How to get a Responsible Broker license in South Dakota

South Dakota real estate agent licenses

South Dakota issues 3 real estate agent credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the South Dakota real estate agent licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 3)

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old⁵

Background check

Background check required¹
Fingerprints required⁶⁷
Application may be denied for a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, discipline by a regulatory agency, unpaid judgments, or misstatements; no license if a license was revoked in any state in the past 5 years.¹

Residency or citizenship

U.S. citizen or South Dakota resident¹

Social Security number

Application asks for Social Security number⁶⁷

Insurance

Active licensees must carry errors and omissions insurance (group plan or approved optional coverage); minimum $100,000 per claim / $500,000 annual aggregate¹

Fees

How to apply

Application form

Form (PDF, dlr.sd.gov)⁶⁸

Processing time

2 to 4 weeks⁶⁷

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years¹

Approved courses

Courses must be approved by the SD Real Estate Commission; providers report completions³

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $20¹ (renewal received in December)
Late renewal fee: $40¹ (renewal received in January)
Late renewal fee: $60¹ (renewal received in February)
Late renewal fee: $80¹ (renewal received in March)
Late renewal fee: $100¹ (renewal received in April)
Late renewal fee: $120¹ (renewal received in May)
Late renewal fee: $140¹ (renewal received in June)

Renew online

sdrec.sd.gov⁹

2. Every license level except Residential Rental Agent

Requirements

Education or training

At least 116 classroom hours¹
Broker associate prelicensing course¹
Who may teach it: Commission-approved course and instructors, or approved independent study/distance education; must be completed within two years before applying²
Alternative: Credit for a similar course at a regionally accredited college/university or vocational school, or a prelicensing school in a state with mandated prelicensing education¹

Fees

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, PSI², when you schedule.

Renewal

Renewal fee

$125¹¹⁰

Continuing education

At least 24 hours each renewal period³

Exemptions

Inactive licensees are not required to meet CE (24 hours needed to reactivate)³
Extensions/exceptions for health, military service or other good cause³
Nonresident licensees who meet their home state's education requirements³
South Dakota attorneys are exempt¹

If it expires

No late renewal accepted after June 30; after that the person must reapply and repeat prelicensing education and exams¹

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Licensees whose registration lapses during armed forces service can be reinstated without examination if they apply within six months of separation (other than dishonorable discharge); CE accrued during service may be waived. The application form also says fees are waived when the applicant's spouse is active-duty military.⁶

Who needs a Responsible Broker license

Broker who may operate a brokerage and supervises associated broker associates and salespersons; a firm must designate a responsible broker.¹

Work that does not need this license:

• Owners or lessors dealing with their own property, and their regular employees¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

• South Dakota attorneys (unless they hold themselves out as in the real estate business, in which case they may get a license without examination)¹
• Receivers, trustees, personal representatives, guardians and persons acting under court order, deed, trust or will¹
• Building custodians/employees who show units and take lease applications for the owner or manager¹
• Holders of a good-faith power of attorney (non-recurring acts)¹

Requirements for a Responsible Broker license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

At least 24 classroom hours¹
24-hour responsible broker course (brokerage), beyond the broker associate level¹
Who may teach it: Commission-approved course; must be taken after the broker associate prelicensing or upgrade course¹
Alternative: Conditional approval: the 24 hours may be finished within six months of approval¹

Experience

At least 2 years¹
Two years of active service as a licensed salesperson or broker associate¹
License you must hold first: Salesperson or broker associate license¹
Substitute: Experience may be waived if three responsible brokers refused association within 60 days before application¹

Exam

South Dakota real estate licensing exam (national and state portions)²
Given by: PSI²
When you can take it: After completing required education; broker associates licensed through the 40-hour upgrade (SDCL 36-21A-34.1) must also complete the broker exam¹
National portion²
South Dakota state portion²
Time limit: Apply for the license within 60 days of the notice of passing; otherwise the passing score is canceled²
Exam waived: Applicants licensed in another state who passed that state's exam take only the South Dakota state portion¹

Business requirements

Firms (partnership, LLC, corporation, association) need a firm license and a designated responsible broker⁴

How much a Responsible Broker license costs

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Hold a salesperson or broker associate license and serve actively for two years.¹
2. Complete the 24-hour responsible broker course (after the 116-hour or upgrade course).⁵
3. Submit the real estate license application marked "Broker" with the $225 fee, education certificate, E&O certificate and fingerprint cards with $50 to DCI.⁶ Form (PDF, dlr.sd.gov)⁶
4. If operating as a partnership, LLC, corporation or association, also apply for a firm license ($100).⁸

Temporary or provisional license

Conditional approval if only the 24-hour course is outstanding (complete within six months)¹

Renewal and continuing education

Required topics

At least 12 of the 24 hours in required subject areas (contracts, license law, fair housing, ethics, environmental issues, antitrust, ADA, brokerage services, property management)³

Broker Associate

Licensed associate of a responsible broker who may sell, buy, negotiate, lease or exchange real property for compensation; South Dakota's entry-level license for new residents (the "salesperson" license is issued only by reciprocity).¹

Requirements

Experience

0 years⁵
None required⁵

Exam

South Dakota real estate licensing exam (national and state portions)²
Given by: PSI²
When you can take it: After completing the prelicensing course¹
National portion²
South Dakota state portion²
Time limit: Apply for the license within 60 days of the notice of passing; otherwise the passing score is canceled²
Exam waived: Applicants licensed in another state who passed that state's exam take only the South Dakota state portion¹

Business requirements

Must be associated with a responsible broker to be active; otherwise the license is issued inactive⁶

Also required

Postlicensing: 60 hours over the first two active license cycles (30 + 30), counting toward CE³

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Complete the 116-hour broker associate prelicensing course at a Commission-approved school.¹²
2. Register with PSI and pass the national and South Dakota state portions of the exam (75 to pass).²
3. Enroll in errors and omissions insurance (state group plan via RISC, or submit a certificate for alternate coverage).⁶
4. Within 60 days of passing, mail the application with the $225 fee, education certificate (Form 101), score reports, E&O certificate and fingerprint cards with a $50 check to DCI (or Livescan for SD residents).⁶ Form (PDF, dlr.sd.gov)⁶
5. Have your responsible broker complete the Qualifying Broker section to activate the license; otherwise it is issued inactive.⁶

Renewal

Required topics

At least 12 of the 24 hours in required subject areas (contracts, license law, fair housing, ethics, environmental issues, antitrust, ADA, brokerage services, property management)³
New broker associates: 30 required postlicense hours in each of the first two license periods³

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Residential Rental Agent

Negotiates residential rentals/leases and collects rents for compensation while associated with a real estate broker or property manager; may sign leases if authorized.¹

Requirements

Education or training

0 clock hours⁵
No prelicensing education required¹

Experience

None required⁵
Supervision: Must be directly supervised by a property manager or real estate broker licensed by the Commission¹

Exam

Not required¹

Fees

How to apply

1. Arrange association with a South Dakota-licensed broker or property manager who will supervise you.¹
2. Mail the Residential Rental Agent Application with the $60 fee and fingerprint cards with a $50 check to DCI.⁷ Form (PDF, dlr.sd.gov)⁷

Renewal

Renewal fee

$50¹

Continuing education

At least 12 hours each renewal period¹

Required topics

Property management, fair housing, lease of real property, contracts, license law; at least one hour in a required subject area³

Exemptions

Inactive licensees are not required to meet CE (24 hours needed to reactivate)³
Extensions/exceptions for health, military service or other good cause³

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a real estate agent in South Dakota, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in South Dakota is on the South Dakota license lookup page.

Look up a license

sdrec.sd.gov¹³

File a complaint

dlr.sd.gov¹⁴

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• SDCL 36-21A-28
• SDCL 36-21A-30
• SDCL 36-21A-31
• SDCL 36-21A-32
• SDCL 36-21A-37
• SDCL 36-21A-38
• SDCL 36-21A-43
• SDCL 36-21A-54
• SDCL 36-21A-61
• SDCL 36-21A-62
• SDCL 36-21A-151
• ARSD 20:69:03
• ARSD 20:69:04
• ARSD 20:69:15
• SDCL 36-21A-12
• SDCL 36-21A-30.1
• SDCL 36-21A-30.2
• SDCL 36-21A-36.1
• SDCL 36-21A-66
• ARSD 20:69:11
• SDCL 36-21A-12.1
• SDCL 36-21A-47
• ARSD 20:69:14.01

Rule changes since January 2024

• October 1, 2025: DCI fingerprint background-check fee listed as $50 effective Oct. 1, 2025.⁴

Common questions

Real estate agent licenses in other states

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