Which states have real estate license reciprocity?

Reciprocity varies by state, and no state issues licenses on behalf of another. Colorado accepts licenses from all U.S. states and territories; out-of-state licensees with a non-expired license held at least 2 years need only pass the state portion of the Colorado exam. Several large states, including California, Texas, New York, and Michigan, have no reciprocity with any state. Most others maintain partial agreements; for example, Pennsylvania has reciprocity with Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, and Massachusetts.

Alabama offers full real estate license reciprocity, meaning it accepts reciprocal license applications from all U.S. states without a restricted partner-state list. A "qualifying state" is one in which the applicant completed prelicense coursework and passed a comprehensive examination covering both general real estate and state law. Reciprocal applicants must hold a current license in a qualifying state, complete a 6-hour Alabama-specific prelicense course, and pass the Alabama reciprocal license examination.

Alaska does not offer formal reciprocity with any state but provides a licensure by endorsement pathway for qualified out-of-state licensees, requiring submission of a license history, passage of the Alaska portion of the salesperson exam, and a 6-hour course on Alaska real estate law. Nationally, approximately five states are commonly classified as offering full reciprocity: Alabama, Colorado, Maine, Mississippi, and Virginia, though "full reciprocity" is an editorial classification rather than a formal regulatory category. Most other states offer partial reciprocity, endorsement, or waiver pathways with varying requirements, and licensees should verify the specific rules of the state where they intend to practice.

Arizona does not have formal reciprocity agreements with any state, but offers Out-of-State License Recognition under A.R.S. Section 32-4302 for licensees from any state who meet specific requirements. Applicants must be Arizona residents, have held a real estate license in another state for at least one year, have a current license in good standing, and must pass the Arizona state-specific exam and apply within one year. Applicants must not have had a license revoked or surrendered in any other jurisdiction, and must not have any pending disciplinary actions or complaints.

Arkansas has reciprocal agreements with 15 states: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, and West Virginia. Reciprocal applicants may request a waiver of the general portion of the examination and may be required to take only the Arkansas law portion, provided the other state requires a minimum passing grade no lower than 70 and the applicant is currently licensed in that state.

California does not offer real estate license reciprocity with any other state. Out-of-state licensees must meet all of California's education, examination, and fingerprinting requirements to obtain a California license. Residency in California is not required to become licensed, but brokers engaging in business in California must maintain a California business address, and salespersons must be licensed with a California broker. Some other states do offer reciprocity for California licensees seeking to practice elsewhere, but the specific states and terms vary and should be verified with the target state's real estate commission.

Colorado accepts license applications from real estate brokers in all U.S. states and territories through its Partial Recognition Agreement. Applicants with a non-expired license and at least two years of active broker experience in another jurisdiction must pass only the state portion of the Colorado broker exam, complete a fingerprint background check, and provide a certified license history dated within 90 days of application. As of January 1, 2026, the license in the other jurisdiction must be non-expired at the time of application. For Colorado licensees seeking reciprocity elsewhere, the states most consistently listed as offering full reciprocity are Alabama, Maine, Mississippi, and Virginia, though broader definitions include additional states.

Connecticut has mutual recognition agreements with 12 states: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island. New York's reciprocal agreement has been terminated, and all New York applicants must apply by non-reciprocity. Applicants from Florida, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, or those who did not take a licensing exam in a reciprocal state, must take the state portion of the Connecticut Real Estate Examination administered by PSI.

Delaware offers a reciprocity pathway for salespersons and brokers who hold an active license in another state, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. Reciprocity applicants must pass the Delaware law portion of the licensing exam and submit one of three documents: a certificate of completing the Delaware law portion of the pre-licensing course, a certificate of completing another jurisdiction's pre-licensing course of at least 99 hours, or, if applying based on three years of continuous licensure, a Certificate of Licensure History plus a Sales or Lease Transaction Listing form showing 20 transactions from the past three years. Time share and property management transactions are not eligible.

DC maintains formal reciprocity agreements with Virginia (for brokers and salespersons) and Maryland (for all brokers and salespersons licensed from 1996 to present). Licensees from other states may use DC's endorsement pathway, which requires meeting DC's education equivalency standards, completing a 3-hour Fair Housing course and a 3-hour Property Management course, passing the DC state portion of the exam, and submitting an original license certification letter dated within 90 days with the official seal. Both reciprocity and endorsement applicants must submit their application within 6 months of passing the exam.

Florida has mutual recognition agreements with 10 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. Applicants from these states must not be Florida residents at the time of application, must hold an active license in good standing earned through that state's own education and examination requirements, and must pass a 40-question Florida-specific real estate law exam with a score of 30 or higher. Mutual recognition applicants bypass the 63-hour pre-licensing course but must still complete post-licensing and continuing education requirements after obtaining the Florida license.

Georgia offers full license reciprocity with all other U.S. states, meaning out-of-state licensees can obtain a comparable Georgia license without further examination or education if their license is current, in good standing, and was obtained by passing an examination. The one exception is Florida residents, who must pass a Georgia Law and Practice supplement examination administered by PSI before receiving a Georgia salesperson or broker license. Reciprocal applicants must submit a $170 application fee, a certified license history from their state, a Lawful Presence Verification form, and a criminal background report.

Hawaii has no formal reciprocity agreements with any other state, but it offers equivalency mechanisms for qualified out-of-state licenseees. A licensee with a current, active license from another state whose pre-licensing requirements are similar or superior to Hawaii's may qualify for a prelicense education equivalency, and a candidate who has passed the uniform section of another state's licensing examination may qualify to take only the Hawaii state section of the exam. These equivalency applications must be submitted to the Hawaii Real Estate Commission before registering for the examination.

Idaho does not have reciprocity agreements with any other jurisdiction. However, licensees who are actively licensed in another state may apply for a waiver that exempts them from the national portion of the Idaho licensing exam and the pre-license education requirement; they must still pass the Idaho state portion of the exam. The waiver requires submitting a certified license history and an Exam Waiver Request form to the Idaho Real Estate Commission before scheduling the exam.

As of January 1, 2026, Illinois no longer accepts reciprocity applications. The previous reciprocity agreements with 9 states (Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Wisconsin) were repealed, and a new endorsement process under Section 5-60.5 of the Real Estate License Act of 2000 replaced them. Under the endorsement pathway, out-of-state brokers and managing brokers from any U.S. state or jurisdiction may apply for an Illinois license by meeting endorsement requirements, including holding an active license in good standing, completing a 30-hour pre-license endorsement course, and passing a test on Illinois-specific real estate brokerage laws.

The Indiana Real Estate Commission does not have reciprocity agreements with any state. Out-of-state licensees may apply via endorsement, under which the Commission reviews the applicant's home-state licensing requirements on a case-by-case basis to determine equivalence. If the endorsement is approved, the applicant must take and pass only the state portion of the Indiana exam; if not approved, the applicant must complete the full 90-hour pre-licensing course and pass both the national and state exams. The endorsement review process is not a fast one, as a Commission member must review the application and make a recommendation to the full Commission for a vote.

Iowa has reciprocity agreements with seven states: Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, and North Dakota. Reciprocity applicants must be a resident of one of these states, have received their original license from that state, and assign their Iowa license to the same real estate company that holds their out-of-state license. Applicants must also pass a criminal background check, provide a certificate of license history from their state licensing agency, and show proof of E&O insurance in Iowa. No exam is required for reciprocity applicants from these states. Licensees from states without reciprocity agreements may qualify under Rule 5.3, which requires taking the Iowa portion of the licensing exam without additional education.

Kansas does not have formal reciprocal agreements with other states, but the Kansas Real Estate Commission provides a waiver-based pathway for out-of-state licensees under KSA 58-3040. Out-of-state salesperson applicants must complete 30 hours of pre-license education (the Kansas Practice Course only) and pass only the Kansas State portion of the exam. Out-of-state broker applicants must complete 34 hours (a 30-hour Broker Management Course plus a 4-hour Kansas Law Course) and pass only the Broker State Exam. All out-of-state applicants must submit a Certification of License History from their state's regulatory board.

Kentucky has reciprocity agreements with Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee, and Memoranda of Understanding regarding reciprocal licensing with Illinois and Ohio. Reciprocal applicants must complete a 40-hour Kentucky reciprocal license law course through a KREC-approved provider, submit fingerprints for a national criminal history check, pass the Kentucky state portion of the PSI exam, and submit the completed application within 60 days of passing. Licensing fees for reciprocal applicants are $130 for an active license or $120 for an inactive license.

Louisiana has reciprocal licensing agreements with nine states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. The reciprocal application is on a license-for-license basis, meaning you can only obtain the same license type you currently hold in your resident state. You must remain a legal resident of the reciprocal state to maintain reciprocal status; if you move, you lose reciprocal status and must comply with standard Louisiana licensing requirements.

Real estate license reciprocity varies by state: some states offer full reciprocity (allowing license transfer from any other state with minimal requirements), others offer partial or selective reciprocity, and some offer none. States commonly identified as offering full reciprocity include Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Even in full reciprocity states, applicants must hold a current and active license in good standing with no disciplinary action, and most states require passing a state-specific law examination. Reciprocity classifications can change over time.

Maryland has formal reciprocal licensing agreements only with Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. Pennsylvania licensees can obtain a Maryland license without additional education or exams, while Oklahoma licensees must pass the Maryland state portion of the exam. For licensees from any other state, Maryland offers out-of-state license recognition, under which the Commission reviews the applicant's education and experience on a case-by-case basis to determine transferability.

Massachusetts has reciprocity with 12 states: Connecticut, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Nebraska, Iowa, Tennessee, Mississippi, Colorado, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico, plus Oklahoma for salespersons and brokers who have been licensed for at least 2 years. Applicants from these states do not need to take the Massachusetts exam if they were licensed by examination in their home state. Applicants from non-reciprocity states may submit an educational waiver with a certified letter of Good Standing to apply to sit for the Massachusetts exam.

Michigan does not offer reciprocity with any other state, so out-of-state licensees must complete Michigan's full education, experience, and examination requirements. Several states do offer full reciprocity for real estate licenses, including Alabama, Colorado, Maine, Mississippi, and Virginia, meaning licensees from those states can obtain a new license with reduced or waived requirements. The specific states and terms vary, and reciprocity agreements change over time.

Minnesota has reciprocal licensing agreements for salespersons with six states: Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. Licensees from these states who reside in and hold an active license there need no additional education or exam to obtain a Minnesota salesperson license. Wisconsin has a separate modified-reciprocity pathway requiring a 13-hour reciprocal prelicense course and passage of the state portion of the exam, and for brokers, Wisconsin is included among the reciprocal states with additional requirements.

Mississippi does not publish a list of specific states with which it has reciprocity agreements. Mississippi License Law authorizes the Commission to exempt licensees of other states from the examination and pre-licensing education requirements on a case-by-case basis, provided the other state's exam and education are determined equivalent by MREC and the other state extends the same privilege to Mississippi licensees. MREC's own application instructions state that "requirements vary greatly by state and are not listed on our website." Applicants holding an active license in another state must contact MREC directly before submitting an application to determine the specific reciprocal requirements for their state.

Missouri offers full reciprocity, allowing licensees from any state or jurisdiction to apply for a Missouri license with reduced requirements. Out-of-state salesperson applicants must pass the state portion of the Missouri salesperson exam, complete the 24-hour Missouri Real Estate Practice Course, and submit a certification of licensure from their home state issued within the prior three months. Out-of-state broker applicants who already hold a broker license in another state must have 24 of the last 30 months of active experience and pass the state portion of the Missouri broker exam.

Montana does not have formal reciprocity agreements with any specific states for real estate licenses. Instead, the Montana Board of Realty Regulation offers an Out-of-State Licensee/Waiver Process open to licensees from any jurisdiction. Out-of-state applicants who hold a current active license in good standing may apply through this process, which waives the pre-licensing education requirement but requires passing the Montana state portion of the Salesperson or Broker exam and submitting official license verifications from all states where the applicant holds or has held a license.

Nebraska does not use formal reciprocity agreements with any state. Instead, it offers "license by recognition" to any licensee in good standing from any real estate regulatory jurisdiction, whether the applicant remains a non-resident or moves to Nebraska. Recognition applicants must complete a 3-hour Nebraska License Law and Agency course (Course #0604R), undergo fingerprinting and a criminal background check, and provide a certified license history. Several other states list Nebraska as a reciprocal partner, including Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Oregon.

Nevada offers real estate license reciprocity in two tiers, per Form 501. The first tier covers 16 states whose salesperson-or-higher licensees qualify for a reciprocal Nevada salesperson license: Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia. The second tier covers 20 additional states whose broker-level licensees qualify for a reciprocal Nevada salesperson license: California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming.

New Hampshire accepts real estate license recognition from all states under a universal recognition model established by HB 594, effective August 27, 2023. The state issues licenses to professionals who present evidence of an active license in good standing from another jurisdiction, provided that jurisdiction's licensing requirements are substantially similar to New Hampshire's. Reciprocity candidates must pass the NH state portion of the licensing exam and include a letter of Good Standing. No pre-licensing education is required for recognition candidates.

New Jersey does not have reciprocity with any state, meaning out-of-state licensees must complete all New Jersey licensing requirements from scratch. The states most consistently cited as offering full real estate license reciprocity are Alabama, Colorado, Maine, Mississippi, and Virginia, though "full reciprocity" is not a formally defined legal category and secondary sources disagree on which states qualify.

New Mexico has reciprocity agreements with Georgia, Louisiana, and Massachusetts. Brokers holding a current license in one of those states are not required to take prelicensing education or either portion of the exam, though they must provide a certified copy of their license history with their application. New Mexico does not offer reciprocity for salesperson licenses, only for broker licenses.

New York does not have reciprocity with any other state as of December 21, 2022, when new educational standards took effect and ended prior reciprocity agreements. Out-of-state applicants who completed qualifying education elsewhere may request an education waiver by submitting proof of course completion, a detailed outline listing topics and hours, and a course description. If the waiver is approved, the applicant must still pass the New York state examination and submit a full application.

North Carolina uses a "limited license recognition" system that accepts applicants from any state, U.S. territory, or Canadian province with a current real estate license on active status within the previous 3 years. Qualifying applicants may waive the 75-hour Prelicensing Course and the National section of the NC exam, but must either pass the State section to receive an equivalent license or waive it and receive a Provisional Broker license subject to 90 hours of Postlicensing education. North Carolina's previous reciprocity arrangement with 10 specific states ended on February 29, 2012.

North Dakota has real estate license reciprocity with Georgia, Iowa, and Minnesota. Applicants must be both licensed and live primarily in one of those states to qualify. Reciprocal applicants who met licensing requirements, including passing any examinations, in their primary state of residence do not need to take the North Dakota exam.

Ohio has reciprocity agreements with eight states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Under Senate Bill 131, effective December 29, 2023, out-of-state broker applicants may also qualify through four pathways: a substantially similar license, private certification, documented work experience, or a standard initial license application. Applicants under the reciprocity pathways must pass the state portion of the Ohio real estate exam and pay a $135 application fee.

Oklahoma has reciprocal agreements with eight states: Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Applicants from these states must still complete 8 hours of Oklahoma-specific continuing education (1 hour Broker Relationship Act, 1 hour Code and Rules, 6 hours Contracts and Forms) and pass at minimum the Oklahoma state-only exam through Pearson VUE. Oklahoma cannot issue a license of higher standing than any license the applicant currently holds in another jurisdiction.

Oregon has reciprocal licensing agreements with Alabama, Alberta, Georgia, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The Oregon Real Estate Agency states that no waivers of education or license examinations are available for out-of-state licensees, and the requirements for reciprocal licensing are specific. Applicants from reciprocal jurisdictions must contact the Oregon Real Estate Agency directly for details on applicable requirements.

Pennsylvania has formal reciprocity agreements with five states: Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Reciprocal licensees must hold a current, active broker or salesperson license issued by one of these states, maintain their principal place of business in the state through which reciprocity was granted, and keep that license current and active to maintain the reciprocal license in Pennsylvania. New York was previously a reciprocal state, but the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission no longer issues new reciprocal licenses based on a New York license; existing NY-based reciprocal licensees may maintain theirs by remaining compliant.

Rhode Island has real estate license reciprocity with Connecticut and Massachusetts, allowing licensees from those states to obtain a RI reciprocal license by completing a 3-hour Lead Paint Hazards course, obtaining a BCI background check, and applying with the DBR. Florida residents may apply through a Mutual Recognition Agreement, but must first pass the RI state portion of the licensing exam through Pearson VUE. Reciprocal applicants must also submit a Letter of Good Standing from their home state, a Criminal History Record, errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, and the applicable fees.

South Carolina only has real estate license reciprocity with Georgia and North Carolina. The state does not have a "transfer" of licensure to or from other states; the Commission only maintains reciprocal agreements with these two states. Georgia reciprocity applicants are not required to take any examinations, while North Carolina applicants must pass the state-specific portion of the South Carolina exam and may need to meet additional requirements depending on their license classification.

South Dakota does not maintain formal reciprocity agreements with any specific states. Out-of-state licensees in good standing may apply for an equivalent South Dakota license by submitting a certificate of licensure and passing the state portion of the South Dakota licensing exam. Arkansas, Minnesota, and Oklahoma list South Dakota as a reciprocal partner for their licensees.

Tennessee does not offer a reciprocal license with any state at this time. Out-of-state licensees may qualify to have their real estate education, the national portion of the exam, and/or their experience substituted for Tennessee's requirements under Tennessee statute. To determine eligibility, applicants must submit a Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) A Worksheet and a certified license history from all states where they hold or have held a real estate license to TREC.Info@tn.gov for review by a licensing specialist.

Texas does not have reciprocity with any state, and out-of-state licensees must satisfy all current Texas licensing requirements, including the 180 hours of qualifying education. An applicant who holds an active license in a state participating in National exam accreditation with Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) may be exempt from the national portion of the Texas exam if they submit a license history from that state. Reciprocity is directional: other states such as Nevada may independently recognize Texas licensees, but Texas does not reciprocate.

Utah currently has reciprocity agreements with Georgia, Mississippi, and Alberta, Canada. Applicants with an active real estate license in good standing from one of these jurisdictions must submit a certified license history (no more than six months old), license histories from all other jurisdictions where previously licensed, and two FBI FD-258 fingerprint cards. Applicants from states without a reciprocity agreement may qualify for a waiver of some education and/or national exam requirements, provided their license is active and in good standing.

Vermont does not have formal reciprocity agreements. Vermont uses an endorsement system in which applicants licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction whose requirements are substantially equal to Vermont's may have the 40-hour prelicensing course and the national exam waived. Indiana and Rhode Island are not equivalent for the salesperson prelicensing waiver, and California, New York, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia are not equivalent for the national exam waiver. All applicants must take the Vermont state exam, and a Fast-Track Endorsement is available for those licensed in good standing for 3 or more years in another jurisdiction.

Virginia offers real estate license reciprocity to applicants from all states through a tiered system rather than automatic full reciprocity with specific states. Salesperson reciprocity applicants must hold a current salesperson license in another state, pass the Virginia state portion of the examination, submit verification of a 60-hour "Principles of Real Estate" course, and submit letters of certification from all jurisdictions where licensed. Broker reciprocity applicants must hold a current broker license in another state, pass the state portion of the broker exam, verify 36 of 48 months of active experience, submit transcripts showing 180 hours of broker pre-licensing courses substantially equivalent to Virginia's, and submit letters of certification. Virginia also has a standing reciprocity agreement with the District of Columbia, while Maryland awards reciprocity on a case-by-case basis.

Washington offers full reciprocity, accepting license applications from active licensees in good standing from any state who have held their license within the preceding 6 months. Reciprocity applicants must submit a license history from their state, pass only the Washington state exam, complete a fingerprint background check, and pay applicable fees. Beyond Washington, the states most consistently identified as offering full reciprocity across multiple independent sources include Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, Missouri, and Virginia, though reciprocity rules vary by state and change over time.

West Virginia recognizes out-of-state real estate licenses through an endorsement pathway under W. Va. Code §30-40-15, open to licensees from any jurisdiction that affords reciprocal privileges to WV licensees. Out-of-state applicants must provide a Certification of Licensure from each state where they hold or held a license, and they are exempt from the national portion of the exam. All out-of-state applicants must pass the West Virginia state-specific portion of the licensing exam. The WV Real Estate Commission's reciprocity page lists Florida as a formal reciprocity agreement partner.

Wisconsin has reciprocal agreements with Illinois and Indiana, allowing active licensees from those states to apply for a Wisconsin license by passing the Wisconsin exam without completing the full 72-hour pre-license education requirement. For licensees from all other states, Wisconsin offers an endorsement pathway requiring a 13-hour salesperson pre-license education program (or a 6-hour broker program plus 13-hour salesperson program for brokers). Non-Wisconsin residents must also submit Form 813 (Irrevocable Consent for Nonresidents), and endorsement applicants must submit Form 2688 (Verification of Examination or Registration).

Wyoming does not offer direct reciprocity with any state. Instead, the Wyoming Real Estate Commission provides an out-of-state applicant pathway open to licensees from all states. Out-of-state salesperson applicants must hold an active license in another state, submit two fingerprint cards, complete and pass the Wyoming Law Course and Salesperson II Course, pass the Wyoming State Exam, and submit a completed application; the Salesperson I Course and National Exam are waived. Out-of-state broker applicants follow a similar pathway, completing Broker II and Wyoming Broker Management courses in place of Salesperson II, with Broker I and the National Exam waived.