How To Become A Real Estate Agent In Minnesota
What Are Minnesota's Real Estate Pre-Licensing Education Requirements?
Minnesota requires 90 hours of pre-licensing coursework from an approved provider.
The required curriculum Is composed of three 30-hour courses (I, II, and III). Course I needs to be completed before you take the license exam. Courses II and III can be completed before or after, as long as you finish them before you turn in your application.
The final exams for each course need to be proctored – in other words, monitored by a disinterested party.
AgentCampus by 360training doesn't provide Minnesota pre-license training at this time, only continuing education. You can find an authorized pre-license school on Minnesota's Commerce website.
Who is Eligible to Become a Real Estate Agent in Minnesota?
To apply for a real estate salesperson license in Minnesota, you need to be at least 18.
What Else Do I Need to Do to Earn My Minnesota Real Estate License?
In addition to the required education, you need to:
- Submit to a background check
- Pass your official state licensing exam
- Submit your license application
- Find a sponsoring broker
What is the Minnesota Real Estate Licensing Exam Like?
You need a certificate of completion for Course One before you're eligible for the licensing exam.
Minnesota's exam is administered by a third-party testing company named Pearson VUE in testing locations throughout the state. It has two portions: a national portion and a state-specific portion. You'll have 2.5 hours to complete the 80-question national portion, and 1.5 hours to complete the 50-question state portion.
You'll find out whether you passed before you leave the testing center.
What is the Deadline for my Minnesota Real Estate License Application?
You have 12 months after passing your license exam to submit your Minnesota real estate license application.
How Often Does a Minnesota Real Estate License Have to Be Renewed?
Minnesota real estate licenses need to be renewed every 2 years. Licenses expire and must be renewed by June 30th.
What Are Minnesota's Continuing Education Requirements for Real Estate?
Minnesota requires you to complete 30 Continuing Education hours from an approved provider (like us!) per renewal.
You must complete 15 hours per year of the renewal cycle, except for your first June 30th with that license type (salesperson or broker).
In non-renewal years, you need to complete the year's CE by June 30th. In renewal years, you should try to complete the year's CE well ahead of time so that your credits are reported in a timely fashion.
Don't start next year's credits early – Minnesota doesn't allow credits to roll from one educational year to the next.
For each two-year license period, required courses include:
- For salespersons only:
- 1 hour of Fair Housing and antidiscrimination credit
- 1 hour of agency representation and disclosure law credit
- For brokers only:
- 1-hour module required for brokers
- For salespersons AND brokers:
- Two 3.75-hour module course for both salespersons and brokers (one module or prescribed content per license year)
What Kind of Jobs Can I Get with a Minnesota Real Estate License?
A real estate license can lead to a variety of career options in Minnesota, including:
- Residential real estate agent
- Commercial real estate agent
- Real estate broker
- Property manager
Also, there are as many specialties and niches in real estate as there are types of buyers, sellers, and property. Some practice areas are more lucrative than others, but be aware that those frequently call for additional certifications or licenses.
Average wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics can provide an idea of your potential salary in Minnesota:
| Job Title | Average Hourly Wage | Average Yearly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Agents | $18.98 | $39,470 |
| Brokers | $19.61 | $40,780 |
| Property Managers | $29.51 | $61,380 |
As a real estate agent, individual earnings will depend on how well you sell, because your income is largely based on commission. Some people work part time for supplemental income. Others make well above average; in Minnesota, the top 90th percentile of sales agents make $75,810.
Check out our Resources page to learn more about your career options, niches, specialties, and how commission works.
