Broker and real estate agent in Maryland: Differences and Licensing Requirements

A real estate agent is licensed to help clients buy, sell, and rent property but must work under the supervision of a licensed broker. A real estate broker has completed additional education and experience requirements and is licensed to work independently, hire agents, and oversee transactions. A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and may be either an agent or a broker; only NAR members may use the "REALTOR®" designation and must abide by NAR's Code of Ethics.

A real estate agent is licensed to help clients buy, sell, and rent property but must work under the supervision of a licensed broker. A broker has additional education and experience requirements and can work independently, hire agents, and oversee transactions. In Maryland, broker applicants must complete a 135-hour pre-licensing course and hold an active salesperson license for at least 3 consecutive years, while salesperson applicants complete a 60-hour course.

A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent property and must work under a licensed broker. A REALTOR® is a real estate agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agrees to abide by its Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are real estate professionals, but not all agents or brokers are REALTORS®.

A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) who agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics; the designation is open to licensed agents, brokers, and other real estate professionals. A real estate broker holds a higher-level license that allows independent practice and the authority to employ and supervise agents. A broker may or may not be a real estate agent, and a real estate agent may or may not be a broker. Only NAR members may use the trademarked term "REALTOR®."

To qualify for a Maryland broker license, an applicant must have held an active real estate salesperson license for at least 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying, with no breaks in licensure such as inactive status, late-renewal reinstatements, or suspensions. The applicant must complete a 135-hour broker pre-licensing course from an MREC-approved provider (including a 3-hour ethics course) and pass the broker exam administered by PSI with at least 70% on each portion. Attorneys qualified to practice law in Maryland may have the education and experience requirements waived by the Commission, though they must still pass the broker exam. The original broker license fee is $211, which includes a $20 Guaranty Fund payment, effective April 27, 2026.

To become a licensed real estate salesperson in Maryland, you must be at least 18 years old, be of good character and reputation, and complete a 60-hour pre-licensing course from a Maryland Real Estate Commission-approved education provider, including a 3-hour ethics component. After completing the course, you schedule and take the state exam through PSI, which costs $44 per attempt and consists of national and state portions, each requiring a minimum score of 70%. After passing both portions, you have one year from the exam date to apply for your license. The original salesperson license fee is $98, which includes a $20 Guaranty Fund payment, effective April 27, 2026.

In Maryland, the requirements for a broker license are the same whether you plan to practice commercial or residential real estate. You must hold an active salesperson license for at least 3 consecutive years with no breaks in licensure, complete a 135-hour broker pre-licensing course from an approved provider, and pass the broker exam administered by PSI with at least 70% on each portion. A residential license permits both commercial and residential transactions, while a commercial license is limited to commercial transactions only.

In Maryland, you do not need a sponsoring broker to take the licensing exam, but you must affiliate with a licensed broker to activate your license. After passing the exam, you can apply for an inactive license and have up to three years to affiliate with a broker, or you can affiliate immediately to begin working as an active agent. Most candidates begin interviewing brokerages while completing the pre-licensing course or shortly after passing the exam, typically meeting with several firms before selecting one that offers the right training, commission structure, and level of support.

To qualify for a Maryland broker license, an applicant must complete a 135-hour broker pre-licensing course from a Commission-approved education provider, which must include a 3-hour course in real estate ethics. The applicant must also have held an active real estate salesperson license for at least three consecutive years immediately prior to applying, with no breaks in licensure such as inactive status, late-renewal reinstatements, or suspensions. Attorneys qualified to practice law in Maryland may have the educational and experience requirements waived but must still pass the broker exam administered by PSI.

Yes, Maryland allows pre-licensing courses to be completed online. The Commission approves multiple delivery systems, including classroom instruction, computer-based instruction over the Internet, home study, and any other delivery system approved by the Commission. There is no limit to the number of pre-licensing hours that may be taken online.

The Maryland broker licensing exam, administered by PSI, consists of a national portion and a state portion, and candidates must score at least 70% on each to pass. The exam covers property law, real estate finance, contracts, agency relationships, and ethics, with the state portion testing Maryland-specific regulations. PSI offers an official national practice test with 100 questions that mirrors the national exam's objectives, though it does not cover state-specific law. Candidates may also consult the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for the Maryland exam to review the detailed content outline.

Maryland requires 15 hours of continuing education to renew a real estate broker license. Brokers, designated branch office managers, and team leaders complete 12.5 mandatory hours plus 2.5 elective hours. For residential brokers, the mandatory hours include Legal and Legislative Update (3), Fair Housing (2), Ethics (3), Principles of Brokerage Relationships and Disclosures (3), and Supervision (1.5). All 15 hours must be completed at least 30 days before the license renewal date, effective October 1, 2024.