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Real estate license · Michigan

Michigan real estate license: the official requirements

Age, pre-licensing hours, the exam, background check, broker sponsorship, fees and renewal, from the Michigan Bureau of Professional Licensing (LARA).

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Updated Nov 9, 2026 · Requirements: each state's real estate licensing authority or its statute
Quick answer

To get a real estate license in Michigan (the real estate salesperson license): Minimum age: 18 or older. Pre-licensing education: 40 hours of approved prelicensure education, including at least 4 hours of civil rights law and equal opportunity in housing; the course stays valid for 36 months. Licensing exam: The Real Estate Salesperson examination, administered by PSI; a passing result is valid for one year. Sponsoring broker: A licensed individual broker or broker company must sponsor you; the license is issued once your employing broker approves the request. Your licensing authority is the Michigan Bureau of Professional Licensing (LARA).

Requirements

Requirements for the Michigan real estate salesperson license

Data
Michigan real estate license requirements (Michigan Bureau of Professional Licensing (LARA))
RequirementMichigan
License you apply forThe Michigan real estate salesperson license; a salesperson works for a licensed real estate broker.
Minimum age18 or older.
Pre-licensing education40 hours of approved prelicensure education, including at least 4 hours of civil rights law and equal opportunity in housing; the course stays valid for 36 months.
Post-licensing educationNot stated in the official source we read. Check with the Michigan Bureau of Professional Licensing (LARA).
Licensing examThe Real Estate Salesperson examination, administered by PSI; a passing result is valid for one year.
Background checkA good moral character question on the application; convictions are reviewed case by case.
Sponsoring brokerA licensed individual broker or broker company must sponsor you; the license is issued once your employing broker approves the request.
State fees$88 for a new salesperson application (application fee plus the 3-year license fee), paid by card in MiPLUS.
License termThree years.
Continuing educationAt least 18 clock hours in each 3-year cycle, with at least 2 hours on real estate law, rules and court cases and 1 hour on fair housing in each year of the cycle.

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 Michigan

Data
  1. Complete the 40-hour prelicensure course with an approved school.
  2. Apply online in MiPLUS and upload your 40-hour course certificate.
  3. Use the Candidate ID that PSI emails you to schedule the salesperson exam.
  4. After you pass, add your employing broker's 10-digit license number to the application in MiPLUS.
  5. The license is issued once your employing broker approves the request.
Next

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FAQ

Questions people ask

How do I get a real estate license in Michigan?
To get a real estate license in Michigan (the real estate salesperson license): Minimum age: 18 or older. Pre-licensing education: 40 hours of approved prelicensure education, including at least 4 hours of civil rights law and equal opportunity in housing; the course stays valid for 36 months. Licensing exam: The Real Estate Salesperson examination, administered by PSI; a passing result is valid for one year. Sponsoring broker: A licensed individual broker or broker company must sponsor you; the license is issued once your employing broker approves the request. Your licensing authority is the Michigan Bureau of Professional Licensing (LARA).
How many hours of pre-licensing education does Michigan require?
40 hours of approved prelicensure education, including at least 4 hours of civil rights law and equal opportunity in housing; the course stays valid for 36 months.
Do I need a sponsoring broker in Michigan?
A licensed individual broker or broker company must sponsor you; the license is issued once your employing broker approves the request.
How long is a Michigan real estate license good for?
Three years.
How much does a Michigan real estate license cost?
$88 for a new salesperson application (application fee plus the 3-year license fee), paid by card in MiPLUS. Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools and course providers, and fingerprint vendors are not included.
Method

How this page is built

Each fact on this page comes from the Michigan Bureau of Professional Licensing (LARA), read on the dates shown, with the exact wording we relied on kept on file. Requirements and fees change; the Michigan Bureau of Professional Licensing (LARA)'s current instructions govern. We re-read each state's sources every six months (next review by May 7, 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. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Michigan Real Estate Salesperson Licensing Guide (revision date 1/26/2026), official source, read Nov 6, 2026.