Start with the official requirements.
Your regulator is North Carolina Real Estate Commission. Verify eligibility, approved schools, application timing, background checks, fees and any sponsoring-broker requirements directly before committing to a course.
Official regulator ↗- Regulator
- North Carolina Real Estate Commission
- Prelicense education
- 75 hours
- Exam provider
- Pearson VUE
- Questions
- 140 questions (80 national + 60 state)
- Time
- 270 minutes
- Passing rule
- Scaled 75 on each section
The steps, in order.
01
Confirm eligibility
Check age, education, background review and other requirements with the regulator.
02
Complete approved education
Confirm the current 75 hours education requirement and approved providers. LicenseIQ does not replace required prelicensing education.
03
Apply and schedule
Follow the regulator’s application and testing authorization sequence; submit required documents and fees. Exact sequencing varies.
04
Prepare and take the exam
Use the Pearson VUE candidate handbook for check-in, accommodations, allowed materials and current scoring.
05
Complete license issuance
After passing, complete remaining regulator requirements. Do not practice until the license is issued and active.
06
Maintain your license
Verify post-license education, renewal deadlines and continuing education with the regulator.
Post-license education
90 hrs (three 30-hr courses) within 18 months to remove provisional status
Continuing education
8 hrs annually
What’s on the state portion?
Topics from your LicenseIQ state course; the official exam outline controls.
- North Carolina Licensing and the Real Estate Commission4 lessons
- Agency in North Carolina4 lessons
- Trust Money, Advertising, Discipline and the Recovery Fund4 lessons
- NC Disclosures, the Offer to Purchase, and Closing4 lessons
- NC Property Law, Landlord-Tenant, Vacation Rentals and Associations4 lessons
- NC Fair Housing and Brokerage Practice Rules3 lessons
Try three practice questions.
Question 1
A broker shows a Hispanic couple homes only in neighborhoods with large Hispanic populations, although they asked to see homes throughout the county. This is:
- A. Acceptable if the broker believes the couple will be more comfortable there
- B. Steering, prohibited by state and federal fair housing law and grounds for Commission discipline
- C. Blockbusting
- D. Redlining
Question 2
The North Carolina Planned Community Act applies in full to planned communities created:
- A. On or after January 1, 1999
- B. After October 1, 1986
- C. At any time
- D. On or after January 1, 2006
Question 3
In North Carolina, a listing agreement with a seller must be in writing:
- A. From the inception of the relationship, before the broker provides services
- B. No later than the time an offer on the property is received
- C. No later than closing, so the commission can be paid
- D. Only if the listing period is longer than 90 days
Catalog facts may change. Verify with primary sources. Explore North Carolina exam prep.