1.3 License Maintenance and Renewal

North Dakota real estate licenses require ongoing maintenance through annual renewal, continuing education, and continuous E&O insurance. Missing any one of these can move a license to inactive status or block renewal entirely.

License Term and Renewal Cycle

Because the cycle is annual rather than biennial, North Dakota licensees should plan CE every year. NDREC sends renewal notices roughly 60 days before expiration, but the obligation to renew on time rests with the licensee.

Continuing Education (12 Hours)

North Dakota requires 12 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle.

Two corrections: (1) The requirement is 12 hours, not 9. (2) The current first-renewal CE exemption applies to those first licensed in 2026 (the exemption rolls forward each year, so confirm the current-year language on realestatend.org).

NDREC designates whether any hours must come from mandatory topics; in the current cycle there are no mandatory topic hours, so all 12 may be electives. Always verify the active requirement before buying courses, and keep your completion certificates — licensees maintain their own CE records.

E&O Insurance Maintenance

A lapse in E&O coverage is one of the most common reasons a salesperson's license drops to inactive status. The group policy administered through Rice Insurance (about $187/year) is the simplest way to stay covered, but a private policy from an admitted carrier is acceptable if it covers the statutory activities.

Renewal Process and Late Renewal

On-time renewal:

1. Complete 12 CE hours by November 15.
2. Confirm E&O insurance is current.
3. Log in to NDREC Online Services.
4. Submit the renewal application and pay the renewal fee.
5. Receive the renewed license.

If the license expires:

Warning: Practicing real estate on an expired or inactive license is a license-law violation that can lead to discipline. Because there is no CE grace period, finishing CE late can itself delay your renewal.

License Status Types

A salesperson's license becomes inactive when the salesperson is not affiliated with a broker, voluntarily requests inactive status, or lets E&O insurance lapse. To reactivate: affiliate with a broker, obtain E&O insurance, complete any outstanding CE, and pay required fees through the portal.

Required Notifications and Broker Duties

Licensees must notify NDREC within 10 days of changes to:

• Business or mailing address
• Legal name
• Sponsoring broker (for salespersons)
• Trust account information (for brokers)

These notices are submitted through NDREC Online Services. Brokers carry parallel duties that keep the office compliant:

Exam tip: The 10-day notification window applies to address, name, affiliation, and trust-account changes alike — a frequently tested number on the state portion.

Worked Example: Timing a Renewal

Suppose a salesperson is first licensed in March 2026. Because she is first licensed in 2026, she is exempt from CE for her first renewal (the renewal due November 15, 2026). For the next cycle (November 16, 2026 through November 15, 2027), she must complete the full 12 hours. If she finishes her 12 hours on November 20, 2027 — five days late — there is no grace period, so she cannot renew on time and her license lapses; she would have to complete the CE, pay any reinstatement fees, and reactivate through her broker before practicing again.

Exam tip: Two numbers anchor this section — the November 15 expiration and the 12 CE hours — plus the 10-day notice rule for address, name, affiliation, and trust-account changes. Expect at least one state-portion question on each.

CE Recordkeeping

Licensees, not the schools, are responsible for retaining CE certificates and producing them if NDREC requests verification. Many licensees keep digital copies in case of audit. Brokers should track their affiliated salespersons' CE so the whole office renews cleanly each November.