North Dakota Real Estate License Requirements

You must have a North Dakota Real Estate License to sell or lease real estate in North Dakota and earn a commission.

The steps to obtain a ND Real Estate License:

Step #1: Complete the 90-hour North Dakota Real Estate Salesperson Course.

Step #2: Submit the salesperson license application.

Step #3: Submit the criminal record history form.

Step #4: Schedule your ND State License Exam.

Step #5:Take and Pass the State Licensing Exam.

Step #6: Purchase Errors & Omissions Insurance.

Step #7: Pay the education, research, and recovery fund fee.

Step #8: Apply to activate your state salesperson license.

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General Requirements

How to Get a Real Estate Salesperson License in North Dakota

 

Real estate is a great profession to have a career in North Dakota! To qualify for a real estate salesperson license, you must:

If you fit the bill, earn your North Dakota salesperson’s license in 8 steps.

Step 1: Complete 90-hour Pre-license Course

Start the process with your real estate education. As of 2021, North Dakota requires all salesperson applicants to take a 90-hour pre-license course. You can take the course online, in a classroom, or with a hybrid model, but your provider must be a state-approved education vendor. Your course will teach you about real estate law and regulations, practice, contracts, financing, and more pertinent topics to real estate business.

While you can take the North Dakota licensing exam before finishing your education course, you still must complete the education hours to be issued an active license.

Step 2: Submit the ND license application

Next, you must submit the salesperson application. You’ll need to list your address, last five years’ employment history, professional licensing, and criminal or litigation history. Depending on your answers, you may need to include additional documentation.

The license application fee is $150. North Dakota also requires $8 for a credit report. You can write a single check for $158 payable to the NDREC. Another option is to pay the fee online at https://www.realestatend.org/pay-bill, referencing “salesperson application.”

Step 3: Submit the Criminal History Record Check form

All new salesperson licensees must submit WITH their license application the Criminal History Record Record form (SFN 60688). The fee for a North Dakota and FBI record check is $41.25, paid by check or money order to the ND Attorney General. Do not get fingerprinted before sending this form and fee to the Commission. They will mail you a fingerprinting kit with the necessary cards, verification forms, and a list of fingerprinting locations.

Step 4: Schedule the state licensing exam

Once the license application is approved, the NDREC will send you a letter of approval with a test ID number. It’s your responsibility to schedule a test through PSI.

The non-refundable exam fee is $131 paid directly to PSI using credit, money order or cashier’s check. Any checks are made payable to PSI Services, Inc.

Online scheduling is the fastest way to make an exam appointment. Visit the PSI website, create an account, and use your test ID number in the approval letter to book the exam. You may call PSI at 855-834-8747 or use the mail-in registration form to reserve a test appointment.

PSI offers four test centers in North Dakota: Bismarck, Fargo, Minot, and Williston. Refer to the Candidate Handbook for specific addresses and testing directions.

Woman with laptop.

Step 5: Pass the state licensing exam

Bring to the test center two forms of identification that have your signature. One ID must be government-issued and have your photograph. Arrive no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled appointment.

Your North Dakota salesperson exam has two parts:

  1. National examination with 100 questions.
  2. State examination with 40 questions.
  3. The total time allowed is 3.5 hours.

If you take the national and state exam portions the same day, the questions will be intermixed. There may be 5-10 experimental questions that don’t count in your score.

The Candidate Information Handbook contains information about the number of questions per topic area on each exam section.

When you finish the exam, you will receive a score report at the test center. To pass the national portion, you must answer 70 questions correctly. The state portion requires 30 correct questions. If you pass, it’s your responsibility to send the official score report to the NDREC for your license activation. If you did not pass, the score report will have diagnostic information. You have 12 months to pass the exam.

Step 6: Provide E&O Insurance Information

To be issued an active license, you must carry errors and omission insurance. You must send proof of coverage to the Commission. You can get insurance from any qualified carrier as long your policy is the equivalent of what is offered by the NDREC. The North Dakota Insurance Department must also authorize the carrier.

The NDREC group plan is available through Rice Insurance Service. Pricing varies by the month you enroll. See the current fees and available coverage.

Step 7: Pay the Education, Research & Recovery Fund Fee

All new licensees are required to make a one-time $20 payment into the Education, Research & Recovery Fund. You can submit the recovery fund form and payment to NDREC by check or pay online at https://www.realestatend.org/pay-bill, reference “Recovery Fund.”

Step 8: Submit license activation request

To hold a North Dakota salesperson license, you must send in the Application to Issue Real Estate License. This section will require information from your hiring broker, who must also sign the application. You’ll need to have provided the NDREC with your official score report from the state licensing exam, your proof of insurance coverage, and the recovery fund fee.

Once the NDREC receives these documents, it will issue an active North Dakota salesperson license. Congratulations! You are now a practicing real estate salesperson.

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