Transfer a Real Estate License to Michigan

Verified July 2026 · 20 official sources

Start over, but your years jump you to associate broker

Michigan has no reciprocal agreement with any state, so an arriving agent starts over, taking the full 40-hour course and the whole 115-question PSI exam like a first-timer, about $370 all in. The prize is at the broker tier, where a June 4, 2025 rule credits 1 year toward the 3-year experience requirement for each out-of-state year with 5 or more closed transactions, so 3 qualifying years lets you skip salesperson and apply straight for associate broker. Every step is remote, with the course online, the exam at out-of-state PSI centers or by live online proctoring, and no fingerprints anywhere.

First year: about $370Renewal: $78 / 3 yrsWait: About 1 week on a clean file (confirming)Work while waiting: No, wait for the license and pocket cardTravel required: None, exam out of state or online

What carries over to Michigan, and what does not

Comes with you

Licensed years toward broker experience, 1 per year with 5+ closings
A law degree or MBA, worth 60 of the 90 broker hours
A bachelor's in business or finance, worth 30 broker hours
Nothing at the salesperson tier, no course or exam waivers

New for this state

40-hour Michigan course (90 at broker tier), approved schools only
The whole PSI exam, one blended test, no national-portion credit
A MiPLUS account, card payment only, no paper applications
Notarized Consent to Service of Process for nonresidents
A Michigan employing broker to approve and hold your license

If you hold a broker license

Since June 4, 2025, rule R 339.22115 grants 1 year of experience credit per out-of-state year with 5 or more closed transactions, and 3 such years meets the requirement, so a seasoned agent applies straight for associate broker with 90 hours of Michigan education (a law degree or MBA covers 60, a business bachelor's 30), the $79 broker exam, and a $143 application. Individual brokers (sole proprietors) must keep a Michigan office, so remote arrivals choose associate broker.

Working in Michigan without a Michigan license

On a single deal Only from outside Michigan. MCL 339.2512(1)(h) lets a Michigan broker pay an out-of-state broker who conducts no negotiation inside the state, so you can co-broker a Michigan deal remotely while the Michigan broker does the in-state work. There is no cooperative agreement, single-deal permit, or nonresident license, so entering Michigan to show or negotiate is unlicensed activity.

Referrals Yes, broker to broker. The same stay-outside clause covers a pure referral fee paid to your broker, and your cut flows through your own employing broker, since a salesperson may never take the money directly (MCL 339.2510).

Your send-off checklist

YOUCheck the broker shortcut first. With 3 or more licensed years of 5+ closed transactions each, apply for associate broker instead (90 hours, $143) and skip this list.

YOUR SCHOOLTake the 40-hour Michigan-approved course (4 hours civil rights and fair housing). Approved distance learning counts, valid 36 months. $200 to $400

YOUIf you live outside Michigan, notarize the Consent to Service of Process. Any state's notary works. Consent form (PDF)

YOUApply online in MiPLUS under Real Estate Salesperson, uploading the course certificate and consent form. Card payment only, application alive 1 year. $88 MiPLUS

STATE BOARDSLARA reviews and sends exam eligibility to PSI within 24 to 48 hours of authorization (review days confirming). PSI emails your Candidate ID.

YOUSchedule and pass the PSI exam. 115 questions, 70% to pass, 180 minutes, at any PSI center or by live online proctoring. Pass valid 1 year. $79 PSI Michigan

YOUAdd your employing broker's 10-digit number via MiPLUS Modification. The broker approves electronically and you practice once you hold the pocket card.

YOUCalendar the 3-year cycle. 18 CE hours with yearly minimums of 2 law hours and 1 fair housing hour, Michigan-certified courses only, renewal $78 with a 60-day grace.

The money

40-hour Michigan course	$200 to $400, school sets price
MiPLUS application + 3-year license	$88
PSI exam, per attempt	$79 (confirming)
Consent to Service of Process notarization	notary fee, any state
Fingerprints and background check	$0, none collected
E&O insurance	$0, not mandated
Recovery fund	$0, no fund exists
TOTAL First year, typical	about $370
Then: renewal every 3 years	$78

Watch out in Michigan

Clocks stack. Education good 36 months, exam pass 1 year, and the application voids with fees forfeited 1 year after payment.
The individual broker tier requires a physical Michigan office, so remote arrivals file as associate broker under an existing brokerage.
The experience form still cites rescinded rule R 339.22217. The live rule is R 339.22115, so use the form as posted.
The $79 exam fee (an older guide shows $76) and whether an active out-of-state license preserves the 36-month broker education window are both confirming with BPL.

Official links for Michigan

Keep going

The real estate planner, which builds a plan across several states at once.
Errors and omissions insurance by state, the 15 states that mandate it.
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