What type of license will you receive if you have a supervising broker at the time of application?

An active license is issued to a real estate salesperson who is affiliated with and supervised by a licensed real estate broker. The application process for a salesperson license in Maryland requires the applicant to name their sponsoring broker. This affiliation is the prerequisite for the Maryland Real Estate Commission to issue a license that permits the individual to legally provide real estate brokerage services to the public. Without a supervising broker, an individual can only hold an inactive license, which does not authorize them to practice real estate.

B. A broker’s license is a separate, higher-level license requiring additional experience and education, not what a new salesperson applicant receives.

C. A firm license is issued to the real estate brokerage entity (e.g., a corporation or LLC), not to an individual salesperson.

D. An inactive license is issued to a licensee who is not affiliated with a supervising broker and therefore cannot practice real estate.

1. Maryland Code, Business Occupations and Professions, § 17-302. This section outlines the qualifications for a real estate salesperson license, which implicitly requires affiliation for practice. The entire statutory scheme differentiates between active practice (requiring a broker) and holding a license without the ability to practice.

2. Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 09.11.01.12. This regulation states, "On receipt of a statement from a licensed real estate broker that a licensed real estate salesperson... is affiliated with the broker, the Commission shall issue to the salesperson... a license that shows the name of the broker." This confirms that affiliation with a broker results in the issuance of a practicing (active) license.

3. University of Baltimore School of Law, Principles of Maryland Real Estate Course Materials. Course syllabi and materials covering Maryland real estate law consistently define an "active" salesperson as one who is sponsored by a broker, while an "inactive" salesperson is one who is not. This is a fundamental principle of Maryland agency and licensing law.