50-State Real Estate Broker Licensing Compliance Guide
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North Dakota Real Estate License

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Licensing requirements for North Dakota brokerage firms.

A business entity offering real estate brokerage services to the public typically must register with the real estate commission before conducting business activity. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

Company Licenses

North Dakota Real Estate Company Licenses

North Dakota Real Estate Branch Office License

Agency:North Dakota Real Estate Commission
Eligible Entity Types:
  • Corporations
  • General Partnerships
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Limited Liability Partnerships
  • Limited Liability Limited Partnerships
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Ownership Requirements:
  • If a broker maintains more than 1 office, then 1 office shall be designated as the main office and each additional office shall constitute a branch office. If a real estate broker maintains a regular office, the broker’s home shall not be considered a branch office.
  • The broker desiring to open a branch office shall file with the commission an application for a branch office license on forms provided by the commission.
  • The branch office must be operated under the same name as the principal office.
Financial Requirements:
  • All moneys belonging to others and accepted by the broker while acting in the capacity as a broker shall be deposited in an authorized financial institution in this state in an account separate from money belonging to the broker. Clients’ funds shall be retained in the depository until the transaction involved is consummated or terminated, at which time the broker shall account for the full amounts received.
  • The name of such separate account shall be identified by the words “trust account” or “escrow account”.
  • Each broker shall notify the commission of the name of the institution in which the trust account or accounts are maintained and also the name of the accounts on forms provided therefore. A trust account card shall be filed with the commission by each new applicant for a real estate broker’s license. A new form shall be filed with the commission each time a broker changes the real estate trust account in any manner whatsoever including, but not limited to, change of depository, change of account number, change of business name, or change of method of doing business. The form shall be filed with the commission within 10 days after the aforementioned change takes place.
  • Each broker shall authorize the commission to examine and audit the
    trust account and shall complete an authorization form attesting to the trust account and consenting to the examination and audit of the account by a duly authorized representative of the commission.
  • A broker shall maintain in the broker’s office a complete record of all moneys received or escrowed on real estate transactions, in the following manner.
  • Trust Account Information
Insurance Requirements:

Certificate of errors and omissions insurance is required. The fact sheet can be found here. 

Notes:
  • Any person who becomes an applicant for a nonresident license shall become subject to the same rules required of an applicant whose residence is in North Dakota. A designated broker shall obtain a nonresident license before an associate broker or salesperson licensed under the designated broker can be issued a nonresident license.
    An applicant for nonresident broker's or salesperson's license shall hold a currently valid broker's or salesperson's license in the state of the applicant's domicile and that state shall certify that the applicant is in good standing and no complaints are pending.
  • A nonresident broker must maintain an active place of business as a real estate broker in the state of the broker's residence. The nonresident broker shall furnish proof of maintaining an active place of business by submitting information deemed necessary by the commission. A North Dakota firm license shall be obtained if the company is a partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or association.
  • North Dakota will not recognize the licensee from another state for a reciprocal license unless an agreement granting reciprocal privileges to North Dakota licensees has been made by the commission with the proper regulatory authorities of that state. The agreement shall set out the terms and the regulations to be followed.
  • An applicant currently licensed in a nonreciprocal state who has successfully passed the real estate licensing examination given in another state need only take the state portion of the examination in North Dakota. 
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Qualifying Individual Requirements:
  • The applicant broker must designate the applicant broker or another licensee
    to act as branch office manager to aid the broker in actively managing each branch office and to aid the broker in supervising the licensees working from such branch office. The designated licensee shall be responsible for all activities of that branch office. The applicant broker may designate the applicant broker to act as manager for all branch offices.
  • It shall be the responsibility of the applicant broker
    to notify the commission in writing of any change of address of a branch office or change of supervisor of the branch office, within 10 days after the change.
  • The applicant broker shall at all times notify the commission of the location and address of each branch office which the broker operates and the name of the licensee who supervises the branch office.
  • The designated broker must have a written company policy that identifies and describes the types of real estate agency relationships in which the agency may engage. In addition, any agency that offers representation to both buyers and sellers must also address in the policy manual the agency's procedures intended to prevent any mishandling of information through both formal and informal sharing of information within the agency, the arrangement of agency office space, and the personal relationships of agents who are representing clients with adverse interests. 
Requirement Notes:

Every additional office or place of business, other than the principal place of business of a broker, shall be licensed only with the approval of the commission and only after the applicant broker has given satisfactory proof that this additional office shall be under the supervision of a duly authorized licensee.


A branch license shall be displayed in the branch office, shall bear the address of the branch office, and shall bear the name of the licensee designated to actively manage the branch office.

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$50

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online 

Agency Fee:

$50

Due:

Annually by November 15. 

North Dakota Real Estate Firm License

Agency:North Dakota Real Estate Commission
Law:

North Dakota Real Estate License Law

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Corporations 
  • General Partnerships 
  • Limited Liability Companies 
  • Limited Liability Partnerships 
  • Limited Liability Limited Partnerships
Financial Requirements:
  • All moneys belonging to others and accepted by the broker while acting in the capacity as a broker shall be deposited in an authorized financial institution in this state in an account separate from money belonging to the broker. Clients’ funds shall be retained in the depository until the transaction involved is consummated or terminated, at which time the broker shall account for the full amounts received.
  • The name of such separate account shall be identified by the words “trust account” or “escrow account”.
  • Each broker shall notify the commission of the name of the institution in which the trust account or accounts are maintained and also the name of the accounts on forms provided therefore. A trust account card shall be filed with the commission by each new applicant for a real estate broker’s license. A new form shall be filed with the commission each time a broker changes the real estate trust account in any manner whatsoever including, but not limited to, change of depository, change of account number, change of business name, or change of method of doing business. The form shall be filed with the commission within 10 days after the aforementioned change takes place.
  • Each broker shall authorize the commission to examine and audit the trust account and shall complete an authorization form attesting to the trust account and consenting to the examination and audit of the account by a duly authorized representative of the commission.
  • A broker shall maintain in the broker’s office a complete record of all moneys received or escrowed on real estate transactions, in the following manner.
  • Trust Account Information
Insurance Requirements:

Certificate of errors and omissions insurance is required. The fact sheet can be found here. 

Notes:
  • Any person who becomes an applicant for a nonresident license shall become subject to the same rules required of an applicant whose residence is in North Dakota. A designated broker shall obtain a nonresident license before an associate broker or salesperson licensed under the designated broker can be issued a nonresident license.
  • An applicant for nonresident broker's or salesperson's license shall hold a currently valid broker's or salesperson's license in the state of the applicant's domicile and that state shall certify that the applicant is in good standing and no complaints are pending. 
  • A nonresident broker must maintain an active place of business as a real estate broker in the state of the broker's residence. The nonresident broker shall furnish proof of maintaining an active place of business by submitting information deemed necessary by the commission. A North Dakota firm license shall be obtained if the company is a partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or association. 
  • North Dakota will not recognize the licensee from another state for a reciprocal license unless an agreement granting reciprocal privileges to North Dakota licensees has been made by the commission with the proper regulatory authorities of that state. The agreement shall set out the terms and the regulations to be followed. 
  • An applicant currently licensed in a nonreciprocal state who has successfully passed the real estate licensing examination given in another state need only take the state portion of the examination in North Dakota. 
Qualifying Individual Requirements:
  • The designated broker must have a written company policy that identifies and describes the types of real estate agency relationships in which the agency may engage. In addition, any agency that offers representation to both buyers and sellers must also address in the policy manual the agency's procedures intended to prevent any mishandling of information through both formal and informal sharing of information within the agency, the arrangement of agency office space, and the personal relationships of agents who are representing clients with adverse interests. 

Initial Registration

Form:

Firm License Application

Agency Fee:

$150

Registration Renewal

Agency Fee:

$150

Due:

Annually by November 15. 

Individual Licenses

North Dakota Individual Real Estate Licenses

North Dakota Real Estate Broker License

Agency:North Dakota Real Estate Commission

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150 application fee + $8 credit check fee + $41.25 fingerprinting fee + $20 Education, Research and Recovery Fund fee

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$125

Due:

Annually by December 31.

North Dakota Real Estate Salesperson License

Agency:North Dakota Real Estate Commission

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150 application fee + $8 credit check fee + $41.25 fingerprinting fee + $20 Education, Research and Recovery Fund fee

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$125

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Learn about real estate licensing in other states:

Associate Broker - Associate brokers are qualified to work independently as a broker, but choose to work under the authority of a designated broker.

On-Site Manager - A broker or salesperson who oversees the operations of a branch office under the authority of the designated broker.

Qualifying Broker/Designated Broker - An experienced and licensed real estate broker responsible for management and operation of a real estate firm.

Real Estate - Land, buildings, and their permanent improvements and fixtures. Also called "real property" in contrast to personal property.

Real Estate Agent - This term refers generally to any licensed real estate professional.

Reciprocity - Reciprocity makes it easier for out-of-state real estate firms to gain approval to operate in a foreign state by streamlining some licensing requirements.

Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO)
Offers a license verification database accross 43 jurisdictions.

NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association Agencies
Aid education, research, and advocacy efforts in the real estate industry.

National Association of Realtors
Real estate trade organization that provides information and resources for development of the real estate industry.

Urban Land Institute
Research and education association concerned with responsible land use and creating sustainable communities.