Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of MLBPA Certification?

There are different types of MLBPA Certification: General Certification, Limited Certification, and Certification as an Expert Agent Advisor.

As more fully described in Section 3(A) of the Agent Regulations only MLBPA General Certified Agents may represent, assist, or advise a Player (as defined by Section 2(b) of the Agent Regulations and including Major League Players, Major League Free Agents, and “Foreign Professionals” as defined by the Basic Agreement) in negotiating an individual salary, terms, and Special Covenants to be included in a Major League Uniform Player's Contract or “side letter,” and representing that Player in any other dealings with a Major League Baseball Club or the Commissioner’s Office concerning the administration or enforcement of that Player’s Major League Uniform Player’s Contract, the Major League Basic Agreement, and the Major League Rules.

Only MLBPA Limited Certified Agents may recruit players and provide client maintenance services on behalf of a General Certified Agent.

An Expert Agent Advisor may represent, assist and advise a General Certified Agent on behalf of a Player.

Please consult the Agent Regulations for a detailed explanation of the type of work that requires MLBPA Certification and the different types of MLBPA Certifications.

What is an Expert Agent Advisor?

An Expert Agent Advisor is an individual designated by at least one General Certified Agent to engage in the representation, assistance, or advising of that Agent, on behalf of a Player, in the negotiations of terms to be included in a Major League Uniform Player Contract or in any other agreement, and prepare and present Players’ Salary Arbitration cases. Please review §3(A) of the Agent Regulations for more information.

An Expert Agent Advisor may not engage in recruiting or Client Maintenance Services. (See §2(C)(3)(b) of the Agent Regulations).

How do I apply for MLBPA Certification?

Please click here for the Application Instructions.

How much is the Application fee?

The application fee is $2,500. Please do NOT mail your application fee to the MLBPA. Instead, please submit your application fee online via a wire transfer or ACH payment. Once you have submitted your application form on our website please contact Aisha Hope (aishah@mlbpa.org) to obtain instructions on how to submit your electronic payment.

When will the exam take place?

The MLBPA Agent Exam is administered once a year. The exam will take place virtually on Thursday September 28, 2023.

Applicants who submit a complete application by June 1st of any given year will be eligible to take the written exam that year. An application will not be considered complete, and the applicant will not be eligible to take the 2023 agent exam, unless the applicant has submitted the following by no later than June 1, 2023: an online application, a $2,500 application fee, a signed Authorization to Conduct a Background Investigation, and a signed Declaration by Applicant form.

What subject matters will be covered in the written test?

The General Certification, Limited Certification, and Expert Agent Advisor exams will be open book and will cover the Basic Agreement, Major League Rules, Joint Drug Agreement and the Agent Regulations. These documents are available for download on the Key Documents section of this webpage. The MLBPA will conduct a preparatory course for the test on the day before the exam.

What happens if I fail the written test?

An Applicant who fails the test for either certification may retake the test the next time it is offered. An applicant who does not take the exam will be considered to have failed that exam. An Applicant who fails the test twice must reapply and complete the entire application process again, and will be eligible to submit a new application no earlier than one year from the date of the second failed test.

Am I certified once I pass the written test?

An applicant for General Certification who completes the background investigation and passes the written test will not be certified by the MLBPA until he or she is designated on a Player Agent Designation form by at least one Player, as defined by §2(B) of the Agent Regulations, including 40-man roster players, Major League Free Agents, and “Foreign Professionals” as defined by the Basic Agreement. If the Player’s native language is not English, the Designation form must be signed in both English and that Player’s native language on the same date.

An Applicant for Limited Certification who completes the background investigation and passes the written test will not be certified by the MLBPA until he or she is designated on a Designation of Recruiter or Client Maintenance Service Provider form by a General Certified Agent.

An Applicant for Certification as an Expert Agent Advisor who completes the background investigation and passes the written test will not be certified by the MLBPA until he or she is designated on an Expert Agent Advisor Designation form by at least one General Certified Agent.

These designation forms may be found in the Key Documents section of this webpage.

Applicants will have up to three years after passing the written test to obtain the required designation for their desired certification. If the applicant does not receive the required designation within those three years the application will expire, and that person must reapply and complete the entire application process again.

How will I know if my application was denied?

The MLBPA will provide an Applicant with electronic notice of any decision to deny his or her certification or to impose limits or conditions on the certification granted. The notice shall set forth the action taken, a brief statement of the factual basis for the action taken and the relevant provisions of the Regulations involved in the action taken.

Can I appeal an adverse decision concerning my application?

Any dispute between an Applicant and the MLBPA related to the application and Certification process, including without limitation any dispute about whether the Applicant, Agent or Advisor must provide documents, testimony or other information to the MLBPA or about whether such documents, testimony or information are privileged, is subject exclusively to arbitration under §7(B) of the Agent Regulations. Any Applicant aggrieved with any action taken by the MLBPA, including but not limited to a denial of certification or conditions imposed on a certification, may appeal exclusively to arbitration under §7(B).

After any dispute related to certification by the MLBPA is concluded, the MLBPA in its sole, unreviewable discretion may make its decision resolving the dispute public.The MLBPA may also provide notice of the resolution of that dispute to all Players who have a Player Agent Designation form with the Applicant and to any General Certified Agent who has designated the Applicant as an Expert Agent Advisor or Limited Certified Agent. The MLBPA may also notify other Players who may be affected, other certified Player Agents or the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball.

May I loan money to a Player?

A Certified Agent or Applicant for Certification may not provide or promise to provide, any money or any other thing of value to any player (including non-40 man roster players) , or any person related to or associated with such player, including but not limited to loans, advances, or gifts, the purpose of which is to induce or encourage such player to use or continue to use any person’s or firm’s services as a Player Agent, Expert Agent Advisor, Representative, or Draft Advisor.

A Certified Agent or Applicant for Certification may not make any loans, or promise any loans, money or any other thing of value to a player they represent (including non-40 man players), or any persons related to or associated with such player, without first obtaining the prior written approval of the MLBPA. To request approval of a proposed loan, please e-mail agent.reg@mlbpa.org disclosing the amount, purpose and terms of the loan as well as how long you have represented the Player. A Player Agent or Applicant may only loan or promise to loan money or any other thing of value to a player or to persons related to or associated with a player he currently represents. A Player Agent or Applicant must also report to the MLBPA the terms of any third-party loans made to players in which the agent or applicant has any involvement of any kind, including but not limited to any role in facilitation or arrangement.

When and where are the mandatory MLBPA Agent meetings?

In early November of each year, the MLBPA holds a meeting which is designated as mandatory for at least one Player Agent from each firm unless excused. Traditionally only General Certified Agents have been invited to these November meetings. Also, the MLBPA holds a mandatory session at the November meeting for General Certified agents that represent a player who is potentially salary arbitration eligible in the upcoming offseason.

Please be aware that if you fail to attend a mandatory meeting that you are required to attend, and your absence has not been excused, you will be subject to discipline.

What circumstances will cause my Certification to lapse?

An Agent’s certification may be revoked for failure to update his or her Registration in a calendar year, failure to pay the annual administrative fee, and/or failure to comply with the Agent Regulations, including but not limited to repeated failure to comply with reporting and disclosure requirements.

An Agent or Expert Agent Advisor’s certification will also be deemed relinquished if the Agent is in “inactive status.” Any General Certified Agent, who in the immediately preceding three years has not had a current Player Agent Designation form signed by an appropriate Player and filed with the MLBPA, shall be notified by the MLBPA that he or she will be placed in inactive status. A General Certified Agent may avoid placement in inactive status by providing evidence within thirty (30) days of receiving such notice demonstrating to the MLBPA’s satisfaction that he or she has been appropriately designated within the preceding three years. (See §4(J) of the Agent Regulations). If an inactive General Certified Agent subsequently receives an appropriate designation, he or she may reapply for MLBPA Certification as set forth in §4 of the Agent Regulations, except that he or she is not required to retake the written test unless he or she is inactive for four or more years.

Any Player Agent with a Limited Certification who in the immediately preceding ninety days has not had a current Designation of Recruiter or Client Maintenance Services Provider form signed by a Player Agent with General Certification and filed with the MLBPA shall be notified by the MLBPA that he or she will be placed in inactive status. A Limited Certified Agent may avoid placement in inactive status by providing evidence within thirty (30) days of receiving such notice demonstrating to the MLBPA’s satisfaction that he or she has had a current Designation of Recruiter and Client Maintenance Services Provider form from a Player Agent with General Certification within the preceding ninety days. If an inactive Limited Certified Agent subsequently receives an appropriate designation, he or she may reapply for MLBPA Certification as set forth in §4 of the Agent Regulations, except that he or she is not required to retake the written test unless he or she is inactive for four or more years.