Your First Year as a Maryland REALTOR®

There's so much to explore as a new member, it's hard to take it all in! This guide helps break down all the benefits of membership, from legal to events based on what is helpful in your first year to help begin your journey as a REALTOR®.

First Month

Log In to Maryland REALTORS®' website

Take a look around this essential resource. The Maryland REALTORS® website is your go-to for forms, events, our Legal Hotline, fair housing resources, and much more. Get familiar with the website to see what’s new around the association and what opportunities are coming your way! 

Visit our website!

Attend a New Member Orientation at your Local Board/Association

As a new member, you’ll need to attend an orientation session to review all the information about membership. It’s a great opportunity to start taking advantage of some of the incredible benefits you get as a member while getting to know the staff at your local board.  

Contact your local board to sign up for the next orientation session. 

Complete the New Member Code of Ethics Course

Check with your local board to see within how many days you must complete your New Member Code of Ethics Course. This timeframe may be different for different local associations. You can do this as a CE course offered by your local association, which will go towards renewing your license in two years, or you can take the free course on NAR’s website.

View Maryland REALTORS®’ education calendar or visit your local board’s website to view CE offerings.

Complete Fair Housing Training

Check with your local board to see within how many days you must satisfy your Fair Housing/Anti-Bias Training requirement. This timeframe may be different for different local associations. Be sure to complete this course within the required timeframe, or risk losing your membership.

Learn more about the fair housing training requirements.  

Learn About Dispute Resolution

Professional Standards offers a number of ways to resolve disputes including an ombuds program, mediation services, and finally filing an ethics complaint or arbitration request.

Learn more about dispute resolution options on our website.  

Stay in the Know

Follow us on social media to make sure you see all the latest information about the industry and association. Confirm with your local board that your information is correct in the database to make sure you get the Maryland REALTOR® Report in your inbox and the Maryland REALTOR® magazine in your mailbox! Go paperless and choose to receive your copy of REALTOR® magazine digitally!

If your information changes in the future, be sure to update it with your local board.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn!

Attend a Webinar

Maryland REALTOR® webinars offer a wealth of information, from legal hotline reviews, legislative session previews and wrap ups, diversity and inclusion, and more. Register to attend the next one through the Maryland REALTOR® Report.

Check Out Our Affinity Partners

Maryland REALTOR® members get exclusive deals from our partners, including UPS, Lenovo, and Pearl Insurance!

Check out all of our deals on our affinity partner page.

Get Access to Property Data

REALTORS® have exclusive access to RPR® (Realtors Property Resource®). It gives them property data, tools and reports to improve every aspect of their business, from listing presentations and buyer tours to open houses and prospecting. And you can do it all on-the-go with the RPR Mobile™ app.

Check out RPR to get the data! 

Check Out NAR’s REALTOR® Member Resources

NAR has special offers for REALTOR® members like you. Take some time to check them out and see which can help set you up for success!

View more of NAR’s benefits and resources. 

First Three Months

Start Networking at Maryland REALTORS® Events

Attend an event with Maryland REALTORS® or your local board to start building your network beyond your brokerage. Learn what the association is up to at a Regional Roundtable, advocate for housing at Lobby Day, or connect with industry professionals and earn CE at our annual conference!

See what's coming up for our events! 

Gather Client Resources at MarylandHomeownership.com

MarylandHomeownership.com is our consumer-facing site aimed at educating consumers on homeownership and housing in Maryland. Demonstrate your expertise by sharing these valuable resources and helpful information with your customers, from buyer and seller toolkits in both English and Spanish to our FREE monthly webinar for homebuyers.

Visit MarylandHomeownership.com! 

Subscribe to Maryland REALTORS®’ YouTube Channel

Stay up to date on the latest video resources, ranging from forms changes to Legal Hotline Webinars. Additionally, NAR’s Window to the Law Video Series offers short, timely videos that provide best practices and tips you can use to minimize risk and liability.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

Access Our Legal Hotline

Free, authoritative legal guidance is available by contacting the Maryland REALTORS® Legal Hotline. Questions may be submitted anytime on our website, or you may also call in to speak to one of our attorneys during their hours of operation.

Visit our legal hotline.

Learn about REALTOR® Safety

Learn the proactive techniques and strategies from the REALTOR® Safety Program that you can implement to ensure your safety. Resources include webinars, articles, live safety demonstration programs, and apps.

Learn more about REALTOR® safety.  

First Six Months

Learn Why We Invest in RPAC

Your investment into RPAC directly helps efforts at the local, state, and federal level to engage lawmakers whose work aligns with the real estate industry. Whether it’s reducing costs for first-time homebuyers, support for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), reducing impact fees, and more, RPAC speaks for the REALTOR® community because our party—the REALTOR® Party—is the REALTOR® community.

Learn more about RPAC. 

Network at NAR Events

Did you know NAR’s REALTORS® Legislative Meetings and Trade Expo, one of their annual conferences, happens in DC every Spring? Consider attending to network with national colleagues at this FREE event and learning more about the industry. Connect with fellow REALTORS® from all over the country at NAR events, including the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C. every June, and at  NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience in November.


Learn more about upcoming NAR events.

Continue Learning with Education Opportunities

Boost your expertise, earning potential, and client base through continuing education and specialty training. Options include classroom and online courses, training towards earning designations and certifications, webinars, and more.

Visit Maryland REALTORS® education calendar and check with your local board for current CE opportunities.

Check Your Education Status 

Maryland REALTORS® does not oversee license renewals and status, but you can check with the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC) to see your license status and renewal requirements.  

First Year

Start Thinking About Certifications and Designations

Education is directly related to a REALTORS® productivity and profitability. REALTORS® holding professional designations earn significantly more than their colleagues without this specialized training. Learn more, earn more!

Graduate REALTOR® Insitute (GRI)

GRI is the nation’s top real estate designation. The national designation, GRI, is earned through a series of three 30-hour courses, with exams, on a wide array of real estate subjects, including legal issues, business marketing, and risk reduction practices.  

Housing Opportunity Certification (HOC)

The Housing Opportunity Certification is designed to enhance REALTORS® training on workforce and affordable housing finance programs, to better assist consumers in their efforts to become homeowners. All REALTORS® who are HOC-certified are added to a consumer directory on our website, MarylandHomeownership.com. 

Maryland Residential Property Management Certification (MRPMC)

Obtaining your MRPMC certification will enhance your understanding of the legal and practical issues you may face as a property manager while offering effective strategies for managing any risks.   

Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS)

Global real estate specialists serve many markets, from those moving to the U.S. to those moving abroad. No matter which market you are serving, the CIPS designation will provide you with the knowledge, research, network and tools to globalize and expand your business. 

Learn more about CIPS.

See NAR’s Certifications and Designations 

NAR also has national certifications and designations, like the Accredited Buyer Representative to enhance your skills as a buyer agent and the Commitment to Excellence (C2EX) Program that empowers REALTORS® to evaluate, enhance, and showcase their highest level of professionalism. 

Year Two and Beyond

Shape the Industry: Join a Committee

Joining a committee is a great way to get involved with your association, from event planning to legislative issues. Your participation will bring you into contact with the most successful REALTORS® in your area and in Maryland.

Local Committees 

Consider joining one of the committees offered by your local association to gain familiarity and enhance the range of services or events offered by your association.   

Maryland REALTORS® Committees 

Once you’re an experienced REALTOR® and committee member, check out the state-level committees and their responsibilities to see if one would be a good fit for your interests! 

Maryland REALTORS®’ Committee Applications open every spring so keep an eye out when you’re ready to volunteer and visit our website for more information on all of our hard working committees.   

NAR Committees 

If you just can’t get enough of your state and local committees and want to shape the industry on an even bigger scale, consider NAR’s committees once you’re a seasoned REALTOR® with experience and volunteer service with both your local association and Maryland REALTORS®.  

Learn About Leadership Academy

The mission of the Leadership Academy is to build strong leaders for tomorrow who are committed to ensuring that our industry and communities are prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. The Leadership Academy is also a personal development program that will benefit you in all aspects of your life.

Learn more about Leadership Academy.

Learn About Our Leadership Positions

Serving as a Director or Officer of Maryland REALTORS® is an opportunity to contribute to your profession and the public we serve. Directors and Officers find the rewards of serving in a leadership capacity far outweigh its demands. Learn about these positions and their qualifications to begin taking steps towards them in your career.

Learn about our Leadership Positions and their prerequisites.