Join as a REALTOR®

What is the cost of membership?

Howard County Association of REALTORS® Dues Proration Schedule

2026 Membership Year Ends: October 31, 2026

*Prior HCAR members will not be charged the one-time processing fee.
**Active REALTORS® transferring from their current association to HCAR who have already paid Maryland State and National Dues for 2026, will not be charged again, nor charged a processing fee. (Letter of Good Standing required)
***Active REALTORS® joining as secondary who have already paid Maryland State and National Dues for 2026, will not be charged again, nor charged a processing fee. If Maryland State Dues have not been paid, but they have paid State Dues to another association, Maryland state dues will still be owed but the amount will be discounted. (Letter of Good Standing Required)
***Contributions to RPAC (REALTOR® Political Action Committee) are voluntary and used for political purposes to elect candidates locally and nationally who understand and support REALTORS® interests. RPAC contributions are not tax deductible. An optional suggested contribution amount of $35 has been added to the last line item.
Lobbying fees of $55 are included in the NAR dues and $18 in the MR dues. These portions of your dues are non-deductible for income tax purposes.

What are the requirements for membership with a local REALTOR® Association?

What is the process to apply for Membership Online?

Step 1: Collect the Required Documentation. Reach out to your broker or Office Manager first to get a completed Broker Certification Form for the Online Application. We also accept a pdf version of the form emailed to [email protected] if not received with online application. 

• Completed and signed Broker Certification Form (can be emailed before or after submission, however it may delay application) 
• A front-only image of your government-issued Photo ID
• Optional: Letter of Good Standing from your previous Primary Association (required only for active transferring and secondary members)

If you have any questions regarding the documents, contact HCAR staff at 410-715-1437 or [email protected].

Step 2: Create a Member Login account if you do not have one and then Become a Member by selecting "Apply For Membership" in your newly created member portal.

The online application will provide billing options based on the information provided when creating your account. Please upload the required documents when requested.

Note: Your application will remain in a pending status and payment will not be processed by the system until staff reviews all documents. All licensing and membership details will be verified in the real estate commission and in the NAR member database.

• M1 Member # (formerly known as NRDS#)
• Member Benefits
• 90 Day Requirements: New Member Orientation, NAR Code of Ethics Class and NAR Approved Fair Housing Class
• Instructions for getting Bright MLS and SentriLock Lockbox Access if needed.

Step 4: Login to your created Member Portal and update your profile information. The information in your profile is included in our Member Directory once active, and available to the public on our website if you so choose. Always include your additional languages (if you speak multiple languages), upload your photo, and include a brief bio.

Step 5: Register to Attend New Member Orientation within 90 days via your member portal dashboard under the “New Member Onboarding/ New Licensee Classes” tile. You can also register for the SentriKey Training class if you are intending to get a SentriLock Account.

Is there another way to apply besides Online?

Yes! You can apply with the Fillable PDF version of the full application emailed to [email protected]

Primary Member Application

Secondary Member Application

What is SentriLock and How do I subscribe?

How do I get Bright MLS (Regional Multiple Listing Service)?

What do I need to know about Continuing Education (CE) requirements for my Maryland Real Estate License?

The Maryland Real Estate Commission, a part of the Maryland Dept. of Labor and Licensing (DLLR), is the governing body that regulates the real estate licensees in our state. You will need to refer to their website to view updated requirements as well as track your license status and completed education. All real estate schools licensed with the Commission submit CE electronically to the DLLR, where you can view your most accurate class transcript.

View the DLLR Education Requirements: https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/mrec/mreceducreq.shtml

Ready to Join? Start Your Online Application Here!

STEP 1:  Get Your Broker's Certification

Before you apply, please have your Broker/Manager sign the New Member Online Application - Broker Certification Form

Download the Certification Form

STEP 2: Apply Online

You can reference the FAQ section above for detailed instructions.

ADDITIONAL MEMBER BENEFITS