How To Apply
for a North Dakota Real Estate License
Applications for all categories of North Dakota real estate licenses are online only at https://services.realestatend.org/. Applications on paper are not accepted.
- $150 – nonrefundable broker application fee, paid to NDREC
- $9.60 (effective 01/01/2025 $11.25) – nonrefundable credit history fee, paid to NDREC; NDREC runs the report through a credit agency
- Cost of getting fingerprinted – determined by and paid to the agency or business providing these services, who are independent from NDREC (list of fingerprinting locations)
- $41.25 (effective 01/01/2025 $40) – fingerprinting analysis as part of the statewide and national criminal history record check – paid to ND Office of Attorney General, who conducts the checks
- Applicants who are or have been a real estate licensee in other states, costs if any, of a certificate of licensure (COL) from all other states where currently or formerly licensed. NOTE: Some states take a month or more to issue a COL once ordered, so order your COL immediately. A COL is not a copy of a current real estate license.
- Resident only – cost of taking 60-hour broker pre-licensure course -- course fees determined by and paid to the school providing the course
- Schools and their pre-licensure courses are certified by the NDREC but otherwise operate independently. Link here for more information about pre-licensure courses elsewhere on this NDREC website: https://www.realestatend.org/education-providers/education-providers-2/
- Resident and nonresident applicants who are not reciprocal – cost of taking the licensing examination – determined by and paid to the testing company, PSI.
- Residents must take and pass both the state and national broker examinations. Nonresident nonreciprocal applicants need to take and pass only the state examination.
- The examination fee is required each time you take or retake the test/s.
- NDREC has an agreement with PSI to provide the testing services, but PSI operates independently of NDREC. Link here for more information on PSI elsewhere on this NDREC website: https://www.realestatend.org/exam-information
Once you are ready to have your license issued:
- $20 – one-time for the commission’s Real Estate Education, Research and Recovery Fund – paid to NDREC, unless you have already paid into the fund
- Active licensees only – cost of errors and omissions insurance -- paid to the insurance provider, to the firm with which you associate, or through another arrangement determined by the firm.
- Active licensees who need individual errors and omissions insurance can use the insurance company, Rice Insurance, with which NDREC negotiates an annual rate. The current cost through that provider is $187 per calendar year. Link here for more information on E&O insurance elsewhere on this NDREC website:
https://www.realestatend.org/licensees/e-o-information/
- Active licensees who need individual errors and omissions insurance can use the insurance company, Rice Insurance, with which NDREC negotiates an annual rate. The current cost through that provider is $187 per calendar year. Link here for more information on E&O insurance elsewhere on this NDREC website:
Applicant --
1. Submit application online with correct documents uploaded and fees paid. Resident applicants must upload pre-licensure course completion certificates as part of the online application.
2. Print the Fingerprint Verification Form, get fingerprinted and mail your fingerprint cards to NDREC with fee for analysis.
NDREC --
3. NDREC will email your designated broker a form to assess your work as a salesperson.
NDREC staff or commission --
4. Send fingerprints to ND Office of Attorney General for analysis and receive criminal history background report, usually within 1-2 weeks.
5. Review application, credit and criminal history background report, and approve or prepare application for commission. Staff will contact you if your application needs to be reviewed by the commission at a commission meeting.
6. Apply to testing company PSI and then issue test code to approved resident or nonresident applicant needing to take state and/or national examinations.
Applicant --
7. Resident or nonresident nonreciprocal applicant – schedule and take/retake exams, and submit passing test scores to NDREC.
8. All applicants -- Submit Request to Issue Real Estate License. Include, if applicable, the $20 one-time payment to NDREC for the commission’s Real Estate Education, Research and Recovery Fund. If license will be active, provide proof of errors and omissions insurance.
9. Applicants wanting an active license must have broker approve application to issue license.
NDREC staff --
10. Approve application to issue license, issue active or inactive license, and email notification to new licensee. Brokers of new active licensees are copied on the email.
New active licensee with broker --
11. Print license and display prominently in brokerage, or post new licensee name and license number on broker website.
Please note: you can check the status of your application at any time.
You need to meet the following requirements and have the following information and documents to apply for a North Dakota real estate broker license. Documents need to be uploaded into the online application, preferably in a .pdf format. Other recognized file formats with a .doc, .txt, or .rtf extension also are accepted.
- Reached at least 18 years of age or older at time of application
- Been actively engaged (ie., fulltime) as a licensed real estate salesperson for at least 2 years, or the commission must determine applicant has substantially equivalent experience
- No real estate license revoked in this or any state within 2 years before this application
- Resident applicant only – completed a 60-hour salesperson pre-licensure education course completed before taking the examination. Link here for more information on pre-licensing education elsewhere on this NDREC website: Education Providers
- Applicants must apply for licensure within 2 years of completing an NDREC-certified pre-licensure education course.
- Reciprocal and other nonresident applicants only – licensed and active at the broker level in state of primary residence
- Credit history run and determined acceptable by NDREC
- Criminal history run by ND Office of Attorney General and determined acceptable by NDREC.
- Favorable assessment by broker of applicant's salesperson work
- Any other real estate license in good standing in other state/s, and no real estate license revoked in this or any state within 2 years before this application
- Resident – passed North Dakota and national licensing examinations
- Nonresident nonreciprocal – passed North Dakota licensing examination
- Reciprocal – met licensing requirements, including passing any examinations, in their primary state of residence, which must be Minnesota, Iowa or Georgia
- One-time payment of $20 made to ND Real Estate Education, Research, and Recovery Fund.
The online application process prompts you for information, and you can save your application and return to complete it later. The online application process provides you with the fillable NDREC documents that open and allow you to complete, save and upload as part of applying. The online application process prompts you to upload other documents that are individual to you, such as certificates of licensure and court documents. You can have these documents created in advance and saved in the correct format to be ready to upload.
Select, non-exhaustive list of ND statue and rule references on licensing: NDCC 43-23- 08 and 43-23-08.1 and 43-23-08.4, 43-23.2-02, and NDAC 70-02-01-02, 70-02-01-03
- Personal information: place of birth, cell phone number, email address, home address/es in past 5 years, mailing address (if different than home address)
- Social Security Number to run personal credit history and criminal history
- Intent to operate as a designated broker in a firm and if the firm is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or individual proprietorship; or intent to operate as a designated broker supervised by another broker and the name and address of that firm
- If you intend to operate a new firm that is not an individual proprietorship, you must also submit a separate online application for a firm.
- If you have or intend to have a trust account, then as part of your application, you must complete and upload a Consent to Examine Trust Account that includes account information certified with a signature from a bank official.
- If you will be a designated broker and do not have a trust account, then as part of your application, you must complete and upload a Request for Waiver of Real Estate Broker Trust Account Requirement.
- Past 5 years’ employment and student history
- History of real estate and other occupational licenses and license numbers
- A recent certificate of licensure for this or any other state where you have ever had a real estate license. NOTE: A certificate of licensure (COL) is not a copy of a current real estate license. Some states take a month or more to issue a COL once ordered, so order your COL immediately.
- History of civil or criminal convictions including forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, conversion, issuing bad checks, extortion, criminal conspiracy to defraud, or similar offenses
- You may find documents through a web search by name or location of court.
- History of criminal convictions, pending charges or probation including date of conviction or charge and name of court and any relevant documents
- You may find documents through a web search by name or location of court.
- History of any bankruptcies, unpaid court judgments, mechanics liens or federal or state tax liens, including dates, amounts, current balance and copies of any relevant documents
- Bankruptcy documentation includes Final Discharge of Bankruptcy or Order confirming court-approved payment plan.
- You may find documents through a web search by name or location of court.
- If you have not been engaged fulltime as a licensed real estate salesperson for at least 2 years, then you must upload a brief explanation detailing your substantially equivalent experience, addressed to the ND Real Estate Commission.
- Average hours/week working as a real estate licensee, approximate number of listings personally obtained, and approximate number of closed transactions you personally obtained, and if work was in any or all the following categories: residential, commercial, agricultural, and/or property management.
- Resident applicants only -- NDREC-approved broker pre-licensure course completed, and certificate of completion uploaded with the application
- Active military member and/or spouse or active military, if military spouse holds a real estate license in another state/s – copy of military orders for the military member
- Military member is defined in NDCC 43-51-01 as a member of the armed forces of the United States or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States stationed in North Dakota in accordance with military orders or stationed in this state before a temporary assignment to duties outside of this state.
- Reciprocal – A completed, uploaded Request to Issue Real Estate License, Consent to Suit by Non-resident Applicant for Real Estate Broker’s License, Certificate of Coverage of Errors and Omissions Insurance, and the Real Estate Education, Research and Recovery Fund form
- Nonresident -- A completed uploaded Consent to Suit by Non-resident Applicant for Real Estate Broker’s License.
- Resident and nonresident -- credit or debit card to pay the nonrefundable fee of $159.60 (effective 01/01/2025 $161.25), which includes $150 for the application and $9.60 (effective 01/01/2025 $11.25) to run your personal credit history.
- Reciprocal – credit or debit card to pay the nonrefundable fee of $159.60 (effective 01/01/2025 $161.25) or $179.60 (effective 01/01/2025 $181.25) which includes $150 for the application, $9.60 (effective 01/01/2025 $11) to run your personal credit history, and, if applicable, $20 for the one-time contribution to the Real Estate Education, Research and Recovery Fund.
- Be sure to input the correct billing address for name of the individual or business on the credit or debit card being used.
- Accepted credit or debit cards --Visa, Mastercard and Discover
- Not accepted – American Express card, check, money order, or cash
The amount of time from your initial application submission to licensure is highly dependent on you, if you apply for a resident, nonresident or reciprocal license and if the commission needs to review your application at a future regularly scheduled meeting. In addition, your timeline will be determined by how quickly you are able to submit your fingerprints, how quickly your broker submits to NDREC their assessment of your salesperson work, and whether you have requested a waiver of the 2 years’ experience requirement. Resident applicants also must complete pre-licensure education, and resident and nonresident applicants who are not reciprocal applicants must schedule and pass license exams. To be issued an active license, you first must associate with a broker and firm if you are not going to be the designated broker of a firm, and be covered by errors and omissions insurance.
Seven to ten days after you submit your application, you can go to Online Services and under the Applications heading, select Check the status of your application. You’ll be prompted for information about yourself to log in, and then you will see the following Task List, and whether the task is completed, in process, or needs to be completed. If a task is not applicable to you, you will not see the task on your list.
- Application & Fee
- Criminal History Record Check Form
- Military Status & Orders, if applicable
- Certificate of Licensure (COL), if applicable
- Consent to Examine Trust Account Form or Waiver of Trust Account Form
- Consent to Suit by Non-resident-Broker Form, if applicable
- Pre-licensure Course Certificate
- Broker Assessment of Applicant
- Applicant - Return completed Fingerprint Cards, Verification form, & Fee to NDREC
- Fingerprints at BCI
- Fingerprint Results returned from BCI
- Review by Commission, if applicable
- Applied to PSI for Test Code
- Test Code Sent to Applicant
- Applicant - Upload First Test Taken
- Applicant - Upload Passing Score Report
- Applicant - Request to Issue Real Estate License - NO FEE
- Applicant - Payment to Real Estate Education, Research & Recovery Fund
- Applicant - Upload E&O Insurance Certificate
- Issue License
Select, non-exhaustive list of statute and rule references: NDCC 43-23-08, NDCC 43- 23-08.1, NDCC 43-23-08.3, 43-23-08.4, NDCC 43-23-09, NDCC 43-23-13, NDCC 43- 23-19 through 43-23-23, NDCC 43-23.2-02(1), NDAC 70-02-01-01 through 70-02-01- 03, NDAC 70-02-01-10, NDAC 70-02-05
According to NDCC 12-60-24 and 43-23-08.4, any applicant for licensure with the North Dakota Real Estate Commission or a licensee whose licensure is subject to investigation by the Commission shall be subject to a statewide and nationwide criminal history record check.
We no longer send out fingerprinting kits.
The Fingerprint Verification Form is available to download here https://realestatend.org/image/cache/NDREC_Fingerprint_Verification_Form.pdf
All applicants applying for their license must provide a set of fingerprints to the North Dakota Real Estate Commission for state and national fingerprint-based criminal history records check. Fingerprinting can be done at various locations in North Dakota (ND fingerprint locations) or in any state.
When submitting a fingerprint packet to the North Dakota Real Estate Commission:
- You must get fingerprinted by a law enforcement agency or other qualified entity. Call your local law enforcement agency or other qualified entity to inquire if they conduct fingerprinting for the public. You may need to make an appointment for fingerprinting. The law enforcement agency or other qualified entity may charge a small fee for fingerprinting. You must present valid identification (driver’s license, state identification card, U.S. passport, military ID, etc.) to the fingerprinting official. You must complete and submit both fingerprint cards, with two sets of fingerprints. Prior to completing the information on the fingerprint cards, inquire of the fingerprinting agency or entity if you should complete the cards legibly in black ink or if they use Live scan and the information will be printed on the cards. The fingerprint cards must be initialed and sealed in an envelope by law enforcement/fingerprinting official conducting the fingerprinting. Do NOT send the fingerprint cards to the Attorney General. Fingerprints must be mailed to NDREC.
- You must complete and submit a Criminal History Record Check Request form to the North Dakota Real Estate Commission.
- You must submit a check or money order in the amount of $41.25 (effective 01/01/2025 $40) payable to the North Dakota Attorney General. Submit this check or money order with the documents in #1 and #2, above. Credit cards are not accepted. DO NOT SEND CASH.
The Applicant must MAIL the following items in a large envelope to the address below:
- Two completed fingerprint cards sealed and initialed by the fingerprint technician -- do not fold or staple the cards;
- Completed Fingerprint Verification form (link below);
- Criminal History Record Check Request form (link below) if not already submitted with the online application;
- The exact fee of $41.25 (effective 01/01/2025 $40) made payable to the North Dakota Attorney General;
- Mail the envelope with the correct postage to the North Dakota Real Estate Commission.
(One First Class Forever stamp is not enough)
NORTH DAKOTA REAL ESTATE COMMISSION
1120 COLLEGE DR STE 204
BISMARCK ND 58501-1225
You must not tamper with the seal on the fingerprint card envelope in any way or your fingerprint application will be denied.
Note: Completed fingerprint kits are sent for processing weekly. It may take, on average, 1-2 weeks for NDREC to receive the results of the record check. Allow adequate time for U.S. mail delivery and processing by NDREC and the ND Attorney General before checking the status of your application in Online Services here.
Forms:
- $200 – nonrefundable application fee, paid to NDREC
- The designated broker of the firm as it operates in North Dakota also must have an active North Dakota broker license.
- Any other brokers or salespersons in the firm, if they conduct real estate transactions or negotiations on real estate in North Dakota, must have an active North Dakota broker or salesperson license and carry errors and omissions insurance through a firm policy or an individual policy.
Firm applicant --
1. Submit application online with correct documents uploaded and fees paid.
NDREC staff or commission --
2. Review application, including, if applicable, the broker application, and approve, table, or deny the firm application. Staff will contact you if the commission tables or denies your application.
NDREC staff --
3. If broker is currently licensed, or if the broker application is approved, issue firm license.
- NDCC 43-23-06 (10) -- "Real estate brokerage firm" means a person that is providing real estate brokerage services through that person's licensees and which is licensed by the commission as a real estate brokerage firm.
- NDCC 43-23-05 -- “A copartnership, association, corporation, or limited liability company may not be granted a license, unless at least one partner, shareholder, member, manager, or officer of the copartnership, association, corporation, or limited liability company, actually engaged as a real estate broker, holds a license as a real estate broker, and unless every employee who acts as a real estate salesperson for the copartnership, association, corporation, or limited liability company holds a license as a real estate salesperson.”
You need to meet the following requirements and have the following information and documents to apply for a North Dakota real estate firm license. Documents need to be uploaded into the online application, preferably in a .pdf format. Other recognized file formats with a .doc, .txt, or .rtf extension also are accepted.
- If applicable, trade name/Doing Business As/DBA and your copy from the ND Secretary of State of the Certificate of Registration of the trade name. Link here for more information on registering trade names and doing business in North Dakota on this North Dakota Secretary of State website: https://firststop.sos.nd.gov/
- Name and contact information of officers and management of the firm, including president, CEO, head of firm and designated broker.
- If applicable, state/s where firm is or was licensed and recent firm certificate of licensure from each state uploaded with the application.
- North Dakota real estate license application and licensing history of any member of the firm or officer of the corporation, if applicable.
- Bank account and location of a broker trust account, if applicable, and a completed and uploaded Consent to Examine Trust Account or, if a trust account will not be used, a completed and uploaded Waiver of Trust Account request.
- History of firm as a defendant in a legal proceeding in which fraud or misrepresentation was charged against the applicant corporation, partnership, LLC, LLP, or LLLP.
- History of any judgments or liens against the applicant corporation, partnership, LLC, LLP, or LLLP.
- Your copy of 1 of the following, depending on firm type: Articles of Incorporation (corporation), Articles of Organization (LLC), Certificate of Formation, or a completed copy of the ND Certificate of Authority Application for a Foreign LLC submitted to the ND Secretary of State.
- Your copy received from the ND Secretary of State of certificate showing good standing, depending on firm type: Certificate of Incorporation (corporation), Certificate of Organization (LLC), or Certificate of Authority (if firm is an out-of-state company of any type)
- If your firm is a partnership, a copy of the Partnership Agreement.
- Firms located outside of North Dakota – A completed and uploaded Consent to Suit by Non-resident Applicant for Real Estate Corporate License
- Credit or debit card to pay the nonrefundable fee of $200.
- Be sure to input the correct billing address for name of the individual or business on the credit or debit card being used.
- Accepted credit or debit cards --Visa, Mastercard and Discover
- Not accepted -- American Express card, check, money order, or cash
The amount of time from your initial application submission to licensure is highly dependent on the accuracy and completeness of the application and required uploaded documents. The timeline also is dependent on the license or application status of the designated broker, and if the commission needs to review your firm or the broker application at a future regularly scheduled commission meeting.
No person may act as a real estate broker, real estate salesperson, or real estate firm in North Dakota as defined in NDCC 43-23-06.1(9-11) without a license issued by the North Dakota Real Estate Commission. NDCC 43-23-05
If you enter into an agreement to make income or profit from the transfer of or equitable interest in residential real property, you require a license and written disclosure. This practice is commonly referred to as “wholesaling.” NDCC 43-23-06.1, NDCC 43-23-07
You need this active North Dakota real estate license even if you already have:
- an inactive North Dakota real estate license. You must activate your inactive license before you provide real estate services in North Dakota as defined in NDCC 43-23-06.1(9-11), or
- an active or inactive real estate license from a state other than North Dakota.
NDCC 43-23-05, NDCC 43-23-06.1 (9-11), NDAC 70-02-01-05, NDAC 70-02-01-06
You may not need a real estate license issued by the North Dakota Real Estate Commission to provide real estate-related services if you are a/an:
- owner of the real estate being sold
- attorney in specific situations
- auctioneer selling real estate in a bona fide public auction
- bank or trust company or its officers or employees in performance of their duties as an officer or employee
- person holding a duly executed power of attorney from the real estate owner
- receiver, trustee, administrator, executor, guardian, or under court order, or while acting under authority of a deed, trust, or will
- public officer while performing your duties
NDCC 43-23-07
The North Dakota Real Estate Commission licenses:
- salespersons
- brokers – either a designated broker of a sole proprietorship or a firm, or a broker associate who is not a designated broker
- firms – corporation, limited liability company, or partnership
North Dakota does not issue real estate licenses by a real estate specialty such as residential or commercial.
NDCC 43-23-05, NDCC 43-23-06.1, NDAC 70-02-01-09
Salesperson and broker licenses can be granted to nonresidents. If you are licensed in Minnesota, Iowa or Georgia, the nonresident license is reciprocal.
NDAC 70-02-01-06
Licenses can be:
- Active – Can conduct compensated real estate business in North Dakota.
- Inactive – Cannot conduct compensated real estate business in North Dakota -- unless inactive license is first activated.
- A license can be issued as inactive or become inactive at any time after being active.
- A licensee can hold an inactive license for an unlimited amount of time, provided the licensee renews the license annually.
NDCC 43-23-05, NDCC 43-23-13.1, NDAC 70-02-01-05, NDAC 70-02-01-04, 70-02-01-09
Link here to North Dakota Century Code (NDCC) Chapter 43-23 and North Dakota Administrative Code (NDAC) Chapter 70 elsewhere on this NDREC website:
https://www.realestatend.org/information/license-law/
Professional license portability in the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA):
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke’s Notification Letter to State Licensing Authorities (includes links to additional resources)
A 2023 amendment to the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) enhances the portability of professional licenses for active military servicemembers and their spouses when they relocate due to military orders. In accordance with the 2023 amendment, the North Dakota Real Estate Commission (NDREC) will recognize a real estate license (broker or salesperson) issued to a military service member or their spouse by an out-of-state licensing authority, as valid in North Dakota at a similar scope of practice as a license issued by the NDREC, if the military service member or their spouse meet all 5 of the following criteria:
1. Have moved to North Dakota because of orders for military service;
2. Provide a copy of the military orders to the NDREC;
3. Have actively used the license at some point during the two years immediately preceding the move;
4. Remain in good standing with:
a. the licensing authority that issued the covered license; and
b. every other licensing authority that issued a license valid for a similar scope of practice and in the discipline
(license level – broker or salesperson) applied for in North Dakota; and
5. Submit to the authority of the NDREC for the purposes of standards of practice, discipline, and fulfillment of any continuing
education requirements.
If these five criteria are met, the military service member or their spouse’s covered license shall be considered valid at a similar scope of practice and in the discipline (license level – broker or salesperson) applied for with the NDREC for the duration of military orders.
To obtain recognition of a covered license under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act:
- Contact the NDREC by email or by phone during regular business hours (ndrec@nd.gov or 701-328-9749).
- NDREC will instruct you on how to proceed with an application.
- The online application allows for uploading of required documents:
- Copy of military orders (criteria 1 and 2, above)
- Certificates of licensure or other proof that the applicant is in good standing (has no disciplinary actions), issued in the past 30 days, from each jurisdiction where the license holder is licensed. (criteria 3 and 4, above). Please note: an out-of-state real estate license is not by itself sufficient to meet this requirement.
- The online application allows for uploading of required documents:
- If NDREC determines you are a military service member or their spouse who meets the 5 criteria above, NDREC will waive the application fee, credit check, background check, pre-licensure education, and state and national exam requirements.
- Submit a Request to Issue Real Estate License signed by the ND-licensed broker with whom you are associating (in the case of a Salesperson or Broker Associate’s license), with proof of required errors and omissions (E&O) insurance and one-time payment of $20 to the Education, Research and Recovery Fund.
- Annually, complete the required 12 hours of continuing education (CE) on elective and mandatory topics by deadline, as described here.
- Annually, after taking the required CE and obtaining E&O insurance for the next year, complete the online renewal which includes uploading CE certificates and current certificates of licensure from each jurisdiction where licensed, and submit with payment of $125 (salesperson) or $150 (broker) by deadline.
If you are both licensed and live primarily in Georgia, Iowa, or Minnesota, and want a North Dakota real estate license, see application instructions under the General, Salesperson, Broker, and Firm tabs.
If you are a North Dakota licensee seeking a reciprocal license from Georgia, Iowa, or Minnesota, please contact that state's real estate commission.
Georgia
Georgia Real Estate Commission
Iowa
Iowa Real Estate Commission
Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Commerce
- $150 – nonrefundable application fee, paid to NDREC
- $9.60 (effective 01/01/2025 $11.25) – nonrefundable credit history fee, paid to NDREC; NDREC runs the report through a credit agency
- Cost of getting fingerprinted – determined by and paid to the agency or business providing these services, who are independent from NDREC (list of fingerprinting locations)
- $41.25 (effective 01/01/2025 $40) – fingerprinting analysis as part of the statewide and national criminal history record check – paid to ND Office of Attorney General, who conducts the checks
- Applicants who are or have been a real estate licensee in other states, costs if any, of a certificate of licensure (COL) from all other states where currently or formerly licensed. NOTE: Some states take a month or more to issue a COL once ordered, so order your COL immediately. A COL is not a copy of a current real estate license.
- Resident only – cost of taking 90-hour salesperson pre-licensure course -- course fees determined by and paid to the school providing the course
- Schools and their pre-licensure courses are certified by the NDREC but otherwise operate independently. Link here for more information about pre-licensure courses elsewhere on this NDREC website:
https://www.realestatend.org/education-providers/education-providers-2/
- Schools and their pre-licensure courses are certified by the NDREC but otherwise operate independently. Link here for more information about pre-licensure courses elsewhere on this NDREC website:
- Resident and nonresident who are not reciprocal – cost of taking the licensing examination – determined by and paid to the independent testing company, PSI.
- Residents must take and pass both the state and national examinations.
- Nonresident nonreciprocal applicants need to take and pass only the state examination.
- The examination fee is required each time you take or retake the test/s.
- NDREC has an agreement with PSI to provide the testing services, but PSI operates independently of NDREC. Link here for more information on PSI elsewhere on this NDREC website:
https://www.realestatend.org/exam-information
Once you are ready to have your license issued:
- $20 – one-time payment to NDREC for the commission’s Real Estate Education, Research and Recovery Fund.
- Active licensees only – errors and omissions insurance -- paid to the insurance provider, to the firm with which you associate, or through another arrangement determined by the firm.
- Active licensees who need individual errors and omissions insurance can purchase insurance from the insurance company, Rice Insurance, with which NDREC negotiates an annual rate. The current cost through that provider is $187 per calendar year. Link here for more information on E&O insurance elsewhere on this NDREC website:
https://www.realestatend.org/licensees/e-o-information/
- Active licensees who need individual errors and omissions insurance can purchase insurance from the insurance company, Rice Insurance, with which NDREC negotiates an annual rate. The current cost through that provider is $187 per calendar year. Link here for more information on E&O insurance elsewhere on this NDREC website:
Applicant --
1. Submit application online with correct documents uploaded and fees paid.
(Documents to upload are detailed under Information needed to complete online application.)
2. Resident or nonresident nonreciprocal applicant – schedule and take/retake exams with PSI, and submit passing test scores to NDREC. NOTE: Salesperson applicants can test at any time and no longer need test codes from the commission. Visit PSI's webpage to get started: ND Real Estate Examination Program offered through PSI Services
3. Print the Fingerprint Verification Form, get fingerprinted and mail your fingerprint cards to NDREC with fee for analysis.
4. Resident applicant only -- submit certificate of completion of pre-licensure education course.
NDREC staff or commission --
5 Send fingerprints to ND Office of Attorney General for analysis and receive criminal history background report, usually within 1-2 weeks.
6. Review application, credit and criminal history background report, and approve or prepare application for commission. Staff will contact you if your application needs to be reviewed by the commission at a commission meeting.
Applicant --
7. All applicants -- Submit Request to Issue Real Estate License, a one-time fee with $20 payment to NDREC for the commission’s Real Estate Education, Research and Recovery Fund, and, if license will be active, proof of errors and omissions insurance.
8. Applicants wanting an active license must have broker approve application to issue license.
NDREC staff --
9. Approve application to issue license, issue active or inactive license, and email notification of license to new licensee. Brokers of new active licensees are copied on the email.
New active licensee with broker --
10. Print license and display prominently in brokerage, or post new licensee name and license number on broker website.
Please note: you can check the status of your application at any time.
You need to meet the following requirements and have the following information and documents to apply for a North Dakota real estate salesperson license. Documents need to be uploaded into the online application, preferably in a .pdf format. Other recognized file formats with a .doc, .txt, or .rtf extension also are accepted.
- Reached at least 18 years of age or older at time of application
- Resident applicant only – completed 90-hour, NDREC-certified salesperson prelicensure education course. Link here for more information about pre-licensure courses elsewhere on this NDREC website: Education Providers
- If course was completed prior to January 1, 2021, the course was 45 hours and an additional 15 hours in post-licensure continuing education are required within the first year of active licensure.
- Applicants must apply for licensure within 2 years of completing an NDREC-certified pre-licensure education course.
- Reciprocal and other nonresident applicants only – licensed and active at the salesperson level in state of primary residence
- Credit history run and determined acceptable by NDREC
- Criminal history run by ND Office of Attorney General and determined acceptable by NDREC
- No real estate license revoked in this or any state within 2 years before this application
- Resident – passed North Dakota and national licensing examinations PSI Website
- Nonresident nonreciprocal – passed North Dakota portion of the licensing exam PSI Website
- Reciprocal – met licensing requirements, including passing any examinations, in their primary state of residence, which must be Minnesota, Iowa or Georgia
- One-time payment of $20 made to ND Real Estate Education, Research, and Recovery Fund.
NDCC 43-23-08 and 43-23-08.1 and 43-23-08.4, 43-23.2-02, and NDAC 70-02-01-02, 70-02-01-03
The online application process prompts you for information, and you can save your application and return and complete it later. The online application process provides you with the fillable NDREC documents that open and allow you to complete, save and upload as part of applying. The online application process prompts you to upload other documents that are individual to you, such as certificates of licensure and court documents. You can have these documents created in advance and saved in the correct format to be ready to upload.
- Personal information -- place of birth, cell phone number, email address, home address, mailing address (if different than home address)
- Social Security Number to run personal credit history and criminal history
- Past 3 years’ employment and student history
- History of real estate and other occupational licenses and license numbers
- A recent certificate of licensure for any other state where you have ever had a real estate license. NOTE: A certificate of licensure (COL) is not a copy of a current real estate license. Some states take a month or more to issue a COL once ordered, so order your COL immediately.
- History of civil or criminal convictions including forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, conversion, issuing bad checks, extortion, criminal conspiracy to defraud, or similar offenses
- You may find documents through a web search by name or location of court.
- History of criminal convictions, pending charges or probation including date of conviction or charge and name of court and any relevant documents
- You may find documents through a web search by name or location of court.
- History of any bankruptcies, unpaid court judgments, mechanics liens or federal or state tax liens, including dates, amounts, current balance and copies of any relevant documents
- Bankruptcy documentation includes Final Discharge of Bankruptcy or Order confirming court-approved payment plan.
- You may find documents through a web search by name or location of court.
- Highest level of formal education achieved
- Resident applicants only -- NDREC-approved salesperson pre-licensure course and status – planning to enroll, currently enrolled, or completed
- If you completed the pre-licensure course, you upload the course completion certificate with the application.
- You can complete the course and forward NDREC the certificate after you have applied and before NDREC issues you a license.
- Active military member and/or spouse or active military, if military spouse holds a real estate license in another state/s – copy of military orders for the military member
- Military member is defined in NDCC 43-51-01 as a member of the armed forces of the United States or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States stationed in North Dakota in accordance with military orders or stationed in this state before a temporary assignment to duties outside of this state.
- Reciprocal – A completed, uploaded Request to Issue Real Estate License.
- Credit or debit card to pay the fees
- Resident and nonresident nonreciprocal applicants -- $159.60 (effective 01/01/2025 $161.25), which includes $150 for the application and $9.60 (effective 01/01/2025 $11) to run your personal credit history. (At a later date when you are ready to be issued your license, you will be charged $20 to pay the one-time contribution to the Real Estate Education, Research and Recovery Fund.)
- Reciprocal applicant -- $179.60 (effective 01/01/2025 $181.25), which includes $150 for the application, $9.60 (effective 01/01/2025 $11) to run your personal credit history, and $20 for the one-time contribution to the Real Estate Education, Research and Recovery Fund.
- Be sure to input the correct billing address for name of the individual on the credit or debit card.
- Accepted credit or debit cards --Visa, Mastercard and Discover
- Not accepted -- American Express card, check, money order or cash
- Application and credit history fees are not refundable.
The amount of time from your initial application submission to licensure is highly dependent on you; if you are a resident, nonresident or reciprocal license applicant; and if the commission needs to review your application at a regularly scheduled future meeting. In addition, your timeline will be determined by how quickly you are able to submit your fingerprints, and how quickly the fingerprints are analyzed by the ND Office of Attorney General. Resident applicants also must complete pre-licensure education, and resident and nonresident applicants who are not reciprocal applicants must schedule and pass license exams. To be issued an active license, you first must associate with a broker and firm and be covered by errors and omissions insurance.
Seven to ten days after you submit your application, you can go to Online Services and under the Applications heading, select Check the status of your application. You’ll be prompted for information about yourself to log in, and then you will see the following Task List, and whether the task is completed, in process, or needs to be completed. If a task is not applicable to you, you will not see the task on your list.
- Application & Fee
- Criminal History Record Check Form
- Military Status & Orders, if required
- Certificate of Licensure (COL), if required
- Credit Report
- Applicant - Return Completed Fingerprint Cards, Verification form, & Fee to NDREC
- Fingerprints at BCI
- Fingerprint Results returned from BCI
- Review by Commission, if required
- Test Code Email Sent to Applicant, if required
- Applicant - Upload First Test Taken
- Applicant - Upload Passing Score Reports
- Applicant - Request to Issue Real Estate License - NO FEE
- Applicant - Upload Pre-licensure Course Certificate
- Applicant - Payment to Real Estate Education, Research & Recovery Fund, if required
- Issue License
Select, non-exhaustive list of ND statue and rule references on licensing: NDCC 43-23-08, NDCC 43-23-08.1, NDCC 43-23-08.3, 43-23-08.4, NDCC 43-23-09, NDCC 43-23-13, NDCC 43-23-19 through 43-23-23, NDCC 43-23.2-02(1), NDAC 70-02-01-01 through 70-02-01-03, NDAC 70-02-01-10, NDAC 70-02-05