Pass Your North Dakota Real Estate Exam the First Time
North Dakota requires 90 hours of pre-licensing education. The exam tests mineral rights extensively - oil and gas rights are commonly severed from surface rights here. Understanding these 'split estates' is essential for your career!
Questions
140
100 NAT / 40 STATE
To Pass
70%
70% NAT / 75% STATE
Time Limit
4 Hrs
240 TOTAL MINUTES
Provider
PSI
NDREC
Pass your North Dakota Salesperson, Broker or Broker Associate License
North Dakota has some of the lowest exam volume in the country, which means fewer practice resources exist and the ones that do are rarely built for this state specifically.
The Bakken oil boom made mineral rights a regular topic on the North Dakota exam, and no national study material covers the severance rules and agricultural land regulations that the NDREC draws from. AI language models trained on national content have no framework for North Dakota’s specific regulatory structure, and generic platforms were not built for this state.
The License Professor is written by licensed North Dakota professionals who built questions around PSI state portion priorities. Every question on mineral rights, agricultural land requirements, and buyer brokerage procedures is grounded in North Dakota law.
North Dakota Sample Exams
Experience the real study interface — no account required.
Salesperson
Individuals new to real estate who want to start their career helping clients buy and sell property
Broker
Experienced professionals who want to operate independently or run their own brokerage
Broker Associate
Experienced salespeople who have passed the broker exam but prefer to continue working under another broker
Three Topics that Trip Up North Dakota Students Most
Agricultural Land Laws
In a state where agriculture dominates, the exam tests specific statutory requirements governing subdivided and out-of-state land sales, including registration and disclosure rules that don’t exist in more urbanized states.
Mineral Rights vs. Surface
North Dakota allows mineral rights to be severed from surface ownership — with the Bakken oil boom, the exam heavily tests that mineral rights do not automatically transfer with a deed unless specifically included.
Read the full breakdown →Agency Disclosure Timing
Students fail because North Dakota’s rules on when and how to disclose brokerage relationships differ from the national norms taught in the general portion — the specific written timeline catches candidates off guard.
The North Dakota Real Estate License Professor includes specialized deep dives for each of these.
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North Dakota Real Estate Practice Questions
Sample questions from the North Dakota real estate exam — with answers and explanations.
1. A buyer closes on a $300,000 purchase with 10% down and $8,500 in closing costs. What are the total out-of-pocket costs at closing?
- A.$30,000
- B.$38,500
- C.$8,500
- D.$270,000
2. Under North Dakota law, which defect must a seller disclose to a buyer?
- A.Normal wear and tear from property age
- B.A visible defect readily observable during inspection
- C.Cosmetic issues that do not affect habitability
- D.A hidden defect not discoverable by reasonable inspection
3. Under N.D.C.C. Section 43-23-11.1, when is the North Dakota Real Estate Commission obliged to investigate a licensee, and what deadline applies to the complaint?
- A.It must investigate on a verified written complaint from any person, and no statutory deadline limits when that complaint may be filed.
- B.It must investigate only on its own motion, and only within three years of the conduct.
- C.It must investigate any complaint, but only if the complaint is filed within three years of the occurrence.
- D.It may investigate at its discretion, but loses authority once the licence expires.
More on North Dakota Licensing
Deeper reading on the topics that matter most for North Dakota candidates.
How to Get Your North Dakota License
Requirements, costs, and steps to get licensed in North Dakota.
Read more →North Dakota Exam Study Plan
A realistic plan to pass the North Dakota real estate exam.
Read more →North Dakota Mineral Rights and Split Estates: What the Exam Actually Tests
What the North Dakota exam tests on this topic.
Read more →North Dakota Mineral vs Surface Rights Trips Up Candidates
North Dakota mineral and surface rights often convey separately. The PSI exam tests when they transfer, how they are reserved, and what must be disclosed.
Read more →
Licensed in more than one state?
Exam prep for North Dakota's neighbours, each with its own state law, passing score, and free sample questions.
North Dakota Real Estate Exam Structure: What to Expect
The North Dakota Salesperson exam combines 100 national questions and 40 state-specific questions in 240 minutes (150 min national + 90 min state).
Question breakdown
National portion: 100 questions, 150 minutes, 70 correct to pass (70%)
Standard PSI national content.
ND portion: 40 questions, 90 minutes, 30 correct to pass (75%)
Topics:
- ND license law (8-10 questions)
- Mineral rights and split estates (6-8 questions)
- Oil and gas leasing (4-6 questions)
- Agricultural property (4-6 questions)
- Agency disclosure (4-5 questions)
- Trust accounts (3-4 questions)
Time management
240 minutes for 140 questions = about 103 seconds per question overall (150 min / 100 questions on the national portion, 90 min / 40 questions on the state portion). Generous.
Cost structure
- Pre-licensing (90 hours): $400-$750
- Exam: $134 flat (whether taking one or both portions)
- License: $100
- Background check: ~$40
- Total: $674-$1,024
Retake rules
Retakes allowed. $134 flat (only the failed portion needs to be retaken).
If you're taking the Broker or Broker Associate exam
North Dakota's Broker and Broker Associate exams share the same structure: 130 questions (90 national + 40 state) in 240 minutes — a smaller national portion than the Salesperson exam's 100, but a higher, flat 75% passing threshold on both portions (national needs 75 of 90, state needs 30 of 40), versus the Salesperson exam's split 70% national / 75% state. Broker content shifts toward brokerage supervision and trust account management. Source: PSI NDREC Candidate Information Bulletin (rev. 10/1/2025), Examination Summary Table p.7.
Topics Covered on the North Dakota Real Estate Exam
The figures below describe the Salesperson exam.
National Exam Topics (100 questions)
- Property Ownership — Estates, deeds, easements
- Land Use Controls — Zoning, government powers
- Valuation — Three approaches, CMA
- Financing — Mortgages, FHA/VA, RESPA, TILA
- Agency — Agency relationships
- Contracts — Listing agreements, purchase contracts
- Closing — Closing procedures, prorations
- Practice — Working with buyers and sellers, fair housing, math
North Dakota State Exam Topics (40 questions)
- ND License Law (Chapter 43-23) — NDREC rules, license categories
- Mineral Rights and Split Estates — Subsurface ownership rights
- Oil and Gas Leasing — Bakken region practices
- Agricultural Property — Farm/ranch transactions
- Property Disclosures — ND-specific requirements
- Trust Accounts — Broker trust account rules
Why this list matters
Each state topic generates 4-10 questions. Mineral rights and split estates together generate 13-17 questions — a major chunk of the state portion.
What this list doesn't tell you
PSI writes scenario-based questions. Practice questions, not just topic review.
North Dakota Exam FAQ
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