Real Estate License from Pennsylvania to Maryland: Does It Transfer? (2026)

What's different between Pennsylvania and Maryland

Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Maryland. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.

Route, each way

Pennsylvania to Maryland (this page): Reciprocity agreement.

Maryland to Pennsylvania (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.

The two directions differ: Pennsylvania and Maryland do not give each other's licensees the same route.

Does coming from Pennsylvania matter?

Coming from Pennsylvania matters here: only 2 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into Maryland.

The others get: licensure by endorsement (48).

Reciprocity agreements

Maryland's reciprocity agreement list names 2 states (Pennsylvania and Oklahoma), including Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania's row names no reciprocity agreement states.

Application fee

Maryland lists $98 for an out-of-state applicant and Pennsylvania lists $97 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.

Processing time

Maryland lists 2–3 weeks; Pennsylvania has no verified processing-time figure on file, so the two cannot be compared here.

Pre-license education

Maryland's first-time-applicant standard is 60 hours of pre-license education; Pennsylvania's is 75.

Maryland's is 15 education hours lower than Pennsylvania's.

Exam rules on record

Maryland and Pennsylvania carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.

• Maryland (this 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).
• Pennsylvania (the reverse move): An applicant actively licensed as a salesperson or broker in another state within the last 5 years takes and passes only the Pennsylvania state portion of the exam (national portion waived); a non-resident reciprocal license requires no Pennsylvania examination.

What changes, Pennsylvania → Maryland

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Maryland sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

1. Confirm Maryland's current requirements on the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC), Maryland Department of Labor - Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing website (linked below) — rules change.
2. Submit the reciprocity application to the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC), Maryland Department of Labor - Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (application linked below).
3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
4. Hold a current, active real estate license in the reciprocal/originating state.
5. Submit a full certified license history; for Out-of-State Recognition the certificate must be dated within 120 days (mailed originals within 30 days of issue).
6. Salespersons must submit a letter from the sponsoring Maryland broker; the broker's principal place of business cannot be in Maryland.
7. Your Maryland license category matches your out-of-state license category; a reciprocal license voids if the home-state license expires or goes inactive.
8. Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.

Official links

Related guides