Common Questions About Licensing and
Real Estate Careers in Maryland

1. Complete Your Pre-Licensing Education. First, you must successfully complete 60 hours of approved Maryland coursework. This can be completed online. Our coursework includes interactive classes with a wide variety of package options to choose from.
2. Pass the Maryland Real Estate Salesperson Exam. The Maryland salesperson real estate licensing exam is administered by PSI, and you can schedule the exam right from their website. Here’s the gist to help you prepare:

   You’ll have three hours to answer all questions

   • The test consists of 110 questions
   • There are two portions, covering both state and national requirements
   • You’ll need to score 70% or above to pass the exam
   Check out the Maryland Real Estate Candidate Handbook for more information. 
3. Submit an Application. Once you’ve passed your exam, you have 12 months to apply for an original license through the Maryland Department of Labor’s online portal. You’ll need to select which license you’re applying for, create an account, complete the form, and pay the licensing fee.
4. Submit Your Fingerprints For a Background Check. Get a criminal history background review by completing the fingerprinting process. For more information about this process, check out the Maryland Department of Public Safety’s Fingerprinting Services page.
5. Find a Sponsoring Broker. Next, you’ll need to become affiliated with a broker in Maryland. Your real estate license will be inactive until you do so. It can remain inactive for up to three years.

The time it takes to get your salesperson license depends on a few factors. First, you must take and pass 60 hours of approved pre-licensing education. If you’re able to treat your education like a full-time job, then you can complete it in as little as two weeks. If you can devote 20 hours per week, you’re looking at completing it in three weeks.

Once you complete your course, you’ll need to schedule and pass your licensing exam, submit a license application, and complete a background check. That time varies, but it takes a minimum of 10–15 days.

So, in total, it could take a couple months to receive your salesperson license.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Your pre-licensing education in Maryland costs anywhere from $269–$655.
• The initial license fee for a Maryland salesperson is $98.
• The examination fee is $44.

That brings the total cost to an estimated $411–$797 to get your real estate license.

The State of Maryland says you must be at least 18 years of age to get your Real Estate Salesperson license.

The Maryland Real Estate Commission encourages all applicants to apply. A felony or a misdemeanor conviction does not automatically disqualify you from getting licensed. When you apply, you’ll need to submit True Test copies of the proceedings around the conviction. Each conviction will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The examination fee for the Maryland Real Estate Salesperson Exam is $44.

The Maryland Real Estate Commission has reciprocity with Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. You can apply for a reciprocal license if you were currently licensed in those states. For any other state, you’ll need to apply for an out-of-state license recognition waiver.

To apply for an out-of-state license recognition waiver, you’ll need to:

• Provide a certificate of your licensing history, education, and experience. These will be reviewed for transferability.
• You may have to email all your history documents to mrec.licensehistory@maryland.gov. (Ask to be copied on that email if someone sends it on your behalf.)
• Submit a cover letter to mrec.licensehistory@maryland.gov. Make sure to personally sign the cover letter and include your full contact information, home address, and email address. You’ll also want to list any state where you’ve received a license, in the order they were received.
• Take the Maryland Real Estate Exam. If you qualify, you’ll be sent all the information for how to schedule this exam. If you do not qualify for licensure, you will receive written notification.

You can do a LOT with a Broker license in Maryland, including:

• Help clients sell, lease, and buy properties
• Establish and manage your own real estate brokerage firm
• Supervise and hire other salespersons to work for you
• Become a property manager

One of the biggest advantages you have as a broker is the ability to hire other salespersons to work for you — which can be financially rewarding!

An associate broker can provide brokerage services if affiliated and working under the authority of a licensed broker. A licensed broker can manage their own real estate business and hire employees.

Yes! To start your own business, you’ll need a Broker license. Then, you can hire salespersons and associate brokers to work for you.

To get a broker's license, you must have held an active Salesperson or Associate Broker license for three years. Then, you will need to:

• Complete Pre-Licensing Education. You must successfully complete an approved real estate broker course.
• Pass Your Exam. You'll need to pass an MD Broker exam, administered by PSI. You can check out the MD Real Estate Exam Handbook for more detailed exam information.
• Submit Your Application. Your final step is to submit your completed application and any required fees. The MREC provides a Broker Checklist, which gives you more instructions on how to apply and what documents you need.

According to Salary.com, brokers in Gaithersburg make an average of $116,676, but depending on education and experience, some make as much as $143,626.

In Maryland, salespersons, associate brokers, and brokers must complete their real estate continuing education requirements every two years by their license anniversary. The hours must be completed during the license term to be eligible for renewal.

If you’re a salesperson who received their initial license after October 1, 2023, and this is your first renewal, you’ll need to complete your first-time renewal CE courses.

In Maryland, real estate salespersons, associate brokers, and brokers must complete 15 hours of CE every two years.

Real Estate Salesperson First-Time Renewal CE Course Requirements

• 3-Hr. Contracts course
• 3-Hr. Principles of Brokerage Relationships and Disclosure For Sellers course
• 3-Hr. Principles of Real Estate Practice course
• 3-Hr. Property Management and Landlord and Tenant Laws course
• 1.5-Hr. Professionalism course
• 1.5-Hr. Real Estate Financing course

Real Estate Salesperson & Associate Broker Subsequent Renewal CE Course Requirements

• 3-Hr. Legal and Legislative Update course
• 1.5-Hr. Fair Housing course
• 3-Hr. Ethics course
• 3-Hr. Brokerage Relationships & Disclosures course
• 4.5 hours of elective courses

In Maryland, Brokers and Designated Branch Office Managers must complete 15 hours of CE every two years.

Brokers and Designated Branch Office Managers CE Course Requirements

• 3-Hr. Legal and Legislative Update course
• 1.5-Hr. Fair Housing course
• 3-Hr. Ethics course
• 3-Hr. Brokerage Relationships & Disclosures course
• 3-Hr. Supervision course
• 1.5 hours of elective courses

Maryland requires course completions to be reported by education providers, so you don’t have to worry! The CE Shop will provide you with access to your course completion certificates, and it’s a good practice to keep copies of these certificates.

If you are actively licensed, you can contact your brokerage to obtain a copy of your license.

If you are currently inactive, you will receive an email from the MREC with instructions for how to print your license.

Yes! Many salespersons choose to only work part time, and for good reason. You can sell properties full time to receive a high salary or sell just a few homes a year for some extra pocket money.

To find a real estate brokerage to work for in Maryland you can:

• Search Online. Conduct an online search looking for real estate brokers in your area. In general, brokers are looking for new agents and will be happy to talk to you.
• Talk to Other Agents: Get advice from other agents in your area!
• Consider an Online Brokerage: There are many real estate brokerages today that have a virtual office. You’ll meet with clients over the phone or in public places.
• Learn More Here: Follow the link to our blog for the best tips to find the right real estate brokerage for you.

No. A salesperson in Maryland must work under the direction, control, or management of a licensed broker.

Some of the best skills salespersons can have include:

• Communication & Negotiation Skills Good communication is imperative as a salesperson. You can learn how to build better communication and negotiation skills by taking a professional development course.
• Market Insight: t’s important to stay up-to-date with industry changes in real estate. You can stay ahead of the competition by investing in professional development courses.
• Tech Savviness: Learning how to be tech-savvy is important to communicate with your clients and market your business well.
• Networking: Real estate is a career for social butterflies! Make sure to get out there and attend social events to network.

Note: The courses linked above are optional, non-credit courses.