Transfer Your Real Estate License to Maryland: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC), Maryland Department of Labor - Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing ↗
Maryland recognizes real estate licenses from 2 named states (Pennsylvania, Oklahoma). Licensees from those states apply to the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC), Maryland Department of Labor - Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing under the agreement — Reciprocal applicants licensed in Pennsylvania are excused from both the exam and continuing education; reciprocal applicants licensed in Oklahoma must pass the Maryland state-law portion of the exam (excused from CE). Licensees of all other states apply through Out-of-State License Recognition (Waiver): education and experience are reviewed individually and, if approved, the applicant must sit for and pass the Maryland salesperson exam (national + state portions).. From any other state, you apply as a new applicant. Fee: $98 (Original salesperson license fee is $98 (includes a $20 Guaranty Fund payment); the reciprocal salesperson application draws on the same statutory fee schedule. Certificate of License History costs $28 (5-year) or $84 (full).).
Moving to Maryland from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Reciprocity with 2 states
Maryland's agreement is a list, and the list is the law: if your state appears on it, the streamlined track below applies; if not, no amount of experience substitutes — you use the new-applicant track. Check the list before anything else, and remember it describes states Maryland recognizes, which says nothing about the reverse direction.
Maryland has signed reciprocal agreements with only two states - Pennsylvania and Oklahoma (per Title 17-3A). Under the MD-PA agreement licensees are excused from exams and CE; under the MD-OK agreement licensees must pass the Maryland state exam portion. Every other state's licensees are NOT reciprocal; they use Out-of-State License Recognition, where education/experience are individually reviewed and the Maryland exam is still required. Delaware has advised Maryland it lacks authority to enter an agreement; Maryland reports no other agreements in negotiation. If an out-of-state applicant's principal place of business later moves to Maryland and they never sat for an exam, they must then take it.
Maryland requirements at a glance
| Exam | Reciprocal applicants licensed in Pennsylvania are excused from both the exam and continuing education; reciprocal applicants licensed in Oklahoma must pass the Maryland state-law portion of the exam (excused from CE). Licensees of all other states apply through Out-of-State License Recognition (Waiver): education and experience are reviewed individually and, if approved, the applicant must sit for and pass the Maryland salesperson exam (national + state portions). |
|---|---|
| Training hours | 60 hours |
| Additional requirements |
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| Fees | $98 (Original salesperson license fee is $98 (includes a $20 Guaranty Fund payment); the reciprocal salesperson application draws on the same statutory fee schedule. Certificate of License History costs $28 (5-year) or $84 (full).) |
| Processing time | 2–3 weeks (Board states to allow 10-12 business days to process an Out-of-State License Recognition (waiver) request before exam registration; reciprocal (PA/OK) license issuance timing is not separately published.) |
Step by step
- Confirm Maryland's current requirements on the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC), Maryland Department of Labor - Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing website — rules change.
- Submit the reciprocity/endorsement application to the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC), Maryland Department of Labor - Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current, active real estate license in the reciprocal/originating state.
- Submit a full certified license history; for Out-of-State Recognition the certificate must be dated within 120 days (mailed originals within 30 days of issue).
- Salespersons must submit a letter from the sponsoring Maryland broker; the broker's principal place of business cannot be in Maryland.
- Your Maryland license category matches your out-of-state license category; a reciprocal license voids if the home-state license expires or goes inactive.
- Pay the fees ($98 (Original salesperson license fee is $98 (includes a $20 Guaranty Fund payment); the reciprocal salesperson application draws on the same statutory fee schedule. Certificate of License History costs $28 (5-year) or $84 (full).)) and allow 2–3 weeks (Board states to allow 10-12 business days to process an Out-of-State License Recognition (waiver) request before exam registration; reciprocal (PA/OK) license issuance timing is not separately published.).
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Maryland:
Frequently asked questions
Does my real estate license transfer to Maryland?
Maryland recognizes real estate licenses from 2 named states (Pennsylvania, Oklahoma). Licensees from those states apply to the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC), Maryland Department of Labor - Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing under the agreement — Reciprocal applicants licensed in Pennsylvania are excused from both the exam and continuing education; reciprocal applicants licensed in Oklahoma must pass the Maryland state-law portion of the exam (excused from CE). Licensees of all other states apply through Out-of-State License Recognition (Waiver): education and experience are reviewed individually and, if approved, the applicant must sit for and pass the Maryland salesperson exam (national + state portions).. From any other state, you apply as a new applicant. Fee: $98 (Original salesperson license fee is $98 (includes a $20 Guaranty Fund payment); the reciprocal salesperson application draws on the same statutory fee schedule. Certificate of License History costs $28 (5-year) or $84 (full).).
Do I have to retake real estate exams in Maryland?
Reciprocal applicants licensed in Pennsylvania are excused from both the exam and continuing education; reciprocal applicants licensed in Oklahoma must pass the Maryland state-law portion of the exam (excused from CE). Licensees of all other states apply through Out-of-State License Recognition (Waiver): education and experience are reviewed individually and, if approved, the applicant must sit for and pass the Maryland salesperson exam (national + state portions)..
What does a Maryland real estate license cost an out-of-state applicant?
$98 (Original salesperson license fee is $98 (includes a $20 Guaranty Fund payment); the reciprocal salesperson application draws on the same statutory fee schedule. Certificate of License History costs $28 (5-year) or $84 (full).) (Original salesperson license fee is $98 (includes a $20 Guaranty Fund payment); the reciprocal salesperson application draws on the same statutory fee schedule. Certificate of License History costs $28 (5-year) or $84 (full).).
How long does the Maryland process take?
2–3 weeks (Board states to allow 10-12 business days to process an Out-of-State License Recognition (waiver) request before exam registration; reciprocal (PA/OK) license issuance timing is not separately published.) — Board states to allow 10-12 business days to process an Out-of-State License Recognition (waiver) request before exam registration; reciprocal (PA/OK) license issuance timing is not separately published..
Which states does Maryland have real estate reciprocity with?
Pennsylvania, Oklahoma (2 states, verified 2026-07-21 against the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC), Maryland Department of Labor - Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing). Licensees from all other states use the standard application.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Maryland MREC - Apply for a Reciprocal License (Pennsylvania and Oklahoma Licensees ONLY); terms and reciprocity FAQ under Title 17-3A ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Maryland MREC - Out-of-State License Recognition (Waiver) process for all other states ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Maryland MREC - Forms and Fees (Salesperson License Original $98 incl. $20 GF) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Maryland MREC - Exams (salesperson exam consists of a national portion and a state portion) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Md. Code, Business Occupations & Professions 17-303 (basic real estate course not more than 60 clock hours for salesperson) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]