North Dakota real estate exam course: Format, topics, and preparation

The North Dakota real estate licensing exam tests your knowledge of national real estate principles and North Dakota-specific license law through a two-part, computer-based exam administered by PSI Services LLC. Whether you take a structured real estate exam course or study independently, the exam spans national and state portions with a combined time limit of 240 minutes and a fee of $134 per attempt, per the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin^[1].

Exam format and administration

The exam is the required test for salesperson licensure in North Dakota, given by PSI Services LLC^[2] under contract with the North Dakota Real Estate Commission (NDREC)^[3]. The exam is computer-based and delivered through PSI's network of testing centers in North Dakota. Salesperson applicants can test at any time without obtaining test codes from the commission, as stated on NDREC's exam information page^[3].

PSI's real estate exam content is ARELLO-accredited^[2], meeting industry standards for exam quality and compliance. The PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for North Dakota^[1], dated October 1, 2025, provides the complete exam summary, content outline, scheduling instructions, and test center locations. Resident applicants must pass both the national and state portions, while nonresident nonreciprocal applicants need only the state portion, per NDREC's How to Apply page^[4].

National portion: topics and question breakdown

The national portion contains 100 questions with a 150-minute time limit, covering seven content areas from agency relationships to real estate calculations. You must answer 70 questions correctly to pass, per the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin^[1].

The Fair Housing Act^[5] is tested on the national portion, including its seven protected classes: race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. Agency relationships and contracts carry the most weight at 28 questions, so your national real estate test prep should prioritize that area.

State portion: topics and question breakdown

The state portion contains 40 questions with a 90-minute time limit, covering North Dakota real estate law and commission rules. You must answer 30 questions correctly to pass, per the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin^[1].

State content areas include:

• Duties and powers of the North Dakota Real Estate Commission
• Licensing requirements
• Statutory requirements governing licensee activities
• Subdivided and out-of-state land sales
• Education, Research, and Recovery Fund

The state portion tests your knowledge of North Dakota license law, commission authority, and statutory requirements that differ from national concepts. Topics include the Education, Research, and Recovery Fund, subdivided land sales regulations, and licensee activity requirements specific to North Dakota.

How the exam is scored and receiving your results

The exam is scored immediately upon completion. Both portions include 5 to 10 unscored pretest questions, per the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin^[1]. These experimental items count against your time but not your score, and they are already included in the question totals for each portion.

If you pass, you receive immediate notification of your pass status. If you fail, you receive a score report with performance feedback by content area and retake instructions. The performance breakdown helps you identify which topics to study before your next attempt.

How to schedule your North Dakota real estate exam

You schedule the PSI real estate exam directly through PSI's online scheduling system, accessible via the link on NDREC's exam information page^[3]. Salesperson applicants can test at any time without prior authorization from NDREC.

PSI maintains computer-based test centers in Bismarck, Fargo, Minot, and Williston, North Dakota, per the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin^[1]. Exam sessions are available at least 6 weeks in advance^[6], and PSI recommends booking 4 to 6 weeks before your desired date. If you need to reschedule, PSI requires 2 business days' notice^[6] to rebook without penalty.

What to expect on test day

PSI's test-taker resources^[6] state that candidates should arrive at least 30 minutes early to allow time for check-in. A valid government-issued photo ID is required for check-in, and PSI test centers use fingerprinting and Bluetooth wanding for identity verification.

Prohibited items include mobile phones, tablets, smart watches, calculators, reference materials, food, and beverages, per PSI's policies^[6]. PSI provides secure storage for personal belongings during the exam.

The exam allows 240 minutes total, plus a tutorial that does not count as exam time, per the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin^[1].

Exam fees and payment

PSI sets the exam fee independently, separate from NDREC's license application fees. The PSI Candidate Information Bulletin^[1], dated October 1, 2025, publishes the current fee schedule for North Dakota real estate exams.

Exam difficulty and pass rate data

Pass rate data for the North Dakota real estate exam is limited.

Study strategies for passing the exam

You must complete a 90-hour NDREC-certified pre-licensing course before sitting for the exam, and most candidates spend approximately one month on focused exam prep after finishing coursework. Your study plan should address both the national and state portions, since they test different content and have different passing thresholds.

For the national real estate exam portion, prioritize agency relationships and contracts, which carry the most questions, then finance, real property, ownership interests, calculations, marketing regulations, and property management. Review the Fair Housing Act^[5] protected classes and practice real estate calculations.

For the state portion, study the North Dakota Real Estate Commission's structure, licensing requirements, statutory requirements for licensees, and the Education, Research, and Recovery Fund. Working through example real estate exam questions that cover North Dakota-specific concepts will help you identify gaps in your state law knowledge.

Practice tests and exam prep resources

Practice tests help you identify weak areas before test day. A free real estate exam practice test can provide a sample of the question format, but comprehensive preparation typically requires paid materials. Several providers offer practice exams for real estate license preparation, though state-specific options are limited.

The Pearson VUE real estate exam^[7] practice tests cover general real estate topics from the national portion only. State-specific practice tests are not available from Pearson VUE, and only one version of each practice test is offered.

Retake policy and failed portion rules

You can retake the exam, with each attempt requiring a new exam fee payment to PSI. If you pass one portion but fail the other, you may retake only the failed portion within 12 months of your first attempt.

If you do not pass the failed portion within 12 months, you must submit a new application and fees to NDREC, according to the NDREC How to Apply page^[4]. Failing to cancel or reschedule in advance forfeits the exam fee, per PSI's policies^[6].

After you pass: next steps

After passing both portions, you must complete the NDREC license application, secure errors and omissions insurance, and affiliate with a sponsoring broker to activate your license. Applications are submitted online through NDREC's portal^[4], and residents must apply within 2 years of completing their pre-licensing education course. Broker applicants follow a separate pathway with additional education and experience requirements.