Real estate license requirements in Maryland
Maryland has a genuine, unresolved discrepancy in its own published fee figures — the licensing board’s own Forms & Fees page says $98, while the state’s OneStop portal says $90 — so we’re presenting both rather than picking one.
Education
The Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC) requires a 60 clock-hour pre-licensing course, which includes a mandatory 3-hour real estate ethics component.
| Course | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-licensing course | 60 | Includes 3 hours of real estate ethics |
What Maryland calls your first license
Maryland’s entry-level license is a standard “Salesperson” license. The genuine quirk in Maryland isn’t the title — it’s the fee schedule (see below) and a meaningful post-licensing requirement that took effect for anyone licensed on or after October 1, 2023.
The licensing exam
Maryland contracts with PSI — despite appearing in some Pearson VUE state-index lists, that appears to be an indexing error, not Maryland’s actual vendor.
| Portion | Items | To pass |
|---|---|---|
| National | 80 items, 90 minutes | 56 correct (70%) |
| Maryland-specific | 30 items, 30 minutes | 21 correct (70%) |
| Combined total | 110 scored items | Both portions |
The exam fee is reported as $44, but we sourced that from secondary aggregation, not PSI’s primary Maryland candidate handbook — confirm the current fee with PSI or MREC before you budget.
MREC's Forms & Fees page lists the Original License fee as $98 (including a $20 Guaranty Fund contribution, effective April 27, 2026). Maryland's OneStop portal lists $90 for the same fee. Neither source explains the gap. Call or email MREC to confirm the current figure before you submit payment.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Application & license fee | Reported as $98 on MREC’s Forms & Fees page (incl. $20 Guaranty Fund) and as $90 on MD OneStop | Maryland Real Estate Commission — confirm the current figure directly with MREC |
| Exam fee | ~$44 (secondary-sourced only) | PSI |
| Background check | Required, but no vendor or fee is published on any official page we found (secondary sources suggest ~$31–$51, unverified) | Confirm current process directly with MREC |
Given the unresolved fee discrepancy and unpublished background-check cost, budget generously and confirm both numbers with MREC directly before you pay.
How to apply, step by step
Maryland’s process is standard, but plan to double-check the application fee and background check process directly with MREC given the gaps in its published figures.
Includes a mandatory 3-hour ethics component.
MREC requires one, though the vendor and fee aren't published — confirm the current process with MREC.
National and Maryland-specific portions.
With the application fee — confirm the current figure ($90 or $98) before you pay.
Required to activate your Salesperson license.
Before your first renewal, if licensed on or after October 1, 2023.
After you’re licensed: staying current
For salespersons licensed on or after October 1, 2023, Maryland requires 15 hours of post-licensing education before your first renewal — a distinct, real requirement broken into specific topics.
| Topic | Hours |
|---|---|
| Contracts | 3 |
| Brokerage Relationships & Disclosure | 3 |
| Principles of Real Estate Practice | 3 |
| Property Management/Landlord-Tenant | 3 |
| Professionalism | 1.5 |
| Real Estate Financing | 1.5 |
Reciprocity
Maryland’s reciprocity is narrow — exactly two states. Pennsylvania-licensed applicants get both the exam and education requirements waived. Oklahoma-licensed applicants still need to pass Maryland’s state exam portion, but have the continuing education requirement waived. No other states currently have a reciprocity agreement with Maryland.
Common questions
Why do Maryland's official fee pages disagree on the application fee?
MREC’s own Forms & Fees page lists $98 (including a $20 Guaranty Fund contribution), while Maryland’s OneStop portal lists $90. We couldn’t resolve which is current from public sources — confirm directly with MREC before you pay.
Do I need post-licensing education in Maryland?
If you’re licensed on or after October 1, 2023, yes — 15 hours across six specific topics, due before your first renewal.
Does my out-of-state license help me in Maryland?
Only if you’re licensed in Pennsylvania (full exam and education waiver) or Oklahoma (exam still required, CE waived). No other states currently have a Maryland reciprocity agreement.
What's included in Maryland's 60-hour pre-licensing course?
The full 60-hour course includes a mandatory 3-hour real estate ethics component.
Is Maryland's exam through Pearson VUE or PSI?
PSI. It sometimes appears incorrectly in Pearson VUE state-index lists, but PSI is Maryland’s actual exam vendor.
Next step
Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC) — https://labor.maryland.gov/license/mrec/
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