South Dakota Real Estate Exam Topics: Full Breakdown (2025)

South Dakota's exam has 120 questions: 80 national and 40 state-specific.

National Section: 80 Questions Property ownership, land use, valuation (cap rate, three approaches), financing (TRID, loan types), agency (fiduciary duties), contracts (Statute of Frauds), fair housing (7 federal classes).

South Dakota-Specific Section: 40 Questions

SD License Law — SDCL Chapter 36-21A (15-18 questions) - SDREC: 5 members - Education: 40 hours prelicense (to sit for exam) + 76 hours post-license within first year (116 total) - License renewal: every 2 years; CE: 12 hours per cycle - Violations and SDREC disciplinary authority; 5-year record retention

Agency in South Dakota (8-10 questions) - Seller's agent, buyer's agent, dual agent - Written buyer agency agreement required for buyer representation in some contexts - Agency disclosure required at first substantive contact - Dual agency: written informed consent from both parties

SD Financial and Property Law (8-10 questions) - No state real estate transfer tax (unique) - No state income tax (unique selling point for buyers) - NOT community property; deed of trust state (non-judicial foreclosure) - SD Seller's Property Disclosure required for residential sales - SD Homestead protection applies to primary residence

SD Fair Housing (4-6 questions) - Mirrors federal law (7 protected classes) - Some municipalities add sexual orientation - SDREC enforces fair housing violations

[Practice South Dakota topics at CARealestate.com/states/south-dakota](https://carealestate.com/states/south-dakota)