Maryland Real Estate Salesperson License requirements

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

1. 1

   Complete the 60-hour salesperson prelicensing course with an MREC-approved provider

   Your school uploads your eligibility to PSI. Eligibility expires one year to the day after it is issued (FAQ 1 and the PSI bulletin).

2. 2

   PSI $44: national 80/90 min pass 56 + Maryland 30/30 min pass 21 (combo 110/120 min)

   70% on each portion. Pass both portions within 1 year of course completion. Get your score report from your PSI account. You receive an email with your registration number in 5–7 business days (per the FAQ) or 3–5 business days (per the exam page).

3. 3

   Apply online within one year of passing; $98 original includes $20 Guaranty Fund

   Active: you need a Maryland broker's registration number. Inactive: you have 3 years to affiliate. Include True Test copies if you have a conviction. A manual application is required if you have a criminal record or prior discipline (call MREC, not PSI).

4. 4

   First renewal: 15-hour named grid (if initially licensed as a salesperson on or after October 1, 2023) completed at least 30 days before the renewal date

   Later cycles: Legislative A 3, Fair Housing C 2, Ethics D 3 (MD Code of Ethics, not NAR), Agency H 3, electives 4. Providers have 14 days to upload completions. Reinstatement costs $168 plus past-due renewals, within 3 years.

Minimum age

18 years old

Identification

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

Residency and identification

PSI bulletin prerequisites: good character and reputation; at least 18; completion of a current 60-hour salesperson course; and passing both portions within 1 year of course completion. FAQ 1 does not require Maryland residency. FAQ 9 names two reciprocal states: Pennsylvania (raised-seal certificate from the PA Commission, then the online Original Reciprocal application plus a broker-supervision letter) and Oklahoma (contact MREC Education at [email protected]). Licensees originally licensed in any other state use Out of State License Recognition. Confirm the current process with MREC.

Qualifying education

FAQ 1 and the PSI bulletin prerequisites: the salesperson pre-licensing program is 60 hours. When you finish, the education provider sends your eligibility electronically to PSI, and eligibility expires one year to the day from the date it is issued. Find approved providers on the MREC Education page under Approved Education Providers. You must pass both PSI portions within 1 year of course completion. Pennsylvania's 75 hours, Virginia's 60, or D.C.'s 60 do not automatically count as Maryland's 60; reciprocity and license recognition are handled by MREC (FAQ 9), not at PSI. Maryland does not recognize post-licensing education from another state as Maryland CE (MREC CE reminders).

Education or filing deadline

Pass both portions within 1 year of course completion (PSI bulletin). Eligibility expires one year to the day from issuance. A passing score on one portion is valid until the deadline based on your course completion date. Apply for the license within one year of passing (FAQ 20 and the Taking the Exam page). You have 3 years to affiliate while inactive (FAQ 21). A license expired more than 3 years cannot be reinstated by paying back fees and completing CE (MREC renewal page).

Character review

PSI bulletin: you must be of good character and reputation. FAQ 19: a felony or misdemeanor conviction does not automatically make you ineligible, and MREC encourages everyone to apply. Each conviction is weighed case by case, and you have the right to appeal a denial. Submit True Test copies of the proceedings with the application. The good-character requirement comes from Title 17. Failing to disclose is a separate ground for denial. A manual application is required if a criminal offense or prior real estate discipline is involved (PSI bulletin).

Background process

Self-disclosure on the application, plus True Test copies if you have a conviction. MREC does not list a fingerprint fee or an IdentoGO requirement.

Experience

No licensed experience is required for the salesperson license. Active practice requires affiliation with a Maryland broker. To become a broker later, you need three consecutive years of active licensure immediately prior with no breaks (inactive status, late-renewal reinstatement, or suspension resets the count), plus 135 broker hours and the PSI broker exam.

Broker affiliation

From the license-application section of the PSI bulletin: for active licensure, salespersons and associate brokers must affiliate with a licensed Maryland real estate broker. You need the intended broker's registration number and branch office location, if applicable. You may request inactive status with no affiliation and no licensed activity. FAQ 21: after an original application on inactive, you have three years from that date to affiliate; if you want to be active right away, affiliate immediately. FAQ 11: transfer online (Broker Trade Address) with the new broker's registration/license number. The Forms and Fees page lists a $28 transfer fee. A residential license may do commercial work; a commercial-only license may not do residential work (FAQ 4). The Commission does not mail hard copies; active licensees get their copy from the broker (FAQ 5).

PSI Services LLC (test-takers.psiexams.com/mdre; (855) 744-0318; CIB Updated 8/15/2024, bulletin 529). Your school uploads your eligibility. $44 per registration. Each portion is scored separately, with 70% required to pass. · Fee: $44

The fee is $44 per registration, whether a first attempt or a retake, for two portions or one. It is not refundable or transferable and is valid one year from payment. You retake only the failed portion, within the course-completion deadline. If you do not pass both portions within 1 year of course completion, you must complete a new 60-hour program, and prior scores expire with the prior coursework. You cannot schedule a retake the same day; if you fail on a Wednesday, you can call Thursday and retest as soon as Friday if space is available. Cancel at least 2 days ahead or forfeit the fee.

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

Forms and Fees page: Salesperson Original (includes $20 GF payment) $98; Renewal $78. The application and initialLicense amounts here are the same $98, not two separate charges. PSI charges $44 per registration (bulletin 529 and the Taking the Exam page). Transfer $28. Reactivate inactive $28. Reinstatement $168. CE late fee $75. Certificate of license history $28 (5-year) / $84 (full). Personal name change $28. No fingerprint fee is listed. The broker original fee is a separate $211. Check the fees page before you pay: "fees are set by Law and Regulation and are subject to change with public notice."

• !

  Calling PSI to apply, or mailing a paper eligibility form after 3/31/2025

  The school uploads salesperson eligibility. According to the PSI bulletin, applications sent by mail, fax, or email are returned. Contact your provider if PSI has no record.

• !

  Passing national at 56 and waiting more than a year from course completion to pass state

  Both portions must be passed within 1 year of course completion. Prior scores expire with the prior coursework, and you would need to take a new 60-hour course.

• !

  Applying more than one year after passing, or leaving inactive more than three years

  FAQ 20 and FAQ 7 / 21. The 3-year limit is strictly enforced.

• !

  Treating NAR ethics as Maryland ethics, or substituting Legislative / Agency / Ethics

  Per MREC CE reminders. Salespersons first licensed after Oct 1, 2023 take named contracts/practice/property management courses at first renewal, not the later legislative courses.

• !

  Completing CE 29 days before renewal

  Titles 17-314 and 17-315 (effective October 1, 2024): CE must be done 30 days prior, or you owe a reinstatement fee. Providers have 14 days to upload, so finishing on day 30 is still risky.

• !

  Working a residential deal on a commercial-only license

  FAQ 4. A residential license covers both; commercial-only does not.

• !

  Assuming you need IdentoGO, or skipping True Test copies of a conviction

  MREC lists no fingerprint fee. FAQ 19 requires True Test copies. A manual application is required for a criminal record or prior discipline; call MREC, not PSI.

• !

  Paying $78 and forgetting the $20 Guaranty Fund is inside the $98 original, not a third fee

  The fees page says the original includes the $20 GF. The $78 renewal row does not mention a Guaranty Fund payment, so do not add one to your renewal unless MREC's fee table lists it.

• !

  Treating PIFHA, short sales, or home improvements as minor trivia

  They are scored Maryland state items, and they are specific to Maryland, not Virginia or D.C.

• !

  Calling Pearson, or sitting a Pennsylvania Pearson exam, for a Maryland score

  Maryland real estate exams are given by PSI under bulletin 529 at $44. Pennsylvania reciprocity uses a raised-seal certificate, not a score transfer.

FAQ 9: if you were originally licensed in any other state, use Out of State License Recognition (Licensing Applications and Information → Out of State License Recognition), not the PA/OK reciprocal path. Maryland does not recognize another state's post-licensing education as Maryland CE (MREC CE reminders).

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 many prelicense hours?

Sixty hours with an approved education provider, according to FAQ 1 and PSI bulletin 529 (the salesperson pre-licensing program is 60 hours). The school uploads your eligibility to PSI.

What is the sitting?

PSI, $44. National: 80 items (80 points) / 90 minutes, pass 56. Maryland: 30 items (30 points) / 30 minutes, pass 21. Combined: 110 / 120 minutes. You need 70% on each portion (Taking the Exam page and the bulletin's passing-score table). Pass both portions within 1 year of course completion, and apply within one year of passing (FAQ 20).

Does the school or MREC make me PSI-eligible?

The school. According to the PSI bulletin, the education provider sends your eligibility electronically; if PSI does not have your record, contact your education provider. Paper applications are returned.

How much is the original license?

Per the Forms and Fees page, $98, which includes the $20 Guaranty Fund. Renewal is $78. The PSI exam is a separate $44 paid to PSI.

Do I fingerprint?

The MREC FAQs, exam page, fees page, and PSI bulletin 529 do not list a fingerprint requirement. If you have a conviction, submit True Test copies; each case is reviewed individually (FAQ 19). A manual application is required if you have a criminal record or prior discipline; call MREC at (410) 230-6200, not PSI.

How long can I wait to apply after I pass? To affiliate?

FAQ 20: you have one year from the date you took the exam to apply. FAQ 21: once your original license is on inactive, you have three years from that date to affiliate. To be active right away, affiliate immediately. A license expired or inactive more than three years cannot be reinstated by paying back fees (FAQ 7 and the MREC renewal page).

What CE applies on first renewal if I was first licensed as a salesperson on or after October 1, 2023?

According to the MREC CE Requirements page, a named 15-hour first-renewal set of courses: Contracts (J) 3, Principles of Brokerage Relationships and Disclosure (H) 3, Principles of Real Estate Practice, Property Management and Landlord and Tenant Laws, Professionalism 1.5, Real Estate Financing 1.5. The page lists the named topics and the 15-hour total, but not every topic's hours appear here; check the page for the full breakdown. These courses are mandatory and may not be replaced with other education or another state's CE. For later cycles (or licensees first licensed before October 1, 2023): Legislative A 3, Fair Housing C 2, Ethics D 3, Agency H 3, electives 4. NAR ethics is not Maryland ethics. Complete CE at least 30 days before the renewal date (Titles 17-314 and 17-315, effective October 1, 2024); providers have 14 days to upload.

Is NAR ethics enough?

No. MREC's CE reminders say the ethics course must include the MD Code of Ethics, flipping and predatory lending, and professionalism. NAR ethics is not a substitute for the Maryland required ethics course. Legislative (A), Ethics (D), and Agency (H) may not be substituted.

Commercial vs residential?

FAQ 4: a commercial-only license may perform ONLY commercial transactions. A residential license may perform both. CE requirements also differ for residential and commercial-only licensees (Fair Housing C vs ADA P).

Pennsylvania or Oklahoma licensed — do I still take the 60?

FAQ 9 names those two reciprocal paths (a PA raised-seal certificate; an email to MREC Education for OK). Licensees from every other state use Out of State License Recognition. Confirm with MREC before you skip the 60 hours.

Where is the Commission?

100 S. Charles Street, Tower I, Baltimore, MD 21201. (410) 230-6200. Walk-in assistance is not available; appointments are Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. In person, pay by check or money order. PSI: (855) 744-0318. Test centers listed on the MREC exam page include Baltimore, College Park, Crofton, and Hagerstown, and the bulletin adds Laurel, Rockville, Salisbury, and Waldorf.

What is PIFHA?

A scored item under "other Maryland state laws" in the supervision section of the 30-item state exam, alongside short sales and home improvements. It is tested material, and it is not a Virginia or D.C. form.