Maryland Real Estate Broker License requirements

Follow these steps in order. Deadlines and affiliation requirements can make a passed exam unusable if they are missed.

1. 1

   Hold an active real estate license for three consecutive years immediately prior, with no inactive / late-renewal / suspension break

   The MD license history is valid 90 days. FAQ 13 requires the three years to be consecutive and immediately before you apply, not just three years at some point.

2. 2

   Complete the 135-hour broker prelicensing course; apply online at PSI and upload the certificate

   Allow up to one week for PSI processing. Pass both portions within 1 year of course completion.

3. 3

   PSI $44 broker paper: 75 items/80 points/90 min pass 56 + 40/30 min pass 28

   Do not take the salesperson 80/30 exam. The cut is 56 of 80 points, not 53 of 75 items.

4. 4

   Contact MREC for broker-apply instructions; credit report; $211 original including $20 GF (associate broker $143 under a broker)

   Complete the 1.5-hour Required Supervision Course within 90 days of taking on a supervisory role. Ongoing CE is the 15-hour broker schedule, including Supervision I 1.5 and 2.5 elective hours. Renewal is $191 plus a credit report no older than six months.

Minimum age

18 years old

Identification

A Social Security number is required. An ITIN is not confirmed as a substitute.

Residency and identification

FAQ 13: three consecutive years of active licensure immediately prior, with no breaks (inactive status, late-renewal reinstatement, or suspension). PSI bulletin: an MD license history certifying active, regular, and lawful practice for at least the 3 immediately preceding years; the history is valid 90 days. Out-of-state brokers use the PA/OK reciprocal path or Out of State License Recognition (FAQ 9); neither waives the 135 hours unless MREC confirms it.

Qualifying education

FAQ 13 and PSI bulletin 529: the broker pre-licensing program is 135 hours. Pass both portions within 1 year of course completion, and upload proof when you apply online at PSI. The salesperson 60 hours do not count toward the 135. Associate brokers take the same 135 hours. Out-of-state recognition is decided by MREC, not at PSI.

Education or filing deadline

Pass both portions within 1 year of course completion. The license history document is valid 90 days. Apply according to the Commission's instructions after you pass; scores expire if you do not apply within one year of passing (Taking the Exam page). Credit report age: the MREC renewal page says six months (for broker renewal), while the bulletin says current, with a public-records search, for an original license. Follow the stricter instruction for the filing you are making.

Character review

The same good-character requirement applies, plus a credit report with a public-records search. Submit FAQ 19 True Test copies if you have a conviction. A manual application is required if you have a criminal record or prior discipline.

Background process

A current credit report (per the MREC renewal page, no older than six months) plus self-disclosure. MREC lists no fingerprint fee.

Experience

FAQ 13: an active real estate license for at least three consecutive years immediately prior to applying, with no breaks such as inactive status, reinstatements due to late renewal, or suspensions. PSI bulletin: active, regular, and lawful practice; the MD license history is valid 90 days.

Broker affiliation

A broker operates the Maryland brokerage (place of business, trust monies, supervision). An associate broker works under that broker and needs the broker's registration number for active status. A branch-office manager under 17-318 needs a broker commitment letter and may not transfer to another branch without first contacting MREC. Complete the 1.5-hour Required Supervision Course within 90 days of taking on a supervisory role. MREC's forms list includes additional broker, additional associate-broker, and additional salesperson licenses; check with MREC before planning to hold more than one.

PSI bulletin 529. Broker candidates apply online at PSI first (uploading proof of the 135 hours), then pay $44. Do not take the salesperson 80/30 exam. · Fee: $44

The same $44 per registration and 1-year course-completion deadline apply as for salespersons. Retake only the failed portion within that deadline. The national cut is 56 of 80 points. Online (OnVUE) and in-person rules follow the bulletin; cancel at least 2 days ahead.

These are commission or testing-vendor amounts we can cite. School tuition and optional preparation products are private-market prices.

Forms and Fees page: Broker Original (includes $20 GF) $211; Renewal $191. Associate broker original $143 / renewal $123. The application and initialLicense amounts are the same original fee, not two charges. PSI $44. The credit report is purchased from a third party, and its cost varies. Branch office $5 original / $5 renewal. Check the fees page for current amounts.

• !

  Counting an inactive year or a late-renewal reinstatement toward the three consecutive active years

  FAQ 13 names those breaks. The three years must be consecutive and immediately prior.

• !

  Sitting the salesperson 80-item national / 30-item state paper

  The broker national exam is 75 items carrying 80 points, and the state exam is 40 items. The cut is 56 of 80 points and 28 of 40.

• !

  Treating 56 of 75 items as the national cut

  It is 56 of 80 points, because some items are worth two points. The combined exam is 115 items carrying 120 points.

• !

  Waiting for the salesperson self-serve email instead of contacting MREC after you pass

  FAQ 13 tells brokers to contact MREC. You also need a credit report and the $211 fee. The associate broker license ($143) is the option for working under a broker.

• !

  Skipping the 1.5-hour Required Supervision Course after you start supervising

  Required within 90 days (MREC CE reminders). Broker CE also includes Supervision I 1.5 each cycle.

• !

  Renewing on the salesperson elective grid (4 electives, no Supervision I)

  Broker electives drop to 2.5 hours to make room for Supervision I 1.5. Broker renewal requires a credit report no older than 6 months.

Licensees originally licensed in other states use Out of State License Recognition. In-state candidates upgrade with three consecutive active Maryland years; an inactive year in Pennsylvania does not count toward FAQ 13.

Maryland vs neighboring states

Hours are the pre-license total printed in each guide; states that count credits or named courses show “See guide.” Published state fees add the application, exam, initial-license, and fingerprint amounts the guide can cite — tuition is not included.

How much experience, and do inactive years count?

FAQ 13: three consecutive years of active licensure immediately prior. There can be no breaks; inactive status, reinstatements due to late renewal, or suspensions reset the count. The PSI bulletin requires an MD license history (valid 90 days) certifying active, regular, and lawful practice.

What education?

A 135-hour broker prelicensing course from an approved provider. Pass both PSI portions within 1 year of course completion. The salesperson 60 hours do not count toward the 135. Associate brokers take the same 135 hours.

Is the national paper still 80 items?

No. The broker national exam is 75 items carrying 80 points in 90 minutes. The cut is 56 of 80 points, not 53 of 75 items and not 56 of 75. The state exam is 40 items / 30 minutes, pass 28.

Do I apply the same way as a salesperson after I pass?

No. FAQ 13 says to contact the Commission for instructions on how to apply for your broker license; you will not get the salesperson email. A credit report is required. The original fee is $211 including the $20 GF.

Associate broker vs broker?

Both require the same 135 hours, the same 3 years, and the same PSI broker exam. An associate broker works under a Maryland broker (original $143 including $20 GF). A broker runs the brokerage (original $211). MREC's forms list includes additional-license forms.

What CE do brokers take?

The MREC CE page lists 15 hours for residential brokers, branch-office managers, and team leaders: Legislative A 3, Fair Housing C 2, Ethics D 3, Agency H 3, Supervision I 1.5, electives 2.5. After taking on a supervisory role, you have 90 days to take the 1.5-hour Required Supervision Course if you have not already. The same 30-day-before-renewal rule applies. Broker renewal requires a credit report no older than 6 months.