50-State Employment Services Industry Licensing Guide
Potential employees lined up for the job interview

Maryland Employment Agency

A businesswoman accepting her new job offer with a handshake

Licensing requirements for Maryland employment, staffing and talent agencies.

This page provides an overview of employment services licensing in Maryland for individuals and agencies. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

Companies that provide employment services in Maryland must apply for a license prior to doing business. Depending on the services offered, businesses may need to apply for more than one license type, and in some cases, an individual license will be required as well.

Company Licenses

Maryland Employment and Business Support Services Company Licenses

Maryland Employment Agency License

Not required



Employment Agency licensure is not required on the State level in Maryland.

Maryland Professional Employer Organization License

Not required



Professional Employer Organization licensure is not required on the State level in Maryland.

Supplemental Reporting
Annual Report

Agency:Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - Division of Unemployment Insurance
Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Law:

COMAR 09.32.01.26

Notes:

 The annual report shall be in writing and shall include:

  • Name, address, and phone number of the professional employer organization; and
  • Names and addresses of client companies to whom the professional employer organization leases or assigns workers.

Supplemental Reporting
Worker Placement Notification

Agency:Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - Division of Unemployment Insurance
Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 30 days of placing workers on the payroll.

Law:

COMAR 09.32.01.26

Notes:

A professional employer organization shall notify the Secretary in writing when the company places all or part of a client company's workers on its payroll. Notification shall include, at a minimum, the following information:

  • Name, address, and phone number of the professional employer organization;
  • Name, address, and phone number of the client company;
  • Date the professional employer organization acquired the client company's workers; and
  • Total number of workers acquired from the client company.

Maryland Talent Agency License

Not required



Talent Agency licensure is not required on the State level in Maryland.

Employee Leasing Company - Enter into leasing contracts with other businesses that require labor. The leasing company loans its workers to the lessee while still providing specified responsibilities, such as workers compensation insurance, to the employees. This includes long term (6 months or more) temporary arrangements but often excludes temporary help arrangements. Unlike professional employer organizations, employee leasing companies are contracted when an employer needs to hire staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.

Employment Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment for a person.

Professional Employer Organization - PEOs take on the human resources role for businesses and act as a co-employer in the sense that the client company's workers are administratively employees of the PEO but functionally these employees are controlled by the client company. Unlike employee leasing companies, PEOs are contracted when an employer already has staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.

Staffing Agency - An entity that procures temporary or part-time employment for a person who then works under the supervision of a worksite employer.

Talent Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment or placement for an artist. (Certain art forms are excluded)

American Staffing Association
Staffing, recruiting, and workforce solution industry advocacy group.

National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS)
Education and training oriented association for personnel services providers.

National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO)
Provides advocacy efforts, information, and other services to members of the employment industry.