GET LICENSED
Real estate is a popular career path for individuals looking for a flexible career with unlimited growth potential.
As a Realtor, you create your own business and invest as much time and effort into it as you choose. Here are the six steps you need to complete to get your real estate license in Maryland or Pennsylvania.
I want to get licensed in:
Six Steps to Becoming a Real Estate Agent in Maryland
1. Do your research on the Maryland real estate market.
Make sure you’re ready for the rewards and risks of running your own real estate business. Consider attending one of our virtual career seminars. Or schedule a private, confidential appointment with one of our Business Development Directors, who can answer all of your questions.
2. Complete 60 hours of approved Pre-Licensing education.
To start, you need to successfully complete an approve 60 clock-hour Pre-Licensing salesperson course, which you can take in a classroom or online. Check out our recommendations for completing the Pre-Licensing course.
3. Pass the course final exam in the presence of a proctor.
After you complete all course materials and meet the minimum time requirements, you must pass a course final exam, the minimum passing score is 70%. You must take this final exam in the presence of a proctor.
4. Pass the Maryland Real Estate Salesperson Examination.
Upon completing and passing your course exam, you must take and pass both portions of the Maryland salesperson licensing exam. A minimum score of 70% on the exams are required in Maryland and there is no limit on the number of retakes.
5. Choose a broker to sponsor you.
As you go through the process of earning your license, you’ll need to be affiliated with a broker so you can practice when licensed. Choosing the right broker is a key factor in becoming a successful Maryland real estate agent, which is why it is important to have the right fit. Check out our FAQ’s on questions to consider when searching for a sponsoring broker.
6. Join RE/MAX IKON and get reimbursed for your real estate school tuition.
RE/MAX IKON offers tuition reimbursement for all new real estate sales associates who join our company. No matter the real estate school you attend, you will be reimbursed for your real estate school tuition and book costs upon your first closing.
Already Licensed in MD?
Here’s How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Pennsylvania:
Real Estate Salespersons may be granted licensure by the Reciprocal method if they hold a current, active broker or salesperson’s license issued by another state that:
- Agrees to issue a license to a standard Pennsylvania licensee without further requirement, or
- Has qualifications for licensure which are substantially comparable to those required by the Commission.
- Reciprocal licensees must maintain their principal place of business in the state through which reciprocity was granted, and must maintain a current, active license in that state in order to maintain the reciprocal license in Pennsylvania.
- Currently, the PA Commission has reciprocity agreements with the following states:
- Arkansas,
- Georgia,
- Louisiana,
- Maryland,
- Massachusetts, and
- New York.
- An official state criminal history record check (CHRC) is required from your current state of residence. For applicants living, working, or completing training in Pennsylvania, your CHRC will be generated automatically as part of your application and the required fee will be included at checkout.
- In addition to the background check from your current state of residence, you will need to submit official state CHRCs from every state where you have lived, worked, or completed training during the last 5 years. An FBI background check can be submitted in lieu of state checks where you previously lived, worked or trained. No record checks can be dated more than 90 days prior to the date you submit your application.
Check List Item
Application
Please follow all directions. Any discrepancies will cause a delay in the issuance of a license. If this application is not completed within six months, updates of certain sections and supporting documents will be required. All background check documents cannot be older than 90 days fromthe date application has been submitted. You may not practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania until you have been issued a license.
Application Fee
An application fee of $97.00 is required. Please note that all fees are non-refundable.
Criminal History Check
Provide a recent Criminal History Records Check (CHRC) from the state police or other state agency that is the official repository for criminal history record information for every state in which you have lived, worked, or completed professional training/studies for the past five (5) years. The report(s) must be dated within 180 days of the date the application is submitted. For applicants living, working, or completing training/studies in Pennsylvania, your CHRC request will be automatically submitted to the Pennsylvania State Police upon submission of this application. The PATCH fee will be included at checkout. Your PA CHRC will be sent directly to the Board/Commission. You will be notified if additional action is required. For individuals living, working, or completing training/studies outside of Pennsylvania during the past five (5) years, in lieu of obtaining individual state background checks, you may elect to provide BOTH a state CHRC from the state in which you currently reside, AND your FBI Identity HistorySummary Check, available at https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks.
Please note: For applicants currently living, working, or completing training/studies in California, Arizona, or Ohio: Due to the laws of these states, the Board is not an eligible recipient of CHRC’s or your CHRC will not be issued to you for upload to the Board. Please obtain your Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Identity History Summary Check, available at the link noted above.
Letter of Good Standing (LOGS)
Accompanying this application must be a Certification of Licensure or Letter of Good Standing from the state where you passed the real estate salesperson licensure examination and that has a reciprocal agreement with this Commission. The Certificate/Letter MUST be dated within 90 days of the date this application is received in the Commission office.
Questions to ask when searching for a sponsoring broker:
- What is their reputation, both locally & nationally?
- What type of real estate agents are they looking for?
- Are they technologically advanced and up-to-date with the latest systems?
- How do they support their agents with education and training?
- What kind of commission structure do they offer?
- Do they offer benefits?
- Do they provide their agents with leads and marketing materials?
- Is there room to grow with the brokerage?
- Is there a Mentoring or Productivity Coaching Program?
- What types and sources of Education and Training are offered?
- What is the company culture?
- What types of services are offered for leverage to their agents?