The Maryland Real Estate Salesperson License application is the form you submit to the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC) to legally sell, lease, or manage real estate in Maryland under a sponsoring broker. You file it after you pass the state exam, and most people complete it through the online Maryland OneStop portal. Before that license application even comes into play, you first fill out the PSI exam registration form, which gets you into the testing room. This guide covers both, line by line, so you never get stuck.
Getting a box wrong here is not a small thing. A mismatched name, a missing broker commitment letter, or a skipped conviction question can stall your file for weeks or get it returned unprocessed. Maryland licenses more than 40,000 real estate professionals, and the Commission processes thousands of new salesperson applications each year, so a clean, correct submission is the single fastest way to start earning commissions.
Here is what you will walk away knowing:
- 📝 How to fill out every field on the PSI exam registration form and the MREC license application without errors
- 🗂️ Exactly which documents, ID numbers, and dates to gather before you open either form
- 💵 The current fees, deadlines, and penalties that decide whether your file moves or stalls
- 🧑💼 Three full walkthroughs of real applicants, including one with a criminal record who must file on paper
- ⚠️ The field-level mistakes that get applications returned, and how to dodge each one
What the License Is and Who Must File It
A Maryland real estate salesperson license lets you provide brokerage services, like listing homes, showing properties, and writing offers, but only while affiliated with and working under a licensed broker. The license comes from the Maryland Real Estate Commission, a unit of the Maryland Department of Labor, and it is granted for a two-year term that starts the day it is issued. You cannot work as a solo agent on this license. The broker is your legal umbrella, and the law treats your authority to act as flowing through that broker.
The Commission draws its power from Title 17 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. This statute is the plain reason the form exists. It says no person may act as a salesperson without a license, and it gives MREC the right to examine, license, and discipline. Ignore it and practice without a license, and you face fines and a permanent mark that can block a future license. For example, Devon helps a friend sell a condo for a fee before his license is issued, and that single unlicensed act can trigger a Commission penalty and delay his pending application. Many people wrongly believe passing the exam makes them licensed, but the exam is only step one of several.
You must file this license application if you are at least 18 years old, have good character and reputation, finished the approved 60-hour course, passed the state exam, and have a broker ready to sponsor you. That last piece trips up many candidates who think they can get licensed first and find a broker later.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Filing goes fast when everything sits in front of you. Missing one item can mean a returned form, a second trip to the portal, or weeks of delay while you chase a transcript. Gather these before you open either form.
- Your full legal name as it appears on your Social Security card, because MREC and PSI cross-check names and a mismatch holds up the file.
- Your Social Security number, which Maryland law requires on the form; leaving it blank gets the registration returned unprocessed.
- Your 60-hour course completion certificate or transcript, since this proves you met the education rule and is required before you can be authorized to test.
- Your PSI exam pass result or score report, because the license application depends on a passing exam within the last year.
- A broker commitment letter, the signed promise from a licensed broker to affiliate you on the day your license is granted, without which the Commission will not issue the license.
- Your date of birth and birthplace (city and state), used for identity matching on the PSI form.
- A valid mailing address with county, not a bare P.O. box, because the Commission mails official notices there.
- A working email address, since MREC communicates with licensees mainly by email and a typo can cut off your status updates.
- Payment method, a credit card or the portal’s accepted method, to cover the $61 exam fee and the $90–$98 license fee.
- Court records, if you have any criminal conviction, including a true test copy of the charges and a broker letter acknowledging them.
If any item is missing when you sit down, stop and find it first. A returned form does not just cost time; it can push you past the one-year window you have to apply after passing the exam.
Where to Get the Forms and How to Access Them
There are two separate documents in this journey, and they live in two different places. The first is the PSI Maryland Real Estate Licensing Examination Registration Form, which you use to register for the state exam. You can register online at the PSI exams site, by phone, by fax, or by mailing the paper form to PSI. The second is the MREC Original Salesperson License application, which you complete after you pass.
Most applicants now file the license application online through the Maryland OneStop portal, the state’s central licensing system. You create an account, search for the Salesperson License, and complete the form on screen. The portal walks you through identity, education, exam, and broker fields, then collects payment by card.
A paper application still exists, but it is mainly for people who cannot use the online route. If you have a criminal conviction, you must request the paper application by calling MREC at 410-230-6200, because the online system cannot handle the extra court documents you must attach. To request a paper application for other reasons, you email your name, mailing address, and license number to the Commission. Note: the online portal is not stamped with a printed revision date the way a PDF is, so always confirm you are on the current OneStop listing rather than an old cached page.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the PSI Exam Registration Form Line by Line
This form gets you into the exam, and the exam is the gate to the license. Fill it out in pen or type it, print legibly, and complete both pages. PSI returns any form that is incomplete, illegible, or missing the fee.
Item 1: Legal Name
This field asks for your legal last name, generation suffix, first name, and middle initial, with one letter per box. Print your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card, last name first, then your first name, then your middle initial. For example, Maria Lopez prints LOPEZ in the last-name boxes and MARIA in the first-name boxes, leaving the generation box blank because she has no Jr. or III. If you go by a nickname, do not use it here; the boxes are for legal names only. The most common mistake is using a married or maiden name that does not match your Social Security card, which triggers an identity hold that stops the whole file. People often think a nickname is fine because that is what their broker calls them, but PSI and MREC match against federal records, not office habits.
Item 2: Social Security Number
This field asks for your Social Security number, one digit per box. Copy the nine digits straight from your Social Security card, with no dashes or spaces inside the boxes. For example, Maria Lopez enters 123 45 6789 across the nine boxes. The form marks this field REQUIRED, and Maryland law backs that up, so there is no skipping it. The most common mistake is transposing two digits, which breaks the cross-check and can quietly stall your registration until PSI flags it. Some people fear identity theft and leave it blank, but the form explains on page 8 that the number is used for state licensing purposes, and an empty box gets the form returned unprocessed.
Item 3: Mailing Address
This field asks for your full mailing address, including number, street, apartment, city, state, zip, and county, with one character per box. Print the address where you want all official mail to land, and write the county on its own line. For example, Maria Lopez enters 417 OAK ST, then BALTIMORE MD 21202, then BALTIMORE CITY for county. The form has a firm rule: do not use a P.O. box unless it includes a rural delivery route number. The most common mistake is dropping the county, which the Commission needs for its records and which can delay processing. People assume a P.O. box alone is fine, but a bare P.O. box without a rural route is rejected by this field.
Item 4: Email Address
This field asks for your complete email address, marked REQUIRED. Type the full address, including everything before and after the @ sign. For example, Maria Lopez enters maria.lopez@email.com. The Commission uses email as its main way to reach licensees, so this is not optional fine print. The most common mistake is a single typo, like a missing letter in the domain, which silently cuts you off from status updates and renewal notices. Many candidates think mail will reach them anyway, but MREC leans on email first, and a dead address means missed deadlines.
Item 5: Telephone Numbers
This field asks for both a home and an office phone number, each with area code. Print the digits in the boxes provided for each line. For example, Maria Lopez writes 410 555 0182 for home and leaves the office line blank because she has no office yet. If you only have one number, put it in the home line rather than leaving both empty. The most common mistake is forgetting the area code, which makes the number useless if PSI needs to call about a registration problem. People think a cell number does not fit the “home” label, but any reliable personal number belongs there.
Item 6: Birth Date and Birth Place
This field asks for your date of birth in MM-DD-YY format and your birthplace city and state. Enter the month, day, and two-digit year, then print where you were born. For example, Maria Lopez writes 03-14-85 and PHILADELPHIA PA. The form’s own sample shows 06-01-50 for June 1, 1950, so follow that exact pattern. The most common mistake is writing the year as four digits or flipping the day and month, which can mismatch your identity record. People often skip the birthplace because it feels unimportant, but the field is part of how PSI confirms you are who you say you are.
Item 7: Examination Type
This field asks which exam you are registering for and whether it is your first attempt. Place an X in the Salesperson box, then mark Yes or No for the first-time question. For example, Maria Lopez marks Salesperson and Yes for first time. Broker applicants would instead mark Broker and note Associate Broker or Broker, but that is not your path as a salesperson candidate. The most common mistake is checking Broker by reflex, which routes you toward the wrong, harder exam and extra education proof. Some people think first-time status changes the fee, but the $61 fee is the same whether you are testing for the first time or retesting.
Item 8: State Registration Number
This field asks for a category number and registration number if you already hold or held a Maryland license. If this is your first license, leave it blank, because PSI or the Commission assigns it. For example, Maria Lopez, a brand-new applicant, leaves this empty, while someone reinstating would enter category 05 for Salesperson plus their old number. If you are unsure of your status or old number, call MREC at 410-230-6230 before guessing. The most common mistake is inventing a number to “fill the gap,” which corrupts your record and forces manual correction. People think every box must be filled, but this one is meant to stay blank for true first-timers.
Item 9: Examination Portion
This field asks which portion of the exam you are taking: both portions, state only, or national only. Mark Both Portions unless a special circumstance applies, since you must pass both to qualify for a license. For example, Maria Lopez marks Both Portions because she has passed neither yet. If you already passed one portion and are retaking the other, mark that single portion and explain in the boxed area. The most common mistake is marking one portion when you still need both, which leaves you short of the requirement and unable to be licensed. People assume a partial pass carries forever, but timing rules can force a retake if you delay.
Item 10: Education Verification
This field is mainly for Broker candidates, who must enclose original or notarized transcripts or a Letter of Qualification. As a salesperson candidate, you generally mark the boxes that apply to your situation and follow the reciprocity or waiver lines if relevant. For example, Maria Lopez leaves the Broker-only boxes blank because her Maryland school reports her 60-hour completion directly. If you trained out of state or hold a Letter of Qualification, mark Yes and attach the original. The most common mistake is ignoring this section when you do have out-of-state education, which leaves PSI unable to confirm you qualify. People think the school’s report covers everything, but waiver and reciprocity candidates must attach their own proof.
Item 11: Fees
This field collects the $61 examination fee and your card details if you pay by card. Enter the card type, number, expiration, verification code, billing address, and cardholder name. For example, Maria Lopez checks VISA, writes her card number, and signs as cardholder. The form is blunt that fees are not refundable and not transferable, so double-check before you submit. The most common mistake is a wrong expiration date or verification number, which declines the payment and returns the form unprocessed. People assume a failed charge will be retried, but PSI simply returns the incomplete registration.
Item 12: Release
This field asks whether you allow PSI to release your name, address, and pass result to schools, brokers, or other interested parties. Mark Yes if you want brokers to find you after you pass, or No to keep your result private. For example, Maria Lopez marks Yes because she wants sponsoring brokers to reach out. There is no wrong answer here, only a privacy preference. The most common mistake is leaving it blank, which can default your information in a way you did not intend. People think this controls whether MREC sees their score, but the Commission always receives your result; this only governs third-party sharing.
Items 13–14: Experience and Required Questions
Item 13 applies to Broker and Associate Broker candidates, who must attach a Certification of Licensure proving three years of active licensure, so most salesperson candidates skip it. Item 14 is critical for everyone: you must answer questions A through H with Yes or No. For example, Maria Lopez marks Yes to being 18 or older and No to questions about prior licenses, denials, felonies, misdemeanors, fair housing violations, and former-name licenses. The most common mistake is answering No to the conviction question (F) when a record exists, which is treated as falsifying a sworn form and can end your application. People wrongly believe an old or expunged charge does not count, but you should disclose and let the Commission decide.
Item 15: Affidavit and Signature
This field is the sworn statement and your signature with date. Read the affidavit, then sign and date the form the way you would sign a check or legal document. For example, Maria Lopez signs her legal name and dates it 03/14/2026. The form is not complete and will not be accepted without your signature. The most common mistake is forgetting to sign the second page, which voids the entire registration no matter how perfect the rest is. People think a typed name counts as a signature, but the form calls for an actual signing, and you also consent to Maryland jurisdiction by signing.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the MREC Salesperson License Application
After you pass the exam, you complete the license application itself, usually online through OneStop. The fields mirror your identity and add the steps the statute requires. You must apply within one year of passing the exam, or your exam result expires and you start over.
Confirming Identity and Eligibility
The application first confirms who you are and that you meet the basic rules. You enter your legal name, Social Security number, date of birth, and contact details, matching the PSI form exactly. For example, Maria Lopez enters the same name and SSN she used at testing so the records line up. You also attest you are at least 18 and of good character. The most common mistake is using a different name version than your exam record, which forces a manual match and delay. People think the portal pulls everything from PSI automatically, but you still confirm each field.
Education and Examination Confirmation
This section verifies you finished the approved 60-hour course, including the 3-hour ethics component, and passed the state exam. You confirm your course completion and exam pass, which the Commission cross-checks against PSI and your school’s report. For example, Maria Lopez confirms her 60-hour course and her recent passing score. The most common mistake is applying before your school has reported completion, which leaves the Commission unable to verify education and stalls the file. People assume a course certificate in hand is enough, but the Commission relies on the school’s electronic report.
Broker Affiliation Commitment
This is the field that surprises the most candidates. You must provide a commitment from a licensed broker stating you will affiliate with that broker the moment your license is granted. You enter the broker’s name and information, and the broker confirms the sponsorship. For example, Maria Lopez lists Chesapeake Realty and broker James Carter as her sponsor. The most common mistake is applying with no broker lined up, which means the Commission cannot grant an active license. People believe they can get licensed first and pick a broker later, but Title 17 ties the grant of the license to a broker commitment.
Character, Conviction, and Disclosure Questions
This section repeats the sworn questions about convictions, license discipline, and fair housing violations. You answer each truthfully, and any Yes triggers a paper process. For example, Maria Lopez answers No to all of them and continues online. If you have a conviction, you cannot finish online; you must request the paper application at 410-230-6200, attach a true test copy of the charges from every court involved, and include a broker letter acknowledging the charges. The most common mistake is hiding a conviction to stay in the faster online lane, which is treated as fraud on a sworn application. People think a conviction is an automatic denial, but the Commission reviews each case on character and reputation.
Fees and Submission
The final section collects the license fee and submits the form. The original salesperson license fee is listed around $90 on the OneStop portal and $98 on the MREC fee schedule, with the difference being a $20 Guaranty Fund payment built into the total. For example, Maria Lopez pays by card and submits. The most common mistake is closing the browser before payment confirms, which leaves the application unsubmitted while you think it is filed. People assume a saved draft is the same as a filed application, but only a confirmed, paid submission counts.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common applicants. Each shows what the person enters in the most important sections, start to finish.
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez, a first-time applicant affiliating with a broker right away (active license)
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Legal Name | LOPEZ / MARIA exactly as on her Social Security card |
| Social Security Number | 123 45 6789, one digit per box, no dashes |
| Mailing Address | 417 OAK ST, BALTIMORE MD 21202, county BALTIMORE CITY |
| maria.lopez@email.com | |
| Birth Date / Place | 03-14-85, PHILADELPHIA PA |
| Examination Type | Salesperson, first time Yes |
| Examination Portion | Both Portions |
| Conviction Questions (A–H) | No to all except Yes to being 18+ |
| Broker Commitment | Chesapeake Realty, broker James Carter |
| Fee Paid | $98 license fee online |
Scenario 2: David Reyes, a first-time applicant with no broker yet (inactive status)
| Form Section | What David Enters |
|---|---|
| Legal Name | REYES / DAVID matching his SSA card |
| Social Security Number | 987 65 4321, one digit per box |
| Mailing Address | 22 ELM AVE, ROCKVILLE MD 20850, county MONTGOMERY |
| david.reyes@email.com | |
| Birth Date / Place | 11-02-90, SILVER SPRING MD |
| Examination Type | Salesperson, first time Yes |
| Examination Portion | Both Portions |
| Conviction Questions (A–H) | No to all except Yes to being 18+ |
| Broker Commitment | Left pending; license issued inactive until he affiliates |
| Fee Paid | $98 license fee online |
Scenario 3: Aisha Bell, an applicant with a prior conviction filing on paper
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Application Type | Paper application requested by phone at 410-230-6200 |
| Legal Name | BELL / AISHA as on her SSA card |
| Social Security Number | 456 78 9012, one digit per box |
| Mailing Address | 9 PINE CT, ANNAPOLIS MD 21401, county ANNE ARUNDEL |
| Birth Date / Place | 07-21-88, BALTIMORE MD |
| Conviction Question (F) | Yes, disclosed honestly |
| Court Records Attached | True test copy of charges from every court |
| Broker Letter | Letter from broker acknowledging the charges |
| Examination | Salesperson, Both Portions, passed |
| Fee Paid | $98 fee mailed with the paper packet |
How to File the Completed Application
Maryland gives you a few channels, and the right one depends on your situation. Pick carefully, because the wrong channel can bounce your file.
Online portal. Most salesperson candidates file the license application through the Maryland OneStop portal. You log in, complete the Salesperson License form, and pay the roughly $90–$98 fee by credit card. Processing is the fastest of any channel, and your proof of filing is the on-screen confirmation and emailed receipt, which you should save.
PSI exam registration. Before the license step, you register for the exam with PSI online at the PSI exams site, by phone, by fax, or by mailing the paper form with a $61 fee by card or check to PSI at 3210 E Tropicana, Las Vegas, NV 89121. Keep your confirmation number and any emailed receipt as proof.
Paper license application by mail. If you have a conviction or otherwise need paper, call MREC at 410-230-6200 to request the form, then mail it with the $98 fee, court records, and broker letter to the Maryland Real Estate Commission at 500 N. Calvert Street, 3rd floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. Send it with tracking so you have proof of delivery. Paper review takes longer because a person must read the court documents.
For any channel, keep a copy of everything you submit and every receipt. If a question comes up later, your saved proof of filing is what protects you.
What Happens After You File
Once you submit, the Commission verifies your education with your school, confirms your exam result with PSI, and checks your broker commitment. If everything matches and you have a broker, MREC issues an active license for a two-year term starting on the issue date. You then receive your license number and can begin working under your broker right away.
If you applied without a broker, the Commission can place your license on inactive status. An inactive license means you are licensed but cannot practice until you affiliate with a broker, and you generally have a limited window to do so before extra steps apply. For David Reyes, this means he holds the credential but earns nothing until he signs on with a brokerage.
If your file has a problem, like a name mismatch or a disclosed conviction, expect a hold or a request for more documents. Convictions go through a character review where the Commission weighs the offense, its age, and your broker’s acknowledgment letter. Approval is not automatic, but a conviction alone is not an automatic denial.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Application
- Using a nickname or married name that does not match your Social Security card, which triggers an identity hold that freezes the file.
- Transposing digits in your Social Security number, which breaks the cross-check and quietly stalls processing.
- Leaving the Social Security field blank, which gets the registration returned unprocessed because state law requires it.
- Using a bare P.O. box with no rural route number, which the address field rejects outright.
- Dropping the county on your address, which the Commission needs and which delays your record.
- A single typo in your email, which cuts off the Commission’s main way to reach you about deadlines.
- Marking the Broker exam box instead of Salesperson, which routes you to the wrong, harder test.
- Inventing a state registration number when you should leave it blank, which corrupts your record.
- Marking only one exam portion when you still need both, leaving you short of the licensing requirement.
- Answering No to the felony or misdemeanor question when a record exists, which is treated as fraud on a sworn form.
- Forgetting to sign and date the affidavit, which voids the entire registration.
- Applying with no broker commitment, which leaves the Commission unable to grant an active license.
- Applying more than a year after passing the exam, which expires your result and forces you to retest.
- Filing online when you have a conviction, when you must instead request and mail the paper application.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do print your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card, because every state record matches against it.
- Do gather your course certificate, exam result, and broker letter before you start, because a missing item returns the form.
- Do answer every conviction and disclosure question honestly, because the Commission reviews character and a lie ends your file.
- Do apply within one year of passing the exam, because a late application means a full retest.
- Do save every confirmation and receipt, because they are your proof of filing if a dispute arises.
- Do call MREC at 410-230-6230 if you are unsure of your status or old registration number, because guessing corrupts your record.
Don’t:
- Don’t use a bare P.O. box, because the form rejects one without a rural delivery route number.
- Don’t leave the Social Security number blank, because Maryland law requires it and the form will be returned.
- Don’t hide a conviction to stay in the online lane, because that is fraud on a sworn application.
- Don’t assume passing the exam licenses you, because a broker commitment and a granted license are still required.
- Don’t close the browser before payment confirms, because an unpaid draft is not a filed application.
- Don’t forget the second-page signature, because an unsigned form is void no matter how complete the rest is.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Many candidates file alone, while others lean on their school or broker for help. Here is how the two paths compare.
Pros of filing on your own:
- You save any service fee, because you handle the portal yourself.
- You control the timing, because you submit the moment you are ready.
- You learn the system, because you will renew this license yourself in two years.
- You keep your data private, because no third party touches your Social Security number.
- You avoid miscommunication, because no one relays your details secondhand.
Cons of filing on your own:
- You carry the full risk of a returned form, because one wrong box is on you.
- You may miss the broker-commitment requirement, because no one flags it for you.
- You handle conviction paperwork alone, because the paper process is more complex.
- You might apply past the one-year window, because you track the deadline yourself.
- You get no second set of eyes, because errors slip through unchecked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I file the license application before or after I pass the exam?
No. You register with PSI and pass the state exam first, then file the MREC license application within one year of passing, or your exam result expires and you must retest.
Do I need a broker before I apply for the license?
Yes. Maryland law ties the grant of your license to a broker commitment letter, so you need a sponsoring broker, or your license is issued inactive and you cannot practice.
Do I write my maiden name or married name on the form?
Yes, write the exact legal name on your Social Security card. If your card still shows your maiden name, use that, because the state matches your entry against federal records.
Do I have to put my Social Security number on the form?
Yes. The field is marked required and Maryland law backs it, so a blank box gets your registration returned unprocessed.
Do I leave the State Registration Number box blank as a new applicant?
Yes. First-time applicants leave it blank because PSI or the Commission assigns the number; inventing one corrupts your record.
Do I check Both Portions on the exam form?
Yes, unless you already passed one portion. You must pass both the state and national portions to qualify for a license.
Do I have to disclose an old or expunged conviction?
Yes. Answer the conviction questions honestly and let the Commission decide, because answering No when a record exists is treated as fraud on a sworn form.
Do I file online if I have a criminal conviction?
No. You must call MREC at 410-230-6200 for the paper application, then mail it with court records and a broker letter acknowledging the charges.
Do I use a P.O. box for my mailing address?
No, not by itself. The form rejects a P.O. box unless it includes a rural delivery route number, so use a street address.
Do I include the county in my address?
Yes. The Commission needs your county for its records, and leaving it out delays processing.
Do I sign both pages of the PSI form?
Yes. The affidavit signature in Item 15 is required, and an unsigned registration is void no matter how complete the rest is.
Do the exam fee and license fee differ?
Yes. The PSI exam fee is $61, and the original salesperson license fee is about $90 to $98, which includes a $20 Guaranty Fund payment.
Do I get refunds if I make a mistake on the exam form?
No. The PSI form states fees are not refundable and not transferable, so review every field before you submit.
Do I have to renew this license, and how often?
Yes. Maryland salesperson licenses run two years, and you must renew with 15 hours of continuing education and the renewal fee before the license expires.
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