Abstracter Licensing

To become licensed as an abstracter in Minnesota, you must first qualify by fulfilling several requirements. You must pass the abstracter examination, obtain a qualifying annual bond or abstracter's insurance policy, submit the application for your license, and receive notice that the application for your license has been approved by the Commerce Department.

The primary statute governing abstracters in Minnesota is Minnesota Statutes Chapter 386, County Recorder; Abstracter. You must be familiar with other Minnesota laws as well, including Chapter 45, Department of Commerce; General Powers.

Abstracter Examination

You must pass the abstracter examination before you apply for your license. For a business entity applicant, one of the members or managing officials must pass the abstracter examination. 

PSI Services administers prelicense examinations for real estate license candidates.

Schedule the abstracter exam at PSI (866-395-1006). After the exam you will receive your results, and PSI will also send the exam results to us electronically.

Qualifying Bond or Abstracter's Insurance Policy 

You must file an annual bond or abstracter's liability insurance policy for each license year, in the sum of at least $100,000; but if you intend to engage in the business of abstracting in any county having more than 200,000 inhabitants, the bond or insurance policy must be in the sum of at least $250,000.

Properly licensed title insurance companies and their employees or those having cash or securities on deposit with the state of Minnesota in an amount equal to the required bond or insurance policy are exempt from filing the required bond or insurance policy. The required bond or insurance policy must be issued for a period of one or more years and renewed for one year at the date of expiration.

Applying for an Abstracter License

To apply for an abstracter license, you will first need to create an account at sircon.com (or sign into your account there if you already have one). After signing in to your account you will be able to complete the Abstracter application.

1. The application requires you to enter your name, date of birth, Social Security Number, designated business address, mailing address, residence address, telephone numbers, and an email address for business use. You will also need to supply information regarding the following:

• county licensure applications, if applicable
• a certification that when furnishing abstracts of title to real property under the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 386, you will provide a seal showing your name, and file with the Minnesota Department of Commerce the signatures of persons authorized to sign the following issued by you:
  1. certificates of abstracts;
  2. continuations of abstracts; and
  3. certificates showing ownership or interest in or liens upon any lands in the State of Minnesota, whether registered or not
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• whether you have for use in the business a complete set of abstract books or records of all instruments of record in the office of the county recorder in your county
• affiliation with any official, person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of making abstracts of title and issuing certificates showing ownership of, interest in, or liens upon any lands including the State of Minnesota, whether registered or not
• whether you are, at present, a duly qualified and acting county recorder, and if so, whether you presently are prohibited by law from making abstracts

2. You will also need to enter answers to background questions regarding the following:

• criminal history
• administrative proceedings
• inquiries or investigations by any division of the Minnesota Commerce Department or any other regulatory agency, including self-regulatory organizations
• lawsuits or arbitrations involving allegations of fraud, misappropriation or conversion of funds, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, or breach of contract
• delinquent tax obligations that are not the subject of a repayment agreement
• child support obligations in arrearage

3. You must hold a bond or liability insurance policy or proof of cash, securities, or deposit with the state of Minnesota in the amount of $100,000 for counties having less than 200,000 inhabitants or $250,000 for counties having more than 200,000 inhabitants.

4. You must either be working as an individual proprietor or working for an abstracter company; if you are working for an abstracter company, you will need to provide the company name and license number in your license application.

5. The fee is $50.

6. The license is valid for up to one year and must be renewed by June 30.

Renewing an Abstracter License

To renew your abstracter license, you will first need to create an account at sircon.com (or sign into your account there if you already have one). After signing in to your account you will be able to complete the Abstracter license renewal application.

1. The renewal fee is $40.

2. The renewal application is available during the first week of April.

3. The renewal deadline is June 30.

1. Submit the license application at www.pulseportal.com.
   • The license fee is $180.
2. If you meet the requirements to waive the trust account notice, submit a completed Trust Account Notice Waiver Certification. The form must be attached to the online limited broker application. 

Broker - Nonresident from a Reciprocal State

Must reside in and hold an active broker license in a Reciprocal State: Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wisconsin*.

1. Submit a license application on www.pulseportal.com.
   • The license fee is $210.
2. Email a Letter of Certification (no more than 90 days old) documenting that you are currently licensed as a broker and reside in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, or Wisconsin to licensing.commerce@state.mn.us with “Real Estate Application” in the subject line.
   
   
3. *Wisconsin applicants only
   • Complete the 13 hour Wisconsin to Minnesota Reciprocal Prelicense course. You can find course offerings at www.pulseportal.com.
     
   • Pass the state portion of the broker exam. You can schedule the exam at PSI (866-395-1006)

Broker - Nonresident from a Non-Reciprocal State

Must reside in and hold an active broker or salesperson license in a Non-Reciprocal State.

1. Submit the Request for Waiver of Salesperson Experience to sit for Broker Exam to licensing.commerce@state.mn.us. After receiving approval you may proceed with the next steps.
   
2. Complete the 30 hour broker course.
   • Course offerings can be found at www.pulseportal.com.
3. Pass the state portion of the broker exam.
   • Schedule the exam at PSI (866-395-1006).
4. Submit a license application at www.pulseportal.com.
   • The fee is $210.
5. Email your salesperson experience waiver approval letter to licensing.commerce@state.mn.us. 

1. You must have at least 3 years of licensed real estate salesperson experience in Minnesota or another state with comparable requirements within the 5 years prior to the date of application for the broker's examination.
   • If this experience was obtained in another state, you must first submit a Request for Waiver of Salesperson Experience to sit for Broker Exam form. Applicants who wish to be considered for a waiver of the salesperson experience requirement must submit this form to the Commerce Department and receive approval prior to taking the broker exam. If the waiver is approved, attach copy of the department approval letter with the broker application.
2. Complete the 30 hour broker course. 
   • Course offerings can be found at www.pulseportal.com.
3. Pass the broker exam
   • Schedule the exam at PSI (866-395-1006)
4. Apply for the license at www.pulseportal.com.
   • The license fee is $190.
5. Applicants who wish to be considered for an additional broker's license must first determine whether they qualify. Review the Additional Broker's License Request form and ensure that you are able to check one of the boxes on it and meet the other listed requirements. If you believe that you qualify, complete the entire form and submit it to the Commerce Department. After you have been approved and have submitted the second broker application on www.pulseportal.com you will need to email a copy of the department approval letter and a copy of your application confirmation page to the department with “Real Estate Licensing” in the subject line. 

Active Duty Military, Veterans, and their Spouses

You may qualify for a waiver of the real estate licensing experience requirement for the broker's examination  under certain special circumstances. Review the Request for Waiver of Salesperson Experience Waiver to sit for Broker Exam (Military) form and ensure that you meet all of the listed requirements. If you believe that you qualify, complete the entire form and submit it to the Commerce Department  to request approval to take the broker exam. Once we complete our review, we will notify you in writing. If the waiver is approved, attach a copy of the department approval letter with your broker application.

BCA Form (.pdf)

1. Complete the required eight-hour prelicensing Closing Procedures course.
   • Course offerings can be found at www.pulseportal.com.
2. Apply for the license at www.pulseportal.com.
   • The license fee is $115.
3. If the closing agent meets the requirements to waive the trust account notice, a completed Trust Account Notice Waiver form must be attached to the closing agent application, in place of obtaining a trust account.

1. Submit the license application on www.pulseportal.com.
   • The license fee is $180.
     
     
   • All companies must have at least one elected officer who is individually licensed to act as the primary broker.
     
     
   • Nonresident real estate companies must obtain a Certificate of Authority from the Minnesota Secretary of State and email it to us after the license application is submitted.
2. If you meet the requirements to waive the trust account notice, a completed Trust Account Notice Waiver Certification form must be emailed to us.

Nonresident with an Active License in a Reciprocal State

The applicant must reside in and hold an active real estate license in one of the following reciprocal States: Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Oklahoma.

1. Contact a Minnesota-licensed primary broker in order to submit an application for licensure on www.pulseportal.com. Only a Minnesota-licensed primary broker can submit an application for a nonresident salesperson’s license.
   • The license fee is $130.
2. Email a Letter of Certification (no more than 90 days old) documenting that you are currently licensed as a salesperson in a reciprocal state.

Nonresident with an Active License in Wisconsin

The applicant must reside and hold an active real estate license in Wisconsin.

1. Complete the 13 hour Wisconsin to Minnesota Reciprocal Prelicense course.
   •  You can find course offerings at  www.pulseportal.com.
     
     
   • The course cannot be more than one year old at the time of application for licensure. 
2. Pass the state portion of the salesperson exam.
   • Schedule the exam at PSI (866-395-1006).
3. Contact a Minnesota-licensed primary broker in order to submit an application for licensure on www.pulseportal.com. Only a Minnesota-licensed primary broker can submit an application for a nonresident salesperson’s license.
   • The license fee is $130. 
4. Email a Letter of Certification (no more than 90 days old) documenting that you are currently licensed as a salesperson in Wisconsin. 

Nonresident with an active license in a Non-Reciprocal State

The applicant must reside and hold an active license in a non-reciprocal state.

1. Complete pre-licensing education Course I, Course II, and Course III.
   • Course offerings can be found at  www.pulseportal.com.
2. Pass the state portion of the salesperson exam.
   • Schedule the exam at PSI (866-395-1006).
3. Contact a Minnesota-licensed primary broker in order to submit an application for licensure on www.pulseportal.com. Only a Minnesota-licensed primary broker can submit an application for a nonresident salesperson’s license.
   • The license fee is $130.
4. Email a Letter of Certification (no more than 90 days old) documenting that you are currently licensed as a salesperson in non-reciprocal state. 

1. Complete pre-licensing education Course I, Course II, and Course III.
   • Course offerings can be found at www.pulseportal.com.
2. Pass the required state and national portions of the license exam.
   • Schedule the exam at PSI (866-395-1006).
     
     
   • You must apply for your salesperson's license within one year of passing the examination. Otherwise, you will need to retake the examination and pass it again.
3. Contact a licensed primary broker to submit an application for licensure. Only a licensed primary broker can submit a license application for you.
   • The license fee is $130.