How to get a Maryland Real Estate License by Reciprocity
You may get your real estate license in Maryland by reciprocity. If you have an active real estate license in another state, you should be able to take the Maryland portion of the PSI exam. You will need to get certification for each state where licensed before you can take the state portion of the PSI exam. By the way, Maryland uses the term “waiver” (out-of-state recognition) for most states, but it amounts to the almost the same as reciprocity.
A. Here are the steps for getting your Maryland license by “reciprocity” (called “Waiver by Out of State Recognition” for all states except PA and OK).
1- Before you can send a request letter (step 2) to Maryland:
You need to obtain a certification of license/history from your state. It must be an original, not a copy, dated within 30 days of sending the request letter below.
Virginia agents: Virginia certification request (online) Or the VA Board site.
DC agents: DC License certification request (pdf)
Pennsylvania and Oklahoma agents: see this page.
Other states: See your state Board or Commission site to request a license certification.
Details- Maryland Commission website on out of state recognition.
2- Mail a request letter to the Maryland Real Estate Commission. Attach the certification of your license. You will ask to take the MD portion of the PSI exam. Sample letter: Sample Letter (Word doc format). Example (pdf format). It has to be mailed. Yes, they don’t have a way to do it online but someday that may change.
3- Got the authorization from Maryland? Great.
Application to PSI to take exam (instructions and 2 page pdf).
This is extracted from the full PSI bulletin for Maryland real estate exams. Find the full MD Candidate Information Bulletin.
Mail your application to PSI with the original Maryland Letter of Authorization and $44 fee for state portion only. If a check, payable to PSI.
Mail to: PSI, Attn: Examination Registration MD RE
3210 E Tropicana, Las Vegas, NV 89121
There are 30 questions for MD salesperson (40 for brokers). PSI has multiple sites in Maryland to take the exam on their website. Exam sites at last count included Baltimore, College Park, Crofton, Hagerstown, Lanham, and Salisbury.
4. How to pass the MD portion of the PSI exam: Take the online Maryland exam prep course and/or get the Maryland exam prep book.
Option 1- Maryland real estate exam prep online course (called Qbank). Recommended. It is for the Maryland Portion ONLY, not national. This is a bank of practice question and answers with explanations. The course is called Maryland Real Estate Drill and Practice Q-Bank. No reading sections or index, but a huge number of practice exams with a percentage guide to decide you’re ready for the exam. It’s $29.
Option 2- Buy the Maryland Real Estate Practice and Law book which has chapters on each subject as well many practice exams. The book is about $35. There is also a downloadable ebook of Maryland Real Estate Practice and Law also for $35.
Option 3– Take the online exam prep course AND get the book, too.
Note: The PSI website has practice exams, but they are only national and not state specific. So no need to take that for reciprocity. Best of luck on your exam!
This summary was prepared by Paul Hartke, a licensed broker in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC. Paul and his brother Keith own National Realty based in Reston, VA with over 140 agents in VA, MD and DC.
Paul is a licensed Virginia real estate instructor and a lawyer. He is available to discuss your particular situation. Contact Paul online here.
A MD real estate agent license requires you join a broker licensed in MD.
Need a broker licensed in MD as well as VA and DC?
Paul Hartke, Principal Broker, National Realty
Ofiice 703-860-4600 ext 44 Cell 703-675-5550
Agent Information: JoinNational.com
Resources:
Maryland Real Estate Commission website – Phone 412-230-6230
Commission instructions for MD license by reciprocity – summarized on this page
PSI Maryland salesperson / agent real estate license page with PSI MD handbook.
NOTE: If you are NOT licensed in another state and wish to get a Maryland license, you will need to take the MD license course. The Maryland real estate pre-licensing course is available here.