Real Estate agents and appraisers can find prelicensing and continuing education courses on the Pulse Portal.
Insurance producers and adjusters can find approved prelicensing and continuing education courses on the Sircon website.
Beginning January 1, 2019, Pearson VUE will administer prelicense examinations for appraiser, insurance, and real estate license candidates. To schedule an examination please contact Pearson VUE at 833-273-1946 or at www.pearsonvue.com/mncommerce.
BLOOMINGTON 5601 Green Valley Drive, Suite 150
BRAINERD 501 West College Drive
BROOKLYN PARK 7101 Northland Circle, Suite 102 Triad Building
EAGAN 3459 Washington Drive, Suite 107
HERMANTOWN 4815 West Arrowhead Road, Suite 100
MARSHALL 1501 State Street
PINE CITY 900 4TH Street SE
ROCHESTER 1544 Greenview Drive SW, Suite 200
ST CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY 651 1st Ave & 6th St South Room 218
ST. PAUL 2610 University Avenue W, Suite 400
For information on what you need to bring to the testing center on the day of your examination, please go to Pearson VUE and review the candidate handbook for your license type.
Before sitting for a licensing exam, insurance producer applicants must first complete the 20 hours of insurance pre-license education per line of authority.
Before registering for the prelicense education, you must ensure that the course provider is active and in good standing with the Commerce Department, and that the Commerce Department has approved the course for prelicense education credit. Course offerings can be found at www.sircon.com.
As an insurance producer licensee, you will have continuing education requirements that must be completed before the expiration date on your license. Producers must complete 24 hours of insurance continuing education before their license renewal deadline, and at least 12 of those hours must not be sponsored by, offered by, or affiliated with an insurance company or its agents.;
A licensee must obtain 3 hours of the credit hours per licensing period from a class or classes in the area of ethics.
Before registering for any continuing education course, you must ensure that the course provider is active and in good standing with the Commerce Department, and that the Commerce Department has approved the course for continuing education credit. Course offerings can be found at www.sircon.com
No prelicensing education is required for Adjusters
As an insurance adjuster licensee, you will have continuing education requirements that must be completed before the expiration date on your license. Adjusters must complete 24 hours of insurance continuing education before their license renewal deadline, and at least 12 of those hours must not be sponsored by, offered by, or affiliated with an insurance company or its agents.
A licensee must obtain 3 hours of the credit hours per licensing period from a class or classes in the area of ethics.
Before registering for any continuing education course, you must ensure that the course provider is active and in good standing with the Commerce Department, and that the Commerce Department has approved the course for continuing education credit. Course offerings can be found at www.sircon.com.
You must successfully complete the 8 hour Closing Procedures course before applying for your license.
Before registering for any prelicense education course, you must ensure that the course provider is active and in good standing with the Commerce Department, and that the Commerce Department has approved the course for prelicense education credit. Course offerings can be found at www.pulseportal.com.
No continuing education is required for closers.
You must successfully complete the 30-hour broker course before applying for your license. You must apply for your broker's license within 12 months of completing the course. Otherwise, you will need to retake it and successfully complete it again.
Before registering for the broker course, you must ensure that the course provider is active and in good standing with the Commerce Department, and that the Commerce Department has approved the course for prelicense education credit. Course offerings can be found at www.pulseportal.com.
As a real estate licensee, you will have continuing education requirements that must be completed before June 30 each year (except for the first June 30 that occurs after you become licensed for the first time or become newly relicensed after your license was inactive for more than two years). In general, real estate brokers must complete 30 hours of real estate continuing education before their June 30 license renewal deadline, and at least 15 of those hours must be completed before the previous June 30. Continuing education must be taken in the appropriate license period; extra hours or courses do not carry over into the next period or satisfy future renewal requirements.
As part of the 15 hours each license year, a real estate broker must complete a specific general module continuing education course and a specific broker module continuing education course (if one is required for that year). As part of the 30 hours required for license renewal, a real estate broker must successfully complete at least one hour of training in courses in laws or regulations on agency representation and disclosure (“Agency Laws”), and at least one hour of training in courses in state and federal fair housing laws, regulations, and rules, other anti-discrimination laws, or courses designed to help licensees to meet the housing needs of immigrant and other underserved populations (“Fair Housing”).
"Commercial-only" brokers and salespersons who are engaged solely in the commercial real estate business and whose commercial-only status has been verified with the Commerce Department through the required filing do not have to complete a course on agency law, a course on fair housing, and a specific module training course, but must fulfill all other continuing education requirements.
The instructions that the broker must follow in order to submit the required filing can be found in the "Becoming a Licensed Real Estate Broker" section of this guide.
Before registering for any continuing education course, you must ensure that the course provider is active and in good standing with the Commerce Department, and that the Commerce Department has approved the course for continuing education credit.
Course offerings can be found at www.pulseportal.com.
There are three courses that you must successfully complete before you apply for a real estate salesperson license, known as "Course I," "Course II," and "Course III." Each course consists of 30 hours of instruction. You must successfully complete Course I before taking the salesperson's examination. You must successfully complete Course II and Course III before applying for your license.
Before registering for any prelicense education course, you must ensure that the course provider is active and in good standing with the Commerce Department, and that the Commerce Department has approved the course for prelicense education credit. Course offerings can be found at www.pulseportal.com.
As a real estate licensee, you will have continuing education requirements that must be completed before June 30 each year (except for the first June 30 that occurs after you become licensed for the first time or become newly relicensed after your license was inactive for more than two years). In general, real estate salespersons must complete 30 hours of real estate continuing education before their June 30 license renewal deadline, and at least 15 of those hours must be completed before the previous June 30. Continuing education must be taken in the appropriate license period; extra hours or courses do not carry over into the next period or satisfy future renewal requirements.
As part of the 15 hours each license year, a real estate salesperson must complete a specific general module continuing education course. As part of the 30 hours required for license renewal, a real estate salesperson must successfully complete at least one hour of training in courses in laws or regulations on agency representation and disclosure (“Agency Laws”), and at least one hour of training in courses in state and federal fair housing laws, regulations, and rules, other antidiscrimination laws, or courses designed to help licensees to meet the housing needs of immigrant and other underserved populations (“Fair Housing”).
"Commercial-only" brokers and salespersons who are engaged solely in the commercial real estate business and whose commercial-only status has been verified with the Commerce Department through the required filing do not have to complete a course on agency law, a course on fair housing, and a specific module training course, but must fulfill all other continuing education requirements.
The instructions that the broker must follow in order to submit the required filing can be found in the "Becoming a Licensed Real Estate Broker" section of this guide.
Registering for courses
Before registering for any continuing education course, you must ensure that the course provider is active and in good standing with the Commerce Department, and that the Commerce Department has approved the course for continuing education credit. Course offerings can be found at www.pulseportal.com.
Important Notice for all Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons and *Minnesota Approved Real Estate License Education Providers
Here is information concerning the required 2019-2020 continuing education module training course. There is one 3.75-hour module course that both salespersons and brokers must complete. Completion of this course will also satisfy the 1-Hour of Fair Housing and the 1-Hour of Agency Law training as required in §82.61.(c):(1) (2). Completion of this course will also satisfy the 1-Hour Broker Module Requirement. In other words, there will be no separate broker module course for 2018-2019.
*Please note that commercial-only salespersons and brokers are exempt from these module requirements and must apply for the commercial-only waiver when the broker submits verification of this between April 1st and June 30th each year on on Pulse Portal.
The topic for this module course is: Agency, Fair Housing & Energy Efficiency
All non-exempt salespersons and brokers must complete this general module course before June 30, 2020.
Additional details:
Here is information concerning the required 2018-2019 continuing education module training course. There is one 3.75-hour module course that both salespersons and brokers must complete. Completion of this course will also satisfy the 1-Hour Broker Module Requirement. In other words, there will be no separate broker module course for 2018-2019.
*Please note that commercial-only salespersons and brokers are exempt from these module requirements and must apply for the commercial-only waiver when the broker submits verification of this between April 1st and June 30th each year on Pulse Portal at www.pulseportal.com.
The topic for this module course is: Risk Management
All non-exempt salespersons and brokers must complete this general module course before June 30, 2019.
Additional details:
*Special note for Minnesota approved real estate license education providers. The required 2018-2019 Module course application will be available online between May and June of 2018 at MN Provider Course Applications.
Q: Can an education provider continue to offer a real estate module after the June 30th due date for licensees who missed the deadline?
A: Yes, and the course can be renewed before its expiration date.
Q: Can an education provider renew a required module course?
A: Yes, providers can renew module courses for as long as the content is current, legal, and has not changed since its original approval.
Q: Can a licensee take a required module course more than once and receive credit?
A: A licensee may complete a required module for a second time; however, they will not receive credit twice for the same course in one renewal period. A licensee can receive credit again, but only if the second time they complete the course they do so in a future two-year renewal period and receive general credit.
Q: If a salesperson or broker does not complete a required module by their June 30th deadline, is their license terminated?
A: Yes.
Q: What must a licensee do to become active to perform licensee duties?
A: In order to become active, a licensee must meet all requirements due at the time they want to become active. This includes completing any missing modules. If for any reason the particular module/modules needed is not being offered through any education provider, contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce Licensing Education Unit at education.commerce@state.mn.us
Q: If a salesperson or broker fails to complete a required module by their June 30th deadline, in a year that is not their year to pay for a renewal of their license, is their license still terminated?
A: Yes. Furthermore, it is particularly important for primary brokers to ensure they have completed all required modules. Should a primary broker fail to be CE compliant, the primary broker’s individual license, the company license, and all salespersons licenses will terminate.
Q: Are brokers required to complete the General module?
A: Yes, both salespersons and brokers are required to complete a General Module each June 30th. In the future, brokers may need to complete a 2nd broker-only module. This “broker-only” module is not required for 2016/2017 or 2017/2018.
Q: Is every salesperson and broker required to complete a module?
A: All active salespersons and brokers, who are not in their initial license period, will have at least one specific General Module due each June 30th. To clarify: a brand new salesperson or a brand new broker (in their initial renewal period) would have until their first renewal to complete all of their 30 hours of CE and are only required to complete the module that is due at their renewal. Their first June 30th module is waived. This is the only exception to the module requirement.
Q: Do licensees have to pass an exam in order to receive credit for a module course?
A: Yes, to get credit for the module a licensee must pass and end-of-course, closed-book examination. The exam questions are written by subject matter experts in consultation with the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
Q: Before July 30, 2017: If a real estate salesperson or broker who did not initially renew their license in 2015, reinstates their license in the 2015 period by completing the required 2015 module, as well as the 2016 module to fulfill their past due general CE hours, are they required to retake the same 2016 module course again to meet the 2016 module requirement?
A: Yes. In this scenario, the 2016 module counted initially for past due general CE to reactivate the 2015 license. Since credit cannot be received twice for the same module it must be taken again in 2016.
Q: After July 30, 2017: If a real estate salesperson or broker who did not initially renew their license in 2016, reinstates their license in the 2016 period by completing the required 2016 module, as well as the 2017 module to fulfill their past due general CE hours, are they required to retake the same 2017 module course again to meet the 2017 module requirement?
A: Yes. In this scenario, the 2017 module counted initially for past due general CE to reactivate the 2016 license. Since credit cannot be received twice for the same module it must be taken again in 2017.
Q: Do commercial-only salespersons and brokers have to send in a notice to the Commerce Department every year to qualify for an exemption to the module training, just as they do for the two-year fair housing and agency law renewals?
A: No because paper exemption forms are no longer accepted.
Q: Are nonresident licensees required to complete the module training?
A: Yes, most nonresident licensees must complete the module training. Please read the important annual nonresident renewal information.
Q: Does the 2016/2017 module satisfy Fair Housing &/or Agency Law requirements?
A: No, the 2016/2017 Module does not contain the required 1-hour each of both Fair Housing and Agency Law training. Both Requirements will need to be met separately with other coursework for the 6.30.17 renewal.
Q: Does the 2017/2018 module satisfy Fair Housing &/or Agency Law requirements?
A: Yes, the 2017/2018 Module does contain the required 1-hour each of both Fair Housing and Agency Law training.
82.61 Licensing: Continuing Education and Instruction
(h) As part of the continuing education requirements of this section and section 82.64, the commissioner shall require that all real estate brokers and salespersons receive either 3.75 or 7.5 hours of module training every license year within the 30 hours of continuing education required during each two-year license period. For each license year, the commissioner shall determine what modules are required. The modules must cover topics in real estate that are significant and are of current interest in the real estate market and profession. The commissioner shall determine the specific topics to be covered by modules for each license year and the number of credit hours allocated to each module. In determining the topics and number of credit hours, the commissioner shall consult with a statewide real estate trade association and a statewide private continuing education provider. When the commissioner has created a module, the commissioner must publicize to licensees and to real estate continuing education providers an outline of the topics covered by the module, and the credits associated with it, no later than April 1 of each year. The commissioner may delegate the module and test development, subject to the commissioner's approval, to a statewide real estate trade association. Credit for each module must be contingent upon the licensee's successful completion of it, established by testing of the licensee's knowledge of the content covered by the module, based upon written test questions approved by the commissioner as described in paragraph (k). Modules determined under this paragraph may be offered by any person permitted to offer real estate continuing education in this state. Notwithstanding paragraph (c), the commissioner has discretion to determine that the requirements of the module satisfy, in whole or in part, the requirements of paragraph (c) for a licensing period in which the module will be offered.
(i) The 30 hours of continuing education per license period for real estate brokers must include a module, designed under the procedure provided in paragraph (i), of at least one hour each license year specifically designed to address issues relevant to brokers.
(j) The written test for successful completion of a module offered by a continuing education provider must be comprised of questions selected by that provider from a pool of test questions designed and approved by the commissioner. The test must be a written test, in paper or electronic form, taken by the licensee at the conclusion of the module as a part of the credit hours devoted to the module, but the test must not be allocated credit of more than one-sixth of the time allocated to the module. The provider must prepare, administer, score, and pay any costs related to the tests. The commissioner shall determine the number of questions that must be included in a test and the percentage of questions that must be answered correctly. The provider may contract with a third party for scoring of the test. A licensee must be allowed to remain as long as reasonably necessary to complete the test.
(k) Paragraphs (h), (i), and (j) do not apply to commercial salespersons and commercial brokers engaged solely in the commercial real estate business and who file with the commissioner a verification of this status.
None Required
Trainee
| Basic appraisal principles | 30 hours |
| Basic appraisal procedures | 30 hours |
| The 15-hour national USPAP course or its equivalent | 15 hours |
| Trainee level total education requirements | 75 hours (plus) |
| Minnesota Supervisor/Trainee Appraiser Course (This Additional Required Course will not count toward qualifying education to upgrade to a higher level appraiser license.) |
None Required
An applicant for a trainee real property appraiser license must pass a current trainee real property appraiser examination.
A minimum of 30 credit hours of Minnesota Department of Commerce pre-approved courses. The 30 hours must include completion of the 7-hour national USPAP update course as required in Minnesota Minnesota Statute 82B.19
*The 15 hour USPAP course cannot be used to satisfy the requirement to complete the 7-hour national USPAP update course.
None required
Licensed Residential
| Basic appraisal principles | 30 hours |
| Basic appraisal procedures | 30 hours |
| The 15-hour national USPAP course or its equivalent | 15 hours |
| Residential market analysis and highest and best use | 15 hours |
| Residential appraiser site valuation and cost approach | 15 hours |
| Residential sales comparison and income approaches | 30 hours |
| Residential report writing and case studies | 15 hours |
| Licensed level total education requirements | 150 hours |
*The “Minnesota Supervisor/Trainee Appraiser Course” must not be counted toward qualifying education to upgrade to a higher level appraiser license.
As a prerequisite for licensing as a licensed real property appraiser, an applicant must present evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the person has obtained 1,000 hours of experience in real property appraisal obtained in no fewer than 6 months.
An applicant for a licensed real property appraiser license must pass a current uniform licensed real property appraiser examination approved by the Appraiser Qualifications Board.
A minimum of 30 credit hours of Minnesota Department of Commerce pre-approved courses. The 30 hours must include completion of the 7-hour national USPAP update course as required in Minnesota Statute 82B.19
*The 15 hour USPAP course cannot be used to satisfy the requirement to complete the 7-hour national USPAP update course.
Before sitting for a licensing exam, certified residential Appraiser applicants must first complete the 200 hours of Minnesota Department of Commerce pre-approved appraiser pre-license education. The courses must have a particular emphasis on the appraisal of one to four unit residential properties, must include completion of the 15-hour national USPAP course; and
The college-level education specified in the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria. Refer to the Summary of Changes document to see the available options.
*The “Minnesota Supervisor/Trainee Appraiser Course” must not be counted toward qualifying education to upgrade to a higher level appraiser license.
Certified Residential
| Basic appraisal principles | 30 hours |
| Basic appraisal procedures | 30 hours |
| The 15-hour national USPAP course or its equivalent | 15 hours |
| Residential market analysis and highest and best use | 15 hours |
| Residential appraiser site valuation and cost approach | 15 hours |
| Residential sales comparison and income approaches | 30 hours |
| Residential report writing and case studies | 15 hours |
| Statistics, modeling, and finance | 15 hours |
| Advanced residential applications and case studies | 15 hours |
| Appraiser subject matter electives | 20 hours |
| (May include hours over minimum shown above in other modules) | |
| Certified Residential level total education requirements | 200 hours |
As a prerequisite for licensing as a certified residential real property appraiser, an applicant must present evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the person has obtained 1,500 hours of experience in real property appraisal obtained in no fewer than 12 months.
An applicant for a certified residential real property appraiser license must pass a current uniform certified residential real property appraiser examination approved by the Appraiser Qualifications Board.
A minimum of 30 credit hours of Minnesota Department of Commerce pre-approved courses. The 30 hours must include completion of the 7-hour national USPAP update course as required in Minnesota Statute 82B.19
*The 15 hour USPAP course cannot be used to satisfy the requirement to complete the 7-hour national USPAP update course.
Before sitting for a licensing exam, certified residential Appraiser applicants must first complete the 300 hours of Minnesota Department of Commerce pre-approved appraiser pre-license education. The courses must have a particular emphasis on the appraisal of nonresidential properties. The 300 hours must include completion of the 15-hour national USPAP course; and
A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
Certified General
| Basic appraisal principles | 30 hours |
| Basic appraisal procedures | 30 hours |
| The 15-hour national USPAP course or its equivalent | 15 hours |
| General appraiser market analysis and highest and best use | 30 hours |
| Statistics, modeling, and finance | 15 hours |
| General appraise sales comparison approach | 30 hours |
| General appraiser site valuation and cost approach | 30 hours |
| General appraiser income approach | 60 hours |
| General appraiser report writing and case studies | 30 hours |
| Appraisal subject matter electives | 30 hours |
| (May include hours over minimum shown above in other modules) | |
| Certified General level total education requirements | 300 hours |
*The “Minnesota Supervisor/Trainee Appraiser Course” must not be counted toward qualifying education to upgrade to a higher level appraiser license.
As a prerequisite for licensing as a certified general real property appraiser, an applicant must present evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the person has obtained 3,000 hours of experience in real property appraisal obtained in no fewer than 18 months. At least 50 percent, or 1,500 hours, must be in nonresidential appraisal work.
An applicant for a certified general real property appraiser license must pass a current uniform certified general real property appraiser examination approved by the Appraiser Qualifications Board.
All applicants must complete the applicable education prerequisites and the experience requirements before sitting for the examination.
A minimum of 30 credit hours of Minnesota Department of Commerce pre-approved courses. The 30 hours must include completion of the 7-hour national USPAP update course as required in Minnesota Statute 82B.19
*The 15 hour USPAP course cannot be used to satisfy the requirement to complete the 7-hour national USPAP update course.
