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GCAAR

Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors®

Licensing Requirements

MD, VA license expiration dates extended

Maryland and Virginia have both placed an extension on any license renewals until 30 days after the end of the declaration of state of emergency. (DC's renewal dates still stand.) See below for more information.

District of Columbia

The license renewal date in the District of Columbia is February 28 for brokers and property managers, and August 31 for sales agents. Renewals are on a two-year cycle, in every odd numbered year. Therefore, for the year 2020, DC brokers, property managers and sales agents are not up for renewal. More information for DC licensees is available here. On this site, you can also find comprehensive information about COVID-19 from Mayor Muriel Bowser. This information will be updated when the state of emergency is lifted.

An applicant for renewal of any real estate broker or property manager license that expires on February 28, 2021 or real estate salesperson's license expiring on August 31, 2021, must submit proof of completing 15 hours of approved continuing education (CE) credit in the following subjects:

Fair Housing 3 hours
DC Legislative Update 3 hours
DC Ethics 3 hours
General Electives 6 hours


These guidelines apply to actively licensed DC agents:

If you are a new salesperson licensee who received your DC real estate license between September 1, 2017 and August 31, 2019, then you are exempt from taking CE courses, if this is your first license renewal. This statement does not necessarily apply to licensees who are on Inactive status or who apply for Reinstatement, and who make their licenses active.

For more information, please call the DC Real Estate Commission toll-free at 1-866-270-9817 or email licensing@dcopla.com.

Verify DC credits earned.


Maryland

The State of Maryland has placed an extension on any license renewals until 30 days after the end of the declaration of state of emergency by Governor Larry Hogan. More information is available here. For further information on the state of the emergency and specifics on the orders, refer to the Maryland REALTORS® website. For more information on Maryland real estate licensure, visit the Maryland Real Estate Commission's website. This information will updated when the state of emergency is lifted.

Important update from Maryland REALTORS as of 9-29-2020

Maryland REALTORS® HIGHLY RECOMMENDS renewing your license as soon as possible, if you have completed all the necessary CE requirements. Please do not wait until the State of Emergency is lifted, as there will likely be a significant backlog if too many licensees all seek their renewals at the same time.

Every two years, Maryland real estate licensees are required to meet mandated continuing education requirements and renew their licenses. Course content required is based on type of services provided - residential or commercial - and your role.


New as of October 1, 2019:
On October 1, 2019 new law regarding Real Estate Brokerage Relationships, Continuing Education, and Disclosures goes into effect.  This new legislation amends several portions of the Real Estate Brokers Act – including, the required course content for pre-licensing and continuing education classes, prohibits licensees from disclosing confidential information obtained from prospective clients, and alters the definitions of brokerage relationship and dual agency under Maryland law.  This new class replaces the former MREC Agency (Residential) class. Review the new law here. 

Hours Needed:

All Residential Licensees

15 hours which must include:
3.0 Legislative (Topic A)
3.0 Ethics (Topic D)
3.0 MREC Brokerage Relationships* (Topic H)
1.5 Fair Housing (Topic C)
4.5 Any elective course(s) (Topic B, F or G)

* Formerly known as MREC Agency - Residential

 

All Commercial Licensees
(for licensees performing exclusively commercial work, must not perform residential business)

 

15 hours which must include:
3.0 Legislative (Topic A)
3.0 Ethics (Topic D)
3.0 MREC Agency- Commercial (Topic H)
6.0 Any elective course(s) (Topic B, F or G)

 

ALL Brokers, Branch Office Managers, and Team Leaders

 

15 hours which must include:
3.0 Legislative (Topic A)
3.0 Ethics (Topic D)
3.0 MREC Brokerage Relationships* (Topic H)
3.0 MREC Supervision (Topic I)
1.5 Fair Housing (Topic C)
1.5 Any elective course(s) (Topic B, F or G)

For additional information, please call the Maryland Real Estate Commission toll-free at 1-888-218-5925 or email mrec@dllr.state.md.us.

Verify Maryland credits earned.



Virginia

The state of Virginia has placed an extension on any license renewals until 30 days after the end of the declaration of state of emergency by Governor Ralph Northam. For details explaining this status, see the Temporary Waiver of Regulations. This information will updated when the state of emergency is lifted.

All Virginia real estate licensees are required to take the following courses to renew their licenses:

Salespersons - Must complete 16 hours of Continuing Education (CE)

Mandatory Topics - 8 hours
Agency (1 hour)
Ethics (3 hours)
Fair Housing (2 hours)
Legal Updates (that include flood content) (1 hour)
Contracts (1 hour)

Elective Topics - 8 hours

Brokers - must complete 24 hours of Continuing Education (CE) 

Mandatory Topics - 16 hours
Broker Management & Agent Supervision (8 hours)
Agency (1 hour)
Ethics (3 hours)
Fair Housing (2 hours)
Legal Updates (that include flood content) (1 hour)
Contracts (1 hour)

Elective Topics - 8 hours

For additional information, please call the Virginia Real Estate Commission at 804-367-8500 or email REBoard@dpor.virginia.gov.

Verify Virginia credits earned.