Real Estate Agent License Requirements in Minnesota
- Training hours
- 90 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $168
- Exam
- Real Estate Salesperson Examination (Combined State and National)
- Renewal cycle
- Every 1 year
- Issuing board
- Minnesota Department of Commerce
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. Applicants must be at least 18 years old (Minn. Stat. 82.58) and disclose criminal history as part of the application; a Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) background check form is required. Applicants cannot be licensed as a salesperson without first becoming associated with an actively licensed Minnesota real estate broker, who submits the license application on the applicant's behalf; a salesperson may not be licensed under more than one broker at the same time. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 90 hours of training at a state-approved program. Applicants must complete three 30-hour courses (Course I, Course II, and Course III) totaling 90 hours. The salesperson exam can be taken after completing Course I, but the license application cannot be submitted until all three courses (90 hours) are complete. Applicants must apply for the license within one year of passing the exam or must retake it. [1]
- 3
Real Estate Salesperson Examination (Combined State and National)
Pass the Real Estate Salesperson Examination (Combined State and National) (fee: $68). The combined state+national exam is $68; each portion (state-only or national-only) is $45 individually. Applicants who are already licensed as a real estate salesperson in another state are only required to take the Minnesota state-specific portion ($45), not the national portion. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Minnesota Department of Commerce. [3]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Minnesota Department of Commerce issues your Real Estate Salesperson License for Minnesota.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | None specified |
| License fee [3] | $100 |
| Renewal fee [3] | $60 |
| Real Estate Salesperson Examination (Combined State and National) [2] | $68 |
| Technology surcharge (initial and renewal) [3] | $10 |
There is no separate application fee -- the $100 total initial salesperson license fee already includes a $30 Real Estate Education, Research, and Recovery Fund fee (base license fee is $70). Renewal totals $60, including a $20 Recovery Fund fee (base renewal fee is $40). A $10 technology surcharge (per Minn. Stat. 45.24, reduced from a higher amount effective May 1, 2023) applies to both initial and renewal filings on top of the totals above.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 1 year. 30 continuing education hours required per cycle.
Unlike most states, Minnesota real estate licenses renew annually, with continuing education due before June 30 each year (except the first June 30 after initial licensure or reinstatement from more than 2 years inactive). Salespersons must complete 30 hours of CE before the June 30 renewal deadline, of which at least 15 hours must be completed by the prior June 30 (an interim deadline). CE does not carry over between license years. Required content includes a specific general module course, at least 1 hour on agency representation/disclosure law, and at least 1 hour on fair housing law.
Reciprocity
No reciprocity or endorsement route was found.
Minnesota's official licensing guide does not describe a salesperson reciprocity or license-endorsement program with any other state -- out-of-state salespersons must complete the same 90 hours of pre-license education and pass the same licensing process as any new applicant. The one partial accommodation is on the exam itself: an applicant already licensed as a salesperson in another state only has to pass the Minnesota state-specific exam portion, not the national portion. (Separately, prior out-of-state salesperson experience can count toward the broker license's 3-year salesperson-experience requirement if the other state's licensing requirements are comparable to Minnesota's, but that is an upgrade path, not initial-license reciprocity.)
Cost calculator
- $100
- $68
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of pre-license education does Minnesota require?
90 hours across three 30-hour courses (Course I, II, and III). The exam can be taken after Course I, but the license application requires all three.
Who administers the Minnesota salesperson exam, and what does it cost?
PSI Services LLC. The combined state+national exam is $68; applicants already licensed as a salesperson in another state pay $45 for the state-only portion.
Do I need a sponsoring broker to get licensed in Minnesota?
Yes. You cannot be licensed as a salesperson without an actively licensed Minnesota broker, who submits your license application; you can only be affiliated with one broker at a time.
How often does a Minnesota salesperson license renew?
Annually -- continuing education (30 hours, with 15 due by the prior year's deadline) must be completed before the June 30 renewal date each year, unlike the 2-3 year cycles most states use.
Does Minnesota offer reciprocity for licensees from other states?
Not in the traditional sense. All applicants complete the same 90-hour education requirement, though salespersons already licensed elsewhere only need to pass the Minnesota state-specific exam portion instead of the full national+state exam.
Sources
- [1] mn.gov/commerce-stat/pdfs/re-license-guide.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] test-takers.psiexams.com/mnre — accessed 2026-07-12
- [3] mn.gov/commerce/licensing/list/real-estate/real-estate.jsp — accessed 2026-07-12