Real estate license requirements in Michigan
Michigan asks for just 40 hours of pre-licensing education — one of the lowest totals of any state — but it offers no reciprocity with any other state, so even licensees moving from next door start from scratch.
Education
Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) requires 40 hours of pre-licensing education from an approved provider — and at least 4 of those hours must specifically cover civil rights law and equal opportunity in housing, not just general fair housing topics.
| Course | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Salesperson Pre-Licensure Course | 40 | LARA-approved provider |
| — including Civil Rights / Equal Opportunity in Housing | 4 (minimum) | A required subset of the 40 hours, not an add-on |
All coursework must come from a LARA-approved education provider. Michigan doesn’t publish a required completion window before you apply, but plan to apply while your coursework is still fresh.
What Michigan calls your first license
Michigan’s entry-level license is a “Salesperson.” You can’t practice independently on this license — you need an actively sponsoring Michigan broker before LARA will activate it, and Michigan doesn’t offer any lower or provisional tier before this one.
The licensing exam
Michigan contracts with PSI to administer the licensing exam.
| Portion | Items | To pass |
|---|---|---|
| Salesperson exam | 115 total questions, 180 minutes | 80 correct (70%) |
The exam fee is $79, paid to PSI. Michigan doesn’t publish a breakdown of how many of the 115 questions are national versus state-specific — check the current PSI Michigan candidate handbook if you want that detail before you sit.
LARA can't issue your license until your Live Scan fingerprint-based background check (Michigan State Police + FBI) has cleared, and that's not instant. Schedule it as soon as you're eligible rather than waiting until your exam is behind you.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Application & license fee | $88 | LARA |
| Exam fee | $79 | PSI |
| Background check | Not published by LARA (~$40–$60 in secondary estimates) | MI State Police / FBI via Live Scan |
Budget a little over $200 total in state and vendor fees on top of course costs, and confirm the background-check fee with your Live Scan vendor since LARA doesn’t publish one directly.
How to apply, step by step
Michigan’s process is fairly linear once you’ve picked an education provider.
From a LARA-approved provider, including the required 4-hour civil rights / equal opportunity in housing component.
115 questions, 180 minutes, 70% (80 correct) to pass. Fee is $79.
Michigan State Police and FBI records are checked; LARA can't issue a license until this clears.
Your license can't be activated without one on file.
This is separate from your exam fee.
Reported as 6 hours within your first year — confirm the exact requirement with LARA (see below).
After you’re licensed: staying current
Michigan is reported to require a distinct 6-hour post-licensing course within your first year as a salesperson, separate from the standard 18-hour continuing education you’ll complete every 3-year renewal cycle after that — but we couldn’t pull LARA’s exact FAQ language to confirm this with full confidence this session (the page blocked automated access). If you’re newly licensed, confirm your specific post-licensing obligation directly with LARA rather than assuming.
Reciprocity
Michigan does not offer reciprocity with any other state. In LARA’s own words, “an applicant… must meet education, experience and examination requirements in place as of the date the application is submitted.” LARA can grant individual “substantial equivalency” credit in some cases, but that’s a case-by-case determination, not a blanket waiver — every applicant, regardless of where else they’re licensed, completes Michigan’s 40-hour course and passes the Michigan exam.
Common questions
Can I use an out-of-state license to skip Michigan's requirements?
No. Michigan has no reciprocity agreements with any state. LARA may grant individual “substantial equivalency” credit case by case, but there’s no blanket waiver of the education or exam requirements.
How long is the exam and what score do I need?
115 total questions in 180 minutes, and you need 80 correct (70%) to pass.
Do I need a sponsoring broker before I apply?
You need one before LARA will activate your license. Some candidates line up a broker before testing; others test first and find a broker afterward.
What's the civil rights hours requirement?
At least 4 of your 40 pre-licensing hours must specifically cover civil rights law and equal opportunity in housing, not general fair housing content.
Is there a course I have to take after I'm licensed?
It’s reported as a 6-hour course due within your first year, separate from the standard 18-hour/3-year CE cycle — but we couldn’t independently confirm the exact requirement from LARA this session, so verify directly with LARA.
Next step
LARA Bureau of Professional Licensing (Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons) — https://www.michigan.gov/lara
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