Real Estate License from Maryland to Delaware: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Delaware accept a Maryland real estate license?
Yes — Delaware recognizes real estate licenses from all states, including Maryland. Apply to the Delaware Real Estate Commission (Division of Professional Regulation) for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.
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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Full reciprocity
Delaware honors licenses from every state, so your Maryland license qualifies you to apply; it is not an automatic transfer. The work that remains is Delaware-side mechanics: the application, the background check, the state-law exam where required, and affiliating with a Delaware brokerage to activate the license. None of it is difficult; all of it is sequential — start the license-history certification first, it has the longest lead time.
What's different between Maryland and Delaware
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Delaware. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Maryland to Delaware (this page): Full reciprocity.
Delaware to Maryland (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.
The two directions differ: Maryland and Delaware do not give each other's licensees the same route.
- Does coming from Maryland matter?
Coming from Maryland does not change the answer: every origin (the other 49 states and DC) gets the same result for a move into Delaware.
- Reciprocity agreements
Maryland's reciprocity agreement list names 2 states (Pennsylvania and Oklahoma), not including Delaware.
- Application fee
Delaware lists $149 for an out-of-state applicant and Maryland lists $98 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Processing time
Maryland lists 2–3 weeks for the reverse move; Delaware has no verified processing-time figure on file, so the two cannot be compared here.
- Pre-license education
Delaware's first-time-applicant standard is 99 hours of pre-license education; Maryland's is 60.
Delaware's is 39 education hours higher than Maryland's.
- Exam rules on record
Delaware and Maryland carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Delaware (this move): Reciprocity applicants skip the general/national portion of the salesperson exam but must pass the Delaware Law portion of the examination (Pearson VUE)
- Maryland (the reverse move): 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 changes, Maryland → Delaware
| Maryland (current) | Delaware (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-license education | 60 | 99 |
| Application 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).) | $149 (Salesperson initial application fee (DELPROS); a $25 Guaranty Fund fee and a criminal background check/fingerprint fee also apply) |
| 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.) | No board-stated timeframe; application, fees, and third-party verifications are submitted and processed through DELPROS |
| Licensing authority | Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC), Maryland Department of Labor - Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing | Delaware Real Estate Commission (Division of Professional Regulation) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Delaware sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Delaware's current requirements on the Delaware Real Estate Commission (Division of Professional Regulation) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Delaware Real Estate Commission (Division of Professional Regulation) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold an active salesperson license in another U.S. jurisdiction.
- Pass the Delaware Law portion of the salesperson examination.
- Provide one of: a Delaware law pre-licensing course certificate, a certificate for a >=99-hour pre-licensing salesperson course from another jurisdiction, OR proof of 3 years continuous licensure plus a list of 20 completed sales/lease transactions.
- Submit a Certificate of Licensure History from your current jurisdiction.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep selling in Maryland after I'm licensed in Delaware?
Yes — real estate licenses stack. Keep the Maryland license active (renewals and CE continue separately) and you hold both; many border-market agents do exactly this.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Delaware Real Estate Commission — Salesperson Licensure (reciprocity requirements) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Delaware Real Estate Commission — Fee Schedule (Salesperson $149; Guaranty Fund $25) ↗ (accessed 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 the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com