Minnesota Real Estate License Requirements & Costs in 2023

Minnesota Real Estate License Requirements

In this article, you’ll learn the important step-by-step actions you will need to take to meet the Minnesota real estate license requirements.

To become a real estate agent in Minnesota, you’ll need to make sure you meet the state’s licensing requirements.

We’ll cover the Minnesota real estate educational requirements, the exams you’ll need to take, some FAQs, and the costs of getting your license. If you’re ready to start your new career in real estate, read on!

Minnesota Real Estate License Prerequisite Requirements

The following are the essential prerequisites for becoming a real estate agent in Minnesota:

  • Be a United States citizen or a properly admitted alien.
  • You must be at least 18 years old.
  • Have a valid Social Security Number

Minnesota Real Estate License Requirements

Step 1: Take the Minnesota Real Estate Pre-Licensing Course

The first step to becoming a real estate agent in Minnesota is to complete the 90 hours of pre-license coursework before sitting for your Minnesota real estate license exam.

We like the Colibri Real Estate Minnesota pre-licensing school the best. We have a Colibri Real Estate review on our website if you want to learn more about them.

The CE Shop Minnesota pre-licensing classes are also a great option. We also have a review of the CE Shop on our site. Here are their Minnesota pre-licensing course options:

The CE Shop Minnesota real estate pre-licensing course costs

Generally, there are three courses that you will be required to complete before applying for a real estate salesperson license.

These Minnesota pre-licensing courses are “Course I,” “Course II,” and “Course III.” Each course consists of 30 hours of instruction.

You will be required to complete Course I before you take your Minnesota real estate salesperson’s examination. Additionally, you will be required to complete Course II and Course III before applying for your license.

Many people prefer taking their Minnesota real estate pre-license education courses online. These online courses come with study materials such as real estate practice exams and flashcards and allow you to study at your convenience.

Your Minnesota pre-licensing course is not meant to merely help you complete a requirement, and it is intended to help you prepare to pass your exam and become a competent Minnesota real estate agent.  

Minnesota is one of the few unique states that usually require the final pre-license exam to be supervised by a proctor. However, you should remember that this pre-licensing course exam is not similar to the state exam. Your pre-license education provider normally provides this test to show that you have effectively grasped all the required material.

You have the opportunity to take this exam from the comfort of your own home under the watchful eye of a proctor.

Step 2: Prepare For and Take the Minnesota Real Estate License Exam

After you’ve completed your pre-license education, you are ready to take the Minnesota Real Estate Exam which comes with a fee of $63 for a single attempt.

You can register for the real estate license exam on the Pearson Vue Minnesota Real Estate page. The page also ensures access to additional, helpful resources like the Candidate Handbook and Content Outline.

The Minnesota Real Estate Exam has 130 questions, whereas 80 are for the General section and 50 for the State section of the Minnesota Real estate exam.

There are 240 minutes (4 hours) set aside to complete the entire Minnesota real estate exam. The duration of the national section is 150 minutes (2.5 hours), and for the State section, the time is 90 minutes (1.5 hours).

The passing score for the Minnesota Real Estate Salesperson Exam is normally set at 60/80 on the National section and 38/50 on the State section.

Once you have completed your Minnesota real estate exam, you will get a ‘scoring’ document that indicates whether you have passed or failed. If you have failed, you will get a breakdown of your score based on how you performed. This information will come in handy when you wish to retake the exam and study as highlighted in the potentially problematic areas.

How Difficult is the Minnesota Real Estate Exam?

The Real Estate Salesperson Exam in Minnesota requires a passing rate score of 75%. It is difficult, but being keen on your pre-licensing course can help you ace it on the first attempt.

Before taking the state exam, We would suggest taking a Minnesota real estate exam prep course such as:

  1. PrepAgent Minnesota
  2. Real Estate Exam Scholar Minnesota

What are the topics tested on the Minnesota real estate exam?

Content of the General Portion:

  • Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, and Property Use (8 questions).
  • Forms Of Minnesota Ownership, Transfer, And Recording of Title (7 questions).
  • Property Value and Appraisal (7 questions).
  • Minnesota Real Estate Contracts and Agency (16 questions).
  • Real Estate Practice (18 questions).
  • Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues (6 questions).
  • Financing And Settlement (10 questions).
  • Real Estate Math Calculations (8 questions).

Content of the State Portion:

  • Minnesota Real Estate Brokerage License Law (15 questions)
  • Minnesota Contracts and Disclosures (15 questions)
  • Interests In Real Property (7 questions)
  • Conveyance Procedures and Protection of Parties (8 questions)
  • Financial Instruments: Obligations, Rights, Remedies (5 questions)

Step 3: Connect With a Minnesota Real Estate Brokerage

After passing the exam, you must identify and connect your Minnesota real estate license with a managing broker who would sponsor your license.

Finding the best sponsoring brokerage is very important, especially at the initial stages of your real estate career. When selecting a real estate brokerage, most people only focus on the commission split but overlook many other factors. Additional factors to consider are:

  • The type of training they offer.
  • Whether they equip you with the skills in finding quality prospects and closing a sale.
  • Whether the brokerage provides you with adequate administrative and marketing support.
  • Whether the Minnesota brokerage firm provides you with leads to work on.
  • Whether or not the Minnesota brokerage firm employs cutting-edge technology, such as CRM software, to assist them in optimizing their daily operations.

To get you started on your search, here are the top real estate brokerages in Minnesota by sales volume as obtained from RealTrends.com.

HomeServices of America, Inc. in Minneapolis        
RE/MAX Results in Eden Prairie.
Keller Williams in Woodbury.
Keller Williams Classic Realty in Coon Rapids.

Step 4: Get Your Background Check and Fingerprinting

The Minnesota Real Estate Board is responsible for issuing licenses to real estate agents and brokers. To protect the public interest and general welfare, they need to comprehensively know about an applicant’s criminal history.

You can schedule your Minnesota fingerprinting here.

There are usually questions about criminal felonies/charges or withheld/ deferred judgment on the license applications. If you have these records, you must give the following information:

  1. a written statement outlining the facts surrounding each incident;
  2. a copy of the criminal complaint;
  3. The official document and copy confirming the resolution of the accusations, as well as any final judgment or sentencing order

Step 5: Submit your Minnesota Real Estate License Application

You cannot be licensed as a real estate agent in Minnesota without first being associated with an actively licensed real estate broker.

The real estate broker that you attach your application to is the one who is in charge of submitting your application for a real estate license.

After the state’s Commerce Department approves your application, your broker can print out your license and inform you that you are licensed as a Minnesota real estate agent.

Your sponsor broker logs in to Pearson VUE’s Credentials Management System for Certification and Licensing Programs, and after that, choose ‘Real Estate Board’ to apply for your license. They should then choose “Submit License Application” and “Individual.

After that, the broker must log in using the username and password of the licensed real estate company with which the aspiring real estate agent will be affiliated.

The application fee for a Minnesota real estate salesperson license is $130. This includes a $30 technology surcharge and $30 each for real estate education, research, and the recovery fund.

After passing your Minnesota real estate exam and submitting your application, all you have to do is wait for your license to be issued. This procedure should take between 3 and 5 business days in most circumstances.

Keep Your Minnesota Real Estate License Active

All Minnesota real estate licensees are advised to renew their real estate agent license before June 30th. This renewal has to be processed by your Primary Broker, which they do use the same online registration portal.

The renewal fee for the Minnesota sales agent real estate license is $60.

In addition, you are required to complete 30 hours of Minnesota real estate continuing education before the license renewal deadline, i.e., June 30th, sets in.

You will need at least one hour of instruction in fair housing laws, regulations, rules, and other anti-discrimination statutes, both state and federal.

You can also take courses that help you to meet the housing needs of immigrant and under-served populations.

It is important to remember that extra courses taken cannot be carried forward to the next license cycle. Therefore, you should know your deadlines well enough and avoid waiting until the last minute to renew your license.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Minnesota Real Estate License?

  • Minnesota real estate pre-licensing education cost is an estimated $599 to $814.
    It’s important to note that pre-licensing course costs vary depending on the real estate school provider you select.
  • The Minnesota State Real Estate Exam Fee is $63.
  • The Minnesota Real Estate License Application Fee is $110.
  • The overall cost of obtaining a Minnesota real estate license is $772 to $987.

Minnesota Real Estate License Requirements FAQs

How long does it take to become a real estate agent in Minnesota?

It takes about four months to become a licensed real estate agent in Minnesota. However, this may largely depend on your time to complete the pre-license course, the Minnesota real estate exam, application, and getting sponsorship by a licensed real estate brokerage.
Taking online courses can help you speed up the process. In addition, online application submissions also eliminate the mailing time.

Does Minnesota Have Real Estate License Reciprocity?

Yes, you can apply through reciprocity if you live in and hold an active license in the states of Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Oklahoma.

However, you’ll need to provide a Letter of Certification through email. The letter should not be more than 90 days old, indicating that you are currently licensed as a sales agent in a reciprocal state.

In addition, if you hold an active real estate license in a non-reciprocal state, you will still need to complete your pre-licensing education and take your exam. Here, you will only be required to pass the state section of the Minnesota real estate exam.

Can a felon get a Minnesota real estate license?

The applicant’s honesty, trustworthiness, character, and integrity are assessed by the Minnesota Real Estate Board. You will be required to submit the following documents:

1. A written statement outlining the facts surrounding each incident.
2. The charging document in its entirety.
3. The sentencing order in its entirety. (This official document states the charges have been resolved or any final judgment has been issued.)

Do you want to learn the real estate license requirements for another state? You can select another state in the dropdown menu below:

Minnesota Real Estate License Requirements – Final Thoughts

As an aspiring real estate agent in Minnesota, you now know how to apply for and obtain your Minnesota real estate license.

Ready to get started with the first step? We recommend these online real estate schools which include Colibri Real Estate and the CE Shop.

With patience and hard work, you too will be a real estate agent in Minnesota if you follow these steps. We wish you all the luck in your new career!

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