Maryland Licensing Requirements and Education
Maryland sets pre-license education, examination, and continuing-education requirements for salespersons. This chapter summarizes the path to obtaining and maintaining a Maryland license.
Pre-License Education and Exam
An applicant must complete 60 hours of Commission-approved pre-license education before sitting for the Maryland salesperson examination (COMAR 09.11.01.09, which sets the 60-hour minimum; Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. § 17-303(d) sets it as a ceiling and folds in three hours of ethics; checked 2026-09-09). The candidate must pass the exam, which includes national and Maryland-specific content, and then be affiliated with a licensed broker to activate the license.
Affiliation and Activation
A new salesperson's license is activated only when the salesperson is affiliated with a licensed Maryland broker who agrees to supervise the licensee. The broker's affiliation ties the salesperson to a responsible supervising broker accountable for the licensee's conduct and trust-fund handling.
Continuing Education and Renewal
Maryland licenses are renewed on a set cycle, and licensees must complete Commission-approved continuing education, including required topics, before renewing. Continuing education keeps licensees current on fair housing, legislative updates, and agency practice. Letting a license lapse can require reinstatement steps before the licensee may resume practice.
State-specific details
State exam facts
- State regulator
- Maryland Real Estate Commission (DLLR)
- Exam vendor
- PSI
- Prelicensing education
- 60 hours of approved salesperson pre-license education
How many prelicensing hours does Maryland require to become a real estate agent?
Maryland requires 60 hours of Commission-approved salesperson pre-license education before you sit for the state exam.
Who licenses real estate agents in Maryland?
The Maryland Real Estate Commission, within the Department of Labor (formerly DLLR), licenses salespersons and brokers. The Commission uses PSI to deliver the exam.
How is the Maryland salesperson exam structured?
The Maryland salesperson exam is delivered by PSI with a national portion and a Maryland state portion, scored separately; you must pass both. Confirm the current scored-question counts in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin.
Sources: https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/mrec/mrecsales.shtml, https://www.psiexams.com/
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