Which states have real estate broker license reciprocity?

Reciprocity is set state by state, and no national list exists. Regulators confirm that Georgia, Colorado, Missouri, and West Virginia accept out-of-state licensees from any state, though each still requires a state-specific exam or course, and Georgia excludes Florida residents. At the other end, Texas, New York, California, Michigan, and New Jersey offer no reciprocity, so out-of-state licensees must meet every requirement from scratch.

Alabama offers full 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. All reciprocal applicants, regardless of home state, must complete a 6-hour Alabama-specific prelicense course and pass the Alabama reciprocal license examination covering Alabama License Law.

Alaska does not offer formal reciprocity with any state, but it provides a licensure by endorsement pathway for out-of-state licensees. Endorsement applicants must submit a license history from each state where they have held a license, pass the Alaska state law portion of the exam, complete a 6-hour Alaska Real Estate Law course within 24 months preceding application, show proof of 40 hours of pre-licensing education equivalent, and verify work as a real estate licensee within the 6 months preceding application. Licensees who have held an active license in another state for 1 year or more are not required to complete Alaska's 30-hour post-licensing education.

Arizona does not have formal reciprocity agreements with any state, but it offers an Out-of-State License Recognition pathway under A.R.S. section 32-4302 that allows licensed brokers from any state to obtain an Arizona broker license with reduced requirements. Out-of-state broker recognition applicants must hold an equivalent license in another state for at least one year, provide proof of Arizona residency, submit a Broker Candidate Experience Verification showing at least three years of actual experience during the five years immediately preceding the application, complete 9 hours of Broker Management Clinic courses (within 2 years of application), obtain a Fingerprint Clearance Card, and pass only the Arizona state-specific exam through Pearson VUE. The 90-hour broker pre-licensing course is waived for out-of-state recognition applicants. Applications must be submitted within one year of passing the exam.

The Arkansas Real Estate Commission (AREC) has reciprocal agreements with 15 states: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, and West Virginia. New York is not included in the reciprocal states list. Reciprocal applicants may request a waiver of the general portion of the examination and may need to take only the Arkansas law portion, provided they meet certain conditions including being currently licensed in the other state and having passed an equivalent exam with a minimum passing grade of no lower than 70.

California has no reciprocity with any other state, so out-of-state licensees cannot waive any of California's requirements. Each applicant must qualify for and pass the appropriate written examination in California and meet all other statutory requirements, regardless of existing credentials elsewhere. Residency in California is not required to become licensed, but brokers engaging in business in California must maintain a California business address. Some states offer full reciprocity to California licensees seeking to practice elsewhere, but no definitive authoritative list exists; commonly cited states include Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, and Virginia, and licensees should verify current rules with the target state's real estate commission.

Colorado accepts license applications from all U.S. states and territories through its Partial Recognition Agreement, so there is no restricted partner-state list. Applicants who have held a non-expired license for at least two years in another jurisdiction must pass only the state portion of the Colorado Real Estate Broker's Exam, complete a fingerprint background check, and provide a certified license history dated within 90 days. As of January 1, 2026, the out-of-state license must be non-expired at the time of the Colorado application. Applicants with less than two years of licensure or an expired license must complete 72 to 120 hours of education and pass both the national and state exam portions.

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 must take the state portion of the Connecticut real estate examination administered by PSI, as must anyone who did not take a licensing exam in their reciprocal state.

Delaware offers broker license reciprocity to applicants who hold an active Broker or Associate Broker license in any U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia. Reciprocity applicants must pass the Delaware law portion of the broker examination and meet the same experience requirements as exam applicants, including 5 continuous years of active licensure and a Sales or Lease Transaction Listing form showing 30 transactions completed during the 5 years before application.

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 jurisdictions can apply through DC's separate 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 broker exam, and submitting an original license certification letter dated within 90 days. All reciprocity and endorsement applicants must submit their application within 6 months of passing the exam.

Florida uses mutual recognition agreements, not traditional reciprocity, with 10 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. Applicants must not be Florida residents, must hold an active license in good standing in the partner state, and must pass a 40-question Florida-specific law exam with a score of 30 or higher (75%). Applicants who obtained their home-state license through reciprocity in that state do not qualify. After obtaining a Florida license through mutual recognition, all standard renewal requirements apply, including post-licensing education and continuing education.

Georgia offers full reciprocity with all U.S. states, meaning out-of-state licensees can obtain a comparable Georgia license without further examination or education if they meet the criteria. Applicants must hold a current license in good standing (not lapsed or expired) that was obtained by passing an examination, have no disciplinary actions, and submit a certified license history, a Lawful Presence Verification form, a $170 application fee, and a criminal background report. Florida residents are the exception and must pass a Georgia Law and Practice supplement examination administered by PSI.

Hawaii has no formal reciprocity agreements with any state, but it does offer equivalency waivers for out-of-state licensees. A licensee with a current, active license from a state with similar or superior pre-licensing requirements may qualify for a Prelicense Education Equivalency, and a licensee who has passed the uniform section of another state's licensing exam may qualify for an Equivalency to the Uniform Section of the Hawaii exam. If both equivalencies are granted, the candidate takes only the Hawaii state-specific section of the exam rather than starting from scratch.

Idaho does not have reciprocity agreements with any state or jurisdiction. An applicant who holds an active real estate license in another state may apply for a waiver that exempts them from the national portion of the licensing exam and the prelicense education requirement, but the applicant must still pass the Idaho state portion of the exam.

As of January 1, 2026, Illinois no longer accepts reciprocity-based applications from any state. The previous reciprocity framework, which covered Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, was repealed and replaced by an endorsement process under Section 5-60.5 of the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Under the endorsement pathway, out-of-state brokers from any U.S. state or jurisdiction may apply if they hold an active license in good standing, complete a 30-hour pre-license endorsement course, and pass 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 through an endorsement process, in which the Commission reviews the applicant's home-state licensing requirements on a case-by-case basis to determine if they are equivalent to Indiana's. If the endorsement is approved, the applicant must take and pass only the state portion of the Indiana exam through Pearson VUE. If the endorsement is not approved, the applicant must complete the full 90-hour pre-licensing course and pass both the national and state portions of the exam.

Iowa has reciprocity agreements with seven states: Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, and North Dakota. 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. The Iowa Real Estate Commission may waive the examination requirement for reciprocity applicants who meet these conditions.

Kansas does not maintain formal bilateral reciprocity agreements with specific states, but Kansas statute KSA 58-3040 authorizes the Kansas Real Estate Commission to waive education and exam requirements for out-of-state licensees who hold equivalent credentials. Out-of-state salesperson applicants complete 30 hours of pre-license education (the Kansas Practice Course) instead of 60 hours and pass only the Kansas state portion of the exam. Out-of-state broker applicants complete 34 hours (the 30-hour Broker Management Course plus a 4-hour Kansas Law Course) and also pass only the state exam. All out-of-state applicants must submit a License History Certification from their state 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 education provider, submit fingerprints for a national criminal history check, and pass the Kentucky state portion of the PSI exam. Applicants must also submit a license history certification or letter of good standing from every state where they hold a real estate license. The application must be submitted within 60 days of passing both portions of the exam.

Louisiana has reciprocal licensing agreements with nine states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. The reciprocal application process operates on a license-for-a-license basis, meaning an applicant can only obtain the same license type they currently hold in their resident state. Reciprocal broker applicants must have been licensed as an active real estate licensee for four years, with two of those years occurring immediately preceding the application submission.

Maine offers reciprocal licensing to any person who holds a current and active real estate license in another jurisdiction, regardless of which state issued the original license. Reciprocal applicants must pass the Maine Law examination administered by Pearson VUE, provide a Certificate of Licensure (less than 30 days old when received by the Commission) from each state where they hold or have held a license, and affiliate with a Maine-licensed real estate agency. The license issued is at a level comparable to the one held in the other jurisdiction; a Maine Associate Broker is equivalent to a salesperson in other states.

Maryland has formal reciprocal licensing agreements only with Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. Pennsylvania license holders can obtain a Maryland license without completing additional education or taking the Maryland exam, while Oklahoma license holders must pass the Maryland state portion of the exam but are excused from pre-licensing education. For licensees from all other states, the Maryland Real Estate Commission offers out-of-state license recognition, where education and experience are reviewed for transferability on an individual basis.

Massachusetts has reciprocity with 12 states under 254 CMR 2.00. The 11 states with full reciprocity are Connecticut, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Nebraska, Iowa, Tennessee, Mississippi, Colorado, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico. Oklahoma also qualifies, but only for salespersons and brokers who have been licensed there for at least 2 years. Licensees from any of these states who obtained their license by examination do not need to take the Massachusetts exam. Applicants from non-reciprocity states may submit an educational waiver with a certified letter of Good Standing to sit for the Massachusetts exam.

Michigan does not offer reciprocity with any other state. An applicant for a Michigan real estate salesperson or broker license must meet the education, experience, and examination requirements in place as of the date the application is submitted. The Michigan Admin Code does grant experience credit for out-of-state licensees under Rule 115(a), but this is not reciprocity and does not waive education or examination requirements.

Minnesota has reciprocity agreements for broker licensure with seven states: Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Wisconsin broker applicants must complete a 13-hour Wisconsin-to-Minnesota Reciprocal Prelicense course and pass the state portion of the broker exam. Applicants from any reciprocal state must reside in and hold an active broker license there, provide a Letter of Certification no more than 90 days old, and pay a $210 license fee. Brokers from non-reciprocal states must submit a Request for Waiver of Salesperson Experience, complete a 30-hour broker course, pass the state portion of the broker exam, and pay the same $210 fee.

Mississippi does not offer automatic full reciprocity with all states. The Mississippi Real Estate Commission (MREC) operates a mutual agreement model under Section 73-35-13(6) of the Mississippi License Law, which allows the Commission to exempt out-of-state licensees from the examination and education requirements if the other state's exam is determined equivalent and the other state extends the same privilege to Mississippi licensees. MREC does not publish a list of specific reciprocal states and states that requirements vary greatly by state. Applicants must contact MREC directly for state-specific reciprocal requirements before submitting an application.

Missouri does not maintain a partner-state list for reciprocity. Instead, the Missouri Real Estate Commission allows any individual holding a current and active real estate license in another state or jurisdiction to apply with reduced requirements. A nonresident broker who already holds a broker license in another state must have 24 of the last 30 months of active license experience, pass the state portion of the Missouri broker exam, and apply within six months of passing. A certification of licensure from the home state, issued within three months, must accompany the application.

Montana does not offer formal reciprocity with any specific states. Instead, the Montana Board of Realty Regulation provides an Out-of-State Licensee/Waiver Process open to licensees from any jurisdiction who hold a current active license in good standing. This process waives the pre-licensing education requirement but requires the applicant to pass the Montana state portion of the exam and submit official license verifications from all states where they hold or have held a professional license.

Nebraska does not use formal reciprocity agreements with specific partner states. Instead, it offers "license recognition" to anyone holding a real estate license in good standing in any regulatory jurisdiction. Recognition applicants must complete a 3-hour Nebraska License Law and Agency course (Course #0604R), undergo a fingerprint background check, and provide a certified license history from their home jurisdiction. Several other states, including Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Oregon, list Nebraska on their own reciprocity or recognition lists.

Nevada offers salesperson license reciprocity with 16 states: Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia. An additional 20 states qualify for broker-to-salesperson reciprocity, where holders of broker-level licenses can obtain a Nevada salesperson license: California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming. Reciprocal applicants must still pass the Nevada state portion of the licensing exam, complete fingerprinting, and submit a certified license history dated within 90 days of application.

New Hampshire accepts real estate license recognition from all states. Under HB 594, signed June 28, 2023 and 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 requirements are substantially similar to New Hampshire's. Reciprocity applicants must pass the New Hampshire state portion of the licensing exam but are not required to take the national portion or complete pre-licensing education. A letter of Good Standing from the originating state is required.

New Jersey does not have reciprocity with any state. Out-of-state licensees who wish to practice in New Jersey must complete all NJ-specific requirements, including the 75-hour prelicensure course for salespersons or the 150-hour broker prelicensure education, and pass the state licensing exam. New Jersey is also classified as a "turf" state for portability, meaning out-of-state licensees cannot conduct real estate transactions in New Jersey without obtaining a New Jersey license.

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. Out-of-state brokers from non-reciprocal states may apply for a waiver of 60 of the 90 prelicensure hours by submitting a certified license history, but they must still complete the 30-hour Broker Basics course and take the state portion of the exam.

New York does not currently have reciprocity with any other state. The Department of State eliminated its former reciprocity agreements effective December 21, 2022, when new educational standards took effect. 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 exam and submit a full application. Home-study and correspondence courses are not accepted for waiver requests.

North Carolina does not operate a traditional reciprocity program limited to specific states. Effective March 1, 2012, NC replaced its old reciprocity arrangements (which had covered 10 states) with a "limited license recognition" system that accepts applicants from all 50 states, U.S. territories, and Canadian provinces. An out-of-state licensee with an active license within the previous 3 years may waive the 75-hour Prelicensing Course and the National section of the NC exam. The applicant must either pass the State section of the exam to receive a license equivalent to the one held in the other jurisdiction, or waive the State section and receive a Provisional Broker license subject to 90 hours of Postlicensing education.

North Dakota has real estate license reciprocity with Georgia, Iowa, and Minnesota. Reciprocal applicants must be both licensed and live primarily in one of those states, and must have met all licensing requirements, including passing any examinations, in their state of primary residence. Reciprocal applicants do not need to take the North Dakota licensing exam. Nonresident applicants from states without a reciprocity agreement must take and pass the North Dakota state examination.

Ohio has reciprocity arrangements with 8 states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Under Senate Bill 131, effective December 29, 2023, Ohio offers four pathways for out-of-state broker applicants, each requiring a $135 application fee, criminal background check, and proof of 20 completed transactions or equivalent experience. Applicants from qualifying states typically need to pass only the state portion of the Ohio broker exam.

Oklahoma has reciprocity 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, and 6 hours Contracts and Forms) and pass at minimum the Oklahoma state-only examination through Pearson VUE. All out-of-state applicants must also designate an Oklahoma resident as their registered agent, complete a background check through IdentoGO, and obtain license certification history from every state where they have held a real estate license.

Oregon has reciprocal licensing agreements with Alabama, Alberta (a Canadian province), Georgia, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The Oregon Real Estate Agency states that there are no waivers of education or license examinations available for out-of-state licenseees, and that the requirements for reciprocal licensing are specific. Applicants from reciprocal jurisdictions must contact the Oregon Real Estate Agency directly for details on what requirements apply to their situation.

Pennsylvania has reciprocity agreements with five states: Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Brokers licensed in one of these states may apply for a reciprocal license if they hold a current, active license and their state's qualifications are substantially comparable to Pennsylvania's. Reciprocal licensees must maintain their principal place of business in the state through which reciprocity was granted and keep their license in that state active to maintain the reciprocal license in Pennsylvania.

Rhode Island has reciprocal licensing agreements with Connecticut and Massachusetts for both salesperson and broker licenses. Florida residents may apply through a Mutual Recognition Agreement but must first pass the RI state portion of the licensing exam with Pearson VUE. Reciprocal applicants must still complete a 3-hour Lead Poisoning/Lead Hazard Mitigation course and submit a BCI background check, errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, and a Letter of Good Standing from their home state.

South Carolina has real estate license reciprocity only with Georgia and North Carolina. The state does not have a "transfer" of licensure to or from other 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. Applicants from all other states must complete South Carolina's full pre-licensing education and examination requirements.

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

The Tennessee Real Estate Commission does not offer a reciprocal license at this time. Out-of-state licensees may submit a 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 individual evaluation. A licensing specialist reviews the submission and may approve substitution of education, the national exam portion, and/or experience for Tennessee's requirements, but the Tennessee state law portion of the exam must still be taken and passed.

Texas does not have reciprocity with any state, according to TREC. To become licensed in Texas, an applicant must satisfy all current Texas licensing requirements, including the full 180 hours of qualifying education for a sales agent license. An out-of-state licensee may be exempt from the national portion of the exam if they hold an active license in a state that participates in National exam accreditation with ARELLO and submit a license history from that state, but this exemption does not waive any education requirements.

Utah has reciprocity agreements with Georgia, Mississippi, and Alberta, Canada. Applicants from these jurisdictions must hold an active license in good standing and submit a certified license history no more than 6 months old, along with license histories from all other jurisdictions where previously licensed. Applicants from states without a reciprocity agreement may qualify for a waiver of some education and/or national exam requirements, provided their out-of-state license is active and in good standing.

Vermont does not offer reciprocity for real estate licenses. Instead, the state uses an endorsement process for brokers licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction whose requirements are deemed equivalent to Vermont's. Under endorsement, the Commission may waive the 40-hour broker pre-licensing course and the national examination requirement. Indiana and Alaska are not considered equivalent for the course waiver, and California, New York, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia are not equivalent for the national exam waiver. A fast-track endorsement is available for brokers with 3 or more years of continuous licensure in good standing in another jurisdiction. All applicants must pass the Vermont state exam regardless of pathway.

Virginia offers reciprocity and universal license recognition pathways to broker applicants from all states, but it is a tiered system rather than automatic full reciprocity. Broker reciprocity applicants must hold a current broker license in another state, pass the Virginia state portion of the broker exam, submit verification of experience (actively engaged as a salesperson or broker for 36 of the 48 months preceding application), provide original transcripts showing 180 hours of broker pre-licensing courses substantially equivalent to Virginia's requirements, and submit letters of certification from all jurisdictions where licensed. Certifications of licensure must be dated within 60 days of the Board receiving the complete application.

Washington offers full reciprocity, meaning licensees from any state can apply for a Washington broker or managing broker license. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and have been actively licensed in another state in good standing within the preceding 6 months. Reciprocity applicants submit a license history from their state, pass only the Washington state exam (not the national portion), complete a fingerprint background check, and pay applicable fees. Exam approval for reciprocity applicants expires after 6 months; if the applicant does not pass within that window, a new application and current license history must be submitted.

West Virginia uses an endorsement pathway under W. Va. Code section 30-40-15 that is open to licensees from any jurisdiction that affords reciprocal privileges to West Virginia licensees. Out-of-state applicants are exempt from the national portion of the licensing exam but must pass the West Virginia state-specific portion and submit a Certification of Licensure from each state where they currently or previously held a license. The West Virginia Real Estate Commission's reciprocity page lists Florida as a formal agreement partner, though the statutory endorsement pathway is broader and not limited to specific named states.

Wisconsin has reciprocity agreements with Illinois and Indiana, though Illinois repealed its own bilateral reciprocity program effective January 1, 2026 and replaced it with a universal endorsement pathway. Under Wisconsin reciprocity, licensees from reciprocal states must still pass the Wisconsin exam but are exempt from the pre-license education requirement. For broker applicants from all other states, Wisconsin offers an endorsement pathway requiring a 6-hour broker education program and a 13-hour salesperson pre-license program, plus passage of both the Wisconsin salesperson and broker exams.

Wyoming does not offer direct reciprocity with any state. The Wyoming Real Estate Commission provides an out-of-state broker applicant pathway open to licensees from all states: applicants must hold an active license in another state, submit two fingerprint cards, complete and pass the Wyoming Law Course and Broker II Course, complete and pass the Wyoming Broker Management Course (for Responsible Broker applicants only), pass the Wyoming State Exam for Brokers, and submit a completed application. Broker I and the National Exam are waived for out-of-state broker applicants.