Minnesota FAQs

We have found that the best way to get in touch with the Department of Commerce is via e-mail.

You should email: licensing.commerce@state.mn.us.

Minnesota Department of Commerce
85 7th Place East, Suite 500*
Saint Paul, MN 55101
651-296-4026 or 1-800-657-3978
www.commerce.state.mn.us

*Please send mail to Suite 600 re: Licensing or Unclaimed Property.

NOTE — Walk-up service is no longer available at the Department of Commerce. Effective 7/1/08, the Licensing Service Counter (Walk-up Counter) is closed.

Minnesota education providers are required to upload continuing education credits into the PULSE system within 10 days of course completion. We will gladly report your hours if you provide your license number and expiration date when you register.

You must wait until the next licensing period before repeating a particular course in order to receive continuing education for it a second time.

No. After each renewal you must complete 30 hours of continuing education in the following 2-year license period. Any credits earned over 30 hours will be forfeited upon license renewal.

No. You must attend continuing education courses in person in order to get credit.

No. The Primary Broker must certify through the on-line renewal process that the licensee has completed the continuing education requirement. Being registered for classes or having the intent to take them before June 30th is not sufficient.

No. Courses must be attended in their entirety to receive credit for the approved number of hours. We are not able to give partial credit of any kind.

If you currently hold an active salesperson's or broker's license in any other state, you may be eligible for obtaining a Wisconsin license of the same authority by completing the Minnesota to Wisconsin Real Estate License Course and passing the Wisconsin real estate exam.

All Wisconsin real estate licensees (including new agents) renew their licenses in December of every even-numbered year. Twice each renewal year we offer a 3-day program which fulfills the Wisconsin continuing education requirements. To view these offerings, visit our Dually-Approved Minnesota AND Wisconsin Continuing Education page.

If you currently hold Wisconsin real estate salesperson or broker license and are not a Minnesota resident, you may be eligible for a Minnesota license by completing the Wisconsin to Minnesota Real Estate License Course, and passing the state laws portion of the salesperson's or broker's examination for Minnesota. For more details on this process, please consult the following course description within Real Estate Licensing Courses: Wisconsin to Minnesota Real Estate License Course.

If you are a Minnesota resident and wish to obtain a Minnesota license, you must complete the 90 hours of real estate licensing education.

If you have held a Minnesota salesperson's license for at least three out of the past five years, you may be eligible for a broker's license after completing the Broker's Course and passing the Minnesota Broker's exam.

Yes, the following courses are approved by the Veteran's Administration: Broker's Course, Minnesota to Wisconsin Real Estate License Course, 6-Day Course: ITA Home Inspection – Fast Track, 11-Day Course: ITA Home Inspection – Enhanced.

If you are entitled to VA benefits, be sure to tell us when you register. After completing your courses and submitting the appropriate paperwork, you will be reimbursed by the VA based on your entitlement.

• Currently enrolled students with questions about reprinting a certificate, locating/tracking materials, or requesting a transfer, please contact our Customer Support team Monday–Thursday 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, and Friday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Eastern Time via email at restudentsupport@brightwoodsupport.com or via phone: 

800.636.9517

If you live in:   
California, call direct at: 800.660.8105
Colorado, call direct at: 800.660.2188
New Mexico, call direct at: 800.777.1171
Texas, call direct at: 800.638.9708
Minnesota, call direct at: 888.523.1020

• For questions about accessing or viewing your courses, or assistance with online education, our Technical Support team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to assist you by phone or email. If you require immediate assistance, please call. Emails will be responded to promptly and always within 24 hours from being sent.

Phone: 888.213.5124
Email: retechsupport@brightwoodsupport.com

• For questions about course content or curriculum, please email our instructors at reschools.instructor@brightwood.edu.

We make every attempt to make our websites and products mobile- and tablet-friendly. However, not all features are compatible with all tablets and phones.

• When working on regulated course material, we recommend using a Windows- or Mac-based desktop or laptop computer.
• We recommend the use of Windows 7-10 or Mac OS X operating systems. We also support Windows Vista and Windows XP.
• We recommend the use of Chrome or Firefox browsers. We also support Internet Explorer 8-11. We do not recommend Safari due to limited capabilities with certain features.
• We recommend online learners have the latest versions of Flash and Java installed.
• We recommend online learners have at least a 2MB connection.

In general, online access to study materials for courses shall be granted for a period of up to 6 months from the date of purchase. Online access may be less than 6 months, if limited by state law or changes made at the discretion of Brightwood Real Estate Education, powered by Kaplan.

View our Terms and Conditions policy.

Our full return policy can be found here.

Both formats are delivered online via the Internet but there are distinct differences with unique advantages designed with the highest level of convenience and success in mind. This page provides details on all of our course delivery formats.

We have a team of seasoned real estate professionals who develop our materials as well as teach our courses. Meet our lead instructors.

All Brightwood College and Brightwood Career Institute, powered by Kaplan Real Estate Education licensing, postlicensing and continuing education courses are submitted and approved by that state's governing body.

Each state has a different governing body that regulates real estate professionals with requirements that vary by state. To find the requirements for your state, go to your state's landing page and select 'State Requirements' from the top navigation.

Each state handles reciprocity differently. We encourage individuals who are licensed in a state and desire to become licensed in additional states to contact the target state regulator body for details. After obtaining the requirements necessary to be licensed in that state, our customer service team can assist you with matching courses to state reciprocity rules. 

What is the difference between a sales person and a broker? A real estate salesperson or broker is a professional licensed by their state to help consumers with real estate matters.  A salesperson must work under a managing or principal broker, this is the broker who is in charge of the brokerage firm.  Some states only license brokers, in that case, new brokers may be called broker associates and are required to work under a managing or principal broker. Much like a salesperson. 

A managing, principal or employing broker is a licensed broker who is in charge of a brokerage firm and the salespersons or broker associates of the firm. Typically to become a managing broker at least two years of active license experience and further course work and sometimes license exams are required.

No matter if you are a real estate salesperson, broker associate or managing broker the job is the same work with buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords to help them reach an agreement.

This video provides a simple five-question test to determine if you fit the profile.

An appraiser gives an opinion of the quality, value, or utility of a specific property. An appraisal is usually required whenever real estate is sold, mortgaged, taxed, insured, or developed. A typical appraisal might include physically inspecting the property, measuring the improvements and collecting the associated costs, preparing a site drawing, writing the physical description of the property, researching official records and deeds, finding similar properties to compare, and writing a final appraisal report.

• Make a list of brokerage firms you want to talk with. If you don't know where to start, browse real estate ads to see if some firms seem more interesting than others.
• Visit your local Chamber of Commerce or Board of REALTORS^® to find out which firms are best represented. Pay attention to television and radio advertising, billboards, and the “For Sale” signs you see in yards.
• Make appointments with the managing or principle broker of each real estate firm on your list. Larger firms may have recruiting managers.

• Ask the broker for an itemized list of startup expenses. Are you required to join local, regional, and national professional organizations? Are there recurring monthly or quarterly expenses for membership?
• Find out if advertising expenses are paid by the agency. How about “For Sale” signs and other signs? Do they provide them to agents free of charge?
• Who pays for long distance telephone calls to clients? How about photocopies, stamps, and other office-related expenses?
• Does the firm provide in-office computers and printers for real estate agent use, or are you expected to bring your own?
• Ask if the firm carries errors and omissions insurance for agents. If so, find out what's covered. Discuss the policy with an insurance carrier to make sure it's adequate.

According to Salary.com, most real estate agents earn on average between $36,566 and $47,610 annually. How much agents make depends on the number of transactions they complete, the commission paid to the brokerage, and their split with the sponsoring broker. If you are talking with a franchised agency, be sure to ask what percentage of each sales commission is deducted and sent to the franchising company. Top producers earn a lot more than the average real estate agent. Each real estate office sets its own standards for top producers, but it's probably safe to say that a top producer would need to sell at least one home a month to qualify. Mega-stars earn $200,000 and up per year. Very few real estate professionals earn a salary versus commission.

On September 3, 2015, Kaplan concluded a previously announced agreement to sell its nationally accredited schools, including Kaplan Real Estate Education, to Education Corporation of America (ECA).  This close secures the goals of both ECA and Kaplan, as each business is strengthened. This partnership continues to be a great fit and is immediately scalable while maintaining strong, career-focused education for our students.

Going forward, your Kaplan Real Estate Education courses will be offered by Brightwood College, or Brightwood Career Institute, both are divisions of ECA. You will still receive the same high-quality education you’ve come to expect from Kaplan, written and led by the same industry-leading authors and instructors.