Michigan Real Estate Salesperson

Michigan Real Estate Salesperson Exam: What You Need to Know in 2026

Passing the Michigan real estate salesperson exam is the last hurdle between you and your license. It's not easy, but it's very passable if you study the right material. This guide breaks down exactly what's on the exam, what the Michigan real estate salesperson exam questions look like, how to register, and what to study first.

Start with our free practice exam to see where you stand before you crack a single book.

Michigan Real Estate Salesperson Exam Overview

The PSI Michigan real estate exam has two portions: a national section and a state section. The state section is what this guide focuses on — it has 35 scored questions and a 55-minute time limit. You need to answer at least 25 of those 35 questions correctly to pass, which works out to 70%.

For the full salesperson exam (both national and state combined), the exam has 115 scored questions and you're allowed 180 minutes. The passing score for the full exam is a raw score of 80. A small number of experimental (unscored) questions may also appear — these don't count toward your score.

The exam is administered by PSI. You can take it at a physical test center in Michigan or via remote proctoring from your own location. The exam is closed book — no reference materials allowed.

For full exam details, check the official exam bulletin.

Topics Covered on the Michigan State Exam

Here's how the state exam breaks down by topic. Study by weight — the heavier the topic, the more questions it sends your way.

Michigan Additional State Topics — 34.29% of the exam

This is the biggest slice of the pie. It covers the Land Division Act (Public Act 591), Michigan Fair Housing under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, the Landlord Tenant Relationship Act, the Truth in Renting Act, State Transfer Tax, and the Michigan Condominium Act. Know your statutes here.

Michigan Statutory Requirements Governing Licensee Activities — 28.57%

This covers how you actually conduct business: advertising rules, how commissions and fees work, disclosure and conflict of interest obligations, handling contracts and listing documents, and managing trust accounts and client money. This is where a lot of people lose points — the rules are specific.

Michigan Licensing Requirements — 14.29%

What activities require a license, what licenses exist, eligibility, continuing education for renewal, and how to transfer or change a license.

Michigan Contractual Relationships — 14.29%

Agency relationships available in Michigan (transaction coordinator, designated agency, dual agency, required disclosures), broker/salesperson relationships, and service provision agreements like listings and buyer-broker agreements.

Michigan Department and State Board Duties and Powers — 8.57%

The board's general powers, how investigations and hearings work, exemptions, and penalties.

Sample Michigan Real Estate Salesperson Exam Questions

Here are five real-style questions to give you a feel for what you'll face. We're not giving you the answers — take the free practice exam and find out how you do.

Question 1 — Michigan Department and State Board Duties and Powers

Under Michigan's Occupational Code, which board members are prohibited from participating in the final determination of a complaint?

• A) All board members appointed within the last year
• B) Board members who participated in the investigation or attended an informal conference on that complaint
• C) Board members who are licensed in the same occupation as the respondent
• D) Board members who were absent from the contested case hearing

Question 2 — Michigan Additional State Topics

You are a salesperson working with a client who is applying for a MSHDA single-family home loan. Your client asks if they can misrepresent their income to qualify. Under the State Housing Development Authority Act, what is the consequence of income misrepresentation?

• A) The borrower's application is simply denied with no further consequences
• B) The borrower is ineligible for a loan under the act, and the authority may accelerate the loan and declare all sums immediately due and payable
• C) The borrower receives a warning letter but remains eligible for the loan
• D) The borrower must pay a fine equal to 10% of the loan amount

Question 3 — Michigan Statutory Requirements Governing Licensee Activities

As a salesperson, you are entitled to receive a commission from the sale of a property. You also want to accept a referral fee from a title insurance company involved in the same transaction. What must you do to receive this additional fee?

• A) Notify the department of your intent to receive the fee within 30 days
• B) Decline the referral fee because it is always prohibited under Michigan law
• C) Simply disclose the fee at closing on the settlement statement
• D) Obtain the prior written consent of the party or parties with whom you have an agency relationship, provided the fee is not otherwise prohibited by RESPA or other applicable law

Question 4 — Michigan Contractual Relationships

Under Michigan administrative rules, a licensee who is entitled to receive a real estate commission from the sale of property wishes to also receive a referral fee from a title insurance company. Which of the following is required?

• A) No additional consent is needed as long as the fee is disclosed at closing
• B) Only the seller's written consent is needed
• C) Prior written consent of the party or parties with whom the licensee has an agency relationship, and the fee must not be prohibited by RESPA
• D) Only the buyer's written consent is needed

Question 5 — Michigan Licensing Requirements

Under Michigan law, what is the rule regarding an individual holding multiple associate real estate broker licenses as a nonprincipal?

• A) An individual may hold up to two associate real estate broker licenses as a nonprincipal
• B) An individual may not hold any associate real estate broker license as a nonprincipal
• C) An individual may not hold more than one associate real estate broker license as a nonprincipal
• D) An individual may hold an unlimited number of associate real estate broker licenses as a nonprincipal

Notice Questions 3 and 4 are testing the same scenario from different angles — that's intentional. The exam will test whether you understand the rule, not just whether you've memorized a phrase.

What Types of Questions to Expect

Our practice question bank has 140+ questions across all five topic areas. Here's what each section tests:

• Michigan Department and State Board Duties and Powers (27 practice questions): Expect questions on what the board can and can't do, how complaint investigations and hearings are conducted, who is exempt from proceedings, and what penalties apply.

• Michigan Licensing Requirements (32 practice questions): Questions cover which real estate activities require a license, the different license types available, eligibility criteria, continuing education requirements for renewal, and how to handle license transfers or changes — including the nonprincipal broker rule you saw in the sample above.

• Michigan Statutory Requirements Governing Licensee Activities (47 practice questions): This is detailed, scenario-based territory. You'll get questions on advertising rules, when and how commissions and referral fees can be accepted, required disclosures, how to handle contracts and listing documents, and proper management of trust accounts and client funds.

• Michigan Contractual Relationships (20 practice questions): Questions here test agency relationships specific to Michigan — designated agency, dual agency, transaction coordinator arrangements — as well as the broker-salesperson relationship and the structure of listing and buyer-broker agreements.

• Michigan Additional State Topics (50 practice questions): The widest range. Questions pull from the Land Division Act (private road disclosures), Michigan fair housing law under the Elliott-Larsen Act and Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, landlord-tenant rules, the Truth in Renting Act, State Transfer Tax calculations, and the Michigan Condominium Act.

Start with the free exam to gauge your baseline, then use the full practice exam to drill every topic systematically.

Study Materials

You don't need a mountain of books. But you do need the right tools.

For the state-specific statutes, work directly from the Michigan Real Estate Occupational Code and the administrative rules — they're publicly available and the exam quotes them directly. A national prep book alone won't cut it.

For active studying — annotating, flagging statutes, marking definitions — physical highlighting beats re-reading every time. Sharpie Tank Highlighters are a solid choice: wide barrel, large ink supply, a narrow chisel tip for underlining and margin notes, and fluorescent ink that doesn't bleed through pages. The 12-pack covers color-coding by topic.

For tracking your readiness, our full practice exam mirrors the real test format — same question count, same time limit, same topic breakdown — and gives you a score breakdown by topic so you can see exactly where you're losing points. Start with the free practice exam (10 questions, no account needed), then move to the full version for serious prep.

Study Tips

Prioritize by exam weight. Michigan Additional State Topics and Statutory Requirements together make up over 60% of the state exam. Don't spend equal time on every section — put your hours where the points are.

Know the statutes, not just the concepts. The exam asks about specific Michigan laws: the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, the Condominium Act, the Land Division Act. Know the names, what they cover, and how they apply.

Apply the rules to scenarios. Fiduciary duties, agency disclosures, and conflict-of-interest rules appear throughout the exam as fact patterns — not definitions. Practice reading a scenario and identifying what rule applies and what the correct action is.

Don't rely only on national prep books. Michigan's agency rules, deadlines, and statutory requirements differ from general principles. You need state-specific study material.

Practice under timed conditions. An untimed PDF or flashcard deck won't prepare you for managing 55 minutes on 35 questions. Our practice exam replicates actual testing conditions — use it that way.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Michigan Real Estate Salesperson exam cost?
The exam fee is $79, paid at registration. It's non-refundable.

How do I register for the PSI Michigan real estate exam?
First, apply through the State of Michigan's MiPLUS website and wait for authorization to test. Once you receive that authorization, schedule your exam at the exam registration page or call PSI at (855) 579-4635.

How many questions are on the full Michigan Real Estate Salesperson exam?
The full exam (national + state) has 115 scored questions and a 180-minute time limit. The state portion alone has 35 scored questions and a 55-minute limit. A small number of experimental questions may appear but won't count toward your score.

What is the passing score?
For the full salesperson exam, you need a raw score of 80 and a passing percentage of 70%. For the state portion specifically, that's 25 correct out of 35 scored questions.

Is the exam open book?
No. The exam is closed book. Nothing goes in the testing room with you.

What ID do I need?
One valid, non-expired government-issued photo ID that also has your signature — driver's license, passport, military ID, alien registration card, or Canadian government ID. The name must match your registration exactly.

Can I reschedule?
Yes, but the cancellation must reach PSI at least 2 days before your scheduled date. Do it online through PSI's site or call them directly — a voicemail or email alone is not acceptable.

What happens if I fail?
You'll receive a score breakdown by section to guide your retake prep. You can also request a re-scoring in writing to PSI (include your name, social security number, and test date).

How long is my exam fee valid?
One year from the date PSI receives it. If you don't test within that window, the fee is forfeited.

Can I take the exam remotely?
Yes. You can test at a PSI test center in Michigan or take a remote proctored exam from your own location. Choose your format when you register.

For full registration details, visit the state licensing website.

Ready to Start Preparing?

You know what the exam covers and how it's scored. Now put that knowledge to work. Take the free practice exam right now — 10 questions, no account needed — to see which topics you already know and which ones need work. When you're ready to go deeper, the full practice exam gives you the complete experience: real timing, full topic coverage, and a score breakdown that tells you exactly where to focus before test day.