Minnesota Licensing Requirements and Education
Becoming and staying licensed in Minnesota involves staged pre-license courses, a state exam, and ongoing continuing education. This chapter summarizes the education and renewal path for a Minnesota salesperson.
Pre-License Education and Exam
Minnesota requires 90 hours of approved pre-license education delivered as three 30-hour courses. Course I (30 hours) must be completed before a candidate may sit for the licensing examination; the additional 60 hours — Courses II and III — must be completed before FILING the licence application, not before the first renewal (Minn. Stat. § 82.59 subd. 8(a); checked 2026-09-09). The first license renewal. Candidates must pass the state licensing exam and be sponsored by a broker to activate the license.
Application and Sponsorship
After passing the exam, the applicant applies through the Department of Commerce and must be employed by a licensed broker for the license to be active. The broker's sponsorship links the new salesperson to a supervising broker who is accountable for the salesperson's licensed activity and trust-fund handling.
Continuing Education and Renewal
Minnesota licenses are renewed on a fixed statewide schedule, and licensees must complete Commerce-approved continuing education, including required modules, during each license period before renewing. Continuing education keeps licensees current on law changes, agency rules, and required topics. Letting a license lapse can require additional steps to reinstate.
State-specific details
State exam facts
- State regulator
- Minnesota Department of Commerce
- Exam vendor
- Pearson VUE
- Prelicensing education
- 90 hours (three 30-hour courses)
How many prelicensing hours does Minnesota require to become a real estate agent?
Minnesota requires 90 hours of pre-license education delivered as three 30-hour courses (Course I must be completed before the exam; Courses II and III before license application).
Who licenses real estate agents in Minnesota?
The Minnesota Department of Commerce licenses real estate salespersons and brokers. The Department uses Pearson VUE to deliver the licensing exams.
How is the Minnesota salesperson exam structured?
The Minnesota salesperson exam is delivered by Pearson VUE with a national portion and a Minnesota state portion, scored separately; you must pass both. Confirm the current scored-question counts in the Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook.
Sources: https://mn.gov/commerce/industries/real-estate/, https://home.pearsonvue.com/mn/realestate
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