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North Dakota Real Estate Broker — Requirements & Free Practice

US-ND · License preparation

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Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

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Additional Broker Real Estate License

Additional broker or broker-associate licence for an additional firm or branch office, based on the existing individual's licence.

Licensing authority: North Dakota Real Estate Commission · Application information

Issue an additional broker or broker associate licence for another firm or branch
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Additional Affiliation
Identify the additional firm or trade name and its business and mailing addresses.
Application And Fee
Submit the Commission's additional-licence application and fee. The current online form requires authenticated access; SFN 62025 (07/2021) is the obtained public form, corroborated by the current Forms directory.
Existing Licence
Provide the existing individual name and licence number and choose Broker or Broker Associate.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Annual additional broker licence renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Annual Renewal
Renew the additional broker authorization with the applicable annual broker fee; maintain the underlying broker qualifications and active-status requirements.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Branch Office License

License for an additional office maintained by a real estate broker, requiring an application to the commission.

Licensing authority: North Dakota Real Estate Commission · Application information

Initial branch office licence
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Existing Broker
An already licensed broker applies for an additional office.
Name And Display
Operate under the principal office name and display the branch licence or list it on the broker website.
Notifications
Provide branch location and supervisor information and notify changes within five days.
Supervision
Designate the broker or another licensee as branch manager and provide satisfactory proof of supervision.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Annual branch office licence renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Annual Renewal
Renew the existing branch authorization under the Commission's all-licence renewal rule; maintain the principal broker licence and authorized branch supervision.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Real Estate Brokerage Firm

Separate brokerage-firm licence supported by a licensed designated broker; it is distinct from the individual's broker licence.

Licensing authority: North Dakota Real Estate Commission · Application information

Replace the designated broker of an existing firm
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Deadline
Submit the Change of Designated Broker form and fee within five days of the change.
Documents
Both current and new designated brokers sign; update trust-account consent/waiver and nonresident broker/corporate service consents where applicable.
Existing Firm
An existing licensed firm appoints an already licensed broker.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial brokerage firm licensure
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Designated Broker
The designated broker must hold an active North Dakota broker licence; firm and individual applications are separate.
Entity Documents
Submit entity formation and Secretary of State good-standing/authority documentation, management and officer information, and partnership agreement when applicable.
Nonresident Firm
Provide acknowledged corporate consent to service for an out-of-state firm.
Review
Submit the complete online firm application and fee; Commission reviews entity and broker applications and approves issuance.
Staff
Every person performing licensed activity must hold the appropriate active North Dakota individual licence and required E&O insurance.
Trust Account
Submit trust-account consent or waiver as applicable.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reactivate a firm cancelled after designated broker inactivation
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Cancellation
Firm cancelled because its designated broker went inactive and no replacement broker was designated; submit a new firm application with all fees.
Designated Broker
The designated broker must hold an active North Dakota broker licence; firm and individual applications are separate.
Entity Documents
Submit entity formation and Secretary of State good-standing/authority documentation, management and officer information, and partnership agreement when applicable.
Nonresident Firm
Provide acknowledged corporate consent to service for an out-of-state firm.
Review
Submit the complete online firm application and fee; Commission reviews entity and broker applications and approves issuance.
Staff
Every person performing licensed activity must hold the appropriate active North Dakota individual licence and required E&O insurance.
Trust Account
Submit trust-account consent or waiver as applicable.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Annual brokerage firm licence renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Annual Renewal
Renew the entity licence and pay the entity annual renewal fee; maintain a qualified active designated broker and applicable individual licensing requirements.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Real Estate Broker

Individual licence issued by the real estate commission, required to act as a real estate broker.

Licensing authority: North Dakota Real Estate Commission · Application information

Change between designated broker and broker associate roles
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Existing Licence
Hold a broker licence. A broker associate must act under the designated broker's consent and supervision.
Firm Change
Use the Change of Designated Broker form, obtain both brokers' signatures, update trust-account consent or waiver and applicable nonresident consent, and submit within five days with the fee.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Place an existing broker licence on inactive status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Practice
Do not conduct licensed business while inactive. A designated broker's firm licence is cancelled unless another designated broker replaces that broker.
Request
Request inactive status in the prescribed format; continue annual renewal fees.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Late renewal before licence cancellation
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Certification
Provide required education certification and active-status insurance when applicable.
Deadline
File by the Commission's late-renewal date; after that date the licence is cancelled.
Fees
Pay renewal and monthly or partial-month late fees; renewal must be approved before licensed practice resumes.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Military service member or spouse — SCRA licence recognition
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Commission Jurisdiction
Submit to NDREC standards of practice, discipline and continuing education; recognition is valid for the duration of military orders.
Good Standing
Remain in good standing with the issuer and every other authority issuing a licence for the same scope; provide certificates issued within the past thirty days.
Issuance
Contact NDREC for the application, submit Request to Issue License with supervising broker signature for a broker associate, provide insurance and recovery-fund payment.
Recent Practice
Actively used the covered licence during the two years immediately preceding the move.
Relocation
Moved to North Dakota under military orders and provide those orders.
Renewal
Annual continuing education, insurance, certificates of licensure and renewal remain required.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Nonresident nonreciprocal licensure — no qualifying prior examination
Application
Submit the Commission's application, all requested licensing and legal-history information, fees, credit review, fingerprints and criminal-history review as required by the Commission.
Character
Honesty, truthfulness, fair dealing and competency; no real estate licence revocation during the preceding two years (NDCC 43-23-08).
Education Exception
The rule exempts an applicant already licensed in a nonreciprocal state from the prelicensure course.
Exam Timing
NDAC 70-02-01-03 requires a complete application and written authorization and passing within twelve months of the first examination. The Board's application page and PSI bulletin say broker applicants may test at any time without Commission test codes; that lower-ranked implementation statement is retained as a condition, while the rule controls the authorization requirement.
Exam Timing Implementation Quote
Board How To Apply, Broker steps: 'NOTE: Broker applicants can test at any time and no longer need test coes from the commission.'
Implementation Exception
The Board's Broker examination instructions state: 'Nonresident nonreciprocal applicants need to take and pass only the state examination.' This broader implementing exception is retained for the applicant; the rule limits the state-only exception to applicants who have successfully passed another state's examination.
Issuance
Submit Request to Issue Real Estate License and the one-time recovery-fund payment if not previously paid.
Minimum Age
At least eighteen years old at application.
Nonresident Consent
File irrevocable consent to service and maintain the required out-of-state place of business.
Prior Examination
No successful prior examination qualifying for NDAC 70-02-01-06(5); NDAC 70-02-01-06(1) applies the resident examination requirements.
Residency
Nonresident holding a currently valid broker licence in the principal place of business, with good standing and no pending complaints.
Role
A designated broker must maintain the required place of business and trust account or approved waiver. A broker associate must affiliate with a supervising designated broker and cannot act independently.
Status
An initial licence may be active or inactive. Active issuance requires qualifying errors and omissions insurance; an inactive licence does not authorize licensed practice.
Nonresident nonreciprocal licensure — prior examination
North Dakota State Portion of the Real Estate Broker Examination
Application
Submit the Commission's application, all requested licensing and legal-history information, fees, credit review, fingerprints and criminal-history review as required by the Commission.
Character
Honesty, truthfulness, fair dealing and competency; no real estate licence revocation during the preceding two years (NDCC 43-23-08).
Education Exception
No prelicensure course required under NDAC 70-02-01-06(5).
Exam Timing
NDAC 70-02-01-03 requires a complete application and written authorization and passing within twelve months of the first examination. The Board's application page and PSI bulletin say broker applicants may test at any time without Commission test codes; that lower-ranked implementation statement is retained as a condition, while the rule controls the authorization requirement.
Exam Timing Implementation Quote
Board How To Apply, Broker steps: 'NOTE: Broker applicants can test at any time and no longer need test coes from the commission.'
Issuance
Submit Request to Issue Real Estate License and the one-time recovery-fund payment if not previously paid.
Minimum Age
At least eighteen years old at application.
Nonresident Consent
File acknowledged irrevocable consent to service and maintain an active place of business in the principal state; obtain a North Dakota firm licence when required.
Prior Examination
Successfully passed the real estate licensing examination in another state. That state's examination is applicant evidence and is not a leaf of this North Dakota route.
Residency
Nonresident with an active broker licence in the principal place of business, good standing and no pending complaints; designated broker licensed before affiliated applicants.
Role
A designated broker must maintain the required place of business and trust account or approved waiver. A broker associate must affiliate with a supervising designated broker and cannot act independently.
Status
An initial licence may be active or inactive. Active issuance requires qualifying errors and omissions insurance; an inactive licence does not authorize licensed practice.
Reactivate an inactive nonresident or reciprocal broker licence
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Certification
Provide a certificate of licensure from the state of residence dated within thirty days.
Education
NDAC 70-02-04-04 exempts nonresident licensees meeting residence-state licensing requirements; otherwise fulfil applicable reactivation education.
Insurance And Application
Provide E&O insurance, activation form and fee; complete information within thirty days when activating in conjunction with transfer.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reactivate an inactive resident broker licence
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit the activation form and fee; if transferring while activating, complete all information within thirty days of the form date.
Association
Affiliate with a designated broker if acting as a broker associate.
Education
Complete the required CE for each inactive period, capped at the three periods before reactivation, with fulfilment in the immediately preceding three years.
Insurance
Provide qualifying E&O insurance before licensed practice.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Licensure by reciprocity
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Consent
File acknowledged consent to suit, Request to Issue License, required insurance evidence, recovery-fund form and applicable fees.
Good Standing
Provide certificates of licensure and satisfy good-standing, disciplinary-history, character, credit and criminal-history review requirements.
Prior Licensing
Meet the licensing requirements, including any examinations, in the primary jurisdiction. Examinations of that other state's route are conditions, not leaves of this state's reciprocal route.
Residency And Licence
Primarily reside and hold an active broker-level licence in a jurisdiction covered by North Dakota's reciprocal agreement: the Commission identifies Georgia, Iowa and Minnesota.
Role And Status
Broker-associate supervision and active/inactive status requirements apply; active issuance requires errors and omissions insurance.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Relicensure after failure to renew — qualifying nonresident
North Dakota State Portion of the Real Estate Broker Examination
Application
Submit the Commission's application, all requested licensing and legal-history information, fees, credit review, fingerprints and criminal-history review as required by the Commission.
Cancellation
Licence cancelled for failure to renew; submit a new application and fees and meet prospective-licensee examination requirements.
Character
Honesty, truthfulness, fair dealing and competency; no real estate licence revocation during the preceding two years (NDCC 43-23-08).
Exam Timing
NDAC 70-02-01-03 requires a complete application and written authorization and passing within twelve months of the first examination. The Board's application page and PSI bulletin say broker applicants may test at any time without Commission test codes; that lower-ranked implementation statement is retained as a condition, while the rule controls the authorization requirement.
Exam Timing Implementation Quote
Board How To Apply, Broker steps: 'NOTE: Broker applicants can test at any time and no longer need test coes from the commission.'
Issuance
Submit Request to Issue Real Estate License and the one-time recovery-fund payment if not previously paid.
Minimum Age
At least eighteen years old at application.
Prior Examination
A nonresident state-only applicant must qualify for NDAC 70-02-01-06(5) by holding the required licence and having passed another state's licensing examination.
Residency
Nonresident with the qualifying current out-of-state broker licence and prior examination.
Role
A designated broker must maintain the required place of business and trust account or approved waiver. A broker associate must affiliate with a supervising designated broker and cannot act independently.
Status
An initial licence may be active or inactive. Active issuance requires qualifying errors and omissions insurance; an inactive licence does not authorize licensed practice.
Relicensure after failure to renew — nonresident without qualifying prior examination
Application
Submit the Commission's application, all requested licensing and legal-history information, fees, credit review, fingerprints and criminal-history review as required by the Commission.
Cancellation
Submit a new application and fees after cancellation for failure to renew.
Character
Honesty, truthfulness, fair dealing and competency; no real estate licence revocation during the preceding two years (NDCC 43-23-08).
Exam Timing
NDAC 70-02-01-03 requires a complete application and written authorization and passing within twelve months of the first examination. The Board's application page and PSI bulletin say broker applicants may test at any time without Commission test codes; that lower-ranked implementation statement is retained as a condition, while the rule controls the authorization requirement.
Exam Timing Implementation Quote
Board How To Apply, Broker steps: 'NOTE: Broker applicants can test at any time and no longer need test coes from the commission.'
Implementation Exception
Board instructions state that nonresident nonreciprocal applicants need only the state examination; NDAC 70-02-01-06(1),(5) limits that exception to qualifying prior examination holders.
Issuance
Submit Request to Issue Real Estate License and the one-time recovery-fund payment if not previously paid.
Minimum Age
At least eighteen years old at application.
Residency
Nonresident currently licensed in the principal state, without a successful prior examination qualifying for the state-only exception.
Role
A designated broker must maintain the required place of business and trust account or approved waiver. A broker associate must affiliate with a supervising designated broker and cannot act independently.
Status
An initial licence may be active or inactive. Active issuance requires qualifying errors and omissions insurance; an inactive licence does not authorize licensed practice.
Relicensure after failure to renew — qualifying reciprocal applicant
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Cancellation
New application and fees following cancellation; demonstrate eligibility under the existing reciprocal agreement as a prospective reciprocal licensee.
Consent
File acknowledged consent to suit, Request to Issue License, required insurance evidence, recovery-fund form and applicable fees.
Good Standing
Provide certificates of licensure and satisfy good-standing, disciplinary-history, character, credit and criminal-history review requirements.
Prior Licensing
Meet the licensing requirements, including any examinations, in the primary jurisdiction. Examinations of that other state's route are conditions, not leaves of this state's reciprocal route.
Residency And Licence
Primarily reside and hold an active broker-level licence in a jurisdiction covered by North Dakota's reciprocal agreement: the Commission identifies Georgia, Iowa and Minnesota.
Role And Status
Broker-associate supervision and active/inactive status requirements apply; active issuance requires errors and omissions insurance.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Relicensure after failure to renew — resident
Application
Submit the Commission's application, all requested licensing and legal-history information, fees, credit review, fingerprints and criminal-history review as required by the Commission.
Cancellation
Licence cancelled for failure to renew; submit a new application and fees and meet prospective-licensee examination requirements.
Character
Honesty, truthfulness, fair dealing and competency; no real estate licence revocation during the preceding two years (NDCC 43-23-08).
Exam Timing
NDAC 70-02-01-03 requires a complete application and written authorization and passing within twelve months of the first examination. The Board's application page and PSI bulletin say broker applicants may test at any time without Commission test codes; that lower-ranked implementation statement is retained as a condition, while the rule controls the authorization requirement.
Exam Timing Implementation Quote
Board How To Apply, Broker steps: 'NOTE: Broker applicants can test at any time and no longer need test coes from the commission.'
Issuance
Submit Request to Issue Real Estate License and the one-time recovery-fund payment if not previously paid.
Minimum Age
At least eighteen years old at application.
Prior Examination
A nonresident state-only applicant must qualify for NDAC 70-02-01-06(5) by holding the required licence and having passed another state's licensing examination.
Residency
Resident.
Role
A designated broker must maintain the required place of business and trust account or approved waiver. A broker associate must affiliate with a supervising designated broker and cannot act independently.
Status
An initial licence may be active or inactive. Active issuance requires qualifying errors and omissions insurance; an inactive licence does not authorize licensed practice.
Annual active licence renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Deadline
Renew by November 15 for the following calendar year; licences expire December 31.
Education
Complete twelve approved continuing education hours per annual period, including Commission-designated topics, and retain completion certificates.
Exemptions
CE exceptions or extensions for health, military service or good cause; nonresidents meeting residence-state licensing requirements are exempt under NDAC 70-02-04-04. Broker examination completion exempts CE only in that examination's CE period; this is a CE exception, not a requirement to take a new licensing examination.
Fees And Insurance
Submit certification, applicable renewal fees and qualifying errors and omissions insurance.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Annual inactive licence renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Renewal
Pay required annual renewal fees; inactive status may continue indefinitely. CE and active insurance are not required while inactive; unmet education must be satisfied before active reissuance.
Status
Maintain inactive status without engaging in licensed practice.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Resident licensure by examination — substantially equivalent experience
Application
Submit the Commission's application, all requested licensing and legal-history information, fees, credit review, fingerprints and criminal-history review as required by the Commission.
Character
Honesty, truthfulness, fair dealing and competency; no real estate licence revocation during the preceding two years (NDCC 43-23-08).
Course Currency
The prelicensure course certificate is valid for two years. School course-completion examinations are an education condition under NDAC 70-02-02-12, not independent licensing examinations.
Exam Timing
NDAC 70-02-01-03 requires a complete application and written authorization and passing within twelve months of the first examination. The Board's application page and PSI bulletin say broker applicants may test at any time without Commission test codes; that lower-ranked implementation statement is retained as a condition, while the rule controls the authorization requirement.
Exam Timing Implementation Quote
Board How To Apply, Broker steps: 'NOTE: Broker applicants can test at any time and no longer need test coes from the commission.'
Experience
The Commission must determine that the applicant's experience is substantially equal to two years of salesperson experience; upload the supporting explanation.
Issuance
Submit Request to Issue Real Estate License and the one-time recovery-fund payment if not previously paid.
Minimum Age
At least eighteen years old at application.
Prelicensure Education
Ninety-hour salesperson educational prerequisite plus an additional sixty approved broker hours; submit satisfactory completion evidence before licensure. The statute permits examination before completion. The Board asks resident applicants to upload broker course certificates with the application and describes completion before testing; that implementation demand is retained here.
Residency
Resident applicant.
Role
A designated broker must maintain the required place of business and trust account or approved waiver. A broker associate must affiliate with a supervising designated broker and cannot act independently.
Status
An initial licence may be active or inactive. Active issuance requires qualifying errors and omissions insurance; an inactive licence does not authorize licensed practice.
Resident licensure by examination — two year salesperson experience
Application
Submit the Commission's application, all requested licensing and legal-history information, fees, credit review, fingerprints and criminal-history review as required by the Commission.
Character
Honesty, truthfulness, fair dealing and competency; no real estate licence revocation during the preceding two years (NDCC 43-23-08).
Course Currency
The prelicensure course certificate is valid for two years. School course-completion examinations are an education condition under NDAC 70-02-02-12, not independent licensing examinations.
Exam Timing
NDAC 70-02-01-03 requires a complete application and written authorization and passing within twelve months of the first examination. The Board's application page and PSI bulletin say broker applicants may test at any time without Commission test codes; that lower-ranked implementation statement is retained as a condition, while the rule controls the authorization requirement.
Exam Timing Implementation Quote
Board How To Apply, Broker steps: 'NOTE: Broker applicants can test at any time and no longer need test coes from the commission.'
Experience
At least two years of full-time activity as a licensed salesperson preceding application, certified by the employing broker(s).
Issuance
Submit Request to Issue Real Estate License and the one-time recovery-fund payment if not previously paid.
Minimum Age
At least eighteen years old at application.
Prelicensure Education
Ninety-hour salesperson educational prerequisite plus an additional sixty approved broker hours; submit satisfactory completion evidence before licensure. The statute permits examination before completion. The Board asks resident applicants to upload broker course certificates with the application and describes completion before testing; that implementation demand is retained here.
Residency
Resident applicant.
Role
A designated broker must maintain the required place of business and trust account or approved waiver. A broker associate must affiliate with a supervising designated broker and cannot act independently.
Status
An initial licence may be active or inactive. Active issuance requires qualifying errors and omissions insurance; an inactive licence does not authorize licensed practice.
Resident licensure by examination — experience waiver
Application
Submit the Commission's application, all requested licensing and legal-history information, fees, credit review, fingerprints and criminal-history review as required by the Commission.
Character
Honesty, truthfulness, fair dealing and competency; no real estate licence revocation during the preceding two years (NDCC 43-23-08).
Course Currency
The prelicensure course certificate is valid for two years. School course-completion examinations are an education condition under NDAC 70-02-02-12, not independent licensing examinations.
Exam Timing
NDAC 70-02-01-03 requires a complete application and written authorization and passing within twelve months of the first examination. The Board's application page and PSI bulletin say broker applicants may test at any time without Commission test codes; that lower-ranked implementation statement is retained as a condition, while the rule controls the authorization requirement.
Exam Timing Implementation Quote
Board How To Apply, Broker steps: 'NOTE: Broker applicants can test at any time and no longer need test coes from the commission.'
Experience
The Commission must find that local conditions prevented employment as a licensed salesperson and grant the experience waiver under NDCC 43-23-08(5).
Issuance
Submit Request to Issue Real Estate License and the one-time recovery-fund payment if not previously paid.
Minimum Age
At least eighteen years old at application.
Prelicensure Education
Ninety-hour salesperson educational prerequisite plus an additional sixty approved broker hours; submit satisfactory completion evidence before licensure. The statute permits examination before completion. The Board asks resident applicants to upload broker course certificates with the application and describes completion before testing; that implementation demand is retained here.
Residency
Resident applicant.
Role
A designated broker must maintain the required place of business and trust account or approved waiver. A broker associate must affiliate with a supervising designated broker and cannot act independently.
Status
An initial licence may be active or inactive. Active issuance requires qualifying errors and omissions insurance; an inactive licence does not authorize licensed practice.
Transfer an existing broker associate licence to another designated broker
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Insurance And Fees
Maintain required E&O insurance and pay transfer fee.
Records
Current broker must destroy the released paper licence and remove the licensee's name and number from the website.
Signatures
Complete the Commission's transfer/release form, signed by the licensee, current broker and new broker; Commission determines whether a refused release is justified.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Organization License for Broker or Broker Associate

Licensing of a broker's organization under NDCC 43-23-05.1, subject to ownership restrictions and limits on real estate activities and representation as a brokerage firm.

Licensing authority: North Dakota Real Estate Commission · Application information

Register a broker's compensation organization
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Documents And Fee
Submit online organization application, formation and good-standing documents and one-time fee; Commission reviews and approves. No annual renewal is required under the Board's organization instructions.
Existing Licence
The individual must possess and maintain a valid active real estate licence.
Ownership
Meet NDCC 43-23-05.1 ownership limitations: solely the licensee, licensee and spouse, or licensee and other salespersons, brokers and associates within the same firm. The Board page also says family or other unlicensed members may participate; that broader lower-ranked statement does not replace the statute's ownership limits.
Scope
The organization must not conduct transactions as an agent or represent itself as a brokerage firm.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reactivate a broker's compensation organization
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Existing Licence
Restore and maintain the owner's valid active individual real estate licence.
Fee
Pay the organization fee each time its licence is activated.
Ownership And Scope
Continue compliance with NDCC 43-23-05.1 ownership and organizational activity limits.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Provisional Real Estate Broker License

Statutory provisional licence: routine complete applications under NDCC 43-51.1-03(2), or military interim licensing under NDCC 43-51-11.1.

Licensing authority: North Dakota Real Estate Commission · Application information

Routine interim issuance — nonresident
North Dakota State Portion of the Real Estate Broker Examination
Application
Seek permanent licensure through a routine, complete application meeting all licensing requirements.
Delegation
The Board may delegate interim issuance to staff or selected members between Board meetings under NDCC 43-51.1-03(2).
Other Requirements
Meet the underlying permanent route's experience, education, character, insurance, fees and application requirements. The interim licence does not establish an examination waiver.
Residency And Examination Basis
Nonresident with current broker licence and successful prior examination qualifying for NDAC 70-02-01-06(5).
Routine interim issuance — nonresident no prior
Application
Seek permanent licensure through a routine, complete application meeting all licensing requirements.
Delegation
The Board may delegate interim issuance to staff or selected members between Board meetings under NDCC 43-51.1-03(2).
Other Requirements
Meet the underlying permanent route's experience, education, character, insurance, fees and application requirements. The interim licence does not establish an examination waiver.
Residency And Examination Basis
Nonresident without a qualifying prior examination; the general resident requirements in NDAC 70-02-01-06(1) apply.
Routine interim issuance — reciprocity
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Consent
File acknowledged consent to suit, Request to Issue License, required insurance evidence, recovery-fund form and applicable fees.
Delegation
Board delegation under NDCC 43-51.1-03(2); the permanent reciprocal application must be routine, complete and meet all requirements.
Good Standing
Provide certificates of licensure and satisfy good-standing, disciplinary-history, character, credit and criminal-history review requirements.
Prior Licensing
Meet the licensing requirements, including any examinations, in the primary jurisdiction. Examinations of that other state's route are conditions, not leaves of this state's reciprocal route.
Residency And Licence
Primarily reside and hold an active broker-level licence in a jurisdiction covered by North Dakota's reciprocal agreement: the Commission identifies Georgia, Iowa and Minnesota.
Role And Status
Broker-associate supervision and active/inactive status requirements apply; active issuance requires errors and omissions insurance.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Routine interim issuance — resident
Application
Seek permanent licensure through a routine, complete application meeting all licensing requirements.
Delegation
The Board may delegate interim issuance to staff or selected members between Board meetings under NDCC 43-51.1-03(2).
Other Requirements
Meet the underlying permanent route's experience, education, character, insurance, fees and application requirements. The interim licence does not establish an examination waiver.
Residency And Examination Basis
Resident examination applicant.
Routine interim issuance — military SCRA recognition
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Covered Licence
Meet all five SCRA criteria in the Commission's military instructions; NDREC must determine eligibility for the express state and national examination waiver.
Delegation
Interim issuance under delegated authority for a routine, complete application.
Remaining Requirements
Provide military orders, recent licence certificates, required insurance and request-to-issue materials; remain under NDREC practice and renewal obligations.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Temporary Real Estate Broker License

Interim licence for a routine, complete application meeting permanent licensure requirements, conditional on Board delegation under NDCC 43-51.1-03(2).

Licensing authority: North Dakota Real Estate Commission · Application information

Routine interim issuance — nonresident
North Dakota State Portion of the Real Estate Broker Examination
Application
Seek permanent licensure through a routine, complete application meeting all licensing requirements.
Delegation
The Board may delegate interim issuance to staff or selected members between Board meetings under NDCC 43-51.1-03(2).
Other Requirements
Meet the underlying permanent route's experience, education, character, insurance, fees and application requirements. The interim licence does not establish an examination waiver.
Residency And Examination Basis
Nonresident with current broker licence and successful prior examination qualifying for NDAC 70-02-01-06(5).
Routine interim issuance — nonresident no prior
Application
Seek permanent licensure through a routine, complete application meeting all licensing requirements.
Delegation
The Board may delegate interim issuance to staff or selected members between Board meetings under NDCC 43-51.1-03(2).
Other Requirements
Meet the underlying permanent route's experience, education, character, insurance, fees and application requirements. The interim licence does not establish an examination waiver.
Residency And Examination Basis
Nonresident without a qualifying prior examination; the general resident requirements in NDAC 70-02-01-06(1) apply.
Routine interim issuance — reciprocity
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Consent
File acknowledged consent to suit, Request to Issue License, required insurance evidence, recovery-fund form and applicable fees.
Delegation
Board delegation under NDCC 43-51.1-03(2); the permanent reciprocal application must be routine, complete and meet all requirements.
Good Standing
Provide certificates of licensure and satisfy good-standing, disciplinary-history, character, credit and criminal-history review requirements.
Prior Licensing
Meet the licensing requirements, including any examinations, in the primary jurisdiction. Examinations of that other state's route are conditions, not leaves of this state's reciprocal route.
Residency And Licence
Primarily reside and hold an active broker-level licence in a jurisdiction covered by North Dakota's reciprocal agreement: the Commission identifies Georgia, Iowa and Minnesota.
Role And Status
Broker-associate supervision and active/inactive status requirements apply; active issuance requires errors and omissions insurance.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Routine interim issuance — resident
Application
Seek permanent licensure through a routine, complete application meeting all licensing requirements.
Delegation
The Board may delegate interim issuance to staff or selected members between Board meetings under NDCC 43-51.1-03(2).
Other Requirements
Meet the underlying permanent route's experience, education, character, insurance, fees and application requirements. The interim licence does not establish an examination waiver.
Residency And Examination Basis
Resident examination applicant.
Routine interim issuance — military SCRA recognition
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Covered Licence
Meet all five SCRA criteria in the Commission's military instructions; NDREC must determine eligibility for the express state and national examination waiver.
Delegation
Interim issuance under delegated authority for a routine, complete application.
Remaining Requirements
Provide military orders, recent licence certificates, required insurance and request-to-issue materials; remain under NDREC practice and renewal obligations.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

North Dakota State Portion of the Real Estate Broker Examination

Examination outline
  • I. Duties and Powers of the Real Estate Commission
    • A. General Powers
    • B. Investigations, Hearings, and Appeals
    • C. Sanctions; License Suspension and
    • D. Revocation, Misdemeanor
    • E. Examination of Records
  • II. Licensing Requirements
    • A. Types of Licensing: Real Estate Salesperson, Real Estate Broker, Broker Associate
    • B. Activities Requiring a License; Reciprocity
    • C. License Renewal
    • D. Change in License
    • E. Education: 1. Continuing Education
    • E. Education: 2. Broker Prelicensing
    • E. Education: 3. Salesperson Prelicensing
  • III. Statutory Requirements Governing the Activities of Licensees
    • A. Advertising
    • B. Broker/Salesperson Relationship; Broker Supervision of Salespersons
    • C. Commissions
    • D. Disclosure/Conflict of Interest
    • E. Preparation and Handling of Offers and Other Documents
    • F. Listings
    • G. Branch Office/License Display (BROKER ONLY)
    • H. Licensee/Public Responsibility
    • I. Cooperative Transactions
    • J. Code of Ethics
    • K. Trust Accounts (BROKER ONLY)
    • L. Record Keeping (BROKER ONLY)
  • IV. Additional Topics
    • A. Statutory Requirements Governing Subdivided or Out-of-State Land Sales (Registration Requirements, Disclosure Requirements)
    • B. Closing Statements (BROKER ONLY)
    • C. Real Estate Education, Research, and Recovery Fund
Examination sources

National Broker Exam — National Portion (Real Estate Principles and Practices)

Provider
PSI Services LLC
Format
National portion of state real estate broker licensing examinations with its own minimum passing score; scenario-based questions with more than four options and one best answer, each option weighted zero, one or two points; candidates who fail one portion retake only that portion
Examination outline
  • I. Property Ownership (Broker 10%) (10%)
    • A. Real and personal property; conveyances
    • B. Land characteristics and legal descriptions: 1. Metes and bounds method of legal property description; 2. Lot and block (recorded plat) method of legal property description; 3. Government survey (rectangular survey) method of legal property description; 4. Measuring structures (linear and square footage); 5. Land measurement
    • C. Encumbrances and effects on property ownership: 1. Types of liens and their effect on the title and value of real property; 2. Easements, rights of way and licenses, including their effect on the title, value and use of real property; 3. Encroachments and their effect on the title, value and use of real property; 4. Potential encumbrances on title, such as probate, leases, or adverse possession; 5. Property rights that may be conveyed separately from use of the land surface, such as mineral and other subsurface rights, air rights, or water rights
    • D. Types of ownership: 1. Ownership in severalty/sole ownership; 2. Implications of ownership as tenants in common; 3. Implications of ownership in joint tenancy; 4. Forms of common-interest ownership, such as Timeshares, Condominiums and Co-ops; 5. Property ownership held in a trust or by an estate; 6. Ownership by business entities; 7. Life Estate ownership
  • II. Land use Controls (Broker 5%) (5%)
    • A. Government rights in land: 1. Government rights to impose property taxes and special assessments; 2. Government rights to acquire land through eminent domain, condemnation and escheat
    • B. Government controls on land use
    • C. Private controls: 1. Deed conditions or restrictions on property use; 2. Subdivision covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) on property use; 3. Condominium and owners’ associations regulations or bylaws on property use
  • III. Valuation (Broker 8%) (8%)
    • A. Appraisals: 1. Appraisals for valuation of real property; 2. Situations which require appraisal by a licensed or certified appraiser and brokerage-related actions that constitute unauthorized appraisal practice; 3. General steps in appraisal process
    • B. Estimating Value: 1. Economic principles and property characteristics that affect value of real property; 2. Sales or market comparison approach to property valuation and appropriate uses; 3. Cost approach to property valuation and appropriate uses; 4. Income analysis approach to property valuation and appropriate uses
    • C. Comparative Market Analysis (CMA): 1. Competitive/Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), BPO or equivalent; 2. Automated Valuation Method (AVM), appraisal valuation and Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)
  • IV. Financing (Broker 9%) (9%)
    • A. Basic Concepts and Terminology: 1. Loan financing (for example, points, LTV, PMI, interest, PITI); 2. General underwriting process (e.g., debt ratios, credit scoring and history); 3. Standard mortgage/deed of trust clauses and conditions; 4. Essential elements of a promissory note
    • B. Types of Loans: 1. Conventional loans; 2. Amortized loans, partially amortized (balloon) loans, interest-only loans; 3. Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) loans; 4. Government Loans — a. FHA insured loans; b. VA guaranteed loans; c. USDA/Rural Development loan programs; 5. Owner financing (for example, installment or land contract/contract for deed); 6. Reverse-mortgage loans; 7. Home equity loans and lines of credit; 8. Construction loans; 9. Rehab loans; 10. Bridge loans
    • C. Financing and Lending: 1. Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), including kickbacks; 2. Truth-in-Lending Act (Regulation Z), including advertising; 3. Requirements and time frames of TRID (TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures); 4. Equal Credit Opportunity Act; 5. Lending Process (application through loan closing); 6. Risky loan features, such as prepayment penalties and balloon payments
  • V. Contracts (Broker 19%) (19%)
    • A. General Contract Law: 1. General principles of contract law; 2. Elements necessary for a contract to be valid; 3. Effect of the Statute of Frauds; 4. Offer and a contract; 5. Enforceability of contracts; 6. Void, voidable and unenforceable contracts; 7. Bilateral and unilateral contracts; 8. Nature and use of option agreements; 9. Notice, delivery, acceptance and execution of contracts; 10. Appropriate use, risks, and advantages of electronic signatures and paperless transactions; 11. Rights and obligations of the parties to a contract; 12. Possible remedies for breach or non-performance of contract; 13. Termination, rescission and cancellation of contracts
    • B. Purchase and Lease Contracts: 1. Addenda and amendments to contracts; 2. Purchase agreements; 3. Contract contingencies and methods for satisfying them; 4. Leases and rental agreements; 5. Lease-purchase agreements; 6. Types of leases
    • C. Proper handling of multiple offers and counteroffers
  • VI. Agency (Broker 13%) (13%)
    • A. Agency and non-agency relationships: 1. Agency relationships and how they are established; 2. Types of listing contracts; 3. Buyer brokerage/tenant representation contracts; 4. Other brokerage relationships, including transaction brokers and facilitators; 5. Powers of attorney and other assignments of authority; 6. Conditions for termination of agency or brokerage service agreements
    • B. Agent Duties: 1. Fiduciary duties of agents; 2. Agent's duties to customers/non-clients, including honesty and good faith
    • C. Agency Disclosures: 1. Disclosure of agency/representation; 2. Disclosure of possible conflict of interest or self-interest
  • VII. Property Disclosures (Broker 7%) (7%)
    • A. Property Condition: 1. Seller's property condition disclosure requirements; 2. Property conditions that may warrant inspections or a survey; 3. Red flags that warrant investigation of public or private land use controls
    • B. Environmental and Government Disclosures: 1. Environmental issues requiring disclosure; 2. Federal, state, or local disclosure requirements regarding the property
    • C. Disclosure of material facts and material defects
  • VIII. Property Management (Broker 5%) (5%)
    • A. Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Procurement and qualification of prospective tenants; 2. Fair housing and ADA compliance specific to property management; 3. How to complete a market analysis to identify factors in setting rents or lease rates; 4. Property manager responsibility for maintenance, improvements, reporting and risk management (BROKER ONLY); 5. Handling landlord and tenant funds; trust accounts, reports and disbursements (BROKER ONLY); 6. Provisions of property management contracts (BROKER ONLY)
    • B. Landlord and tenant rights and obligations
  • IX. Transfer of Title (Broker 6%) (6%)
    • A. Types of deeds
    • B. Title Insurance and Searches: 1. Title insurance policies and title searches; 2. Potential title problems and resolutions; 3. Marketable and insurable title
    • C. Closing Process: 1. When transfer of ownership becomes effective; 2. Process and importance of recordation; 3. Settlement procedures (closing) and parties involved; 4. Home and new construction warranties
    • D. Special Processes: 1. Special issues in transferring foreclosed properties; 2. Special issues in short sale transactions; 3. Special issues in probate transactions
  • X. Practice of Real Estate (Broker 12%) (12%)
    • A. Antidiscrimination: 1. Federal Fair Housing Act general principles and exemptions; 2. Protected classes under Federal Fair Housing Act; 3. Protections against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation; 4. Prohibited conduct under Federal Fair Housing Act (Redlining, Blockbusting, Steering, Disparate Treatment); 5. Fair housing advertising rules; 6. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) obligations pertaining to accessibility and reasonable accommodations
    • B. Legislation and Regulations: 1. Licensees’ status as employees or independent contractors; 2. Antitrust laws and types of violations, fines and penalties; 3. Do-Not-Call List rule compliance; 4. Proper use of Social Media and Internet communication and advertising
    • C. Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Protection of confidential personal information (written, verbal or electronic); 2. Duties when handling funds of others in transactions; 3. Licensee responsibility for due diligence in real estate transactions
    • D. Supervisory Responsibilities (BROKER ONLY): 1. Broker's supervisory responsibilities (licensees, teams and unlicensed assistants and employees) (BROKER ONLY); 2. Broker relationship with licensees (employees or independent contractors and governing rules) (BROKER ONLY)
  • XI. Real Estate Calculations (Broker 6%) (6%)
    • A. Calculations for Transactions: 1. Seller’s net proceeds; 2. Buyer funds needed at closing; 3. Real property tax and other prorations; 4. Real property transfer fees; 5. PITI (Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance) payments estimate given loan rate and term
    • B. General Concepts: 1. Equity; 2. Rate of return/Capitalization rate; 3. Loan-to-Value ratio; 4. Discount points and loan origination fees
Examination sources