Real Estate License from Arkansas to North Dakota: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: North Dakota Real Estate Commission (NDREC) ↗

A real estate license transfers from Arkansas to North Dakota by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the North Dakota Real Estate Commission (NDREC), verify your Arkansas license, and meet North Dakota's endorsement requirements. Reciprocal applicants whose primary residence is in Minnesota, Iowa, or Georgia take NO North Dakota exam. Nonresident applicants from any other state have the national portion waived and must pass only the ND state portion of the PSI exam..

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

North Dakota publishes no agreement covering Arkansas, but it does evaluate out-of-state licensees individually — so this move runs on North Dakota's endorsement judgment rather than a guarantee. The requirements below are what the North Dakota Real Estate Commission (NDREC) commits to in writing; for anything discretionary (exam waivers, education credit), get the commission's answer in writing before you rely on it.

What changes, Arkansas → North Dakota

Side-by-side: Arkansas vs North Dakota (Real Estate (salesperson/broker)), verified 2026-07-21
	Arkansas (current)	North Dakota (destination)
Training hours	60	90
Application fee	$75 (License fee $50 + Real Estate Recovery Fund fee $25 = $75 paid to AREC. Plus a $75 Pearson VUE exam fee (Arkansas Law portion for reciprocal applicants).)	$150 (Nonrefundable application fee (same for resident/nonresident/reciprocal). Separate: ~$11.25 credit history check; $40 criminal-history analysis paid to the ND Attorney General; $20 one-time Recovery Fund; fingerprint and PSI exam fees vary and are not published by NDREC.)
Processing time	AREC does not publish a fixed processing time; the score report and fees must be received within 90 days of the exam.	NDREC states timing is applicant-dependent and publishes no end-to-end range; criminal-history results run ~1-2 weeks and application status is viewable 7-10 days after submission.
Licensing authority	Arkansas Real Estate Commission (AREC)	North Dakota Real Estate Commission (NDREC)

The destination column is what you must satisfy — North Dakota sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

Confirm North Dakota's current requirements on the North Dakota Real Estate Commission (NDREC) website (linked below) — rules change.
Submit the endorsement application to the North Dakota Real Estate Commission (NDREC) (application linked below).
Arrange license verification from your current state.
Be at least 18 years old and licensed in good standing in another state.
Complete a statewide and nationwide fingerprint-based criminal history record check and a credit history check.
Submit an original Certificate of Licensure (less than 3 months old) from each state where licensed.
Pass only the ND state portion of the PSI exam (nonresident non-reciprocal); reciprocal MN/IA/GA applicants take no ND exam.
Associate with a North Dakota broker/firm and carry Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance to hold an active license.
Pay the fees ($150 (Nonrefundable application fee (same for resident/nonresident/reciprocal). Separate: ~$11.25 credit history check; $40 criminal-history analysis paid to the ND Attorney General; $20 one-time Recovery Fund; fingerprint and PSI exam fees vary and are not published by NDREC.)) and allow NDREC states timing is applicant-dependent and publishes no end-to-end range; criminal-history results run ~1-2 weeks and application status is viewable 7-10 days after submission..

Official links

North Dakota Real Estate Commission (NDREC) ↗North Dakota application ↗

Frequently asked questions

Does North Dakota accept a Arkansas real estate license?

Which exams will I take moving from Arkansas to North Dakota?

Reciprocal applicants whose primary residence is in Minnesota, Iowa, or Georgia take NO North Dakota exam. Nonresident applicants from any other state have the national portion waived and must pass only the ND state portion of the PSI exam..

What does the move cost?

$150 (Nonrefundable application fee (same for resident/nonresident/reciprocal). Separate: ~$11.25 credit history check; $40 criminal-history analysis paid to the ND Attorney General; $20 one-time Recovery Fund; fingerprint and PSI exam fees vary and are not published by NDREC.) (Nonrefundable application fee (same for resident/nonresident/reciprocal). Separate: ~$11.25 credit history check; $40 criminal-history analysis paid to the ND Attorney General; $20 one-time Recovery Fund; fingerprint and PSI exam fees vary and are not published by NDREC.).

Can I keep selling in Arkansas after I'm licensed in North Dakota?

Yes — real estate licenses stack. Keep the Arkansas license active (renewals and CE continue separately) and you hold both; many border-market agents do exactly this.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.

NDREC — How To Apply (Salesperson/Reciprocal tabs; names GA/IA/MN; fees; 90-hour course; exam) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
NDAC 70-02-01-06 — Nonresident brokers and salespersons (official ND Administrative Code, amended eff. 2022-07-01; state-portion-only exam for nonreciprocal nonresidents) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
NDREC — Guidelines for Reciprocity (names Georgia/Iowa/Minnesota; certified license history under 3 months) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
AREC - Reciprocal States (list of 15 reciprocal-agreement states) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
AREC - Real Estate Applicants (60 classroom hours; out-of-state general-exam waiver, Reg. 4.2) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
AREC - Frequently Asked Questions (exam fee $75; license fee $50 + $25 recovery fund) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21

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