Broker and REALTOR®: How to Become a Real Estate Broker in North Dakota

Becoming a real estate broker in North Dakota requires a 60-hour broker pre-licensure course, at least 2 years of full-time experience as a licensed salesperson, passing the state and national broker exams, and an online application to the North Dakota Real Estate Commission (NDREC)^[1]. The distinction between a broker and REALTOR® is one of licensing versus membership: a broker holds a state-issued license that permits independent practice and agent supervision, while a REALTOR® is any licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® and agreed to its Code of Ethics. Before pursuing a broker license, you must first hold a salesperson license and work under a sponsoring broker. This guide covers the broker licensing pathway from eligibility through post-licensure steps.

Eligibility requirements for a North Dakota broker license

Broker license eligibility in North Dakota depends on age, salesperson experience, and disciplinary history, as established under NDCC 43-23-08 and NDAC 70-02-01-02^[1].

NDREC verifies your salesperson experience by emailing your designated broker a form to assess your work. If you seek to qualify through substantially equivalent experience instead of the standard full-time salesperson path, you must upload a written explanation that includes your average hours per week, number of listings, and number of closed transactions. The commission then determines whether your experience is comparable.

Applicants must apply for licensure within 2 years of completing an NDREC-certified pre-licensure education course. No college degree is required.

Completing broker pre-licensing education

Before taking the broker exam, you must complete broker pre-licensing education from an NDREC-certified provider. Course topics include management skills, North Dakota agency law, risk management, contracts, and ethics.

The NDREC approved education providers page^[2] lists all currently approved schools and instructors. Pre-licensure courses are approved for 3 years from the date of approval, after which the provider must seek renewal.

Taking the North Dakota broker licensing exam

The broker licensing exam is administered by PSI Services LLC^[3], under contract with NDREC. The examination fee is $134 per attempt, as stated in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin^[4] dated October 2025, and is paid directly to PSI each time you take or retake the exam.

Resident applicants must pass both the national and state portions of the broker exam. Nonresident nonreciprocal applicants need to pass only the state portion. The fee applies to each attempt.

Applying for your North Dakota broker license

After passing the exam, you submit your broker license application online through the NDREC portal. The following table summarizes the fees required to apply for and receive a broker license:

The NDREC How to Apply page^[1] states that the combined online payment totals $161.25, which includes the $150 application fee and $11.25 credit history fee. NDREC accepts Visa, Mastercard, and Discover but does not accept American Express, checks, money orders, or cash. The $40 fingerprinting analysis fee must be paid separately by check or money order to the North Dakota Attorney General, who conducts the statewide and national criminal history record check.

Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is required for all active licensees. NDREC has negotiated a rate of $187 per calendar year through Rice Insurance. The $20 Recovery Fund payment is a one-time fee unless you have already paid it.

Broker, broker associate, salesperson, and real estate agent in North Dakota

North Dakota issues three real estate license types with increasing levels of autonomy: salesperson, broker associate, and broker. A broker associate has passed the broker exam and holds a broker license but chooses to work under another broker rather than opening an independent practice. A broker can operate independently, sponsor salespersons, and run a firm.

Whether you hold a real estate agent or broker license, NAR membership^[5] is a voluntary professional designation separate from state licensing. NAR reported approximately 1.4 million members in its 2025 Member Profile.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics^[6], real estate brokers held approximately 111,300 jobs nationally in 2024, with a median annual wage of $72,280 as of May 2024. Fifty-four percent of brokers were self-employed.

Reciprocity for out-of-state broker applicants

North Dakota offers a reciprocal licensing pathway for brokers from certain states.

Reciprocal broker applicants must pass the state portion of the North Dakota broker exam but are not required to take the national portion. You must also submit a Certificate of Licensure from your home state that is less than 3 months old, file a Consent to Suit form, and furnish evidence of a real estate trust account in your resident state or request a trust account waiver, according to the NDREC reciprocity guidelines^[7].

Next steps after receiving your broker license

With your broker license issued, you can operate independently, open your own firm, or work as a broker associate under another broker. If you start your own brokerage, NDREC charges a $200 nonrefundable firm license application fee. An organization license is also $200 as a one-time payment with no renewal required.

Your broker license must be renewed annually by November 15, with a renewal fee of $150. Late fees accumulate at $100 per month per license, and licenses not renewed by January 15 are cancelled, as outlined in the NDREC renewal guide^[8]. Newly licensed brokers who passed the broker exam during the current CE cycle are exempt from continuing education for that cycle. In subsequent cycles, 12 hours of CE are required per year.

To get started as a broker, submit the firm license application through the NDREC portal if you plan to open your own brokerage, secure E&O insurance, and consider joining a local REALTOR® association for multiple listing service (MLS) access and professional development resources.