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How to Become a Real Estate Agent in South Dakota in 8 Easy Steps

In order to connect residents of the Mount Rushmore State with the properties of their dreams, you’ll need to first get your real estate license. Follow these six easy steps, and you’ll be launching your career in South Dakota real estate in no time.

Written By
thumbnail Gina Baker
Gina Baker
Reviewed By:
Nov 5, 2024
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Whether you’re from the Eastside or the Westside of South Dakota, there is plenty of real estate to go around! But first things first, you need to know how to become a real estate agent (or broker associate) in South Dakota. I will guide you through the process one step at a time, and before you know it, you’ll have more real estate clients popping up than you have corn.

Important Note: While most states call their real estate agents, salespersons or agents, South Dakota refers to them as broker associates. 

Quick Facts & Costs for South Dakota Licensees

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Quick Steps to Get a South Dakota Real Estate License (+ Costs)

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Step 1: Meet South Dakota Requirements (No Cost)

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Step 2: Choose a Real Estate School (Cost: $699+)

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Step 3: Pass the SD Real Estate Exam (Cost: $294)

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Step 4: Join a Real Estate Brokerage (No Cost)

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Step 5: Get Fingerprints & Background Check (Cost: $43.25)

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Step 6: Purchase E&O Insurance (Cost: Varies)

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Step 7: Apply for a SD License (Cost: $225)

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Step 8: Start a Successful Career (No Cost)

Types of Licensees in South Dakota & How Much They Earn

  • Broker associate (salary range: $30,500 to $85,000): Assists clients in buying, selling, and renting properties. 
  • Responsible broker (salary range: $12,500 to $155,000): In charge of a brokerage, supervises other agents, handles money, and assists with transactions. 
  • Residential rental agent (salary range: $28,500 to 149,500): This position primarily handles rental properties rather than larger sales transactions.

Step-by-Step Breakdown: How to Get a South Dakota Real Estate License

Step 1: Meet South Dakota Requirements

To be eligible for a South Dakota real estate license, you need to:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be a US citizen or have legal working status in the US
  • Not having a conviction for a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude (complete the Application for Predetermination (#3085) if needed)

Step 2: Choose a South Dakota Real Estate School

Completing 116 hours of prelicensing coursework to become a real estate agent in Idaho seems lofty, but it can be easily accomplished with a little hard work—and the right school. The courses will cover everything you’ll need to know to pass the exam, including financing, principles of real estate, calculations, contracts, and much more. However, once you get through those hours, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful broker in South Dakota.

Cell phone with The CE Shop courses on screen.
The CE Shop mobile app (Source: The CE Shop)

Choose your coursework carefully so it fits your learning style, which can be in-person or online. Opting for an online class is the way many agents go because it provides flexibility and can often be completed quicker than in person. The CE Shop is an excellent option for South Dakota license education because it is self-paced and includes e-books and study materials. Check out their tiered packages to see if it’s the right fit for you. 

Enroll in The CE Shop

Use Promo Code: TheClose35 – Save 35%

Step 3: Pass the South Dakota Real Estate License Exam

Test Format and Number of Questions168 total questions
  • 157 multiple choice
  • 11 broker simulated
Where to Register for ExamPSI Exams
Items to Bring to Testing Center
  • Two valid forms of identification with signatures (i.e., Social Security card and Driver’s License)
Passing Grade75%

The South Dakota real estate exam differs a bit from other real estate exams. While it still has the typical national and state-focused multiple-choice questions, it also has broker simulation questions made up of information-gathering (IG) and decision-making (DM) questions. Each problem will have a primary issue and property type, where the IG questions test you on gathering all relevant information, and the DM questions are for making judgments or decisions based on the issue and property type.

You pass? Yay—move along with the next steps. If you fail—that’s ok too. You’ll have to retake the portion of the exam you failed, but you have as many attempts as needed for an entire year. 

Step 4: Join a Real Estate Brokerage

As a broker associate, you cannot operate independently, so finding a brokerage is essential to your success as a South Dakota real estate licensee. Schedule interviews at several firms, large and small, to see which company aligns most with your values and needs and provides you with the best resources. They will be required to sign off on your South Dakota real estate license application, so your license is active immediately after your application is accepted.

Start looking for brokerages in the areas you’d like to work in to jump-start your new career, and check out our Best Real Estate Company to Work For guide to learn about some of the larger firms.

Step 5: Get Fingerprints & Background Check

All applicants must submit fingerprints for eligibility for a South Dakota real estate license as part of a background check. Here are the details:

  • Request fingerprint cards from the South Dakota Real Estate Commission
  • Get fingerprinting done at a local law enforcement agency or fingerprint office, which may require a fee specific to the vendor.
  • Return completed fingerprint cards to the Real Estate Commission with your completed application and a separate check for $43.25 made payable to the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).
  • You must sign and date your fingerprint cards for them to be valid.

Step 6: Purchase E&O Insurance

To have an active license, all real estate agents in South Dakota must have Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance. This protects real estate businesses from mistakes made during professional service. IREC works closely with Rice Insurance Services, LLC, to provide affordable options for South Dakota licensees.

Step 7: Apply for a South Dakota Real Estate License

  • Cost: $225
  • Time commitment: 1 hour plus 2-4 weeks for processing
  • Helpful resource: South Dakota Real Estate License Application

Your last step in learning how to become a real estate agent in South Dakota is submitting your real estate license application. Your application needs to be submitted within 60 days of your passing exam, so it’s important to move forward with the process right away. Here are the items that need to be included with your application:

  • Non-refundable application fee of $225.00
  • Original education certification
  • Errors and omissions certificate of coverage
  • Original score reports from the exam
  • Completed SD and FBI fingerprint cards and a separate check for $43.25 made payable to DCI

Mail these items to: South Dakota Real Estate Commission, 217 W. Missouri Ave., Pierre, SD 57501

Step 8: Start a Successful Career in South Dakota

All the steps are complete in the process of how to get a real estate license in South Dakota, so you’re ready to start making real estate transactions! However, there’s a lot to keep learning during your journey. Here are a few things to keep in your back pocket: 

  • Stay on top of trends: Keep your eye on real estate trends to build your knowledge. This will make sure you’re the expert when talking to clients. 
  • Maintain a work-life balance: Real estate can be a stressful profession, so keep your health at the forefront with regular time off, time management, and established boundaries. 
  • Use direct mail services: Sending postcards and flyers to your farm area is a tried-and-true way of generating leads. 
  • Optimize your social media: Social media marketing is a free and effective way to let people know you’re in real estate—make sure you tell everyone with a post (or two or three!). 
  • Generate leads regularly: Having clients to work with is what will build your business and make you money. Leverage your network to create your pipeline or purchase real estate leads to move the needle faster. 

FAQs

It will take a few weeks to a few months to complete the 116 hours of education as well as the rest of the application process. Obviously, the majority of that time is spent completing coursework. However, if you focus on getting the 116 hours done as soon as possible, the rest of the process is pretty simple.

In total, you’re looking at about $1,400 from the beginning to the end of the licensing process. This includes the coursework, application, insurance, and fingerprinting fees.

If you put in the time during your classwork and study diligently, you’ll be able to pass the South Dakota real estate exam with flying colors. However, if you feel like you need more help, there are many exam prep options out there that you can purchase separately from your education provider. Check out our free practice exam first, and then take a look at the tools listed to see if you need more help.

Back to You

Now that you have all the steps of how to become a real estate agent in South Dakota, you’re off to the races! Print this article and use it as a step-by-step guide or checklist while you go through your journey.

Have other questions about getting your real estate license? Let us know below!

thumbnail Gina Baker

Gina is the former content strategist and site lead for The Close. Prior to The Close she was the content producer for the Fit Small Business real estate section. Gina holds real estate licenses in New York and New Jersey, she's a subject matter expert in real estate education, lead generation, marketing, and investing. Also, a former Head of Learning and Agent Development at a real estate brokerage, Gina combines her experience as a high school English teacher with her real estate prowess.

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