Maryland Real Estate License (2026): Steps, Costs, Exam and Timeline

To get a Maryland real estate license, you must be at least 18 and finish a 60-hour approved course. Then you pass both portions of the PSI exam and apply to the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC) through a broker.

The official fees are $44 for the exam and $98 for the salesperson license, which includes a $20 Guaranty Fund payment. The four course prices I could verify run from $249 online to $637 at a community college.

Below are the steps, deadlines, costs, renewal rules and reciprocity, from MREC's pages, Maryland law, COMAR and PSI's candidate bulletin, read on 22 October 2026.

Where I stand: I am a Realtor with Samson Properties, licensed in Maryland, Virginia, DC and West Virginia, and I run Jamil Academy, which sells training to agents. This guide is built from official pages and labelled third-party sources. The one product block near the end is my own.

What are the Maryland real estate license requirements?

Short answer: you must be at least 18, be of good character, complete the 60-hour course, pass the exam and have a broker commit to sponsor you. Most of these come from section 17-303 of Maryland's Business Occupations and Professions Article.

Sources: Maryland Code, Business Occupations and Professions 17-303, COMAR 09.11 and MREC exam page, read 22 October 2026.

What the official sources do not say

I found no diploma, GED, citizenship or residency requirement in section 17-303, COMAR 09.11, the PSI bulletin or MREC's pages. RealEstateU, a school, says no diploma is needed, but I could not confirm that officially. Ask MREC if it matters to you.

If you live outside Maryland

The application form has a nonresident consent section. It says: "The Commission may not issue a license to a nonresident applicant, unless the nonresident applicant complies with the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section."

My view: the eligibility bar is low. Spend your planning time on the exam and on finding a broker.

How do you get a real estate license in Maryland, step by step?

Short answer: take the course, pass both exam portions, apply to MREC and affiliate with a broker. Each step has a deadline or a waiting period set by MREC, COMAR or PSI.

• 1. Check you qualify. At least 18, of good character, and ready to name a sponsoring broker or go inactive.
• 2. Finish the 60-hour course with an MREC-approved provider. Your school sends your eligibility to PSI.
• 3. Register with PSI online or by phone, using the email PSI sends you.
• 4. Pass both portions of the exam, national and state, within 1 year of completing the course.
• 5. Watch for MREC's email with your registration number and application instructions.
• 6. Apply for your license within 1 year of passing, and pay the $98 fee.
• 7. Affiliate with a broker to go active, or write "inactive" and affiliate within 3 years.

Sources: PSI Maryland candidate bulletin (updated 8/15/2024), MREC exam page, MREC licensing FAQ and COMAR 09.11.01.09, read 22 October 2026.

Plan for about a week between passing and MREC's email. The timeline section below has the details.

My view: put both 1-year deadlines in your calendar the day you finish the course.

Which 60-hour course and approved school do you need?

Short answer: a 60-clock-hour salesperson course from a school on MREC's approved list, online or in a classroom. It must include a 3-hour real estate ethics course.

Its formal name is "Principles and Practices of Real Estate for Salespersons." In-state schools need Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) approval, and MREC reviews the curriculum.

Source: MHEC, approval of real estate schools, read 22 October 2026.

The statute says the course "does not require more than 60 clock hours," while COMAR says "a minimum of 60 clock-hours." Either way, plan on 60 hours.

Online study is allowed. The statute permits instruction by "computer, including transmission over the Internet and the World Wide Web," and MREC's provider list marks approved online prelicensing schools with a check mark.

Course prices I could verify

Sources: kapre.com, colibrirealestate.com, ccbcmd.edu and aacc.edu course pages, and the MREC approved education providers list, read 22 October 2026. Prices and promo codes change, so check before you pay.

Colibri showed sale prices of $167.40 to $335.40 with the code LEARN40, "40% off," on 22 October 2026. No end date was shown, so treat that as a promotion that can end at any time.

Other approved schools, prices not verified

The CE Shop is on the MREC list, but its own price page showed no prices when I checked. HousingWire, in an article updated 10 December 2025, listed $269 to $689 for its packages. That is a secondary, older figure.

Other prelicensing schools on the list include Perry Real Estate College, Weichert RE School, Maryland REALTORS and several community colleges, such as Montgomery, Harford, Howard and Frederick. I did not verify their prices.

Schools not on the list for Maryland prelicensing

AceableAgent offers Maryland exam prep only. 360training says it does not offer Maryland courses. RealEstateU shows no Maryland product. Real Estate Express is not listed under that name; the list shows Colibri Real Estate.

MREC's provider page says to "verify that the course is approved by MD REC." Do that before you pay.

Brokerage-run schools

Several brokerages run MREC-listed schools, including Long and Foster, Coldwell Banker, Weichert and HomeSmart. Long and Foster says it reimburses tuition and books "No matter the real estate school you attend" after a new agent's first closing.

For comparing online options in general, see my guide to picking an online real estate school.

My view: a low-cost approved online course is fine if you study well alone. If you need set hours, the college classes cost more but give you a schedule.

What is the Maryland real estate exam like?

Short answer: a computer exam at a listed test center, with a national portion and a state portion, 110 questions in 120 minutes. You need 70% on each portion, and the fee is $44.

Source: PSI, State of Maryland Real Estate Commission Candidate Information Bulletin, updated 8/15/2024, and the MREC exam page, read 22 October 2026.

MREC's exam page says: "Candidates must pass each portion of the examination with a grade of at least 70%."

The state portion covers the Commission's duties and powers, licensing, brokerage relationships, supervision, business conduct and ethics. Before you book, work through a set of practice questions to find your weak areas.

Booking, fees and test day

• Fee: "The standard exam fee is $44.00," paid to PSI. It is not refundable or transferable, and is valid for one year from payment.
• Registration: online at any hour, or by phone on (855) 744-0318.
• Cancelling: give notice at least 2 days before the exam to keep your fee. "A voicemail or email message is not an acceptable form of cancellation."
• Test centers: MREC lists PSI centers in Baltimore, College Park, Crofton, Hagerstown and Lanham, plus Brainseed Testing Services. MREC says exams run "Monday through Friday," and test dates are by appointment.
• ID: one valid, unexpired primary ID with your photo and signature. The name must match your registration.

I found no at-home option in the bulletin, which describes testing at the listed centers. It is dated 2024 and I found no newer version, so confirm details when you book.

Retakes and the 1-year clock

The bulletin says: "There is no limit to the number of times that you can retake" the exam. You register and pay again each time, and you retake only the portion you failed.

You cannot book a retake on the day you test. You can book the next day, and the retake can be as soon as the day after that, if seats are open.

The hard limit is time. COMAR 09.11.01.09G gives you "1 year from completion of a prelicensing education course to pass both portions." MREC adds that a passed portion "is valid until the deadline based on your course completion date."

My view: book the exam soon after the course, while the material is fresh, and leave room in your year for a retake.

How many people pass the Maryland real estate exam?

Short answer: MREC's meeting minutes report salesperson pass rates in the 30s, but they do not explain exactly how the rates are counted. Read them as a rough signal, not a precise statistic.

I found no Maryland pass rate published by PSI. These figures come from MREC's meeting minutes, quoted as written.

Sources: MREC minutes, 15 July 2026 (approved 14 September 2026), MREC minutes, 19 November 2025, and MREC minutes of 20 May and 17 June 2026, read 22 October 2026.

So do not read the 36% figure as a first-time pass rate. Each portion can be taken and retaken separately, so the minutes may count some candidates more than once. They do not say.

MREC also publishes a "Student Success Rates by School" spreadsheet, linked from its education page. I did not open it, so I cannot quote it, but it is worth checking before you choose a school.

My view: a pass rate in the 30s is a reason to study properly, not to give up. Budget time and $44 for a retake.

How do you apply for your Maryland salesperson license?

Short answer: apply online through the state's electronic licensing system within 1 year of passing, pay $98 and name your sponsoring broker. If you have no broker yet, you can apply as inactive.

MREC's apply page links to the Department of Labor's online licensing system and a separate page for uploading documents.

Source: MREC, apply for a license, read 22 October 2026.

The 1-year deadline to apply

MREC's exam page says: "Applicants who pass both portions must apply for licensure within one year or the score expires." Its FAQ puts it as "one year from the date you took the exam."

COMAR 09.11.01.09F says the same. If you passed the portions on different days, count the year from the first, to be safe.

Broker sponsorship, or going inactive

The application asks a broker to sign: "I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT APPLICANT WILL BE LICENSED THROUGH THE UNDERSIGNED BROKER." If you have no broker, the form says to write "inactive" on the broker's license number line.

MREC's FAQ says that once your license is inactive, "you then have three years from the date you placed the license on inactive to affiliate with a broker." It adds: "if you want to be active right away, you must immediately affiliate with a broker."

Sources: MREC original salesperson application, revised 2/20/25 and MREC licensing FAQ, read 22 October 2026.

An inactive license still needs CE and renewal fees, according to MREC's education FAQ.

Paper applications are paid "BY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER ONLY" to the Maryland Real Estate Commission, 100 S. Charles Street, Tower 1, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Choosing a broker

You can move later. MREC's FAQ says transfers are made online, and its fee schedule lists a $28 transfer fee.

I found no official or reliable source for typical commission splits or desk fees for new Maryland agents, so I have left them out. Ask each broker for theirs in writing.

For the questions to ask, read my checklist for comparing brokerages as a new agent.

My view: talk to brokers during the course, so a signed sponsorship is ready when your results arrive.

How much does a Maryland real estate license cost in 2026?

Short answer: about $391 to $779 for one exam sitting, using the four course prices I could verify. The official fees are fixed: $44 to PSI and $98 to MREC. The course is where totals differ.

Sources: MREC fee schedule (effective 27 April 2026), MREC exam page, PSI bulletin (8/15/2024) and provider pages, read 22 October 2026.

MREC's fee schedule reads: "Salesperson License, Original (includes $20 GF payment): $98." The application form shows the same split: "Biennial $ 78.00" plus "Guaranty Fee $ 20.00."

COMAR 09.11.09.02 lists the same $98. The form shows $78 instead if you have paid the Guaranty Fund before.

By course, one sitting totals $391 with Kaplan, $421 with Colibri at list price, $767 with CCBC and $779 with Anne Arundel. Each retake adds $44.

Watch for old fees online

Maryland OneStop, a state portal, still lists the application cost as "$90.00 Estimated Cost." FitSmallBusiness and The Close also use $90. MREC's fee page, the form and COMAR all say $98, so use $98.

Colibri's Maryland cost page lists the exam at $100 to $150 and the application at $75 to $150, which conflict with the official fees.

Costs after you are licensed

Source: MREC fee schedule, effective 27 April 2026, read 22 October 2026.

CE course prices, Realtor dues, MLS fees and brokerage fees vary, and I did not verify them.

My view: the state fees are small. Compare course and exam prep prices, not the $98.

What will your Maryland license cost? Try the calculator

Short answer: $391 with the cheapest verified course and one exam sitting. Pick a course or type your own price, add exam sittings and any prep, and the total updates.

It uses the $98 license fee, the $44 exam fee and list course prices, all read on 22 October 2026. For a promo price, choose "My own course price."

How the calculator counts

• Course: the list price you pick, or the amount you type for any other school or a promo price.
• Exam: $44 for each sitting. The first sitting covers both portions; each retake is a new $44 registration.
• License: MREC's $98 original salesperson fee, which includes the $20 Guaranty Fund.
• Prep: any exam prep bought outside your course package.

My view: run it with two sittings. Passing first time then leaves you under budget.

How long does it take to get a real estate license in Maryland?

Short answer: it depends mostly on how fast you finish 60 hours of study and pass the exam. Maryland sets deadlines for each step, but no minimum waiting period that I could find.

One example: Anne Arundel's Fall 2026 class runs from 15 September to 3 November 2026, seven weeks of Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and is closed to new sign-ups. Online courses are self-paced.

For how course length varies by state and format, see my breakdown of real estate school length.

Waiting periods I could verify

• After the course: your school sends eligibility to PSI, which then emails you to book.
• Between attempts: no new booking on the day you test. You can book the next day and retest the day after, if seats are open.
• After passing: 3 to 5 business days for MREC's email, per its exam page, or 5 to 7 per its FAQ.
• License processing: I found no published processing time for the application itself.

Deadlines that apply

Sources: COMAR 09.11, MREC exam page, MREC licensing FAQ and the PSI bulletin (8/15/2024), read 22 October 2026.

My view: treat the course and the exam as one project. If you stop for months after the course, you may spend part of your year relearning it.

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

Short answer: possibly. A conviction does not automatically disqualify you, but MREC weighs each one case by case. You must disclose it and send court records with your application.

The application asks: "Have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in any State or Federal Court?" If you answer yes, it asks for "a True Test Copy of your record AND a signed letter from the broker."

MREC's licensing FAQ says: "A felony or misdemeanor conviction does not automatically make you ineligible for a real estate license." It adds that "Each conviction is weighed on a case by case basis," and you have "the right to file an appeal should your application be denied."

Sources: MREC original salesperson application and MREC licensing FAQ, read 22 October 2026.

How the paper application works

Maryland OneStop says applicants with a conviction should request a paper application by calling 410-230-6200. Include the broker letter and certified court records for every conviction.

I found no published fee for these records, so they are not in the calculator.

Is there a fingerprint check?

I found no fingerprint requirement for salespersons in the statute, COMAR or MREC's pages. Kaplan's guide lists a background check and fingerprinting step, and Colibri's lists a background check cost of about $40.

That may change. MREC's July 2026 minutes say a "Fingerprint Concept Sheet" was "Submitted to the Department of Labor for review." It "is currently being monitored for potential inclusion in the upcoming legislative session." That is a proposal, not law.

Source: MREC minutes, 15 July 2026, read 22 October 2026.

My view: if you have a record, gather the court copies and talk to a broker before you pay for the course.

How do Maryland renewal and CE rules work?

Short answer: your license lasts 2 years, and you need 15 hours of continuing education (CE) to renew it for $78. Your first renewal has its own set of topics, changed from 1 October 2025.

Maryland OneStop says the two-year term starts on the date your license is issued. Under section 17-314, MREC sends a renewal notice "At least 60 days before a license expires."

Section 17-315 requires "at least 15 clock hours" of CE each term. Section 17-314 says it must be done "not later than 30 days before the license expires." Miss that and MREC's fee schedule lists a $75 CE late fee.

Sources: Maryland Code 17-314 and 17-315, read 22 October 2026.

Your first renewal: 15 hours by topic

This MREC table, effective 1 October 2025, applies if you were first licensed as a salesperson on or after 1 October 2023 and this is your first renewal.

Source: MREC education requirements, read 22 October 2026.

Later renewals

Source: MREC education requirements, read 22 October 2026. Commercial licensees take 2 hours of ADA in place of Fair Housing.

Brokers, branch office managers and team leaders take the same core topics, plus 1.5 hours of supervision and 2.5 hours of electives in place of the 4.

What changed in October 2025

House Bill 972 of 2025, Chapter 397, took effect on 1 October 2025. It raised fair housing from 1.5 hours to "at least one 2 clock hour course" and cut broker supervision from 3 hours to "at least one 1.5 clock hour course."

Source: Maryland General Assembly, HB 972 (2025) and the Chapter 397 text, read 22 October 2026.

Rules that trip people up

• No post-licensing course: "Maryland does not recognize post-licensing education."
• No rollover: "CE credits do not roll over for credit in the next licensing term."
• Inactive still counts: you must complete CE and pay renewal fees to keep an inactive license.
• NAR ethics: "NAR ethics is not a substitute for the Maryland required ethics course."
• Expiry limit: a license "can be expired for a maximum of three years before you have to retest."

Sources: MREC education requirements, MREC education FAQ, MREC licensing FAQ and MREC education page, read 22 October 2026.

My view: put your 30-day CE deadline in your calendar the day your license arrives. Providers have up to 14 days to upload your hours, so finish early.

Does Maryland have real estate license reciprocity?

Short answer: only with Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. Licensees from other states can ask MREC to recognize their education and experience, but there is no automatic transfer.

MREC's education FAQ says: "The Commission only has reciprocal agreements with Pennsylvania and Oklahoma."

Sources: MREC education FAQ, MREC reciprocal licensing and MREC out-of-state applicants, read 22 October 2026.

Conditions for a reciprocal license

• Your home-state license must be current and active. The reciprocal license is void if it lapses.
• The license category must match, for example salesperson for salesperson.
• Your broker's principal place of business cannot be in Maryland.
• "Reciprocal licensure is not automatic; application must be made and fee paid." I did not find the fee published.

MREC notes that Delaware said it lacks authority to enter an agreement, and Maryland is not negotiating with other states.

Licensed in another state

MREC's out-of-state page says to send a certificate of licensure from your first state. It must be "dated within 120 days of submission," and the original mailed "within 30 days of its issue date."

Your education and experience are reviewed case by case, and "Waivers may be granted only to Active licensees." Allow 10 to 12 business days; qualified applicants then get exam details by email.

It does not say whether you sit only the state portion, so ask MREC.

Maryland has no reciprocal agreement with Virginia or DC, so a license from either does not transfer here automatically. For Virginia's own rules, read my step-by-step guide for Virginia.

My view: with a Pennsylvania license, Maryland is mostly paperwork. Anyone else should expect some exam.

How do you become a Maryland broker or team leader?

Short answer: brokers need at least 3 years as an active salesperson, a 135-hour course and the broker exam. Team leaders need 3 years of experience and a 1.5-hour supervision course.

Sources: Maryland Code 17-305, COMAR 09.11, MREC fee schedule, MREC guidance for teams and the PSI bulletin, read 22 October 2026.

The broker exam has a 75-question national portion worth 80 points and a 40-question state portion. The passing scores are 56 and 28, with 120 minutes in total.

Applicants qualified to practice law in Maryland have the education and experience rules waived.

Rules for teams

• A team is two or more associate brokers or salespersons who use a collective name such as "Team" or "Group."
• Email MREC with the team name and team lead details before you advertise as a team.
• The team leader takes the 1.5-hour supervision course within 90 days of being named, unless done in the prior four years.
• "A licensed broker may NOT be a member of a Team."
• The team name may not include "Real Estate," "Real Estate Brokerage" or "Realty," and must be tied to the brokerage name with "of," "from," "with" or "at."

My view: a team can be a good place to learn. Check it follows these rules before you join.

Do you need a separate Maryland Realtor license?

Short answer: no. Maryland issues real estate licenses, and "Realtor" means membership in the National Association of Realtors (NAR). You get licensed first, then join if you choose.

NAR's own page lists the steps in order: become a licensed agent, "Join Your Local REALTOR® Association," and "Pay Membership Dues." I found no MREC rule that makes membership a licensing requirement.

New NAR members must complete a Code of Ethics orientation of "not less than 2 hours and 30 min." MREC says NAR ethics does not replace the Maryland ethics course required for CE.

If your broker expects you to join, ask what the first-year dues are before you sign. They are not in my cost figures.

My view: a "Maryland Realtor license" usually means the salesperson license in this guide. Get that first, then decide on membership.

What is the Maryland market like for new agents?

Short answer: about 40,000 active licensees, a count that has dipped slightly, and a statewide median price of $445,000 in August 2026.

Sources: MREC homepage, MREC minutes, 15 July 2026 and Maryland REALTORS, August 2026 housing statistics, read 22 October 2026.

MREC's August 2025 minutes reported 37,587 salespersons and 3,960 brokers, and "an overall 3.97% decline in licensees." I left out associate brokers, as the two years' counts conflict.

What agents earn

I could not verify a Maryland wage figure for real estate agents. Nationally, the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics page I could verify is for May 2023. It reported a median annual wage of $54,300 for sales agents, and a mean of $69,610. National employment was 197,720.

Source: BLS, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, Real Estate Sales Agents. National figures, not Maryland. Newer releases exist. Read 22 October 2026.

My view: fewer licensees and fewer closed sales point to a competitive market. Plan how you will find clients before the license arrives.

What I could not verify

These are the gaps I hit while checking sources. Be careful with any page that fills them with a confident number.

• Diploma, GED and citizenship. Not stated in any official source I checked, either way.
• How MREC counts pass rates. The minutes do not define the reporting period or what the percentage is measured against.
• Whether out-of-state applicants sit only the state portion. MREC's page does not say.
• The reciprocal license fee. Not published on the pages I read.
• Prices for The CE Shop, Perry, Long and Foster, Weichert, Montgomery College and other schools. Not verified on their own sites.
• Maryland wages for agents. BLS and Maryland Labor wage tables could not be read.
• Maryland REALTORS membership and dues. Its site gives two different, undated member counts.
• Application processing time. MREC does not publish one that I could find.
• A newer PSI bulletin. The latest I found is dated 15 August 2024.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to get a real estate license in Maryland?

About $391 to $779 with one exam sitting, using four verified course prices. That includes the $44 PSI exam and the $98 MREC license fee.

How long does it take to get a Maryland real estate license?

It depends on your pace. After the 60-hour course, you have 1 year to pass both exam portions, then 1 year to apply.

Can I take the Maryland real estate course online?

Yes. Maryland allows approved distance delivery, and MREC's provider list marks schools approved for online prelicensing.

Is the Maryland real estate exam hard?

MREC's July 2026 minutes report a 36% salesperson pass rate on 14,641 exams administered. They do not say how the rate is counted, so treat it as a rough guide.

How many times can you take the Maryland real estate exam?

PSI sets no limit. Each retake costs $44, covers only the failed portion, and both portions must be passed within 1 year of the course.

Do I need a sponsoring broker to get licensed in Maryland?

To be active, yes. You can apply as inactive instead and then have 3 years to affiliate with a broker.

Can I get a Maryland real estate license with a felony?

Possibly. MREC says a conviction does not automatically make you ineligible. Each case is weighed individually, with court records required.

Does Maryland have reciprocity with other states?

Only with Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. Licensees from other states can ask MREC to review their license case by case.

How many CE hours do Maryland agents need?

15 hours every 2 years, finished at least 30 days before the license expires. First renewals follow a separate topic list.