South Dakota Real Estate CE Requirements, Explained

The base requirement: 24 hours every 2 years

The South Dakota Real Estate Commission requires brokers and broker associates renewing an active license to complete at least 24 hours of continuing education during the preceding two license years. At least 12 of those 24 hours must come from required subject areas - the rest can be other Commission-approved CE relevant to your practice.

What counts as a required subject

• The required-subject list includes topics such as real estate contracts, real estate license law, fair housing, ethics, environmental issues, antitrust, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and brokerage services.
• At least 12 of your 24 hours must come from that list; the remaining 12 can be approved electives.
• All courses must be approved by the South Dakota Real Estate Commission - confirm a course's approval and its subject category before you buy.
• No more than 8 hours of CE can be credited in a single day, so a one-day cram cannot legally cover the full 24.

New broker associates: 60 post-license hours first

• A new broker associate must complete 60 post-license continuing education hours, split across the first two active license periods.
• That is 30 required hours during the first post-license period and another 30 required hours during the second.
• These post-license hours are separate from, and heavier than, the ordinary 24-hour renewal cycle that follows.
• Treat the post-license schedule as the priority in your early career - it is the part new associates most often underestimate.

When is your deadline?

South Dakota active licenses renew on a two-year cycle, and the 24 hours must be completed during the preceding two license years before you renew. Keep your certificates - the Commission can ask you to prove not just the total but that at least 12 hours fell in required subject areas. Finish with a margin so any provider reporting lag does not push you past your date.

How CredTally keeps this on autopilot

• Track the 24-hour total with a separate bucket for the 12-hour required-subjects minimum, so you see exactly which part of the requirement is still short.
• Store each certificate the moment you finish a course, filed with the credit and subject category it proves.
• Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before your two-year renewal date - early enough that the 8-hour daily cap never boxes you in.
• One-click export of a dated packet - summary plus every certificate - if the Commission audits you or a broker asks.
• Licensed in South Dakota plus another state, or also an appraiser or MLO? Every license sits on its own card with its own deadline in one dashboard.

Frequently asked questions

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