Licensing Requirements
The largest area after Business Conduct — eight of forty items. Maryland licenses Salesperson, Associate Broker, Broker, and Branch Office Manager, and this area covers what needs a license, changing status, renewing, continuing education, business entities, offices, and ownership percentage.
Activities Requiring a License, and the Ladder
A license is required before providing real estate brokerage services (§ 17-301, § 17-601). The exemptions include lawyers acting in their regular practice, home builders selling homes they built, and agents managing or leasing for the owner or broker. Section 17-302 lets an individual sell 6 or fewer unimproved lots they own in a calendar year, or subdivide and sell unimproved property owned for 10 years or more. Broker qualification under § 17-305 is 3 years of active, lawful practice as a licensed salesperson plus a Commission-approved broker course — 135 clock hours under COMAR 09.11.01.12 — with the education and experience waived for a Maryland-admitted lawyer. An associate broker meets every broker requirement but practices under another broker (§ 17-304). Broker applicants also file a credit report (§ 17-307(b)).
Change of Status, Renewal, and Continuing Education
Transfers between brokers run through § 17-311. A license goes inactive on request or on loss of affiliation, and expires 3 years later if not reactivated (§ 17-316). Chapter 330 of 2024 (SB 564, eff. 1 October 2024) rewrote renewal: licenses now expire on a staggered basis (§ 17-314(a)), and continuing education must be complete not later than 30 days before expiry (§ 17-314(c)(1)(iv)). Renewal is for a 2-year term; reinstatement is available within 3 years of expiry. Continuing education is 15 clock hours per 2-year term (§ 17-315(a)(1)), including a 3-hour legislative update, a 2-hour fair housing course, a 3-hour Maryland ethics course, a 3-hour brokerage relationships and disclosures course, and — for a broker, branch office manager, or team leader — a 1.5-hour broker supervision course (§ 17-315(b)(2)). COMAR 09.11.01.23, amended effective 27 April 2026, also requires that supervision course within 90 days of a new designation.
Entities, Offices, and Ownership
Brokerage services may be provided through a corporation, LLC, or partnership only if a licensed broker is designated the broker of the firm and is individually responsible for those services (§ 17-321). A resident broker must maintain an office in Maryland (§ 17-517); COMAR 09.11.01.11 rules out an answering service, a message device, or a mail drop. A branch office needs a branch office certificate and a designated manager, who may be the broker or a qualifying associate broker or experienced salesperson (§ 17-518); the certificate expires the first April 30 falling in an even-numbered year. Every office displays a sign reading 'real estate', 'realtor', or 'realtist' (§ 17-519). Associate brokers and salespersons may hold no more than 50% of the interest in a brokerage business, counting immediate family (§ 17-511).
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State-specific details
State exam facts
- State regulator
- Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC)
- Exam vendor
- PSI
- Prelicensing education
- 135 clock hours (broker prelicense program), after 3 years of active licensed practice
- Passing score
- 70% on each portion (56 national, 28 state)
- Scored questions
- 115
- Time limit
- 120 minutes
Who regulates real estate brokers in Maryland?
The Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC), within the Department of Labor's Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, licenses brokers and salespersons. MREC contracts with PSI for its exams.
What experience do I need before the Maryland broker exam?
Business Occupations and Professions § 17-305 requires three years as a licensed salesperson actively and lawfully providing brokerage services, plus a Commission-approved broker course — 135 clock hours under COMAR 09.11.01.12. PSI also requires a Maryland license history certifying three years of active, regular, lawful practice, valid for 90 days. An applicant qualified to practice law in Maryland has both the education and experience requirements waived.
How is the Maryland broker exam structured?
PSI bulletin 529 puts the broker exam at 115 scored questions in 120 minutes: a 75-question national portion scored to 80 points in 90 minutes, and a 40-question Maryland state portion worth 40 points in 30 minutes. You must pass each portion separately — 56 of 80 points national, 28 of 40 state. Do not use the salesperson figures (80 national + 30 state = 110); the two exams differ.
What does the Maryland state portion actually cover?
Six areas, at these broker item counts: Duties and Powers of the Real Estate Commission 5, Licensing Requirements 8, Brokerage Relationships 7, Supervision 6, Business Conduct 9, and Ethics 5. 'Examination of Records' is flagged broker-only. Maryland licenses Salesperson, Associate Broker, Broker, and Branch Office Manager.
Sources: https://labor.maryland.gov/license/mrec/mrecexam.shtml, https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/529
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