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Getting your real estate license in Michigan is an exciting goal and the start of a fulfilling real estate career. In this article, we broke down the steps and requirements for each stage of the licensing process. We’ll walk you through every requirement, how long the process takes, what it costs, and the smartest way to complete your pre-licensing education so you can start your new career in 2026.
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) governs all licensing activity in the state, so every applicant follows the same path from education to activation.
All real estate salesperson and broker licenses in Michigan are issued through LARA, which ensures that every agent meets the education, exam, and background requirements before issuing a license. Their rules are consistent statewide, whether you plan to work in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, or smaller local markets.
Before enrolling in a course or scheduling an exam, let’s review the current basic requirements:
These requirements apply to all new salesperson applicants in 2026. Broker applicants must already hold an active salesperson license for at least three years and meet additional education criteria.
Michigan requires forty hours of approved instruction before you can sit for the state exam. You may take this in a classroom or online format. All pre-licensing courses through NCI Associates satisfy the full forty-hour requirement and include the newest 2026 Michigan content updates.
After finishing your course, create an account on the Michigan Professional Licensing User System (MiPLUS). Submit your application and pay the application fee. LARA must approve this before you can schedule your exam.
Michigan uses PSI to administer exams at testing centers and online. The test includes both national and Michigan-specific sections. You must pass both portions during one sitting to qualify for licensing.
All applicants must complete fingerprinting through an approved vendor. LARA uses these results to confirm eligibility before your license can be issued.
You must work under a licensed Michigan broker to practice real estate. Once your broker accepts your sponsorship in MiPLUS, your license becomes active and you can begin helping clients.
Here is a realistic cost overview for most Michigan applicants:
Estimated total is between $367 and $650 from start to finish.
Our accelerated real estate course only takes one week to complete, while our online self-paced course can be taken in your own time. Once you complete the course, you could technically schedule your exam for the next day. Most students complete all of the requirements and take the exam within four to six weeks.
The salesperson exam contains one hundred fifteen questions divided between national and state topics. You will see questions related to property ownership, contracts, finance, agency, and Michigan license law.
The state section focuses heavily on disclosure, escrow rules, and the duties of brokers and salespersons under Michigan law. You must score at least seventy percent overall to pass.
Students who complete NCI Associates pre-licensing courses will receive practice questions modeled after the current PSI exam format, which makes it easier to understand how questions are phrased and scored.
As long as the pre-licensing course has been approved by LARA, it can be in either an online or an in-person format. Personal preference, convenience, and learning style dictates which format students choose. Online courses allow self-paced progress and are ideal for people that work full time or have other obligations during the day, whereas in-person classes provide direct instructor interaction and a scheduled study structure.
Once you receive your Michigan license, you must complete continuing education (CE) each renewal period to maintain it. CE ensures that agents stay current with law changes, ethics standards, and industry practices. You can explore approved courses through NCI’s continuing education options to stay compliant and build skills that lead to higher client trust and stronger production.
No. Nonresidents may apply, but you must still meet all education and exam requirements and work with a Michigan-licensed broker.
Michigan does not have full reciprocity. Out-of-state agents must complete Michigan’s pre-licensing course and exam to obtain a Michigan license.
Licenses are renewed every three years, continuing education can be taken anytime in that three-year renewal period.
Pass rates vary around sixty to seventy percent. Proper study and updated materials make a significant difference.
Selecting a reputable real estate school with experienced instructors is perhaps the most important step in getting your real estate license in Michigan. NCI Associates has been educating Michigan agents since 1979 with a passion for learning and respect for the industry. As a Michigan-specific real estate school, we only teach the most up-to-date and career-enhancing information. Have any questions about how to get your real estate license? Call us at 586-247-9800.
However, fulfilling the promise of a successful real estate future requires the right choices at the right times. The most important decision to make right now? Where you’ll begin — or continue — your real estate training. NCI Associates, Ltd. remains your intelligent choice for Michigan Real Estate Classes.
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