Understand the Approval System

Real estate education in South Dakota is regulated by the South Dakota Real Estate Commission, administered through the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. Instructors must be approved by name before teaching prelicensing courses in an approved course of study.

Instructor approval is separate from approval of the course and education provider. A school or provider must obtain approval for each course, while each instructor must separately establish the qualifications necessary to teach.

South Dakota’s rules distinguish among:

• Prelicensing education
• Broker associate upgrade or responsible broker education
• Postlicensing education
• Continuing education
• Distance-learning or independent-study education

The qualifications and additional training requirements can vary according to the subject and course category.

Meet the Typical Qualification Standard

For classroom prelicensing instruction, an applicant generally must provide evidence of at least one of the following:

• A bachelor’s degree in the field being taught
• A valid teaching certificate or credential authorizing instruction in that field
• Five years of full-time experience in the applicable professional, trade, or technical occupation
• A combination of at least five years of applicable full-time experience and college-level education

The Commission expects credentials showing sufficient specialized preparation, training, and experience to support competent instruction. Meeting a listed qualification does not necessarily guarantee approval; the Commission makes the final determination.

For postlicensing and continuing-education instruction, the rules provide similar alternatives, including a bachelor’s, graduate, or postgraduate degree; a valid teaching credential; five years of applicable full-time experience; a combination of experience and college education; or specialized expertise approved by the Commission.

Complete Additional Training When Required

An instructor seeking approval to teach the broker associate prelicensing course, broker associate upgrade course, or responsible broker course must complete the responsible broker course before approval.

An instructor teaching South Dakota-specific real estate agency law must also complete an approved training course.

Because course subjects and delivery methods can affect the requirements, prospective instructors should confirm with the Commission whether additional preparation is needed for a particular course.

Hold a South Dakota Real Estate License?

A South Dakota real estate license is not identified in the cited instructor-qualification rule as the sole prerequisite for instructor approval. The rule focuses on education, teaching credentials, professional experience, college education, and specialized expertise.

However, a current real estate license can be practically valuable. It may help demonstrate current knowledge of South Dakota practice, especially when teaching licensing, agency, brokerage, or other state-specific subjects. Applicants should ask the Commission whether a license, active practice, or other current-knowledge documentation is expected for the specific course they intend to teach.

Do not assume that holding a real estate license automatically authorizes teaching. The Commission must approve the instructor individually before the instructor teaches an approved course.

Prepare the Application

The Commission provides a Real Estate Instructor Application for applicants seeking approval. The application should be supported by documentation that demonstrates the applicable qualifications, such as:

• Résumé or employment history
• Real estate or professional licenses
• College transcripts or degree records
• Teaching certificates or credentials
• Evidence of relevant full-time experience
• Documentation of specialized training
• Any required responsible broker or agency-law training

The Commission’s course-provider materials state that there is no fee or expiration for instructor approval. That does not eliminate the need to maintain accurate qualifications or comply with later Commission requirements.

Apply Through the Commission and an Approved Provider

A practical application process is:

1. Identify the subjects and course types you intend to teach.
2. Review the current instructor qualifications in South Dakota Administrative Rule 20:69.
3. Gather education, experience, licensing, and training documentation.
4. Complete the Commission’s Real Estate Instructor Application.
5. Submit the application and supporting credentials to the South Dakota Real Estate Commission.
6. Wait for approval before teaching.
7. Coordinate with a Commission-approved education provider.
8. Have the provider submit the separate course-approval application for each course.

Course approval is a separate process. For classroom courses, the provider must submit the course application and fee at least 20 days before the course date; late applications are not accepted or approved under the Commission’s published instructions.

Course applications may require materials such as a timed outline, course materials and handouts, delivery information, and an instructor application if the instructor is not already on file with the Commission.

Teaching Continuing Education or Distance Courses

Continuing-education instructors must meet one of the applicable education, credential, experience, or specialized-expertise standards. The Commission may also require special preparation for subjects involving South Dakota law.

Distance-learning courses have separate approval procedures and fees. The provider—not merely the instructor—must ensure that the delivery format, course materials, and approval application comply with current Commission requirements.

If you plan to teach online, ask the provider and Commission whether the instructor approval already covers the proposed delivery method or whether additional documentation is required.

Maintain Professional and Regulatory Competence

Approved instructors should:

• Keep course content current with South Dakota statutes, administrative rules, Commission interpretations, and forms.
• Use the approved course outline and materials.
• Teach only after receiving Commission approval.
• Notify the provider of material changes in qualifications or course content.
• Preserve documentation of education, professional experience, and specialized training.
• Confirm whether a newly developed course or changed delivery method requires a new approval.

South Dakota’s rules give the Commission authority to establish procedures for approving classroom and correspondence instruction, instructor qualifications, facilities, and withdrawal of approval. Current administrative rules and Commission forms therefore control if older provider materials or informal guidance differ.

Where to Confirm Current Rules

Before applying, confirm the following directly with the South Dakota Real Estate Commission:

• Whether the proposed subject qualifies under the classroom or continuing-education instructor provisions
• Whether a South Dakota real estate license or active practice is expected
• Whether responsible broker or agency-law training is required
• Which supporting documents must accompany the instructor application
• Whether online or independent-study instruction requires additional approval
• Whether forms, fees, addresses, or submission procedures have changed

Use the Commission’s current forms and information for course providers rather than relying on third-party real estate-school summaries. The Department of Labor and Regulation identifies the Commission’s licensing and application pages as the official source for current regulatory forms and requirements.

Bottom Line

To become a real estate instructor in South Dakota, develop qualifying education or professional experience, complete any subject-specific training, submit the Commission’s instructor application with supporting credentials, and obtain individual approval before teaching. Then work with an approved education provider, which must obtain separate approval for each course.

Authoritative Sources

• South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation — Forms and Information for Course Providers
• South Dakota Administrative Rule 20:69 — Real Estate Commission Rules
• South Dakota Real Estate Commission — Licensing
• South Dakota Real Estate Commission — Applications for Licensing
• South Dakota Real Estate Commission — Course Approval Application
• South Dakota Real Estate Commission — License Types and Requirements