Kansas real estate exam
Format, passing score, fees and what to study — compiled from the official candidate handbook and state sources, with a link and a confidence level for every fact. Last verified 2026-10-31.
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Kansas exam format and requirements
| Fact | Value | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulator | Kansas Real Estate Commission (KREC) | Official source | Link |
| Exam provider | Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook April 2025 (rev 7/25). | Official source | Link |
| National-portion questions | 80 'General' exam: 80 scored + 5 unscored pretest items (national outline effective Apr 24, 2025). | Official source | Link |
| State-portion questions | 30 Kansas portion: 30 scored salesperson items (40 broker) + 10 unscored pretest items (state outline effective 6/11/24). | Official source | Link |
| Exam time (minutes) | 240 General exam 2.5 hours (150 min) + state exam 1.5 hours (90 min) = 240 min. | Official source | Link |
| Passing score | Scaled 70 on each of the general and state exams Fail one exam -> retake only that one, but both must be passed within the 6-month window noted in handbook. | Official source | Link |
| Exam fee (USD) | $70 Fee table: Salesperson Kansas exam $70, general exam $70, salesperson combo $70 (two-for-one when booked together). Fingerprint fee $16 separate; KREC application $15 + $70 background fee + $125 license fee. | Official source | Link |
| Pre-licensing hours | 60 30-hour Principles of Real Estate course (within 1 year before passing both exam parts) PLUS a 30-hour Kansas Practice Course within 6 months before license application = 60 hours total. Only the 30-hr Principles cour… | Official source | Link |
| Languages | English No other exam language is listed in the official handbook/bulletin; English-only is inferred from silence. | Secondary source | Link |
“Official source” = read in a state agency page or the exam provider’s candidate handbook on 2026-10-31. Anything marked “Vendor claim” or “Not verified” should be confirmed before you rely on it. Fees and formats change.
What this means for your study plan
- Time per question: about 2.2 minutes each (240 minutes ÷ 110 questions). Practice at that pace.
- Both portions count: you must reach the pass mark on each portion — a strong national score does not make up for a weak Kansas score.
- Where people lose points: math word problems, wording traps (NOT/EXCEPT), and state rules that differ from the national rule. Our formula sheet covers the math.
- Good to know: Kansas state exam is short (30 items) but heavily concentrated on BRRETA (11) and prohibited acts (8). Candidates must be fingerprinted (Pearson offers digital fingerprinting at Overland Park, Topeka, Wichita). Non-residents must hold a license in their state of residence and take only the state exam. Apply for license within 6 months of exam date.
State-portion topics published for Kansas
- Duties and powers of the Kansas Real Estate Commission (2 items)
- Licensing requirements (4)
- Requirements governing activities of licensees - place of business, records, reporting, advertising, commissions, required residential contract language, supervision (5)
- Prohibited acts (8)
- Brokerage Relationships in Real Estate Transactions Act (BRRETA) (11)
Sample Kansas practice questions
Original questions written from the law, each with an explanation and a citation. Kansas-specific questions are coming soon; these samples come from the national portion.
A charge levied only against properties that benefit from a local improvement, such as new sidewalks or sewers, is called a:
- General ad valorem tax
- Transfer tax
- Income tax
- Special assessment
Answer: D. A special assessment is imposed on properties that receive a particular benefit from an improvement, and the amount is usually based on frontage, area, or benefit rather than on value alone. It funds the improvement and is separate from general property taxes.
Topic: Land Use Controls & Regulations · Source: Black's Law Dictionary (12th ed. 2024), "special assessment"
Broker Ahn shows a home to a buyer, then loses contact for eight months. The buyer later sees a new advertisement and buys through Broker Cole, who had no prior contact with the buyer. In deciding which broker is the procuring cause, a court would most likely consider that
- the long break in contact may have interrupted the chain of events started by Ahn
- a showing always establishes procuring cause forever, no matter how much time passes or what the buyer does
- the first broker is automatically entitled to the full commission
- the buyer's choice is irrelevant to the analysis
Answer: A. Procuring cause requires a continuous series of events from the broker's initial efforts to the purchase. A significant break, followed by independent action by another broker, can defeat the claim. The result depends on the facts, including the buyer's intent and conduct.
Topic: Agency & Brokerage Relationships · Source: Common-law procuring-cause doctrine; see also NAR Code of Ethics, Article 17 (arbitration of commission disputes between brokers)
When an investor completes a Section 1031 exchange without receiving any boot, the gain on the relinquished property is:
- Permanently excluded from the investor's income
- Taxed in the year of the exchange at a reduced rate
- Deferred, with the old basis carried over to the new property
- Deferred, with the new property's basis set at market value
Answer: C. Section 1031 provides that no gain is recognized on a qualifying like-kind exchange, but under § 1031(d) the replacement property takes the same basis as the property given up, adjusted for any money received and gain recognized. The untaxed gain stays built into the replacement property, so it is postponed rather than forgiven.
Topic: Property Management & Specialty Areas · Source: 26 U.S.C. § 1031(a)(1), (d)
Try the full 20-question Kansas quiz
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Kansas real estate exam?
The Kansas exam format we found is 80 national questions plus 30 Kansas questions (110 in total) in 240 minutes. Confirm in the official handbook before exam day.
What is the passing score for the Kansas real estate exam?
Scaled 70 on each of the general and state exams (Official source).
How much does the Kansas real estate exam cost?
The exam fee we found is $70, paid to Pearson VUE. Fees change, so check the current handbook.
How many pre-licensing hours does Kansas require?
60 hours for the entry-level license, according to the sources below. Pre-licensing education must come from a state-approved school; GablePrep is exam prep and is not an approved course.
Official sources for Kansas
- Regulator: Kansas Real Estate Commission (KREC)
- Exam provider: Pearson VUE
- Official candidate handbook / content outline
Independent exam prep. Not affiliated with any state real estate commission or testing provider. Not an approved pre-licensing course. Not legal advice.