StateLicensed

Real Estate Agent License Requirements in North Dakota

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
90 hrs
Upfront cost
$284
Exam
North Dakota Real Estate Salesperson Examination (National and State portions)
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
North Dakota Real Estate Commission

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, 90-hour NDREC-certified salesperson pre-licensure course (resident applicants only; see training)., pass a criminal background check. Applicants must have a credit history run by NDREC through a credit agency and a criminal history run by the ND Office of Attorney General via fingerprinting, both of which must be determined acceptable by NDREC. No real estate license may have been revoked in this or any state within 2 years before application. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 90 hours of training at a state-approved program. Resident applicants must complete a 90-hour NDREC-certified salesperson pre-licensure education course (effective for courses completed on or after January 1, 2021) before taking the exam, and must apply for licensure within 2 years of completing the course. Nonresident and reciprocal applicants (Minnesota, Iowa, Georgia) do not need this ND-specific course, but must be licensed and in good standing at the salesperson level in their state of primary residence. [1]

  3. 3

    North Dakota Real Estate Salesperson Examination (National and State portions)

    Pass the North Dakota Real Estate Salesperson Examination (National and State portions) (fee: $134). Flat $134 fee applies whether a candidate takes one portion (retake) or both portions together; not refundable or transferable. Residents must pass both National and State portions; nonresident nonreciprocal applicants need only pass the State portion. Reciprocal applicants (from Minnesota, Iowa, or Georgia) do not need to take the ND exam. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to North Dakota Real Estate Commission with the $150 application fee. [1]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, North Dakota Real Estate Commission issues your Real Estate Salesperson License for North Dakota.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $150
License fee [1] None specified
Renewal fee [1] $125
North Dakota Real Estate Salesperson Examination (National and State portions) [2] $134
Credit history fee [1] $13
Fingerprint criminal history analysis (paid to ND Office of Attorney General) [1] $40
One-time Real Estate Education, Research and Recovery Fund payment [1] $20

No separate license-issuance fee beyond the $150 application fee (which covers the exam application process) plus the one-time $20 Recovery Fund payment made when the license is ready to be issued. Renewal fee of $125 for Salesperson is from the Commission's most recently published renewal fee schedule; late renewal fees of $100/month accrue starting the day after the November 15 deadline.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year. 12 continuing education hours required per cycle.

License renewal is annual, with the CE cycle and renewal deadline running November 16 through November 15 each year. For the current cycle (Nov. 16, 2025 - Nov. 15, 2026, governing 2027 renewal), there are no mandatory topic hours; resident Salespersons, Broker Associates, and Brokers must complete 12 hours of elective CE topics of their choice. (In some prior cycles a portion of the 12 hours was mandated to specific topics such as contract law.) Non-resident and reciprocal licensees need only meet their home state's CE requirements. Salespersons newly licensed in the current cycle year are exempt from CE for their first renewal.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

North Dakota has reciprocity agreements with exactly three states: Minnesota, Iowa, and Georgia. Reciprocal applicants must have met licensing requirements, including passing any required exams, in their primary state of residence, and must submit a Certificate of Licensure dated within 30 days. Nonresident applicants from non-reciprocal states can still apply but must pass the North Dakota State portion of the exam (National portion waived only for reciprocal applicants from the three listed states).

Cost calculator

  • $150
  • $134
Total$284

Frequently asked questions

How many hours of pre-licensing education does North Dakota require?

90 hours for resident salesperson applicants, via an NDREC-certified pre-licensure course, completed within 2 years before applying for licensure.

Who administers the North Dakota salesperson exam, and what does it cost?

PSI Services LLC administers the exam for a flat $134 fee, whether taking one portion or both.

Does North Dakota have reciprocity with other states?

Yes, but only with Minnesota, Iowa, and Georgia. Applicants licensed and in good standing at the salesperson level in one of those three states can skip the North Dakota exam requirements entirely.

How often must a North Dakota salesperson license be renewed?

Annually, on a cycle running November 16 through November 15. The current cycle requires 12 hours of elective continuing education for resident active licensees.

Is a background check required for a North Dakota real estate license?

Yes. Applicants undergo both a credit history check run by NDREC and a fingerprint-based criminal history check conducted by the ND Office of Attorney General.

Sources

  1. [1] realestatend.org/how-to-apply/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] realestatend.org/image/cache/NDREC_Candidate_Information_Bulletin.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] realestatend.org/licensees/education-2/ — accessed 2026-07-12