Michigan · MI
Michigan 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
40 hours of LARA-approved pre-licensure education, which must include at least 4 hours of civil rights law and equal opportunity in housing. This is one of the lowest hour requirements in the country (compare Ohio at 100 or Texas at 180), making Michigan one of the fastest states to get licensed in.
- Enroll in a 40-hour LARA-approved pre-licensure course (online or classroom), including the required 4 hours of civil rights/fair housing law
- Complete the course and obtain your certificate of completion
- Submit your salesperson application through Michigan's MiPLUS online portal ($88 fee) — your school certifies your education electronically
- Receive exam authorization from LARA, then schedule your exam with PSI
Application & exam
- Apply first, test second: submit the salesperson application in MiPLUS with the $88 fee BEFORE taking the exam (this covers your initial 3-year license)
- Answer the Good Moral Character questions and disclose any criminal convictions — Michigan does not require fingerprinting for salesperson applicants; review is disclosure-based
- Once LARA approves your education and application, schedule and pass the PSI exam ($79)
- Log back into MiPLUS and enter your employing broker's 10-digit license number to request sponsorship
- Your broker approves the request in their own MiPLUS account — your license will NOT issue until a broker confirms sponsorship
- License issues electronically once the broker approves; it's valid for 3 years from issuance
Budget
| Item | Estimate | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-licensing education (40 hours) | $150 – $400 | |
| Application / initial license fee (3-year license) | $88 | |
| PSI exam fee | $79 per attempt | |
| Fingerprinting / background check | Not required — disclosure-based review | |
| Estimated total | $320 – $570 |
Key deadlines
- Every 3 years (cycle based on your original licensure date), renewal fee $78.
- Requires 18 hours of continuing education per 3-year cycle, including at least 2 hours per year covering laws, rules, and court cases, and at least 1 hour per year on fair housing compliance.
- No post-licensing course requirement.
- Apply first, test second: submit the salesperson application in MiPLUS with the $88 fee BEFORE taking the exam (this covers your initial 3-year license)
- License issues electronically once the broker approves; it's valid for 3 years from issuance
- The 40-hour course can be knocked out in a week full-time or 3–4 weeks part-time, LARA typically processes MiPLUS applications in days, and PSI exam slots are usually available within a week or two.
- The 40-hour course runs $150–$400 depending on provider, the MiPLUS application is $88 (and that covers your full 3-year initial license), and the PSI exam is $79 per attempt.
- Do I need a sponsoring broker before I apply in Michigan?