South Dakota Real Estate Course Guide 

The Kaplan Commitment* - Achieve Success with Kaplan's Real Estate Licensing Program

At Kaplan, we're committed to your success. With our proven program and your dedication, you'll have everything you need to complete your education, pass your state exam, and start your real estate career. We’re confident that you’ll pass your state exam the first time. If not, we’ll help you pass at no additional cost.  *Kaplan Commitment applies to course purchases on or after 8/26/24. 

Kaplan’s Commitment to You:

• Ongoing Support: If you don’t pass your state exam, Kaplan will continue to provide personalized assistance at no cost.

• Personalized Study Plan: Our instructors will create a study plan based on your strengths and areas for improvement, ensuring you’re fully prepared.

• Access to Resources: You’ll keep access to Kaplan’s exam prep tools and expert instructors for up to 18 months (varies by state).

Steps to Qualify for Kaplan’s Commitment Offer:

1. Watch the Commitment Video (See The Kaplan Commitment course in the LMS)

   • Within 14 days of enrolling, watch the video and complete the final exam.

   • Look for the green checkmark next to the second image in your course as confirmation.

2. Complete the Program

   • Finish all required courses and exam prep materials.

3. Take Your State Exam

   • Sit for the State exam within 30 days of completing the program (some states may allow more time).

   • If you pass, you do not need to complete any more steps.

   • If you don't pass, move on to steps 4-6.

4. Submit the Kaplan Commitment Form (if you do not pass)

   • Fill out the Kaplan Commitment Request Form (See The Kaplan Commitment course in the LMS) within 7 days of taking and not passing the State licensing exam to schedule a personalized meeting with an instructor.

5. Follow the Study Plan

   • Engage with the study plan created by your instructor and attend all scheduled meetings.

6. Retake Your State Exam

   • Attempt the state exam again within 30 days of your one-on-one meeting.

• Verify your correct Legal Name and your personal information is correct (as necessary for your state)

  • Please verify that you have registered using your full legal name (First, Middle, Last), as it appears on your government-issued ID, as well as the correct personal information.  This will ensure the accuracy of your certificates of completion upon passing your final exam(s).  

  • If you did not register using your full legal name, or your personal information needs to be corrected, please get in touch with Customer Support PRIOR to taking your final exams and applying for your state exam.

  • If the name on your Kaplan certificate and photo ID do not align, the testing provider will prohibit you from taking the examination. Failure to set this up correctly may result in applications being flagged as incomplete and subsequently lost in the system. 

• All students will have six months to complete their course from the date of purchase. 

To become a real estate affiliate in South Dakota, you must fulfill the following requirements: 

1.  Complete and pass the required Pre Licencing Education from Kaplan of 116 hours. 

2. Pass the South Dakota Real Estate Exam.

   1. Schedule your exam through the testing provider, PSI.

   2. Registrations will require a credit card payment of $196 ($98 for each portion).

   3. License applications must be made within two years of completion of the pre-licensing courses.

3. A criminal background check must be submitted with the application. 

   1. Contact the Commission office to request DCI and FBI fingerprint cards.

   2. Include a separate check for $43.25 made payable to DCI.

4.  Acquire Errors & Omission Insurance

5. Obtain Sponsorship from a Licensed Broker.

   1. You must secure employment or sponsorship from a licensed real estate broker in South Dakota. You must be sponsored by a broker to activate your license and the broker must fill in part 5 on the application.

6. Submit an Application for Examination to the SDREC. This includes a background check, E&O, and information on the sponsoring broker. 

   1. Please submit this with a $225 application fee to the Commission office. The application must be submitted within 60 days from the date of the passing exam report.

We are here to help you on your education journey.  Here are some important teams that can help you along the way:

Customer Support Team

Phone: 800.636.9517

Email: restudentsupport@kaplan.com

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–5:00 pm CT. 

Contact for help regarding: printing a certificate, upgrading your package, locating/tracking materials, or requesting a transfer.

Technical Support Team

Phone: 888.213.5124

Email: REtechsupport@kaplan.com

Contact for help regarding: accessing or viewing your courses or exams, assistance with online platforms.

Instructor Support Team

Email: nationalleadinstructor@kaplan.com 

Hours: Monitored and responded to within two business days.

Contact for help regarding: questions involving course content.

Community Forum

Website:  https://community.kaplan.com/realestate/

Kaplan Real Estate Community (KREC) creates one place for students to ask questions, find answers, engage with our expert instructors, and network with other Kaplan students at any time of day.  Access the Community Forum from your LMS through Your Live Online Learning HUB.

We are here for you and are committed to doing our part so you can achieve your goals!

Kaplan Real Estate Education

Kaplan's Real Estate Accelerator Course

Kaplan's Continuing Education Courses 

Kaplan's Terms and Conditions

South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation 

South Dakota License Law & Administrative Rules  

What is the Live Online Learning HUB?

• Your Live Online Learning HUB is your portal to all of your live LEARN classes.  It contains your Live Online calendar, the necessary Zoom links to attend the sessions, your class resources, and access to the Community Forum. 

What can I expect from a live LEARN session?

• Live LEARN sessions complement your online licensing program.  A live instructor offers a concentrated review or preview of the most challenging topics essential for success on test day. 

Why would I go to the same LEARN session more than once?

• Studies have shown that repetitive learning significantly increases the memory performance for detailed and associative information.  With this in mind, our LEARN sessions are designed so you can decide when you want/need the information.  You may choose to preview the information you are about to study or review the information you just learned in your online course.  

What is the difference between an Evergreen course and a Reiteration course?

• An Evergreen course has multiple sessions that repeat. (Ex; session 1, 2, 3, 4, then starts over)

• A Reiteration course is the same course that repeats.  (Ex; session 1 on Monday, session 1 on Wednesday)

How do I access my Live Online Courses?

• Access your course through your Learning Management System (LMS) by selecting the name of the course.  Once in the course, select the course folder, click Start Course, then click Join to enter the Zoom online classroom.

  • Pro-Tip: Arrive 5-10 min prior to class to ensure your camera and microphone are working properly.

  • Test your live online connection here.

  • For tech issues, please contact Tech Support.

Can I earn my completion certificates by only attending LEARN sessions? 

• No.  You must complete your required online course to earn your course completion certificates.  LEARN sessions are supplemental to your online course. 

How long do I have to finish my courses?

• You have 6 months to complete your courses

• The Access End date is listed under each course name on your LMS

Can I re-take courses?

• As long as you are in your enrollment period, you can retake a course.  Please contact Customer Support to enroll in a re-take course.

Are extensions available?

• We understand life happens and sometimes, 6 months is not long enough.  Therefore, we offer extension packages.  Please be aware that enrollments may not exceed 12 months from the original date of purchase. 

Where do I find my Course Completion Certificates?

• Log in to your LMS.  At the top right, click "My Account".  Your course completion certificates will be housed under the completions tab.

What do I do with my Course Completion Certificates?

• You must provide your Course Completion Certificate(s) when you take your Licensing Exams at the third-party testing provider (PSI or PearsonVUE).

What holidays does Kaplan observe?

• New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day After Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.