How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License in Minnesota?

Investing the right amount of time to get your real estate license in Minnesota is easy if you truly understand how long the process will take.

From educating yourself on the basic requirements all the way through renewing your license, we’ve got you covered.

Keep reading for a step-by-step breakdown of estimated times to complete each step in getting your MN real estate license.

Estimated Timeline to Get a Real Estate License in Minnesota

To understand exactly what’s expected of you when it comes to getting a Minnesota real estate license, you’ll need to do some research.

A great place to start is the real estate licensing page on the Minnesota Department of Commerce website.

This is where you’re able to look up basic eligibility requirements, along with information on the education you must complete and how to take the exam.

Here, you’ll find information on how to keep your license active, including continuing education requirements.

This is also where you can access the Pulse Portal where your application gets submitted and you’ll renew your license once it’s active.

For detailed information about the exam itself, which can help you figure out how long you should study for the real estate exam, check out the Candidate Information Bulletin from PSI, the test administrator.

This document contains detailed topic outlines for the entire exam, including how many questions to expect in each category.

To start planning out how you’ll complete your pre-licensing education requirement, you’ll need to log into the Pulse Portal.

This is where all course options are listed, along with the approved education providers offering them. You can also refer to our vetted list of top real estate schools in Minnesota.

There is a 90-hour education requirement for a salesperson license, and a 30-hour education requirement for a broker license.

The salesperson hours are broken down into three, 30-hour courses simply known as Course I, Course II, and Course III.

You have to complete Course I before sitting for the real estate exam, but the other two just have to be done before you apply for a license.

How long it will take you to complete these hours varies by license type as well as how much time you have to devote to the classes each week.

It’s best to weigh the pros and cons of real estate classes online vs classroom courses to decide which format is best for you.

It could take as little as one week per course, or two or more weeks based on format.

That means, if you’re going for a broker license, you might finish this requirement in as little as a week.

You might want to begin studying right after pre-licensing classes begin, or wait until class is over to organize your notes and begin reviewing.

Either way, it’s important to leave yourself enough time to really prepare to pass the real estate exam on your first try.

Our tips for how to pass the real estate exam can help you study to ace the test.

When you’re ready to schedule the test, you’ll need to contact PSI. You can do this by either creating an online account or by calling 866-395-1006.

The real estate exam itself will only take you four hours in total, but you’ll need to factor in enough travel time to ensure you arrive at your testing site at least 30 minutes in advance to check in.

Broken into two portions, the general section is 2.5 hours long while the state section is only an hour and a half.

Should you fail a section of the exam, but pass the other, you only have to retake the failed section.

While you can’t schedule a retake on the same day as you test, you are able to contact PSI the very next day to find an open slot.

This could be as soon as the following day, which means, if you failed a portion of the exam on a Tuesday, you could contact PSI Wednesday and have a new test date as early as Thursday.

Read our guide on how to pass the MN real estate exam for pointers on how best to study for the test and tips on how to pass it on your first try.

The real estate application process in Minnesota is unique.

While you must apply for your real estate license within one year of passing the exam, only a licensed primary broker can submit your application for you as a salesperson applicant.

This means a salesperson must find a sponsoring broker prior to submitting their license application. Those getting a broker license can submit their own through the Pulse Portal.

To find a sponsoring broker, you’ll need to do some research once again, looking into the top real estate brokerages in Minnesota to find viable options close to your location.

After you narrow down your list, schedule interviews with these brokers. This is a chance for them to get to know you, but for you to also see if they’re a good fit for you.

Refer to our article on how to pick a broker to work for to learn which real estate companies are best for new agents.

Once you’ve made your decision, your sponsoring broker must submit your application through the Pulse Portal.

Minnesota real estate license renewal requirements include a set amount of continuing education hours as well as renewal instructions.

An active license is good for two years, with renewals required by June 30. Again, you complete this process in the Pulse Portal.

In MN, real estate license continuing education requirements consist of a total of 30 hours within the two-year period; 15 hours must be completed within each year.

Course options are available within the Pulse Portal and no repeat courses are allowed within any given renewal period.

Real estate agents in Minnesota must dedicate some of their continuing ed time to a general module course as well as one hour on Agency Laws and one hour on Fair Housing.

Brokers have the same total hours for continuing education and must take the same required courses, but additionally have to complete a broker module course.

The actual time to renew your license won’t take you very long, and the time you spend on your continuing education depends again on course format.

Choosing to become a real estate agent as a career definitely requires an investment of your time and your money. Saving yourself time in the process can be beneficial, but don’t skimp on study time.

With the right materials, and a good study location, you’ll be able to prepare yourself to pass the exam, eliminating the need for retakes.

The best study materials start with your in-class notes. There are outside resources to refer to as well, but notes are the best. Keep them organized by topic for easier review.

Your study spot should be somewhere you can get to regularly; it helps make studying part of your daily routine.

Find a place that’s quiet, with limited distractions and a low risk of interruptions.

While there’s no ‘right amount’ of time to study, you’ll know when you’re ready, and that’s when you should take the next step toward your license — the exam.

Aside from knowing the estimated timeline to how to get your real estate license in MN, you should also understand the financial implications earning a license entails.

We discuss this in detail in our guide on how much a real estate license in MN costs.

Should you have a past violation on your record, know the steps to take by reading our article on background check for a real estate license in Minnesota.

We don’t stop after you have your active license in hand either. Learn more about what happens after you pass your real estate exam and what to expect when you join a real estate team.

You can then kick your career off in the right direction through our top resources for ensuring business visibility and targeted clientele.

To help you build and grow your real estate career quickly, we at Real Estate Bees created a directory for real estate professionals.

It’s designed to help you get more exposure for your business, including receiving leads. Create a free profile by signing up here.

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About the Author

Kristina Morales is both a licensed mortgage loan originator and real estate agent in the State of Ohio. Inspired by her years of working with buyers and sellers and seeing a need for more consumer education, Kristina created loanfully.com, an online educational resource for borrowers and industry professionals. In addition to real estate sales and mortgage lending, Kristina had an extensive corporate career in banking, treasury, and corporate finance. She ended her corporate career as an Assistant Treasurer at a publicly traded oil & gas company in Houston, TX. Kristina obtained her MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and her B.A in Business Management from Ursuline College.