North Dakota Real Estate Agent License

Complete a 90-hour pre-licensing course approved by the North Dakota Real Estate Commission. Courses may be completed online or in a traditional classroom setting.

Must apply within 2 years of completing the course.

Retake Policy: $134 per attempt; only the failed portion is retaken. Retesting is possible 2 days after the exam.

Type: Fingerprinting for statewide and nationwide criminal history check

Attorney General fingerprint fee conflicts on NDREC's page ($43 vs $40); a credit history fee ($13 vs $11.25) is also listed inconsistently

Must be sponsored by a licensed North Dakota broker to activate your license

Fee Breakdown

Listed fees: $150 application + $134 PSI exam + $20 recovery fund = $304. Fingerprint and credit history fees are additional and unverified, and E&O insurance is required for an active license, so this is not a complete startup cost.

License Renewal

12 hours of continuing education annually (12 elective hours with no mandatory topics for the November 16, 2025 - November 15, 2026 cycle). Salespersons first licensed in 2026 are exempt for their first renewal.

License Reciprocity

North Dakota has reciprocity with Georgia, Iowa, and Minnesota: applicants whose primary residence is in one of those states and who hold the same license level there may be licensed without the state exam.