How to Get Your Maryland Real Estate Salesperson License
Don’t worry, we made the process easy for you.
PSI Maryland Real Estate Exam Candidate Bulletin
Deciding to become a real estate agent is a major move in anyone’s career. People enter the field of real estate from various occupations and careers and at various stages of their lives.
Everyone has different reasons why they think real estate is the correct career choice for them. But, one question consistently comes from people looking to enter the real estate industry:
“How do I become a real estate agent?”
The simple answer is, “It depends.” It mostly depends on where an individual wants to practice real estate. Becoming a real estate agent requires a state license. Each state regulates its own real estate licensing process, and each state’s regulations or rules are slightly different. But, there are a few basic requirements that are always consistent.
To be eligible to become a licensed real estate salesperson or agent in the state of Maryland, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old in the state of MD (Can be different in other states)
- Have legal US residency
- Complete the required 60-hr pre-license education
- Pass the state real estate license examination at PSI Testing Center
These items represent the high-level checklist of what it takes to become a licensed real estate agent, but there are a lot of decisions you need to make along the way that will dictate whether your journey is successful!
Is Real Estate Right for You?
The first step in this process is making sure that real estate is right for you. As a real estate salesperson, each day is spent working for you. This means handling your own office management, paperwork, prospecting leads, developing relationships, managing contacts, and dealing with buyers and sellers.
Reach out to local real estate agents and brokers and ask them questions about what the day-to-day work is like. Ask questions about real estate as a long-term career. Starting a full-time career as a real estate agent can’t be treated like a hobby. It requires a full commitment. Make sure real estate is the right path for you.
How to Get Your Maryland Real Estate Salesperson License in 5 Simple Steps
While the specifics vary by state, there are five steps that every individual must take to earn their license and become a real estate agent.
Step 1: Understand Your State’s Real Estate Licensing Requirements
Each state’s real estate licensing requirements are different. Your state’s real estate commission website will list the official pre-licensing requirements.
Tristar Academy, a Real Estate Education Provider, offers these few pages that narrow this knowledge gap. These steps are designed to show what it takes to become licensed in each state. In addition, Tristar Academy offers a page on our website and dedicated for Maryland and Washington D.C. real estate licensing and continuing education requirements.
Step 2: Enroll in a 60-Hr Real Estate Pre-licensing Course
Tristar Academy offers an interactive classroom setting with our experienced instructors who maintain a simple and comfortable environment throughout the course. We make it convenient for our students to have daytime, evening time and weekend scheduling options.
Our Upcoming Prelicensing Courses for Salesperson
This is an important decision in your journey. Make sure you enroll with a school that has a good reputation, offers quality content and instructors, and is focused on positive student outcomes. Your real estate licensing education will be comprehensive, but it will also be the springboard to a successful career as a real estate professional.
Step 3: Apply To Take the Real Estate Salesperson Exam
Timing is important at this step. Make sure you are following the application process with your state so you can sit for your real estate agent exam soon after you finish your real estate licensing classes.
This process will be state-specific and include a fee. Check with your state’s real estate regulatory authority for complete details. Some states require you to submit fingerprints and pass a background check. This can take weeks to process. In many states, the application process must be complete before you can register or schedule your exam date.
Don’t let the paperwork become a roadblock to getting started in your new real estate career.
Step 4: Pass the Real Estate Salesperson Exam
Passing the real estate exam takes more than finishing the educational requirements—it takes preparation. Not everyone passes the exam the first time.
Preparing yourself to pass the state exam takes additional study time. Tristar Academy highly recommends enrolling in an exam prep class because the ultimate goal is to help you pass the exam. Tristar Academy also offers the comprehensive Exam Prep Course. Taking practice exams, measuring your strengths and weaknesses, and working through the comprehensive topical reviews will sharpen your knowledge and prepare you for exam day.
Show up to the exam location with a positive attitude, answer the questions using the massive knowledge bank you accumulated in your studies, and walk out with a passing document on your state real estate exam!
Step 5: Find a Real Estate Broker
Your passing document on your MD state real estate licensing exam doesn’t quite mean you have a license yet. A real estate salesperson (agent) is licensed to act on behalf of a broker and may not act as a real estate agent independently.
Consider finding a real estate broker early in your licensing process. Once you have completed your pre-licensing education requirements and passed your exam, you and your broker will both need to complete the final paperwork with the state. Once the form is accepted, your license will be issued, and you may practice real estate under the sponsorship of the broker.
Keep in mind that there are a number of items to consider when finding the right real estate brokerage.
Good luck on your journey to becoming licensed, as well as your eventual successful career as a real estate agent! Each day can be unique and different for a real estate agent, and it can be a very rewarding and exciting career!
Choose a real estate brokerage to support you through the process.
How do you choose the right brokerage for you? All brokerages are different, that’s why it’s vital that you do your research to make sure it’s the right fit for you. Keep in mind that the brokerage you choose to affiliate with will represent you as well as you represent them. As you layout your choices, ask yourself;
- Where are they located?
- How is the management and customer service?
- Are they up-to-date in technology with their systems, etc.?
- Do they support their agents with education and training?
- What is their commission structure?
- What are the benefits of joining this brokerage?
- Do they help agents with lead generation and marketing materials?
Once your application is approved, your real estate license will be issued to you.
Getting your license is the first step in your real estate career, one of the best ways to learn is from experience from others.
Talking to your fellow real estate agents who have been in the industry longer can help you avoid rookie mistakes and help you get a overview of what to expect on a couple of your first transactions. They would even share what helped them the most to get their business up and running. Best Wishes from Tristar Academy!