Who Grants a License: Licenses are granted by the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation (“SDREC”).
Qualifications to receive a License: A candidate must complete 116 clock hours of study at an SDREC-approved real estate school (search schools here), pass a school-administered final exam, and pass a state exam. All candidates must submit a full set of fingerprints, prove legal presence and pass a background check. All candidates must be at least 18 years of age. For more information about qualifications, see the webpage titled License Types and Requirements of Each on the South Dakota Real Estate Commission website.
NOTE: South Dakota law does not license real estate salespersons. All real estate licensees are considered real estate brokers, auctioneers, or property managers. The South Dakota real estate broker's license corresponds to the traditional real estate salesperson's license in other states.
Applying for the Exams: Candidates should apply to take the state exam through the PSI website scheduling page. For more information, see the State of South Dakota Real Estate Candidate Handbook.
Test Content: The South Dakota state real estate licensing exam is comprised of three separate portions, the national multiple-choice portion, the state-specific multiple-choice portion, and the simulation portion. Five to ten questions disbursed throughout all portions of the exam are considered "experimental" questions and are not scored. The multiple-choice portions are comprised of multiple choice questions with four answer choices provided for each question. The simulation portion consists of simulation problems for which the test taker must gather information and make judgments or decisions. Test takers are allotted 2.5 hours to complete the national multiple choice portion, 1.5 hours to complete the state-specific multiple choice portion, and 3 hours to complete the simulation portion. A scaled score of at least 75 is required to pass each portion. The exam is presented in a computer-based format, but accommodations for paper-based tests and/or oral testing can be provided with special arrangements.
The national multiple choice portion of the test consists of 100 questions, and tests the candidate's knowledge of general real estate concepts, including the following subject areas:
Agency Relationships and Contracts
Real Property Ownership/Interest
Finance
Real Property
Marketing Regulations (purchase and rental)
Property Management
Real Estate Calculations
The state-specific multiple choice portion of the test consists of 57 questions, and tests the candidate's knowledge of the state-specific concepts, including the following subject areas:
Duties and Powers of the Real Estate Commission
Licensing Requirements
Statutory Requirements Governing the Activities of Licensees
Subdivided or Out-of-State Sales
Securities
Recovery Fund
Condominium Act
The simulation portion consists of 11 simulation problems (9 are scored, 2 are not scored), and tests the candidate's ability to choose the best course of action, given a particular scenario that involves the following subject areas:
Agency Relationships and Property Representations
Fair Housing and Other Government Regulations
Handling Money
Training and Supervision of Licensees
Other issue that varies by examination form
How to Apply for the License: Candidates must provide the SDREC with the following documents: (1) completed application and application fee; (2) original South Dakota state real estate licensing exam score report(s); (3) proof of legal presence in the U.S.; (4) certificate issued by an SDREC-approved school for completion of the 116-hour salesperson pre-licensure curriculum; and (5) proof of enrollment in errors and omissions program. All of the required documents must be submitted to the SDREC offices within 60 days of passing the exam. The address for the South Dakota Real Estate Commission of the SDREC is:
221 W. Capitol, Suite 101
Pierre, SD 57501
For further information about licensing application, contact SDREC Real Estate Commission by telephone at 605.773.3600, or email: dlr.realestate@state.sd.us.
Fees: SDREC charges a license application fee.
Who administers the test: SDREC and AMP.
License Renewal Requirements – A South Dakota real estate licensee must take 24credit hours of continuing education (either online or in the classroom) from an SDREC-approved provider every two years. Search approved providers of classroom-style education here.
Applicable Regulations: Real estate licensees in South Dakota are regulated under the South Dakota Codified Laws, Chapter 36-21A, and the South Dakota Administrative Code, Chapter 20.69.
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