South Dakota Real Estate Continuing Education (CE)
All South Dakota real estate licensees must complete continuing education (CE) before each license renewal. CE keeps licensees current on changes to real estate law, ethics standards, fair housing rules, and professional practices.
CE requirements in South Dakota include a combination of mandatory core courses and elective hours. Courses must be completed through state-approved CE providers — completion certificates from non-approved sources will not count toward renewal.
South Dakota CE Requirements Overview
Renewal Cycle
South Dakota licenses renew every 2 years. CE hours must be completed during the current license period — hours completed before the period started or after the deadline generally do not count toward renewal.
Mandatory Core Topics
Most states, including South Dakota, require specific topics in every renewal period: NAR Code of Ethics (or state equivalent), fair housing, agency relationships, and risk management or legal updates. Check the current South Dakota Real Estate Commission requirements for exact mandatory course topics.
Elective Hours
In addition to mandatory core topics, South Dakota licensees must complete elective CE hours of their choosing from approved courses. Popular elective topics include commercial real estate, property management, investment analysis, green building, and technology in real estate.
Approved Providers
CE must be completed through providers approved by the South Dakota Real Estate Commission. Many providers offer online CE that can be completed at your own pace. Verify provider approval status before purchasing courses — completion through unapproved providers will not be accepted.
Ethics CE: The NAR Requirement
If you are a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), you must complete ethics training every three years as a condition of NAR membership — separate from state CE requirements. The NAR Code of Ethics training is available through NAR's online platform and many state and local associations.
Some states accept NAR ethics training to satisfy the state's ethics CE requirement, while others require completion of a separate state-specific ethics course. Check whether South Dakota's CE requirements accept NAR ethics training as a substitute for the mandatory ethics course.
CE Completion Best Practices
Start CE early in your renewal cycle — don't wait until the last 60 days
Verify your CE provider is approved by the South Dakota Real Estate Commission before purchasing
Download and save all CE completion certificates immediately after finishing a course
Track your CE hours in a spreadsheet or folder — don't rely solely on provider records
Complete mandatory core courses first, then fill remaining hours with electives
NAR members: complete the ethics renewal separately from state CE requirements