North Carolina 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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North Carolina exam format and requirements
| Fact | Value | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulator | North Carolina Real Estate Commission | Official source | Link |
| Exam provider | Pearson VUE Per "Real Estate Licensing in North Carolina" (April 2026), hosted by Pearson. NC is a broker-only state: entry-level licensee is a Provisional Broker; there is no separate salesperson license or exam. | Official source | Link |
| National-portion questions | 80 80 scored + 5 pretest (national section developed by Pearson). | Official source | Link |
| State-portion questions | 60 60 scored + 5 pretest (state section developed by NCREC). | Official source | Link |
| Exam time (minutes) | 270 National 2.5 h (150 min) + State 2.0 h (120 min) = 270 min; sections separately timed and scored. | Official source | Link |
| Passing score | Scaled score 75 on each section Both sections must be passed within the same 180-day exam eligibility period or credit is forfeited. | Official source | Link |
| Exam fee (USD) | $63 Pearson fee $63 for the 2-part comprehensive exam; $53 for a single section; PLUS $105 license application fee to NCREC (paid again for each retake attempt). | Official source | Link |
| Pre-licensing hours | 75 75-hour Broker Prelicensing Course with mandatory end-of-course exam (Commission-certified school). Post-licensing education required within 18 months for provisional brokers to go active/stay active. | Official source | Link |
| Languages | English Handbook/bulletin describes no non-English exam version; English presumed. | Secondary source | Link |
| New licensees / year | 4645 NCREC Annual Report (FY Jul 1 2024-Jun 30 2025): 4,645 persons issued initial licenses; 6,191 applied for exam, 5,658 sat, 1,386 failed (relayed via search summary; direct fetch of PDF returned 403/empty). | 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 1.9 minutes each (270 minutes ÷ 140 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 North Carolina 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: North Carolina has the biggest state portion in this batch (60 scored + 5 pretest) and the longest overall exam (270 min). Comprehensive exam must be retaken in full until at least one section is passed; $105 application fee is re-collected every attempt. 180-day eligibility window. For this product treat NC "Provisional Broker" as the salesperson-equivalent.
State-portion topics published for North Carolina
- Licensure (3 items)
- Agency (16 items)
- Supervision/Compensation (4 items)
- Brokerage Practice (12 items)
- Taxes/Insurance (4 items)
- Contracts/Closing (7 items)
- Landlord/Tenant (3 items)
- Other NC Laws (11 items)
Sample North Carolina practice questions
Original questions written from the law, each with an explanation and a citation. North Carolina-specific questions are coming soon; these samples come from the national portion.
Sam bought a house and lived in it as his main home for two years. He then moved out, rented it to a tenant for two years, and sold it. Does Sam meet the ownership and use requirements of Section 121(a)?
- No; he must be living in the home on the date of the sale
- No; renting the home to a tenant disqualifies it entirely
- Yes, but only if he buys another home within two years
- Yes; he owned and used it as his home 2 of the last 5 years
Answer: D. Section 121(a) requires that, during the 5-year period ending on the date of sale, the home was owned and used as the taxpayer's principal residence for periods aggregating 2 years or more. The use need not continue up to the sale. Any gain equal to depreciation claimed during the rental years still cannot be excluded under § 121(d)(6).
Topic: Property Management & Specialty Areas · Source: 26 U.S.C. § 121(a), (d)(6)
Hal has occupied a lot for the full statutory period under a deed that looked valid on its face but was defective because the grantor owned nothing. Hal's possession is said to be under:
- Color of title
- Equitable title
- A prescriptive easement
- A license
Answer: A. Color of title is an apparent but defective claim of title, such as a deed that appears valid but fails to convey ownership. In many states it helps an adverse possessor, for example by shortening the statutory period or extending possession to the whole described tract. It is not required in every state.
Topic: Property Ownership & Interests · Source: Black's Law Dictionary (12th ed. 2024), "color of title"
Lin's exclusive buyer agreement with Broker Diaz expired June 30. It has a 60-day protection clause covering any property Diaz showed Lin during the term. On August 10, without any new buyer agreement, Lin buys a house that Diaz showed her in May. Under the clause, Diaz
- is not entitled, because the agency ended when the agreement expired on June 30
- is entitled only if Lin used Diaz's preferred lender for the purchase loan
- is entitled to the fee under the clause, since both of its conditions are met
- is entitled only to his documented out-of-pocket costs of showing the house
Answer: C. A protection (tail) clause keeps the broker's right to compensation for a stated period after expiration when the client buys a property the broker introduced during the term. August 10 is within 60 days after June 30, and the house was shown in May, so the clause applies. The agency relationship has ended, but the contractual right to the fee survives as written.
Topic: Agency & Brokerage Relationships · Source: Restatement (Third) of Agency § 8.13 (principal's duty to act in accordance with the terms of its contract with the agent)
Try the full 20-question North Carolina quiz
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the North Carolina real estate exam?
The North Carolina exam format we found is 80 national questions plus 60 North Carolina questions (140 in total) in 270 minutes. Confirm in the official handbook before exam day.
What is the passing score for the North Carolina real estate exam?
Scaled score 75 on each section (Official source).
How much does the North Carolina real estate exam cost?
The exam fee we found is $63, paid to Pearson VUE. Fees change, so check the current handbook.
How many pre-licensing hours does North Carolina require?
75 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 North Carolina
- Regulator: North Carolina Real Estate Commission
- 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.