Complete 116 Hours of Approved Pre-Licensing Education

You must successfully complete an approved 116-Hr. Pre-Licensing course, which can be completed online. Learn more about your package options here.

Pass the Course Final Exam

After you complete all course materials, meet the minimum time requirement, and pass the practice exam, there is a course final exam. To pass, you must get at least an 80% on the course final exam.

Pass the South Dakota Real Estate Broker Associate Exam 

The South Dakota Real Estate Broker Associate licensing exam is administered by PSI, and you can schedule the exam right from their website. See this exam information for more details about the test.

In the meantime, here are a few pieces of info to help you prepare:

• The test consists of 142 questions.
• The passing score for the South Dakota Real Estate Broker Associate Exam is 75%.
• You will have 4.5 hours to complete the exam.

Do you need help passing your South Dakota real estate exam? Reduce test anxiety and increase your odds of passing by checking out The CE Shop’s comprehensive Exam Prep Edge tailored to South Dakota. If you have any additional questions, visit our South Dakota real estate exam FAQ page.

Submit Your Fingerprints for a Background Check

As a condition of getting your South Dakota Real Estate license, you must submit to a criminal history background review by submitting your fingerprints. You must submit this form to the South Dakota Real Estate Commission office to request a set of DCI and FBI fingerprint cards.

Complete and Submit Your Application

You must submit your application after completing your 116 required hours of education and passing your licensing exam. Your application will only be accepted if it is fully completed, includes the appropriate license fee, and shows evidence of completing the fingerprinting process.

You have 60 days from the date of the exam report to file a license application. The exam score for any application received after the 60 days is void. Please allow 2 to 4 weeks to process your application.

Acquire Errors and Omissions Insurance

You must have an Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance policy in place before obtaining an active license. For more information, click here.

Select a Sponsoring Broker

In order for your license to be in active status, you must be employed by or under contract with a licensed and active South Dakota broker. You need to make sure your sponsoring broker certifies Part 5 of your application form. It's important to find the right broker to work with, since this person will serve as your mentor as you start your new career in real estate.

Here are some questions to consider during your search:

• What is their reputation, both locally and nationally?
• What kind of real estate agents are they looking for?
• Are they technologically advanced and up to date with the latest systems?
• How do they support their agents with education and training?
• What kind of commission structure do they offer?
• Do they offer benefits?
• Do they provide their agents with leads and marketing material?
• Is there room to grow with the brokerage?