North Dakota Real Estate License Requirements

Get your North Dakota real estate license with our comprehensive preparation guide. Understand licensing requirements, exam details, and necessary documentation for both salespersons and brokers.

Crush Your Real Estate Exam!

Claim Your Spot Today!

What you need to get your real estate license in North Dakota

Salespersons:

Be at least 18 years old.
For resident applicants only: complete a 90-hour NDREC-approved salesperson pre-licensure education course.
- If the course was completed before January 1, 2021, it consisted of 45 hours, and an additional 15 hours of post-licensure continuing education must be completed within the first year of active licensure.
- Applicants must submit their license application within two years of completing an NDREC-certified pre-licensure education course.
For reciprocal and nonresident applicants only: must be licensed and active as a salesperson in the state of primary residence.
Credit history must be reviewed and deemed acceptable by NDREC.
Criminal history must be reviewed by the ND Office of the Attorney General and approved by NDREC.
No real estate license may have been revoked in any state within two years prior to this application.
Resident applicants must pass both the North Dakota and national licensing examinations.
Nonresident nonreciprocal applicants must pass the North Dakota portion of the licensing examination.
Reciprocal applicants must meet the licensing requirements, including passing any required exams, in their primary state of residence, which must be Minnesota, Iowa, or Georgia.
All applicants: Submit a one-time $20 payment to the ND Real Estate Education, Research, and Recovery Fund.
Application fee: $150.

Brokers:

Be at least 18 years old.
No real estate license may have been revoked in any state within two years prior to this application.
For resident applicants only: complete a 60-hour pre-licensure education course prior to taking the examination.
- Applicants must submit their license application within two years of completing an NDREC-certified pre-licensure education course.
Reciprocal and Nonresident Applicants: must hold an active broker license in the state of primary residence.
Credit history must be reviewed and approved by NDREC.
Criminal history must be reviewed by the ND Office of the Attorney General and approved by NDREC.
A broker’s favorable assessment of the applicant’s salesperson’s work is required.
Must hold any other real estate license in good standing and have no real estate license revoked in any state within two years prior to the application.
Residents: Pass both the North Dakota and national licensing exams.
Nonresident Nonreciprocal Applicants: Pass the North Dakota licensing exam.
Reciprocal Applicants: Fulfill licensing requirements, including passing any required exams, in their primary state (Minnesota, Iowa, or Georgia).
Submit a one-time $20 payment to the ND Real Estate Education, Research, and Recovery Fund.
Application fee: $150.

What is the passing score for the North Dakota real estate license exam?

The salesperson examination comprises 100 questions on national topics and 40 questions focused on state-specific content. You must correctly answer at least 70 questions on the national portion and 30 questions on the state portion to pass the examination.

The broker examination consists of 11 simulation problems presented in a simulation format. Nine of these problems contribute to your score, while the remaining two are unscored and used for pre-testing future exams. You must achieve or exceed the overall Minimum Passing Level (MPL) for both the Information Gathering (IG) and Decision Making (DM) sections to pass the National Simulation Examination. Content experts assessed each section in a simulation, whether IG or DM, during the development process. The MPL for each section reflects the scoring weights assigned to the options and represents the performance level expected of a “minimally competent practitioner.”

What is the time limit for the North Dakota real estate exam?

For salesperson applicants, the total time allowed for both portions of the examination is 3.5 hours.

For the broker examination (simulation), the time limit is 3 hours. If you are taking the reciprocity exam, then you are only required to take a multiple-choice state portion, and its time limit is 1.5 hours.

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

Two forms of identification. The primary ID must be government-issued and current and include your name, signature, and photograph. Temporary IDs will not be accepted. Additionally, you must sign a roster to verify your identity.

Primary forms of identification may include:

Driver’s license with photograph.
State identification card with photograph.
Passport.
Military identification card with photograph.

The secondary form of identification must include your name and signature for verification purposes, such as a credit card, Social Security card, or employment/student ID card with a signature.

If the name on your registration differs from the name on your identification, you must provide legal proof of the name change, such as a marriage license, divorce decree, or court order.

What is the format of the exam?

The exam is taken in a computer.

What is the exam content?

Salesperson:

National Portion:
- Agency Relationships and Contracts.
- Real Property Ownership/Interest.
- Finance.
- Real Property.
- Marketing Regulations (purchase and rental).
- Property Management.
- Real Estate Calculations.
State Portion:
- Duties and Powers of the Real Estate Commission.
- Licensing Requirements.
- Statutory Requirements Governing the Activities of Licensees.
- Additional Topics.