MICHIGAN REAL ESTATE FAQS
Revised 2/8/2024 Page 1 of 8
Bureau of Professional Licensing
Real Estate FAQs
1. How can I contact the Licensing Division?
Email:
Questions
BPLHelp@michigan.gov
Submit Documents
BPLData@michigan.gov
Phone:
(517) 241-0199
Mailing Address:
Bureau of Professional
Licensing PO Box 30670
Lansing, MI 48909
2.
Can I use a P.O. Box for my address?
Salespersons and Associate Brokers can have a PO Box. Broker Companies, Individual
Brokers, and Branch offices must have a physical address in Michigan.
3. Can I have an out of state address?
Salespersons and Associate Brokers can have an out-of-state address, but they must
complete and send in a Consent to Service of Process form. Forms can be obtained at
www.michigan.gov/realestate
under the Licensing Applications and Forms section. Broker
Company, Individual Brokers, and Branch offices must have a physical address in
Michigan.
4. How do I transfer my license to a new employer?
Real Estate Salespersons (6501) and Non-Principal Associate Brokers (6506) may
complete a license transfer by submitting a “Modificaton” request in your MiPlus account.
Please visit www.michigan.gov/realestate
to view the guide “How to Transfer a License
in MiPlus”.
Individual Broker (6504) and Principal Associate Broker (6502) licenses cannot be
transferred.
5. Will I get a new license when I transfer to a different broker?
Yes, after you have transferred your license to a new broker, an electronic copy of your
new wall license and pocket card will be sent to your new employing broker by email.
If you need a physical copy of your new wall license and pocket card, you may order a
license reprint for $10 by visiting www.michigan.gov/miplus
. Select “Modification” next to
your license number followed by License Reprint.
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6. How do I obtain a certification or letter of good standing?
You can obtain a certified license verification online through your Michigan Professional
Licensing User System (MiPLUS) account. License Verifications provide the license history
for one license number, they are $15 each and can be sent to the recipient by postal mail
or email. Detailed instructions on ordering a Certified License Verification can be found on
www.michigan.gov/miplus
and a link to the instructions can be found here:
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/lara/Certififed_Verification_Instructions_v2_661114_
7.pdf
7. Can I make a name change online?
Yes, you may submit a name and/or address change by visiting www.michigan.gov/miplus
and selecting “Modification” next to your license number in your MIPLUS account,
followed by Real Estate Name Change. You will be required to upload proof of your legal
name. Acceptable proof includes a copy of your drivers license or state issued
identification card, certified marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order.
8.
Are there any convictions that will keep me from getting a real estate license?
Article 25 requires an applicant to have good moral character to obtain a real estate
license. Convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, however MCL 339.2505 states
“The department shall not issue a real estate broker’s license to a new applicant who has
been convicted of embezzlement or misappropriation of funds.” If you are denied a license,
you have the right to appeal the decision to the Board.
9. How do I view a list of my employees?
You may view a list of Current Employees and your Employee History in your MiPlus
account. Please visit www.michigan.gov/realestate
to view the guide “How to View
Employee List” and “How to View Active Employees Report in MiPlus”.
10. How do I accept a new employee?
You can accept a new employee through your MiPLUS account. Please visit
www.michigan.gov/realestate
to view the guide “How to Approve or Deny a New
Employee in MiPLUS.”
11. How will I be notified that an agent is attempting to join my broker company?
If a real estate salesperson or non-principal associate broker is attempting to join your
broker company, you will receive a notification via email. You can accept or deny the
employee through your MiPLUS account. Please visit www.michigan.gov/realestate
to
view the guide “How to Approve or Deny a New Employee in MiPLUS.”
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12. I need to send a license back to the State for an employee who no longer works for
our company. Is there a form to complete and where do I send it?
There is no form to complete. You can remove an employee through your MiPlus account.
Please visit www.michigan.gov/realestate
to view the guide “How to Add or Remove an
Employee”. After you have removed the employee from your broker company in MiPLUS,
you can shred the former employee’s physical wall license.
13. How do I remove an employee that no longer works for our company?
You can remove an employee through your MiPlus account. Please visit
www.michigan.gov/realestate
to view the guide “How to Add or Remove an Employee”.
14.
Employees who no longer work for my broker company still appear on the list of
employee’s. How do I remove them?
After you have removed an employee from your broker company, their employment status
will change from “Active” to “No Employer.” This employee will remain on your employee
list until they transfer their license to another broker, however, they will remain in “No
Employer” status meaning they are not an employee of this company.
15.
Can I place my license in escrow?
Michigan does not offer an “escrow” option for real estate licensees. If you have an active
status license you may have your employer remove you as an employee and your license
will be placed into “No Employer” status until the expiration date of the license. Or you can
transfer your license to a holding company. A holding company is a licensed Michigan real
estate broker company that holds licenses for Michigan salespersons and/or non-principal
associate brokers who are not actively practicing real estate. Some refer to escrow as
placing their license with a holding company, if this is the case, Salespersons and non-
principal brokers can transfer their license in their MiPLUS account. Please visit
www.michigan.gov/realestate
to view the guide “How to Transfer a License in MiPlus.”
The State of Michigan does not have a list of holding companies. Holding companies must
meet the requirements of a broker company, therefore we are not able to tell which broker
company considers themselves a holding company.
16. I am a licensed Real Estate Salesperson/Broker in another state. Does Michigan
offer reciprocity?
No. Michigan does not offer reciprocity with any other state. An applicant for a Michigan
Real Estate Salesperson or Broker license must meet education, experience and
examination requirements in place as of the date the application is submitted.
17. Can I hold a salesperson license and a broker license at the same time?
A salesperson shall not be licensed as a broker or associate broker while he or she holds a
salesperson license.
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18. Can a salesperson work for more than one (1) broker at a time?
A salesperson shall be licensed to a broker and shall not be licensed to more than 1 broker
at the same time.
19. Can I pay a commission to an out of state broker?
Per MCL 339.2512(1)(h), a licensed real estate broker may pay a commission to a licensed
real estate broker of another state if the nonresident real estate broker does not conduct in
this state a negotiation for which a commission is paid.
20. My real estate salesperson or broker license lapsed, what do I need to do to obtain
my license again?
You can apply for relicensure of your salesperson or broker license in your MiPLUS
account at www.michigan.gov/MiPLUS
. Log into your MIPLUS account, select the
Licenses tab, followed by modification next to your license number and look for the
relicensure application.
Relicensure requirements can be found on the appropriate licensing guide at
www.michigan.gov/realestate
.
21. My broker company license lapsed, what do I need to do to obtain my license again?
You can apply for relicensure in your MiPLUS account at www.michigan.gov/MiPLUS
. Log
into your MIPLUS account, select the Licenses tab, and select modification next to your
license number.
Branch office licenses associated with the broker company license will automatically be
relicensed along with the company. If you no longer wish to maintain a branch office
license, you may select “Remove” prior to application submission.
22. My license was revoked by the Board, when can I apply for relicensure?
A person whose license has been revoked shall not apply for a new license for at least 3
years after the service of the final order.
23. What is property management?
Article 25 of the Occupational Code, Act 299 of 1980, includes the following definitions:
"Property management" means the leasing or renting, or the offering to lease or rent, of
real property of others for a fee, commission, compensation, or other valuable
consideration pursuant to a property management employment contract. "Property
management employment contract" means the written agreement entered into between a
real estate broker and client concerning the real estate broker's employment as a property
manager for the client; setting forth the real estate broker's duties, responsibilities, and
activities as a property manager; and setting forth the handling, management,
safekeeping, investment, disbursement, and use of property management money, funds,
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and accounts.
24. What is the criterion for continuing education courses for real estate salespersons
and brokers?
Within each 3-year cycle, a licensee must still complete at least 18 clock hours of CE
courses that involve any subjects that are relevant to the management, operation, and
practice of real estate or any other subject that contributes to the professional competence
of a licensee.
A licensee must complete the following number of hours of eligible continuing education
courses in each year of a license cycle:
• Not less than 2 hours of courses that involve laws, rules, and court cases regarding
real estate.
• Not less than 1 hour of courses that involve compliance with local, state, or federal
fair housing laws.
• The remaining hours can be completed anytime prior to renewing the license.
A licensee must retain evidence acceptable to the Department that demonstrates he or she
has met the CE requirements for at least 4 years after the date of that certification and
must produce that evidence at the request of the Department. It is the licensee’s
responsibility for documenting the evidence to support the fulfillment of Continuing
Education requirements; the Department does not maintain a record of this information.
25.
Can I add more than 1 (one) assumed name to my license?
Yes. Multiple assumed names may be added to your Individual Broker or Broker Company
license record. Please visit www.michigan.gov/realestate
to view the guide “How to Add
an Assumed Name.”
26. How do I add an Assumed Name to my Individual Broker or Broker Company
license?
You can add an Assumed Name through your MiPLUS account. Please visit
www.michigan.gov/realestate
to view the guide “How to Add an Assumed Name in
MiPLUS.”
27. How do I remove an Assumed Name from my Individual Broker or Broker Company
license?
If you need an Assumed Name removed from your Indvidual Broker or Broker Company
license, you will need to contact the Bureau of Professional Licensing by sending an email
to bplhelp@michigan.gov
and our office will remove the Assumed Name from your license.
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28. I am a non-principal associate broker. How do I transfer my license to a new
employer? Is there a transfer fee?
No. There is no fee to transfer a license. You may submit a license transfer by completing
a “Modification” request in your MiPlus account. Please visit
www.michigan.gov/realestate
to view the guide “How to Transfer a License in MiPlus.”
The new wall license and pocket card will be sent to your new employing broker by email.
29. Can I hold more than one associate broker license?
MCL 339.2509 prohibits an individual from holding more than 1 (one) non-principal
associate broker license; however, an individual may hold more than 1 (one) principal
associate broker license.
30. How long is my prelicensure education, exam, and application good for?
For initial licensure, the prelicensure education is valid for 36 months from the date of
completion of the course.
However, if you are a licensed real estate salesperson who completed broker
prelicensure, and you never allow your salesperson license to lapse, the broker
prelicensure education will not expire.
For relicensure over 3 years, when choosing the option to complete prelicensure education
again, the course certificates are only valid for 1 year per MCL 339.2502a.
Exam results are valid for one year from the date of passing.
Applications are valid for one year from the date of payment.
31. How do I add my employing broker’s information to my real estate salesperson
application?
After passing the Real Estate Salesperson exam, you will need to provide your employing
broker information to complete the licensure process. This can be completed online by
logging into your MIPLUS account at www.michigan.gov/miplus
. Once logged into your
account, click on the “Licenses” tab, followed by “Modification” next to your application
number and enter your employing brokers 10-digit license number. After the selected
employing broker approves your request, your license will be issued to your employing
broker, and you will be notified via email that your license has been issued.
32. How do I schedule my exam with PSI? Do I need a candidate ID, and where do I
obtain that?
If you are applying for a real estate salesperson license, you must first submit your real
estate salesperson online application in MiPLUS and upload a copy of your 40-hour real
estate salesperson prelicensure certificate of completion before you can be made eligible
for the real estate salesperson exam.
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After you have been approved to register for the real estate salesperson examination, 24 to
48 hours later, you will receive an email directly from PSI, notifying you that you are eligible
to take the Real Estate Salesperson examination. This email will include your Candidate ID
and a link to schedule your examination in the PSI system. You will need to provide PSI
with your Candidate ID number when registering for the Real Estate Salesperson
examination.
Please note, real estate broker applicants DO NOT need prior approval to take the Real
Estate Broker examination. You may register for the Michigan Real Estate Broker
examination on the PSI website at www.psiexams.com
.
If you have questions regarding the Real Estate Salesperson or Real Estate Broker
examination, contact PSI at www.psiexams.com
or by calling 855-579-4635.
33. How long is my license good for? Will my license be prorated?
The license cycle is three years. Licensees who previously had a fixed expiration date of
10/31 will have their expiration dates change to correspond with the month and day their
first license was issued when they complete their first renewal in the MIPLUS system. The
change in expiration date may reflect an expiration date that is valid for more than three
years for some licensees. There are no extra fees or extra CE requirements for this extra
time. You will only receive this extra time on the first renewal completed in MIPLUS that
results in a change to your expiration date. All subsequent renewals will be three years. If
a license is lapsed and the licensee applies for relicensure, the new expiration date will be
three years from the date the license was reissued.
34.
How do I apply for a branch office license?
Broker Companies can apply for a branch office license by visiting
www.michigan.gov/miplus
. Log into your MIPLUS account, select Modification next to your
license number followed by Real Estate Branch office application.
Branch office licenses expire on the same date as the Broker Company license.
35. How do I change the address on my branch office license?
The address on a branch office license cannot be changed. If you would like to obtain a
branch office license at a new address, you will need to apply for a new branch office
license.
36. Where can I find a list of approved prelicensure courses for real estate?
Please visit www.michigan.gov/miplus
and select your profession, followed by MIPLUS
LOGIN. You can then either log into your MIPLUS account or click on the “Licenses” tab in
between Home and Enforcement.
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You will then click on the drop-down arrow next to “Reports” in the upper right-hand corner
and select the “Real Estate Approved Courses Report.”
