Housing prices are rising steadily throughout Maryland,1 meaning there are lots of people who want to hire real estate agents and lots of opportunities for real estate salespeople to make money as regulated by the Maryland Realty Commission.
Thinking about pursuing real estate agent training? This guide includes all the necessary information, from how to become a real estate agent to the difference between a realtor® vs. a real estate agent.
Fundamental Requirements For Obtaining a Real Estate Professional License
The standard training for real estate agents in Maryland starts with completing real estate pre-licensing courses and obtaining a background check (which includes getting fingerprints taken).
The following sections detail the requirements set by the Maryland Realty Commission and some of the most important factors to keep in mind at the beginning of the real estate training journey.
Necessary Age and Elementary Education Standards
At a minimum, real estate agents in Maryland must be 18 years old. They must also be “professionally competent and of good character and reputation.”2 The Maryland Realty Commission reviews applicants’ backgrounds to determine if they meet the criteria for having “good character and reputation.”
It’s important to note that applicants are not automatically disqualified because they have a felony or misdemeanor on their record. Each applicant’s history is reviewed case by case and determined by an assessment of the records and documents related to the conviction.
Needed Pre-License Course Duration
To qualify for a real estate salesperson license, applicants must also complete 60 hours of pre-license courses.
Cost of Pre-Licensing Training in Real Estate
The price of pre-licensing training classes varies from school to school. The table below features all of the approved education providers in Maryland, with information on the school’s location and cost.3
| County | School Name | City | Contact Name | Phone | Price |
| AA | Anne Arundel County Association | Severna Park | Tamekia Martin | 410-544-4554 | $279-6394 |
| AA | Don Gurney Academy of Real Estate | Glen Burnie | Don Gurney | 410-255-6650 | $2005 |
| AA | Douglas Real Estate Academy | Pasadena | Jennifer Colvin | 866-280-4222 | $279-6396 |
| AA | Elite Learning Academy | Pasadena | Buddy Capezio | 443-223-7500 | $3287 |
| AA | 1st Choice Real Estate Academy | Crofton | David Norkus | 443-871-2946 | $1758 |
| AA | Maryland Land Title Association | Annapolis | Mark Glazer | 301-873-0424 | $375 (members)
$599 (non-members)9 |
| AG | Allegany College of Maryland | Cumberland | Kathy Diehl | 301-784-5121 | $35010 |
| BA | The Agency Institute of Real Estate | Baltimore | Lee Taylor Butler | 410-782-0161 | $199-39911 |
| BC | Community College of Baltimore County | Baltimore | Barbara Schmitt | 443-840-1716 | $54912 |
| BC | Long & Foster Institute of Real Estate | Lutherville | J. Nicholas D’Ambrosia | 703-653-8345 | $154-25913 |
| BC | Maryland Real Estate Academy | Baltimore | Linda Hood | 410-501-3960 | $279-63914 |
| CH | College of Southern Maryland | LaPlata | Paula Coluzzi | 301-934-2251 | $62015 |
| CR | Carroll County Community College | Westminster | Barbara Burke | 410-386-8019 | $82916 |
| HO | Frederick Academy of Real Estate | Marriottsville | Colin McGowan | 410-442-5789 | $25017 |
| HO | Howard Community College | Columbia | Kristen Navarro | 443-518-4972 | $52518 |
| MN | Academy of Real Estate | Silver Spring | Steve Weiler | 888-786-8173 | $29019 |
| MN | Distance Learning Institute Training | Kensington | Winnie Gathitu | 301-615-0906 | $419-75520 |
| MN | Metropolitan Real Estate Academy | Silver Spring | Mary Warren | 301-256-6767 | $41621 |
| MN | Reed Training Center | Silver Spring | Cammie Reed | 240-293-6393 | $39522 |
| MN | Tristar Academy Inc | Silver Spring | Sarah Sinanan | 240-701-6327 | $30523 |
| PG | Dias Real Estate Academy | Clinton | Marie Dias | 240-429-9842 | $350-54824 |
| PG | HomeSmart Real Estate School | Waldorf | Sharon Martlock | 301-358-6038 | $24025 |
| PG | Prince George’s Community College | Largo | Kristal Brown | 301-546-8340 | $65026 |
| PG | The Real Estate School | Landover | Tawana Jackson | 301-456-4247 | $44927 |
| SM | New Millenium Real Estate School | California | Marylynn Stone | 301-862-2169 | $279-63928 |
| TA | Chesapeake College | Wye Mills | Lois Thomas | 410-827-5400 x 2360 | $30029 |
| TA | Real Estate Institute | Easton | J. Michael Crosby | 410-819-0100 | $279-63930 |
| WN | Hagerstown Community College | Hagerstown | Maureen Iskra | 240-500-2490 | $19331 |
| WO | Ed Smith Real Estate School | Ocean City | Chris Smith | 410-251-3189 | $39532 |
| WO | McKissock, LLC | Ocean City | Bruce Witt | 800-328-2008 | $370-52733 |
| N/A | Kaplan Real Estate Education | OUT OF STATE | Lisa Goyette | 608-518-4543 | $249-47934 |
Prescribed Background Check for Real Estate Professionals (Fingerprinting Facility Locations)
All real estate professionals in Maryland must be fingerprinted and go through a background check before they can move forward with obtaining their licenses, in accordance with the guidelines set by the Maryland Realty Commission.
If you live in Maryland, you can be fingerprinted at any of these locations:35
- CJIS MVA, 501 West MacPhail Road, Bel Air, MD
- CJIS MVA, 1601 Bowman’s Farm Road, Frederick, MD
- CJIS MVA, 6601 Ritchie Hwy, N.E., Glen Burnie, MD
- CJIS MVA, 251 Tilghman Rd, Salisbury, MD
- CJIS MVA, 11 Industrial Park Drive, Waldorf, MD
Appointments are required at all of the fingerprinting offices listed above. You can call 410-764-4501 or 1-888-795-0011 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment for fingerprinting.
For walk-in fingerprinting services, visit the CJIS Storefront, 6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 101, Baltimore, MD.
If you live outside of Maryland, you must ask for a fingerprint card by taking one of the following steps:
- Call the Criminal Justice Information System – Central Repository at 410-764-4501 (you can also call toll-free at 1-888-795-0011).
- Write to the Criminal Justice Information System – Central Repository at Post Office Box 32708 in Pikesville, Maryland, zip code 21282-2708
Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation Membership Fees and Financial Commitments
The application for your original license requires a $90 fee (this includes a $20 Guaranty Fund payment).36
This fee is nonrefundable.
References
1State Department of Assessments and Taxation. (2023, October 6). Fiscal 2023 Median Residential Sales by Quarter. maryland.gov. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from <https://dat.maryland.gov/Documents/statistics/FY2023-RSBQ-Q4.pdf>
2Maryland OneStop. (2023). Salesperson License Details. Maryland OneStop. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from <https://onestop.md.gov/licenses/salesperson-license-5d15409e54f24d03e9997c25>
3Maryland Department of Labor. (2023). Continuing Education Requirements – Real Estate Commission. Maryland Department of Labor. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from <https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/mrec/mrecproviders.shtml>
4AACAR – The CE Shop. (2023). Maryland Salesperson Pre-Licensing Course Pricing and Packages. AACAR – The CE Shop. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://aacar.theceshop.com/maryland/pre-licensing/md-salesperson-pre-licensing-cost>
5Century 21 Don Gurney. (2023). Pre-License Real Estate Course. Century 21 Don Gurney. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://c21dongurneyacademy.com/real-estate-courses>
6Douglas Realty – The CE Shop. (2023). Maryland Salesperson Pre-Licensing Course Pricing and Packages. Douglas Realty – The CE Shop. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://douglasrealty.theceshop.com/maryland/pre-licensing/md-salesperson-pre-licensing-cost>
7Elite Learning Academy. (2023). Real Estate Salesperson Pre Licensing. Elite Learning Academy. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://www.elaeducation.com/pages/real-estate-salesperson-pre-licensing>
81st Choice Real Estate Academy. (2023). Book A Course. 1st Choice Real Estate Academy. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://www.1streacademy.com/bookaclass>
9Maryland Land Title Association. (2023). Title Insurance Pre-Licensing. Maryland Land Title Association. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://www.mdlta.org/pre-licensing>
10Allegany College of Maryland. (2023). Principles of Real Estate for Sales Agents. Allegany College of Maryland. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://services.allegany.edu/ce/?course=PRO161>
11The Agency Institute of Real Estate. (2019). Maryland Salesperson Pre-Licensing Program. The Agency Institute of Real Estate. <https://theagencyinstitute.com/salesperson-self-pace>
12Community College of Baltimore County. (2023). Real Estate Salesperson, Continuing Education Workforce Certificate. Community College of Baltimore County. <https://www.ccbcmd.edu/Programs-and-Courses-Finder/ConED-Program/real-estate-salesperson>
13Long & Foster Institute of Real Estate. (2023). MD Prelicensing Class – Annapolis Eastport. Long & Foster Institute of Real Estate. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://web.cvent.com/event/da406427-c127-4c53-ba6f-d97d4e5690c4/summary?Refid=PrinciplesCalendar>
14Maryland Real Estate Academy – The CE Shop. (2023). Maryland Salesperson Pre-Licensing Course Pricing and Packages. Maryland Real Estate Academy – The CE Shop. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://marylandrealestateacademy.theceshop.com/maryland/pre-licensing/md-salesperson-pre-licensing-cost>
15College of Southern Maryland. (2023). Real Estate Agent. College of Southern Maryland. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://csmd.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassListing.ClassListingDisplay&int_category_id=19&int_sub_category_id=72&int_catalog_id=>
16Carroll County Community College. (2023). Real Estate Sales Agent Certificate. Carroll County Community College. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://www.carrollcc.edu/programs/professional-skills-job-training/real-estate-sales-agent-certificate/>
17Frederick Academy of Real Estate. (2023). Real Estate. Frederick Academy of Real Estate. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://portal.recampus.com/re/frederickacademy/store/portalcheckout/browse/RE_WHOLESALE?state-code=MD&licensetype=SLP#Licensing>
18Howard Community College. (2023). Real Estate. Howard Community College. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://www.howardcc.edu/programs-courses/continuing-education/courses/business-courses/real-estate/>
19Academy of Real Estate. (2023). Maryland Real Estate Principles and Practice Online Pre-Licensing Course. Academy of Real Estate. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://www.myacademyclasses.com/md-pre-licensing-online.html>
20DLI Training – The CE Shop. (2023). Maryland Salesperson Pre-Licensing Course Pricing and Packages. DLI Training – The CE Shop. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://dlitraining.theceshop.com/dc/pre-licensing/dc-salesperson-pre-licensing-cost>
21Metropolitan Real Estate Academy. (2023). https://www.metropolitanrealestate.academy/register-for-class. Metropolitan Real Estate Academy. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://www.metropolitanrealestate.academy/register-for-class>
22Reed Training Center. (2023). Maryland Salesperson Pre-Licensing Class. Reed Training Center. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://www.reedtrainingcenter.com/pre-licensing-salesperson/>
23Tristar Academy Inc. (2023). Maryland Prelicensing for Real Estate Salespersons – 5 Weeks. Tristar Academy Inc. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://www.mytristaracademy.com/courses/maryland-prelicensing-for-real-estate-salespersons-5-weeks-weekend-sat-sun-5/>
24Dias Real Estate Academy. (2023). Salesperson Pre-license/Clinton. Dias Real Estate Academy. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://diastraining.net/salesperson-pre-license-clinton/>
25HomeSmart Real Estate School. (2023). Principles and Practices of Real Estate for Salesperson. HomeSmart Real Estate School. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://homesmartreschool.com/class/principles-and-practices/>
26Prince George’s Community College. (2023). Real Estate. Prince George’s Community College. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://www.pgcc.edu/programs-courses/continuing-education/business-and-management-skills/real-estate/>
27The Real Estate School. (2023). Pre-Licensing Courses. The Real Estate School. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://therealestateschool.us/collections/pre-licensing>
28Century 21 New Millennium – The CE Shop. (2023). Maryland Salesperson Pre-Licensing Course Pricing and Packages. Century 21 New Millennium – The CE Shop. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://c21nm.theceshop.com/maryland/pre-licensing/md-salesperson-pre-licensing-cost>
29Chesapeake College. (2023). Occupational Training. Chesapeake College. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://www.chesapeake.edu/continuing-education/occupational-training-real-estate>
30Real Estate Institute -The CE Shop. (2023). Maryland Salesperson Pre-Licensing Course Pricing and Packages. Real Estate Institute -The CE Shop. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://rei02.theceshop.com/maryland/pre-licensing/md-salesperson-pre-licensing-cost>
31Hagerstown Community College. (2023). Real Estate Career & Professional Education Courses. Hagerstown Community College. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://www.hagerstowncc.edu/real-estate-career-professional-education-courses>
32Ed Smith Real Estate School. (2023). Maryland 60 Hour Salesperson Pre Licensing Course. Ed Smith Real Estate School. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <http://www.edsmithschool.com/salesperson-pre-licensing-.html>
33Colibri Real Estate. (2023). Maryland Real Estate License Courses Online. Colibri Real Estate. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://www.colibrirealestate.com/real-estate/maryland/license/>
34Kaplan Real Estate Education. (2023). Maryland Real Estate Licensing Courses. Kaplan Real Estate Education. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://www.kapre.com/real-estate/maryland/licensing-courses>
35Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. (2023). Fingerprinting Services. Maryland.gov. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from <https://dpscs.maryland.gov/publicservs/fingerprint.shtml>
36Maryland.gov. (2023). Forms and Fees – Real Estate Commission. Maryland Department of Labor. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from <https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/mrec/mrecaff.shtml#fees>