risk management to help you set up your business.

As a local education provider, TRELG gives you direct access to some of the most reputable and experienced real estate agents, brokers, and lawyers in the state. Whether you enroll in a self-paced or live Zoom class, you can contact your instructors directly through email.

The Real Estate Learning Group Reviews

TRELG has received excellent reviews due to its quality course content, excellent instructors, and engaging materials. A few students said they passed the Maine real estate exam on the first try. Others also recommended TRELG’s CE classes for being enjoyable and utilizing real-world scenarios.

While there’s no negative feedback, the school only allows six-month access to most of its courses. This may not be enough time for Mainers juggling work, studies, and family. If you need longer course access, you can check out Center for Real Estate Studies, where you can access courses for up to one year.

Additionally, you can only take individual CE courses at TRELG, since it doesn’t offer CE packages that include all the 21 hours of education required for your license renewal. If you want access to all the required CE courses for an entire calendar year, we recommend the course packages at The CE Shop and McKissock Learning.

The Real Estate Learning Group Pricing

The Real Estate Learning Group primarily offers bundled packages with little room for customization. While the rates are higher than those in other schools, their packages include a number of online and printed learning materials, as well as direct access to local experts.

Prelicensing: $450

You can finish your prelicensing course at TRELG in as short as two weeks or the full duration of six months. All sales agent packages include 55 hours of education with reading, video, audio, case studies, interactive note-taking guides, and learning exercises.

• The Sales Agent Course (self-paced online): $450
• Sales Agent Fast Track (hybrid learning): $450

Associate Broker Licensing: $450

The 60-hour associate broker licensing course is hybrid and includes access to online study materials.

• Maine Associate Broker Course: $450

Broker Licensing: $450

The designated broker licensing course utilizes a hybrid format, which includes online self-study, live Zoom meetings, and in-person workshops.

• Designated Broker Course: $450

Continued Education: $25

Individual CE courses are offered in live in-person, livestream, and on-demand formats.

• Individual courses: $25
• Free courses are available whenever TRELG secures a sponsor

Exam Prep: Starting at $49

Exam prep courses include downloadable resources, videos, audios, practice questions, and matching exercises.

• Pass My Real Estate Exam: $49
• Maine Law Exam Prep: $99 for licensed agents from other states who want to get a Maine license

Visit The Real Estate Learning Group

Center for Real Estate Studies: Best for Self-paced Prelicensing Course

The Center for Real Estate Studies (CRES) is another local school that offers prelicensing education for Mainers. If you want to become a real estate agent in Maine but can’t attend live classes, we recommend CRES’ self-paced sales agent course.

The sales agent course gives you 55 hours of coursework required by the state. To help you master key concepts, the materials are presented in manageable modules so you can easily follow lessons and focus on one topic at a time. Unlike other schools’ prelicensing courses, CRES’ sales agent course gives students one-year access. Students can also retake topic quizzes and the final exam until they get a passing grade of 75% on their prelicensing school exam before qualifying for the Maine real estate exam.

If you’re still debating whether a real estate career is for you, CRES can help you through this process. You can download its free Start Smarter Kit, which lets you get a free book, an explanation of Maine’s licensing procedures, interview questions, and a spreadsheet of projected income and expenses. You also get a free career counseling session with the school’s founder to help you make informed choices.

Another great feature of CRES’ education is direct access to instructors. All of its instructors have extensive experience in business and real estate. If you decide to open your own brokerage firm, you can take their live designated broker course and receive education directly from a broker in Maine. Whether you’re prepping for your exam or taking a broker licensing course, you can call or email your instructors at any time with questions.

Center for Real Estate Studies Reviews

CRES received positive feedback for its informative study materials and books that equipped agents with realistic expectations and helpful negotiating skills. While the school hasn’t received negative reviews, it doesn’t offer livestream prelicensing classes and associate broker courses. If you learn better with live class discussions, you can check out The Real Estate Learning Group and The Real Estate Institute of New England.

Center for Real Estate Studies Pricing

The Center for Real Estate Studies offers courses at affordable to mid-level pricing. Their course packages include online and printed learning materials.

Prelicensing: Starting at $50

This is a remote learning course that students can complete in one year.

• Introduction to Real Estate Agent Course Book: $50 hardcopy version
• 55-hour Sales Agent Online Course: $370 includes electronic textbooks and materials

Broker Licensing: $425

• 50-hour Designated Broker Course: $425 includes all textbooks and materials and offered in live Zoom classes

Continued Education: Starting at $25*

• Individual courses: $25 to $49 based on credits
• 21-hour ME Broker and Associate Broker CE Package (with Ethics course): $199
• 21-hour ME Designated Broker CE Package (with Ethics course): $199

Exam Prep: Starting at $25

• Maine Licensing Exam Prep Book: $25
• Maine Law Exam Prep Materials: $135 includes textbooks, materials, and consultation with a local instructor

*Offered through an affiliate partner, The CE Shop

Visit Center for Real Estate Studies

The CE Shop: Top Choice for Intuitive & Self-paced Exam Prep Course

We recommend The CE Shop for Mainers who want to prep for the national portion of their real estate exam. What sets The CE Shop apart from other online schools on this list is its self-paced intuitive learning platform that you can access anytime on any mobile device. Its interactive dashboards can gauge your competency in real-time, so you know which topics to focus more on and which ones you have mastered.

The CE Shop also outlines its study lessons based on the Maine Candidate Handbook. This enables you to cover all the topics and subtopics included in the national portion of Maine’s real estate exam. The CE Shop also breaks down topics into individual lessons, so you could master the details and study more effectively. In case you don’t pass the exam the first time, you can ask for a refund of the Exam Prep Edge course fee.

One of the best accredited real estate schools in the United States, The CE Shop also offers self-paced CE courses for associate brokers and designated brokers in Maine. If you’re planning to renew your Maine license, you can purchase the CE package, which gives you access to 21 hours of required continuing education in Maine for one year. You can also take individual CE courses to suit your interests, budget, and schedule.

On top of all these, you can enjoy access to Agent Essentials, which include blogs, agent encyclopedia, e-books, podcasts, and videos that cover a wide range of real estate topics. These free resources are designed to help you succeed in your real estate career and keep you updated with industry best practices.

The CE Shop Reviews

As a national education provider, The CE Shop received positive feedback due to its interactive and easy-to-navigate platform, allowing agents to easily pick up where they left off. Others also praised the school for its easy-to-follow exam prep courses, which gauges students’ competency after every topic. The unlimited practice exams, which are not available in other real estate schools on this list, are another great feature that allows students to master key concepts until they obtain a passing grade.

Some complaints about The CE Shop were due to short course access and system issues. The CE Shop also doesn’t offer prelicensing and broker licensing courses in Maine. If you need to take a prelicensing course, you may check out The Real Estate Learning Group, Center for Real Estate Studies, and The Real Estate Institute for New England instead.

The CE Shop Pricing

The CE Shop offers affordable pricing for its course packages and individual courses in Maine.

Continued Education: Starting at $25

• Individual courses: $25 to $49 based on credits
• 21-hour ME Broker and Associate Broker CE Package (with Ethics Course): $199
• 21-hour ME Designated Broker CE Package (with Ethics course): $199

Exam Prep: $75

• Exam Prep Edge—Pearson VUE National Portion: $75 includes initial assessment, unlimited practice exams, and interactive dashboards

Visit The CE Shop

McKissock Learning: Recommended for Customizable, Self-paced Continuing Education

If you’re looking for customizable continuing education to renew your real estate license, McKissock Learning is a practical option. Another national education provider, the school offers 21-hour CE packages for associate brokers and designated brokers in Maine, which you can access 24/7. Since its packages are customizable, you can swap CE courses based on your interest. You can also opt for individual CE courses to fit your schedule and budget.

A great feature of McKissock Learning is its CE Membership Packages. By purchasing the ME CE Membership Package, you can study all the CE courses available in Maine. If you’re licensed in other states, you may take advantage of the multi-state CE Plus Membership, which gives you access to all CE courses in almost all states, including Maine. Unlike the 21-hour packages and individual courses, membership packages give you longer access to learning materials and tools.

Aside from CE courses, McKissock Learning also provides professional development tools and resources to help you become a successful real estate professional. When you purchase a membership package, you have unlimited access to on-demand Pro-series webinars, how-to videos, job aids, and knowledgeable education specialists.

McKissock Learning Reviews

McKissock Learning received a number of excellent reviews for its interesting courses that provide in-depth explanations and helpful tips to new and experienced agents. Since its courses are self-paced, agents can easily follow lessons and earn CE credits on their own schedule.

The school received negative feedback for courses with too many required video and reading assignments, which overwhelmed some agents. A few also complained about some content (e.g., terms, scenarios, and quizzes) that they find “unrelated to daily real estate practice.”

If you need direct access to instructors and livestream classes, McKissock Learning may not be for you. The school also currently does not offer prelicensing and broker licensing courses in Maine. If you need such courses, we recommend The Real Estate Learning Group instead.

McKissock Learning Pricing

McKissock Learning offers some of the most competitive pricing on this list. The rates vary based on package inclusions and credit hours.

Continued Education: Starting at $25.95

• 21-hour Packages: $198.95 customizable packages available for associate brokers and designated brokers
• Individual courses: $25.95 to $49.95, based on credit hours
• ME McKissock CE Plus Membership: $259 includes access to all Maine CE courses, coaching tools, professional development resources, informational videos, and education specialists
• Multi-state CE Plus Membership: $289 includes all CE courses in all states (except Maryland) and multiple webinars, training, coaching tools, and professional development resources

Visit McKissock Learning

The Real Estate Class: Recommended for ME Reciprocal Licensing Exam Prep

If you’re a licensed agent from other states and are looking to expand your real estate career in Maine, we recommend the Real Estate Class. While the school is physically located in New Hampshire, it offers ME reciprocal licensing exam prep to agents with active licenses. You can also take the New Hampshire and Maine tandem license program if you’re planning to be licensed in both states.

To get your reciprocal license as soon as possible, you can enroll in the live Zoom exam prep. In just one day, you can familiarize yourself with Maine law and bring any questions to class. You can also download all learning materials from the Student Center upon registration, so you can study on your own time while waiting for your class or exam schedule. If you prefer self-paced learning, you can take the home study reciprocal licensing exam prep instead, where you get access to all exam prep materials online.

The Real Estate Class also offers individual CE electives and mandatory courses. These MREC-approved classes are offered in both home study and live Zoom formats. If you choose home study, you will get correspondence books and final quizzes, which are shipped to your address for free. Whether you take a livestream or home study course, you are given direct access to instructors through email, text, or phone.

The Real Estate Class Reviews

The Real Estate Class received excellent reviews for its quality real estate education and highly knowledgeable instructors, who make the learning experience fun and engaging. Students also praised the school’s technical support during live online classes. Some agents particularly recommended taking the school’s CE courses.

While there are no negative reviews from students, The Real Estate Class currently doesn’t offer sales agent licensing and exam prep courses for Mainers. If you need such courses, we recommend checking The Real Estate Learning Group, Center for Real Estate Studies, and The Real Estate Institute of New England.

The Real Estate Class Pricing

The Real Estate Class pricing is based primarily on individual courses than bundled packages, except for the tandem reciprocal prelicensing course package for New Hampshire and Maine. Pricing includes course materials available for download in the Student Center immediately after registration.

Prelicensing Course: $400

The Real Estate Class currently doesn’t offer a Maine-only prelicensing course. It offers reciprocal prelicensing courses for agents who are already licensed in New Hampshire and wish to obtain their Maine license as well.

• New Hampshire and Maine tandem license program: $400

Broker Licensing: $30

• Core Course for Designated Brokers: $30, a core designated broker course that counts toward three clock hours

Continued Education: Starting at $30

• Individual courses: $30 to $65, based on credit hours

Exam Prep: $80

Exam Prep courses include downloadable materials and PDFs that students can access in their Student Center account upon registration.

• Reciprocal Licensing Exam Prep: $80 available in home study and live Zoom formats; ideal for active licensees in other jurisdictions, including New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont
• Maine License Associate Broker Prep: $80

Visit The Real Estate Class

Real Estate Institute of New England: Recommended for Livestream Prelicensing Classes

The Real Estate Institute of New England is another local school in Maine that offers livestream prelicensing courses to aspiring agents. Using the Zoom platform, you can get instruction directly from experienced instructors in the field. You can also ask questions from your instructors and interact with your classmates in real time, which reinforces an in-depth understanding of key concepts. In as little as one month, you can complete your prelicensing course and take the Maine Real Estate Exam.

If you prefer more flexible learning, you can enroll in their home study prelicensing course. This gives you access to 55 hours of coursework, as well as printed materials shipped to your address and electronic books uploaded on your Student Portal. The course is also broken into five manageable modules with exercises, case studies, and quizzes. Unlike the live prelicensing course, the home study format allows you two attempts on the course final exam.

The Real Estate Institute of New England also offers Maine Law Prep courses for licensees in other states who want to get a Maine reciprocal license. If you’re an active Mainer agent who wants to get a reciprocal license in New Hampshire, you can also take its online New Hampshire Law Exam Prep.

Real Estate Institute of New England Reviews

The Real Estate Institute of New England received positive reviews for its helpful and knowledgeable instructors who made the learning experience fun and informative. One student recommends the school to committed agents who can devote time to completing their real estate education. However, one student complained about having technical issues with the Student Portal. The student also had a hard time navigating the school’s website using his iPad.

If you’re looking for an exam prep course with an intuitive dashboard that is compatible with all mobile devices, we recommend The CE Shop. You can also check prelicensing courses at CRES and TRELG for better online education experience.

Real Estate Institute of New England Pricing

Real Estate Institute of New England’s courses are priced higher than those of other schools, but they are packed with printed and online learning resources, as well as direct instructor access.

Prelicensing: $445

• Maine Sales Agent Course: $445 available in home study and live online formats

Continued Education: Starting at $35

• Maine Continuing Education: $35 to $65, based on credit hours and offered through home study format

Exam Prep: $195

• Maine Law Exam Prep Course: $195 includes a study guide, practice test questions, and Maine Real Estate Principles & Practice

Visit Real Estate Institute of New England

How We Evaluated the Top Real Estate Schools in Maine

We analyzed several aspects of each online real estate school in Maine. Our main criteria include pricing, course features, and customer reviews. We also reviewed their expertise and help and support to determine the best real estate school in Maine that caters to the educational demands of agents—whatever stage they are at in their professional lifecycle.

After our evaluation, we found The Real Estate Learning Group (TRELG) to be the best overall online school in Maine because of its comprehensive courses for every stage of your career. The school also provides a variety of course formats to accommodate different learning styles. On top of these, agents who enroll at TRELG get direct access to some of the most reputable and experienced real estate agents, brokers, and lawyers in the state.

Each online real estate school in Maine has been evaluated and ranked based on the following criteria: