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North Dakota license transfer

How to transfer your North Dakota real estate license to a new brokerage

In North Dakota you file SFN 12156 with $50, or use the online transfer. You must tell the Commission in writing within five days of changing brokers, or your license is automatically canceled.

See the North Dakota stepsWhat to sort out first

Process checked against the North Dakota Real Estate Commission's own forms and portal on September 19, 2026. Boards change forms, so confirm there before you file.

ND transferChecked September 19, 2026
4 steps to move your license 1 2 3 4
Fee
$50
Can you work?
Only after the license is reissued to your new broker

01At a glance

The North Dakota transfer, at a glance.

Who files, where, and your old broker's part. Fee and timing are up top.

Who filesYou file it (paper or online)
WhereTransfer or Activate License Request (SFN 12156)
Old brokerYour old broker's part: completes the release section.

02Step by step

How the North Dakota transfer works

The North Dakota Real Estate Commission process, step by step.

  1. 1Open SFN 12156, or use the online transfer.

    Either route works.

  2. 2Your current broker completes the release section.

    Your new broker completes the Agreement to Employ section.

  3. 3Send it with $50.

    NDREC, 1120 College Dr, Suite 204, Bismarck, ND 58501.

  4. 4Notify the Commission within five days.

    Changing brokers without that written notice automatically cancels your license.

03Watch out

Where North Dakota transfers get stuck

Do not work between supervisors

It is unlawful until the license is reissued to your new broker.

The 30 days on the form is for reactivation

The five-day notice is the deadline that applies to a straight transfer.

04Before you move

What to sort out before you switch

The state filing is the easy part. These are the things that cost agents money when they skip them.

Read your contract with your broker

Your independent contractor agreement sets your notice period, any fees you owe on the way out, and how deals that close after you leave get paid.

Listings stay with the brokerage

A listing agreement is a contract between the seller and the brokerage, not you. You can only take a listing with your old broker's written release and your seller's agreement.

Pending deals

Deals under contract usually close with your old brokerage, and your agreement decides how you are paid on them. Get it in writing before your last day.

MLS and association

Move your MLS and REALTOR® association membership to your new office so your access does not lapse.

Update every ad the same day

Signs, your website, social media and business cards must show your new brokerage once you move. State ad rules require the brokerage name.

CE and E&O

Several states will not complete a transfer while your continuing education is overdue or your errors and omissions cover has lapsed. Check both first.

05If you are looking

What changes if you move to AXEN

No commission split. You keep 100% and pay a flat fee per closing instead.

No commission split100%of your commission stays yours. You pay a flat fee per closing instead.
File fee on Pro$500a closing, capped at $6,000 a year.
Admin fee$295on every sale, even after the cap.
Platform fee$50/moor $500 a year.
Released pendings$0if your old brokerage releases a pending deal to AXEN.
Rev share5 levelsNo quota to unlock one. Not a promise of income.
Every AXEN fee, in fullFile fee, small sales, leases, admin, platform, pendings and rev share.
  • File fee: $500 a closing on Pro, capped at $6,000 a year. $1,000 on Elite, capped at $12,000. After the cap it is $0 until your AXEN anniversary.
  • Small sales: under $2,500 of commission, the file fee is 10% of it instead.
  • Leases, rentals and referrals: 10% of the commission, never more than $500 on Pro or $1,000 on Elite, plus a $50 admin fee.
  • $295 admin fee on every sale, even after the cap. Most of it pays your Deal Desk coordinator and state broker.
  • Platform fee: $50 a month, $500 a year, or $600 taken from your first closing.
  • Released pendings: if your old brokerage releases a pending deal to AXEN, AXEN charges $0 on it.
  • Rev share: 5 levels, no quota to unlock one. Not a promise of income.

These are costs, not an earnings claim. Your income depends on your own sales.

See every AXEN fee, compare the math on AXEN vs eXp vs Real fees, or look inside the AXEN portal for free. Our North Dakota broker handles the new-broker side of this for agents joining AXEN. See the North Dakota guide.

06Straight answers

North Dakota license transfer questions

Short answers. Tap a question to open it.

How long does it take to transfer a North Dakota real estate license?

You can start working with your new brokerage only after the license is reissued to your new broker. How fast that comes depends mostly on how quickly both brokers act.

How much does it cost to transfer a North Dakota real estate license?

The fee is $50.

Does my old broker have to do anything in North Dakota?

Yes. Your old broker completes the release section.

What happens to my listings when I change brokerages?

Listings belong to the brokerage, not the agent. You can only take one with your old broker's written release and the seller's agreement.

What is the deadline to report a broker change in North Dakota?

Five days, in writing. Missing it automatically cancels your license.

Can I transfer my license to AXEN?

Yes. AXEN is licensed in North Dakota, and our North Dakota broker handles the new-broker side of the transfer. Start at axenrealty.com/join.

Moving your license to AXEN?

Our North Dakota broker handles the new-broker side of this for agents joining AXEN. Look inside the portal first. It is free.

Look inside the AXEN portal for free See every AXEN fee North Dakota guide

AXEN Realty, LLC. Commissions are negotiable and are not set by any brokerage. These are costs, not an earnings claim. Your income depends on your own sales.