Maryland · MD
Maryland Real Estate License Checklist (2026)
Every step, fee, and deadline on one page — designed to print cleanly to PDF and check off as you go.
Before you start
- You are at least 18 years old
- You hold a high school diploma or GED
- You can pass a criminal background check / fingerprinting
Education
Maryland requires a single 60-hour salesperson pre-licensing course approved by the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC) — one of the lighter education loads in the region. Notably, Maryland does not require a high school diploma or GED to qualify. You must apply for the license within one year of passing the exam.
- Complete the 60-hour MREC-approved salesperson pre-licensing course (online or classroom)
- Pass the course final exam and receive your certificate of completion
- Register with PSI and pass both portions of the Maryland salesperson exam ($44 per attempt)
- Keep your score report — you have one year from your passing date to apply for the license
Application & exam
- Pass both exam portions, then obtain a commitment from a licensed Maryland real estate broker — the application requires the broker's sign-off
- Apply online with the $98 original license fee (includes a $20 Real Estate Guaranty Fund payment)
- Disclose any criminal history on the application — Maryland does NOT require fingerprinting for salesperson applicants; it relies on application disclosure and its good-character requirement
- MREC issues the license electronically to your sponsoring broker; you cannot hold an original salesperson license without a broker affiliation, so it issues active under that brokerage
Budget
| Item | Estimate | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 60-hour pre-licensing education | $150 – $500 | |
| PSI exam fee | $44 per attempt | |
| License application fee (incl. $20 Guaranty Fund) | $98 | |
| Fingerprinting / background check | Not required for salespersons | |
| Estimated total | $300 – $650 |
Key deadlines
- You must apply for the license within one year of passing the exam.
- Every 2 years (tied to your issue date) with a $78 salesperson renewal fee.
- No separate post-licensing course.
- Keep your score report — you have one year from your passing date to apply for the license
- Most people finish in 1 to 3 months.
- The 60-hour course can be knocked out in 2–4 weeks full-time (or 6–10 weeks part-time), PSI offers exam appointments year-round at five Maryland test centers, and once your broker signs off on your application MREC typically issues the license within days since there's no fingerprint step to wait on.
- Your passing result is good for one year, so apply for the license before it expires or you'll retest.
- Do I need a broker before I can get my Maryland license?