South Dakota · SD
South Dakota Real Estate License Checklist (2026)
Every step, fee, and deadline on one page — designed to print cleanly to PDF and check off as you go.
Before you start
- You are at least 18 years old
- You hold a high school diploma or GED
- You can pass a criminal background check / fingerprinting
Education
Here's the twist: South Dakota doesn't issue a 'salesperson' license to new applicants — everyone starts as a Broker Associate, and that requires a 116-hour Commission-approved pre-licensing course (confirmed on the SD Real Estate Commission's License Types page). That's one of the longest entry-level education requirements in the country. The salesperson license exists only for reciprocal applicants moving in from other states.
- Confirm you're eligible: at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen or South Dakota resident (SDCL ch. 36-21A).
- Enroll in a Commission-approved 116-hour Broker Associate pre-licensing course — classroom, independent study, or approved distance education all count (approved provider list is on dlr.sd.gov/realestate).
- Work through SD license law, agency, contracts, property management, finance, and federal real estate law — the course tracks directly to the exam outline.
- Get your certificate of completion — you'll submit it with your license application, so keep the original handy.
Application & exam
- Pass both sections of the PSI Broker Associate exam ($98 per sitting; the fee is due again for retakes and registration is valid 12 months).
- Request DCI and FBI fingerprint cards from the SD Real Estate Commission, complete them (sign and date the back of each), and include a $43.25 check payable to DCI for the state/federal background check.
- Submit the Broker Associate license application with the $225 application fee, your original exam score reports, and your 116-hour course certificate of completion.
- Line up a responsible broker to associate with if you want an active license — active issuance also requires proof of errors & omissions (E&O) insurance.
- Wait for Commission approval; the Commission can deny applications for felony convictions, unpaid judgments, or misstatements under SDCL 36-21A-33.
- Once issued, plan for post-licensing: 60 hours total (two 30-hour blocks) across your first two active license periods before you shift to the standard 24-hour CE cycle.
Budget
| Item | Estimate | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 116-hour pre-licensing course | $1,100 | |
| PSI exam fee (per sitting) | $98 | |
| DCI/FBI fingerprint background check | $43.25 | |
| License application fee | $225 | |
| E&O insurance (approx. first year, active license) | $200 | |
| Estimated total | $1,666 |
Key deadlines
- Every 2 years — $125 renewal fee; after your 60 post-license hours are done, active licensees complete 24 hours of CE (at least 12 in Required topics) per two-year cycle
- Confirm you're eligible: at least 18 years old and a U.S.
- Pass both sections of the PSI Broker Associate exam ($98 per sitting; the fee is due again for retakes and registration is valid 12 months).
- Once issued, plan for post-licensing: 60 hours total (two 30-hour blocks) across your first two active license periods before you shift to the standard 24-hour CE cycle.
- Plan on roughly 2 to 4 months.
- The 116-hour pre-licensing course is the long pole — full-time students can push through in about a month, while most people studying nights and weekends need 6-10 weeks.
- After that, the PSI exam, fingerprint processing, and Commission review of your application typically add a few more weeks.
- Do I need a broker before I apply in South Dakota?