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Real estate license · Maryland

Maryland real estate license: the official requirements

Age, pre-licensing hours, the exam, background check, broker sponsorship, fees and renewal, from the Maryland Real Estate Commission.

Maid DizdarevicCareer coach · 8x LinkedIn Top Voice
Updated Nov 6, 2026 · Requirements: each state's real estate licensing authority or its statute
Quick answer

To get a real estate license in Maryland (the salesperson license): Pre-licensing education: The 60-hour pre-licensing course with an approved education provider. Licensing exam: A two-part exam (national and state portions) given by PSI; pass each portion with at least 70%, and apply within one year of passing. Sponsoring broker: To be active right away you must immediately affiliate with a broker; an original license placed on inactive status gives you three years to affiliate. Your licensing authority is the Maryland Real Estate Commission.

Requirements

Requirements for the Maryland salesperson license

Data
Maryland real estate license requirements (Maryland Real Estate Commission)
RequirementMaryland
Minimum ageNot stated in the official source we read. Check with the Maryland Real Estate Commission.
Pre-licensing educationThe 60-hour pre-licensing course with an approved education provider.
Post-licensing educationNo post-licensing education: the Commission says Maryland does not recognize post-licensing education (a first-renewal continuing education set applies instead).
Licensing examA two-part exam (national and state portions) given by PSI; pass each portion with at least 70%, and apply within one year of passing.
Background checkNot stated in the official source we read. Check with the Maryland Real Estate Commission.
Sponsoring brokerTo be active right away you must immediately affiliate with a broker; an original license placed on inactive status gives you three years to affiliate.
State feesNot stated in the official source we read. Check with the Maryland Real Estate Commission.
License termNot stated in the official source we read. Check with the Maryland Real Estate Commission.
Continuing education15 hours each renewal. If you were first licensed on or after October 1, 2023, your first renewal needs a set 15 hours (including 3 hours of Contracts); later renewals include Legal and Legislative Update, Fair Housing, Ethics and Brokerage Relationships hours.

Where the official source we read does not state something, the table says so rather than guessing. Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools and course providers, and fingerprint vendors are not included.

Steps

How to get licensed in Maryland

Data
  1. Take the 60-hour pre-licensing course with an approved education provider.
  2. Schedule the exam through PSI.
  3. Pass both portions (national and state); within 5-7 business days you get an email with your registration number and the steps to apply online.
  4. Apply for the license within one year of the exam, and affiliate with a broker to be active.
Next

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FAQ

Questions people ask

How do I get a real estate license in Maryland?
To get a real estate license in Maryland (the salesperson license): Pre-licensing education: The 60-hour pre-licensing course with an approved education provider. Licensing exam: A two-part exam (national and state portions) given by PSI; pass each portion with at least 70%, and apply within one year of passing. Sponsoring broker: To be active right away you must immediately affiliate with a broker; an original license placed on inactive status gives you three years to affiliate. Your licensing authority is the Maryland Real Estate Commission.
How many hours of pre-licensing education does Maryland require?
The 60-hour pre-licensing course with an approved education provider.
Do I need a sponsoring broker in Maryland?
To be active right away you must immediately affiliate with a broker; an original license placed on inactive status gives you three years to affiliate.
How long is a Maryland real estate license good for?
Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Maryland Real Estate Commission.
How much does a Maryland real estate license cost?
Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Maryland Real Estate Commission.
Method

How this page is built

Each fact on this page comes from the Maryland Real Estate Commission, read on the dates shown, with the exact wording we relied on kept on file. Requirements and fees change; the Maryland Real Estate Commission's current instructions govern. We re-read each state's sources every six months (next review by May 6, 2027).

What this page can't tell you
  • Not legal advice.
  • Licensing rules can change. Verify current requirements with the issuing agency.
  • Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools and course providers, and fingerprint vendors are not included.
  • This page covers the entry-level license. Broker, nonresident and reciprocal licenses have their own rules.
Sources
  1. Maryland Real Estate Commission, Licensing Frequently Asked Questions, official source, read Nov 5, 2026.
  2. Maryland Real Estate Commission, Taking the Exam, official source, read Nov 5, 2026.
  3. Maryland Real Estate Commission, Continuing Education Requirements (new, effective October 1, 2025), official source, read Nov 5, 2026.