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How do I get a real estate license in Maryland?

If you've never been licensed, here is what a Maryland salesperson license needs. You take a 60-hour course and pass a two-part exam. A broker must commit to affiliate with you. State law adds more, like a minimum age and good character.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
60-hour pre-licensing courseThe state's FAQ gives this as the course for applying for a license.
Verified. Maryland Real Estate Commission · Licensing Frequently Asked Questions (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Licensing exam
Two parts: a national part and a state partSalesperson and broker exams both have these two parts.
Verified. Maryland Real Estate Commission · Taking the Exam (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Cost
$98 original salesperson license feeThis is the state's fee for an original salesperson license. The exam fee is separate.
Verified. Maryland Real Estate Commission · Forms and Fees (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Cost
$44.00 standard exam feeYou pay PSI, the exam vendor, directly. The license fee is separate.
Same source and date as above
Broker commitment
A commitment from a licensed broker to affiliate with the applicant as a salespersonState law asks the applicant to get this from a licensed real estate broker.
Verified. Maryland General Assembly · Business Occupations and Professions, § 17-303 (salesperson license) (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check your age. State law asks a salesperson applicant to be at least 18.

  2. Step 2. Pick a provider from the state's list of approved education providers. Check that it offers the pre-licensing course. Contact it for its schedule, and confirm the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MD REC) approves the course.

  3. Step 3. Take the 60-hour pre-licensing course with the provider you picked.

  4. Step 4. Schedule your exam with PSI, the exam vendor. You pay PSI directly.

  5. Step 5. Pass both parts with at least 70%.

  6. Step 6. If you pass both parts, apply for a license within one year, or the score expires.

  7. Step 7. Get a broker's commitment to affiliate with you. State law asks you to get it from a licensed real estate broker.

Before you pay

Check that your provider is marked Y for pre-licensing on the state's list. Then contact it for its schedule.

Open the state's Student Success Rates by School file. The state says the data is informational and doesn't mean it backs any school. The Commission makes no guarantee that the data is accurate.

We haven't confirmed a course price, so ask each provider for its total before you pay.

Check the state's fee list before you apply. The state says fees can change with public notice.

Questions

Can I take the Maryland real estate course online?

Some providers teach it by distance learning, and the state's list marks them with a check mark. State law also lists teaching by computer, including over the Internet, among the ways a basic course can be given.

Do I need experience for a Maryland salesperson license?

State law's list for a salesperson license has no work history on it. The Commission can add requirements of its own. A broker license is different.

How is a salesperson different from a broker in Maryland?

An original broker license costs $211. The state's FAQ lists an active license for at least three consecutive years immediately before you apply, with no breaks in licensure, such as inactive status. It lists a 135-hour broker course and exam. State law asks for at least 3 years as a licensed salesperson who has actively and lawfully provided brokerage services. For an applicant qualified to practice law in the State, state law waives the educational and experience requirements.

I'm licensed in another state. Do I skip the Maryland course or exam?

It depends on where you were licensed. The state lists a reciprocal license for Pennsylvania and Oklahoma licensees only. It lists out-of-state license recognition for everyone else. Read the rules on the reciprocal license page or the out-of-state recognition page before you count on skipping anything.

Can I get a Maryland real estate license with a criminal record?

Maybe. The state says a felony or misdemeanor conviction does not automatically make you ineligible. It weighs each one case by case, and you can appeal a denial. When you apply, you submit True Test copies of the proceedings surrounding the conviction. It also lists an optional criminal history predetermination review. Read its review page before you decide.

How long do I have to apply after I pass the exam?

One year. The state's FAQ counts it from the date you took the exam. The exam page also says a passing score on a part is valid until a deadline based on the date you finished your course. Ask the Commission which date applies to you.

What to do next

Start with the state's licensing page. Then pick a provider from its list of providers.

www.dllr.state.md.us

Sources we read