License

South Dakota home inspector license

The South Dakota Real Estate Commission registers home inspectors first, and licenses them after a year of registration and 100 paid inspections.

South Dakota's license law and commission pages, checked on October 9, 2026

Who licenses: The South Dakota Real Estate Commission, within the Department of Labor and Regulation.
Registered home inspector: Complete a 40-hour pre-licensing course, pass the home inspector examination, then apply.
Licensed home inspector: At least one year as a registered home inspector, and at least 100 home inspections for compensation, recorded in an experience log submitted to the commission.
Examination: The South Dakota home inspector examination, scheduled through PSI, has 190 multiple-choice questions, about 90 percent from the pre-licensing education and 10 percent from the South Dakota Home Inspection License Law Manual. A candidate who does not pass waits 30 days between attempts.
Licensed in another state: The commission may license anyone holding a valid license from another state, a U.S. possession or the District of Columbia whose standards it finds substantially equivalent to South Dakota's. Submit a certificate of licensure from that state's licensing agency, completed within the 30 days before you apply, stating that your license is in good standing and that no complaint is pending.
Renewal: Every two years. Renewal and the fee are due by 5:00 p.m. on November 30 of the expiry year, and late fees apply after November 30. No reinstatement is allowed after June 30 of the expiry year.
Continuing education: 24 hours of approved continuing education by December 31 of the expiry year, or the license becomes inactive.

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