Minnesota Real Estate License Requirements

Get your real estate license in Minnesota with our comprehensive preparation guide. Learn the general licensing requirements, exam details, fees, and what you must provide regarding documents, whether you want to be a salesperson or a broker.

What you need to get your real estate license in Minnesota

Salesperson:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Complete an application on www.pulseportal.com.
• Provide proof of completion of three 30-hour approved pre-license courses.
• Successfully pass the real estate examination.
• Establish affiliation with a licensed Minnesota real estate broker.
• Pay the required fees:
  • Resident Salesperson
    • Initial Fee: $100
    • License Fee: $130
  • Nonresident Salesperson
    • Initial Fee: $100
    • License Fee: $130

Broker:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Complete an application on www.pulseportal.com.
• Provide proof of completion of 30 hours of pre-approved broker pre-license education by the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
• Successfully pass the real estate examination.
• Have a minimum of three years of actual licensed experience as a real estate salesperson within the last five years in Minnesota or another state with comparable requirements.
• Pay the required fees:
  • Residents Brokers:
    • Initial Fee: $100
    • License Fee: $190
  • Nonresidents Brokers:
    • Initial Fee: $100
    • License Fee: $210

What is the passing score for the Minnesota real estate license exam?

The Salesperson Exam has 80 national questions and 40 state-specific questions. You have to get 75% of the questions correct to pass.

The Broker Exam includes 80 national and 50 state-specific questions. As with the salesperson exam, a passing grade requires answering at least 75% of the questions correctly.

For both tests, your scores are available immediately after the test.

What is the time limit for the Minnesota real estate exam?

The time limit is 2.5 hours for the national portion and 1.5 hours for the state portion on both the salesperson and broker exams, totaling 4 hours.

What to bring for the state of Minnesota real estate license exam?

• Two forms of identification with matching names, unexpired, and containing a valid signature (e.g., driver’s license, passport, green card, U.S. social security card, debit/credit card with a signature).
• An essential (non-scientific) calculator.
• Proof of pre-license education completion.

What is the format of the exam?

The exam, which is multiple-choice, is given on a computer.

What is the exam content?

The national portion of the salesperson and broker real estate exams contains the following topics:

• Property Ownership
• Land Use Controls and Regulations
• Valuation and Market Analysis
• Financing
• General Principles of Agency
• Property Condition and Disclosures
• Contracts
• Transfer of Title
• Practice of Real Estate
• Real Estate Calculations
• Subdivisions
• Commercial, Industrial, and Income Properties

The national portion of the salesperson and broker real estate exams contains the following topics:

• Real Estate Brokerage License Law
• Interests in Real Property
• Conveyance Procedures and Protection of Parties
• Financial Instruments: Obligations, Rights, Remedies

Sources

• Minnesota Department of Commerce
• PSI Examination Online
• Minnesota Department of Commerce Guide to Real Estate Licensing