How to Become a Real Estate Agent in North Dakota (2026 Guide)

Your Quick Start Guide to a North Dakota Real Estate License

From the Bakken oil country to the growing Fargo-Moorhead corridor, North Dakota’s real estate market has some genuinely unique dynamics — and its licensing process has a few quirks to match. Your title will be “salesperson,” and getting there means 90 hours of coursework, a two-part PSI exam, a criminal history check, and a sponsoring broker. A couple of the steps here work a little differently than most states, so let’s walk through the details, sourced directly from the North Dakota Real Estate Commission.

What we’ll cover:


7 Steps to Get a Real Estate License in North Dakota

According to the North Dakota Real Estate Commission (NDREC), you’ll need to be at least 18, have a good reputation for honesty and financial integrity, and not have had a real estate license revoked anywhere within the past 2 years. From there, here’s the full process:

STEP 1 | Complete Your 90-Hour Pre-License Course

  • North Dakota’s 90-hour requirement comes from an NDREC-approved provider, and the Commission caps students at no more than 8 hours of coursework in any 24-hour period — so even at maximum pace, the fastest realistic completion is around 12 days. One genuine quirk: you’re allowed to sit for the state exam before you’ve actually finished all 90 hours, though NDREC won’t issue your license until your completed education is on file.

STEP 2 | Submit Your License Application

  • Submit your salesperson application to NDREC along with a $150 fee, plus $8 for a credit report — you can write one check for $158, or pay online. Applications and payments both go through the NDREC website.

STEP 3 | Submit Your Criminal History Record Check

  • Along with your application, you’ll submit the Criminal History Record Check form (SFN 60688) and a $41.25 fee, paid by check or money order to the ND Attorney General — not to NDREC directly. Important: don’t get fingerprinted before you send in this form. NDREC will mail you a fingerprinting kit once your application is processed, and getting prints done out of sequence can create delays.

STEP 4 | Schedule and Pass Your PSI Exam

  • NDREC contracts with PSI Services for testing, and salesperson applicants can now test anytime — no test codes needed from the Commission first. The exam fee is $131, and you’ll have 3.5 hours to complete 140 questions (100 national, 40 North Dakota-specific).
  • You’ll need at least 70% on the national portion and 75% (30 of 40) on the state portion — the state section has noticeably less margin for error. First-attempt pass rates run around 55%, so don’t be discouraged if it takes more than one try. More on retakes below.

STEP 5 | Purchase Errors & Omissions Insurance

  • North Dakota requires proof of E&O insurance before your license can be issued. Your future brokerage may already have a firm policy covering you, or you can secure an individual policy.

STEP 6 |  Find a Sponsoring Broker

  • Your salesperson license stays inactive until a licensed North Dakota broker agrees to supervise you. We’ve got tips on choosing the right one further down this page.

STEP 7 |  Pay the Recovery Fund Fee + Activate Your License!

  • First-time licensees pay a one-time $20 fee to the Education, Research, and Recovery Fund. Once your broker confirms the affiliation and NDREC has everything on file, your active salesperson license is issued.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License?

Here’s a realistic breakdown by step:

  • 6 to 10 weeks to complete the 90-hour course at a normal pace (as fast as 12 days if you max out the daily hour cap)
  • 1 to 2 weeks for NDREC to process your application and criminal history submission
  • 1 to 2 weeks to get a PSI exam slot scheduled
  • 1 to 3 weeks to interview and settle on a sponsoring broker
  • 1 to 2 weeks to receive your fingerprinting kit and complete that step

All told, most people are looking at roughly 10 to 16 weeks from start to finish. The application timeline is genuinely sensitive to accuracy — NDREC processes based on how complete your submission is, so double-checking every form before you send it in can save real time.


Cost to Get a Real Estate License in North Dakota

Here’s the full financial picture:

  • Pre-License Real Estate Course – $300 to $700
  • State Exam Fee (PSI) – $131
  • License Application Fee + Credit Report – $158
  • Criminal History Record Check (ND + FBI) – $41.25
  • Education, Research & Recovery Fund Fee – $20
  • State exam prep courses or materials – $25 to $150 (optional)

** Total Cost to Get Licensed = $650 to $1,050


More Costs to Expect as a Brand New Realtor

Licensing gets you in the door — here’s what ongoing costs look like once you’re actually working.

Genuinely good news for newer agents: North Dakota’s renewal is annual, but the current CE cycle is unusually light. There are no mandatory topic hours right now — just 12 hours of elective courses of your choice. And if you’re first licensed in 2026, you’re exempt from CE entirely for your first renewal.

Budget for these as your business gets going:

  • Continuing Education (12 hours of electives, no mandatory topics this cycle; annual deadline is November 15) – $75 to $200
  • License Renewal Fee (annual) – $125
  • National and Local Board of Realtors / Examples:
    • North Dakota Association of REALTORS (NDAR, state association) – hosts the annual REALTOR Convention of the Dakotas; contact for current dues
    • FM REALTORS (Fargo-Moorhead area) – over 900 members; contact for current pricing
    • Local boards also serve Bismarck-Mandan, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Minot, and Williston — contact your nearest one directly
  • Multiple Listing Service (MLS) – about $150 to $175 quarterly
  • SentriLock or Supra eKey to show homes – $100 to $200 annually
  • Business cards and signage – varies
  • Marketing materials and advertising – varies
  • Brokerage joining fee – $0 to $500 (average is about $250)
  • Monthly Brokerage fee – ranges from $0 to $350 monthly

** Total Cost to Become a Real Estate Agent in North Dakota = $1,200 to $2,650



Find the Best Real Estate School (for you!)

Your 90 hours have to come from a school approved by the North Dakota Real Estate Commission. Most of the real estate courses are offered online, but there are a few that offer a classroom or virtual style setting. Please note that some of the school links below are affiliate links. If you enroll through one of these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

A few worth comparing:

Since North Dakota limits you to 8 hours of coursework per day, ask any school how their pacing works — some self-paced platforms track this automatically, while others require you to plan your own schedule around it.

Also worth checking: does their material specifically cover mineral rights and surface/mineral severance (a genuinely distinctive part of North Dakota’s exam, especially relevant in Bakken oil country), and do they publish real pass-rate data given the exam’s ~55% first-attempt rate?


How to Select a North Dakota Real Estate Broker

Your license simply can’t go active without a sponsoring broker in North Dakota — so this isn’t a step to rush through at the last minute.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING A BROKER >>

New agents often make commission splits their first question, but we’d genuinely push that to #2 or #3 on the list. What matters more starting out is whether the brokerage will actually help you build a business: Is there structured training, or are you left to figure things out solo? Do you have multiple people to call when a deal gets complicated? If you’re working in an area touched by oil and gas activity, does the brokerage have real experience navigating mineral rights questions? Those details matter more to your first-year success than a slightly better split.

How to Become a Real Estate Agent in North Dakota: FAQs

How difficult is the state real estate exam?

North Dakota’s exam has a first-attempt pass rate of around 55%, which is on the tougher side nationally. You’ll face 140 questions (100 national, 40 state-specific) in 3.5 hours, needing 70% on the national portion but a tighter 75% (30 of 40 questions) on the state portion — that state section has the least room for error on the whole exam, so weight your study time accordingly. Mineral rights and surface/subsurface severance questions come up often, particularly relevant given the state’s oil and gas activity.

What if I don’t pass real estate exam?

Given the pass rate, needing a second attempt is genuinely common — don’t read too much into it. You’ll pay the $131 fee again to retake, and since salesperson applicants can test anytime without needing a new test code, scheduling a retake is straightforward.

Can I really take the exam before finishing all 90 hours of coursework?

Yes — this is a genuine quirk of North Dakota’s process, confirmed directly in state law. You’re permitted to sit for the licensing exam before you’ve completed your full 90-hour education requirement. However, NDREC will not actually issue your salesperson license until you’ve submitted satisfactory evidence that you’ve finished the coursework. In practice, most candidates still complete their education first since it’s what prepares them for the exam content, but the option exists if your circumstances call for it.

Why shouldn’t I get fingerprinted before submitting my criminal history form?

NDREC is specific about this sequencing: submit your Criminal History Record Check form and $41.25 fee to the ND Attorney General first, and wait for NDREC to mail you a fingerprinting kit in response. Getting fingerprinted ahead of that step can create processing mismatches and slow things down rather than speed them up — so even though it might feel efficient to knock it out early, follow the order NDREC lays out.

Do I have to be a North Dakota resident to get licensed?

No, North Dakota residency is not required to hold a North Dakota real estate license. Nonresidents can apply for a standard nonresident license (requiring the full exam, same as residents) or, if they’re licensed and primarily reside in Georgia, Iowa, or Minnesota, may qualify for a reciprocal license instead. See our reciprocity FAQ below for details.

Can I get a North Dakota real estate license if I have a misdemeanor or felony on my record?

Having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you, but NDREC does require a good reputation for honesty, financial integrity, and fair dealing as part of licensure, and your criminal history check is reviewed as part of that evaluation. If you have concerns about your background, it’s worth contacting NDREC directly before investing time and money in the 90-hour course.

I have a real estate license in another state. Does North Dakota offer reciprocity?

Yes, if you hold a current real estate license and primarily reside in Georgia, Iowa, or Minnesota, you can apply for a North Dakota reciprocal license and skip the state exam entirely.

You’ll still need to submit a full application, pay the applicable fees, and complete the criminal history check — it’s a waiver of the exam requirement, not the whole process. If you’re licensed elsewhere but don’t reside in one of those three states, you’d go through the standard nonresident licensing path, which does require the full exam.

How much do real estate agents make in North Dakota?

According to Indeed.com, the average North Dakota real estate agent earns about $130,539 a year, though estimates from other sources vary quite a bit depending on methodology. As always, actual income depends heavily on transaction volume and local price points — Grand Forks, Bismarck, and Fargo tend to be among the state’s most active markets, with the Bakken region adding its own distinct commercial and land-transaction opportunities.

THE MATH: For a rough estimate of what you could earn, look up the average home sale price in your target market, apply a typical 2.5% commission side, then multiply by how many homes you realistically expect to close. If the average is $280,000, that’s about $7,000 per sale — close 10 deals your first year and you’re at roughly $70,000 gross, before your broker’s split.

Is Getting a Real Estate License Worth It?

It depends on what you’re going for. If you’re mainly looking to help a few friends or family members buy and sell each year, weigh the ongoing dues and CE costs against how much that’s genuinely worth to you.

If you’re aiming for a full-time career, though, North Dakota has real advantages: a comparatively light CE burden most years, no residency requirement if you’re relocating, and steady demand across both traditional residential markets and the state’s distinctive oil and gas-driven land transactions. That said, moving from a steady paycheck to commission-only income is a real adjustment. Going in with roughly six months of living expenses saved gives you meaningful breathing room while you build your client base.

NEXT READ: The “Ghosted” Agent: Why 87% of Real Estate Agents Quit (and How to Make Sure It’s Not You)