In short
Five North Dakota professionals have five different regulators. The Real Estate Commission licenses agents and brokers. The Department of Financial Institutions licenses loan originators through NMLS. The Secretary of State registers home inspectors (N.D.C.C. ch. 43-54). The Appraiser Qualification and Ethics Board permits appraisers, and the PELS Board registers land surveyors. Each has a public lookup.
Real estate agents and brokers
North Dakota law bars anyone from acting as a real estate broker or salesperson, or advertising as one, without a license from the Real Estate Commission, and an unlicensed person cannot collect a commission (§ 43-23-05).
How to check: use the Commission’s online Licensee Directory and search by last name, first name, company or city. The Commission’s complaint page says it licenses only brokers, broker associates, salespersons and firms. Property managers are not covered by the license law, so you will not find them there.
Mortgage loan originators (NMLS)
An individual may not act as a mortgage loan originator for a dwelling in North Dakota without an annual license and a unique identifier from the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (§ 13-10-03). Employees of banks and credit unions are registered rather than licensed. Certain people are exempt, including individuals dealing with immediate family, and some employees of government and housing agencies.
How to check: the Department of Financial Institutions says you can look up whether a person or company is licensed through NMLS Consumer Access (nmlsconsumeraccess.org), which lists each person’s NMLS ID. Its own site also has a licensee search. We could not open NMLS Consumer Access from our systems, so confirm the exact steps on that site.
Home inspectors
North Dakota registers home inspectors; it does not license them. An individual may not perform a home inspection for pay without registering with the Secretary of State, and violators face a class B misdemeanor (§ 43-54-02). Registration requires an exam from a recognized provider, errors and omissions insurance of at least $100,000, and a $200 fee. It expires every June 30 and costs $50 to renew (§ 43-54-05). Code enforcement officials and people already licensed in another profession acting within that profession are exempt (§ 43-54-04).
How to check: the Secretary of State publishes a downloadable list of registered home inspectors on its Home Inspectors page. Because registrations lapse each July 1 if not renewed, check that the list is current. For what an inspection costs, see home inspection cost.
Appraisers (state board and national registry)
No one may appraise real estate for others as an apprentice, licensed or certified appraiser without a permit from the North Dakota Real Estate Appraiser Qualifications and Ethics Board (§ 43-23.3-04). Appraisers must place their permit number next to their signature on reports (§ 43-23.3-14). Real estate brokers and salespersons may give price opinions, but may not call them appraisals.
How to check: the Board’s website has an “Appraisers & Rosters” page. You can also search the Appraisal Subcommittee’s National Registry, which lists certified and licensed appraisers authorized by a state to perform appraisals in federally related transactions. The ASC notes that states send updates at least monthly. For costs, see home appraisal cost.
Land surveyors
It is unlawful to practice or offer to practice land surveying in North Dakota, or to use the title “land surveyor,” without being registered or exempt under chapter 43-19.1 (§ 43-19.1-01). The State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors keeps the register.
How to check: use the Board’s online Professional License Search, by name or certificate number. Our land survey cost guide explains when you need a survey.
Summary table
| Profession | Who regulates | Credential | Where to look |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agent or broker | Real Estate Commission | License | Commission Licensee Directory |
| Mortgage loan originator | Dept. of Financial Institutions | License and NMLS ID | NMLS Consumer Access |
| Home inspector | Secretary of State | Registration (renew by June 30) | Secretary of State’s registered list |
| Appraiser | Appraiser Qualification and Ethics Board | Permit | Board’s roster; ASC National Registry |
| Land surveyor | PELS Board | Registration | Board’s Professional License Search |
What to do if a license is expired or suspended
Do not sign anything or pay a deposit until the problem is cleared up. Then:
- Ask the professional for an explanation and proof of renewal. Check that you have the right person: names repeat.
- For agents, the Commission accepts written complaints that are verified by a notary, but it cannot award damages or force a licensee to perform; those require a civil suit (Commission complaint page).
- For lenders and originators, the Department of Financial Institutions takes complaints but says it is a regulator, not a consumer protection agency, so it may be unable to pursue a remedy for you.
- For a foreclosure or contract dispute, talk to a North Dakota attorney.
Frequently asked questions
Does North Dakota license home inspectors?
It registers them with the Secretary of State under chapter 43-54. Registration requires an exam, $100,000 in errors and omissions coverage and a $200 fee; there is no state license.
How do I check an agent’s license?
Search the Real Estate Commission’s Licensee Directory by name, company or city.
Where do I check a loan officer?
Look up the person’s NMLS ID in NMLS Consumer Access. Employees of banks and credit unions are registered there, not state-licensed.
Can an unlicensed person collect a commission?
Not under § 43-23-05: a person is not entitled to collect fees or commission as a broker or salesperson without a license.
Do property managers need a Real Estate Commission license?
The Commission says North Dakota’s license law does not cover property managers or property management companies.
More North Dakota guides
- Closing costs in North Dakota: what buyers and sellers pay
- North Dakota transfer tax: none, but a sale price is recorded
- North Dakota property tax: rates, credits and appeals
- Seller disclosure requirements in North Dakota
- Do you need a real estate attorney to close in North Dakota?
- Foreclosure process in North Dakota
- Home prices in North Dakota and Fargo: median value, trend
- First-time home buyer programs in North Dakota and Fargo
Sources
- Licensee Directory (North Dakota Real Estate Commission) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- North Dakota Century Code § 43-23-05, Real estate license required (North Dakota Legislative Assembly) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- How to File a Complaint (North Dakota Real Estate Commission) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- North Dakota Century Code Chapter 13-10, Mortgage Loan Originators (North Dakota Legislative Assembly) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Frequently Asked Questions, Non-Depository (North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Home Inspectors (North Dakota Secretary of State) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-54, Home Inspectors (North Dakota Legislative Assembly) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-23.3, Real Estate Appraisers (North Dakota Legislative Assembly) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- North Dakota Real Estate Appraiser Qualification and Ethics Board (consulted October 13, 2026)
- National Registries (Appraisal Subcommittee) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- North Dakota Century Code § 43-19.1-01, General provisions (North Dakota Legislative Assembly) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Professional License Search (North Dakota State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors) (consulted October 13, 2026)