Maryland real estate broker license reciprocity

Maryland's real estate broker license reciprocity extends to both the salesperson and broker levels, letting licensees from Pennsylvania and Oklahoma obtain a Maryland license without completing the state's 60-hour pre-licensing education or sitting for the Maryland exam. The Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC) maintains formal reciprocal agreements with only those two states. Licensees from all other jurisdictions must pursue individual review through out-of-state license recognition, where MREC evaluates education and experience on a case-by-case basis.

Maryland real estate license reciprocity explained

Real estate license reciprocity is an agreement between states that lets a licensee in one state obtain a license in another without repeating all pre-licensing education and examination requirements. The National Association of REALTORS®^[1] describes reciprocity as occurring when one state chooses to honor the official real estate license of another, reducing the time and effort involved in multi-state transactions.

Maryland's approach is selective rather than open. The MREC licensing hub^[2] explicitly limits reciprocal license applications to Pennsylvania and Oklahoma licensees only. Reciprocal licenses are issued based on the applicant's existing credentials in their home state, not on completion of Maryland's own licensing requirements.

A reciprocal license is available only to licensees who hold a standard license obtained through examination in their home state, as specified in the PA reciprocity agreement^[3]. A licensee who obtained their home state license through reciprocity from a third state does not qualify for a Maryland reciprocal license.

Maryland's reciprocal license agreements

Maryland's reciprocal agreements define the documentation, supervision, and conversion obligations that apply to participating licensees. The agreements are authorized under Title 17, Business Occupations and Professions, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, and regulations under COMAR 09.11.

The Pennsylvania agreement, dated January 22-23, 2007, is the more detailed of the two. It covers salesperson, associate broker, and broker licenses and supersedes all previous PA-MD reciprocity agreements. Under the agreement, Pennsylvania exam completion and licensure satisfy Maryland's salesperson licensing requirements under Sections 17-303 and 17-307 of the Maryland Real Estate Brokers Act. The same recognition applies in reverse for Maryland licensees seeking Pennsylvania licensure.

The Oklahoma reciprocal process operates under a separate agreement. The MREC licensing FAQs^[4] direct Oklahoma licensees to contact the MREC Education Department to initiate the application.

Both agreements require applicants to attest that they are not subject to discipline or current investigation and have not been convicted of a felony or a crime violating either state's licensure acts. Pennsylvania applicants must also file irrevocable consent for service of process in Maryland, per Section 17-514 of the Maryland Real Estate Brokers Act.

How to apply for a reciprocal license from Pennsylvania

You apply for a Maryland reciprocal license by submitting a certificate of licensure, a license history form, and supporting documentation to MREC. The specific documents required depend on your license type.

Salesperson and associate broker requirements

You must submit an original certificate of licensure with a raised seal from the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission, mailed directly to MREC. The MREC licensing FAQs^[4] note that the certificate can be emailed but must come directly from the issuing commission's email address.

For Pennsylvania applicants, the certificate must be dated within 90 days of submission to MREC, as required by Clause 15 of the PA reciprocity agreement^[3]. You must also submit a completed license history form and a letter from your affiliated broker, currently licensed and in good standing, certifying that the broker will actively and personally supervise you.

MREC issues the license once all documents are received and reviewed. The Maryland OneStop portal^[5] estimates approval within 5 to 7 days for reciprocal salesperson applications.

Broker requirements

Broker applicants must submit additional business documentation beyond what salesperson and associate broker applicants provide. The MREC licensing FAQs^[4] require broker applicants to submit:

• An original certificate of licensure with a raised seal from Pennsylvania
• Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization
• A completed license history form
• Proof that the business entity is registered with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation

The Maryland OneStop portal^[6] estimates approval within 7 to 14 days for reciprocal broker applications.

Reciprocal license fees

As of April 27, 2026, the MREC Forms and Fees schedule^[7] sets the following fees for original reciprocal licenses. These fees match standard license fees and include a one-time $20 Guaranty Fund payment:

The Guaranty Fund payment is required with the first original license in a given category. Renewals pay only the biennial portion. The Maryland OneStop portal lists the reciprocal salesperson license at an estimated $90, but this figure predates the current MREC fee schedule and excludes the $20 Guaranty Fund payment. The authoritative fee is $98.

Other fees that may apply during the reciprocal process include a $28 transfer fee for changing brokers and a $28 fee for a certificate of license history covering 5 years (or $84 for a full history), per the MREC fee schedule^[7].

Out-of-state license recognition for non-reciprocal states

Licensees from states other than Pennsylvania and Oklahoma can pursue Maryland licensure through out-of-state license recognition, where MREC reviews your education and experience individually to determine which requirements can be waived. The MREC Out-of-State License Recognition page^[8] governs this pathway.

You must submit a certificate of licensure from the state where you were first licensed, dated within 120 days of submission. The certificate can be emailed directly from the issuing state to MREC or mailed as the original document within 30 days of its issue date. You must also submit a cover letter that is e-signed and includes full contact information, lists all states you are currently licensed in, indicates whether you were previously licensed in Maryland, and presents states in the order you obtained them.

Waivers may be granted only to active licensees. MREC allows 10 to 12 business days for processing. If you qualify, you will receive an email with instructions to register for the Maryland exam. Depending on the review, you may need to take both the national and state portions, or only the state portion.

The Maryland exam costs $44 per attempt and requires a passing score of 70% on each portion, as listed on the MREC exam information page^[9]. Applicants who pass must apply for licensure within one year or the score expires.

Continuing education for reciprocal licensees

Pennsylvania reciprocal licensees are exempt from Maryland's continuing education requirement as a condition of renewal, as long as their Pennsylvania license remains current and in good standing. This provision appears in Clause 13 of the PA reciprocity agreement^[3]. The reciprocal exemption applies in both directions: Maryland licensees practicing in Pennsylvania under Clause 14 are likewise exempt from Pennsylvania CE if their Maryland license stays current.

All other reciprocal licensees must complete 15 hours of CE per two-year renewal cycle. The MREC continuing education requirements page^[10] specifies that required topics, including Legislative Update, Ethics, and Principles of Brokerage Relationships and Disclosure, are mandatory Maryland courses that may not be substituted with education from another state. Out-of-state CE hours may count toward electives only.

First-time renewals follow a distinct 15-hour curriculum covering Contracts, Principles of Brokerage Relationships and Disclosure, Principles of Real Estate Practice, Property Management and Landlord/Tenant Laws, Professionalism, and Real Estate Financing. Maryland does not recognize post-licensing education from other states, and these first-renewal topics cannot be substituted.

CE must be completed at least 30 days before the license renewal date. Late CE submission triggers a $168 reinstatement fee, per the MREC fee schedule^[7].

Converting a reciprocal license to a standard Maryland license

If you establish Maryland as your principal place of business, you must convert your reciprocal license to a standard Maryland license within 90 days. Under Clause 17 of the PA reciprocity agreement^[3], you must submit a proper application, pay all required fees, and pass the state portion of the Maryland licensing exam within that 90-day window.

Only the Maryland state portion of the exam is required for conversion; the national portion is not. This requirement applies when you designate Maryland as your primary state of practice rather than maintaining your home state as the principal place of business.

Maryland real estate license portability

Maryland is a cooperative portability state, meaning out-of-state agents can participate in a Maryland transaction by partnering with a licensee who holds a Maryland license. The National Association of REALTORS®^[1] distinguishes three portability types: cooperative, physical location, and turf. In a cooperative state, an out-of-state agent co-brokers with an in-state agent rather than operating independently.

Portability differs from reciprocity in a practical way: reciprocity lets you obtain a new state license, while portability lets you conduct a single transaction across state lines without becoming licensed in that state. Portability does not replace the need for a Maryland license for ongoing business in the state.

Next steps

If you hold a Pennsylvania or Oklahoma license, request a certificate of licensure from your home state's real estate commission and submit the reciprocal application through the Maryland OneStop portal^[5]. If you are licensed in any other state, request a certificate of licensure and submit it to the MREC Education Director^[8] for individual review. Either way, your license must be active and in good standing to qualify.