Free North Carolina Real Estate Practice Exam
North Carolina practice exam with real exam-style questions covering national content and North Carolina-specific state law. No signup required.
North Carolina Real Estate Exam
Practice by NC Real Estate Topic
Target a specific area, or launch the full exam below
Real Estate Principles
Property ownership, contracts, agency, deeds, fair housing, and appraisal. Core national content.
Real Estate Finance
Mortgages, loan types, RESPA, TILA, title insurance, and closing costs.
North Carolina State Law
NCREC rules, NC Lice, NJ licensing law, LAD, Pinelands Act, disclosure requirements, and NJ-specific regulations.
🏠
Full North Carolina Real Estate Practice Exam
National and state-specific questions mixed to match the real NJ exam structure.
About the North Carolina Real Estate Exam
The North Carolina real estate broker license exam is administered by Pearson VUE, which took over from the previous vendor on March 1, 2024; licensing is handled by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission (NCREC). North Carolina no longer issues a separate salesperson license, so new licensees receive a broker license with provisional status (a provisional broker). Applicants must be at least 18, show good moral character, and complete a 75-hour Commission-certified prelicensing course within three years before applying (G.S. 93A-4).
The exam has two separately scored sections: 80 national scored questions (2.5 hours) and 60 North Carolina scored questions (2 hours), 140 scored in total over 4.5 hours, plus 5 unscored pretest items in each section. You need a score of 75 on each section. If you pass one section, you retake only the other, but both must be passed within the same 180-day eligibility period or the passed section is lost. A provisional broker then completes 90 hours of postlicensing education within 18 months of initial licensure or the license goes inactive.
North Carolina Real Estate Exam Topic Breakdown
| Section | Questions / Weight | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|
| I. Real Property | 9 | National outline category: real property |
| II. Ownership | 8 | National outline category: ownership |
| III. Valuation | 11 | National outline category: valuation |
| IV. Contracts & Agency | 16 | National outline category: contracts and agency |
| V. Real Estate Practice | 14 | National outline category: real estate practice |
| VI. Property Disclosures | 8 | National outline category: property disclosures |
| VII. Financing | 7 | National outline category: financing |
| VIII. Real Estate Math | 7 | National outline category: real estate math |
| NC — Licensure | 3 | Licensing under G.S. Chapter 93A and Commission rules |
| NC — Agency | 16 | North Carolina agency and brokerage relationship rules |
| NC — Supervision / Compensation | 4 | Supervision and compensation under Commission rules |
| NC — Brokerage Practice | 12 | North Carolina brokerage practice rules |
| NC — Taxes / Insurance | 4 | North Carolina tax and insurance topics |
| NC — Contracts / Closing | 7 | North Carolina contract and closing topics |
| NC — Landlord / Tenant | 3 | North Carolina landlord and tenant law |
| NC — Other NC Laws | 11 | Other North Carolina real estate laws |
Counts are scored items per category from the Pearson VUE North Carolina candidate handbook (April 2026): 80 national and 60 state, with 5 unscored pretest items in each section. The handbook lists no subtopics and refers candidates to the Commission's Broker Prelicensing Course Syllabus, so the descriptions here restate the category names.
What Makes the North Carolina Exam Different
A broker license with provisional status. North Carolina eliminated the salesperson license and converted existing salesperson licenses to broker licenses (G.S. 93A-4.3). A provisional broker is a broker who has not yet documented the education or experience required for non-provisional status, and must be supervised by a broker-in-charge when performing licensed acts (G.S. 93A-2). A provisional broker may not be designated a broker-in-charge, and a broker-in-charge needs two years of full-time brokerage experience, or the part-time equivalent, within the previous five years (G.S. 93A-4.2).
Trust money. A broker must deposit trust money in a trust or escrow account no later than three banking days after receipt. Non-cash earnest money tied to a pending offer goes in within three days after the offer is accepted, and a provisional broker must hand money received to the affiliated broker right away. Interest-bearing accounts require written authorization from all interested parties, and the broker may not disburse more than a client's balance (21 NCAC 58A .0116). Trust accounts must be demand deposit accounts in federally insured institutions, and commingling is a ground for discipline (G.S. 93A-6).
Disputed deposits. For a dispute over earnest money, the broker keeps the funds in the trust account until the parties consent in writing or a court orders disbursement (21 NCAC 58A .0116(d)). Alternatively an escrow agent may deposit disputed funds with the clerk of superior court in the county where the property is located, but not until 90 days after notifying the claimants (G.S. 93A-12). Earnest money may be transferred to the closing attorney no more than 10 days before the expected settlement date.
Working with Real Estate Agents. In every sales transaction, a broker must give each prospective buyer or seller the publication "Working with Real Estate Agents" at first substantial contact, with the broker's name and license number on it, review it with the consumer, and determine whether the broker will act as the buyer's or seller's agent. If first contact is by phone or other electronic means, the broker must send it no later than three days afterward (21 NCAC 58A .0104(c)).
Written brokerage agreements. Brokerage agreements must be in writing and signed, for a definite period of time, and include the broker's license number and a conspicuous nondiscrimination clause. A buyer or tenant agreement must be signed no later than when either party makes an offer, or from the start if it binds the buyer for a period or restricts the buyer's right to work with other agents. A broker representing both sides needs each party's written authority (21 NCAC 58A .0104).
Compensation disclosure. A broker may take compensation from the principal only under a written agency contract, and compensation from any other party must be disclosed and confirmed in writing before the principal makes or accepts an offer. The Commission will not arbitrate disputes over commission rates or fee splits (21 NCAC 58A .0109).
Sample North Carolina Real Estate Exam Questions
1. A North Carolina broker receives a client's earnest money in the form of a cash deposit. By when must the broker deposit it into a trust or escrow account?
2. A North Carolina broker first speaks with a prospective buyer by telephone, and the buyer begins to share personal financial information. When must the broker send the Working with Real Estate Agents publication?
3. A newly licensed North Carolina provisional broker does not complete the postlicensing education program within the required period. What happens to the license?
Study Tips for the North Carolina Real Estate Exam
The North Carolina section is 60 scored questions, and Agency alone accounts for 16 of them, followed by Brokerage Practice (12) and Other NC Laws (11). Together those three categories are 39 of the 60 state questions, so work through the Commission's rules on brokerage agreements, disclosure of representation, and trust money.
You need 75 on each section, and a pass on one section stays passed only within the same 180-day eligibility period, which cannot be extended. Each retake requires a new application and fee, so plan your attempts rather than spreading them out.
Licensing nearby? See the Virginia practice exam or the South Carolina practice exam. National content is in our national real estate practice exam.
How to Get Your North Carolina Real Estate License
There are four steps to get your North Carolina real estate broker license.
Steps to Get Your North Carolina Real Estate License
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 1. Pre-License Education | Complete the 75-hour North Carolina Broker Prelicensing Course from a Commission-certified provider within three years before you apply. |
| 2. Application & Exam Eligibility | Apply to the North Carolina Real Estate Commission with the application fee and a criminal history report obtained within six months before applying. If you qualify, the Commission sends a Notice of Exam Eligibility that is valid for 180 days. |
| 3. Licensing Exam | Schedule with Pearson VUE and take the national (2.5 hours) and North Carolina (2 hours) sections. You need 75 on each, and both must be passed within the 180-day eligibility period. |
| 4. Character Review, License & Postlicensing | After you pass, the Commission reviews your character and issues the license. You start as a provisional broker, supervised by a broker-in-charge, and must complete 90 hours of postlicensing education within 18 months. |
North Carolina Real Estate License Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Pre-license education | 75 hours, completed within three years before applying |
| Exam | 80 scored national + 60 scored North Carolina questions (plus 5 unscored pretest items in each section) |
| Time limit | National 2.5 hours; North Carolina 2 hours (4.5 hours total) |
| Passing score | 75 on each section, scored separately |
| Exam eligibility | Notice of Exam Eligibility valid for 180 days, with both sections passed in that period |
| Postlicensing education | 90 hours within 18 months of initial licensure |
| Exam provider | Pearson VUE (since March 1, 2024) |
| Licensing authority | North Carolina Real Estate Commission |
Verified against the Pearson VUE North Carolina candidate handbook (April 2026), NCREC licensing pages and bulletins, G.S. Chapter 93A, and 21 NCAC 58A. Fees are not listed because published sources differ: the Pearson VUE handbook shows a $105 application fee and a $63 exam fee, while the Commission's licensing page shows $100 (G.S. 93A-4 sets $100 unless the Commission raises it, up to $120). Confirm current fees with NCREC.
Our free North Carolina real estate practice exam covers both national and state content. You can also try the national real estate practice exam or the real estate exam study guide.
Interested in where this license leads? See our guide to real estate careers — including salary ranges, how to break in, and what the career looks like day to day.
Frequently Asked Questions — North Carolina Real Estate Exam
How many questions are on the North Carolina real estate exam?
The exam has 140 scored questions: 80 national and 60 North Carolina-specific. Each section also includes 5 unscored pretest items.
How long is the North Carolina real estate exam?
The national section is 2.5 hours and the North Carolina section is 2 hours, 4.5 hours in total. The sections are timed separately.
What is the passing score for the North Carolina real estate exam?
You need a score of 75 on each of the two sections, and each section is scored separately.
What is the minimum age to get a North Carolina real estate license?
Applicants must be at least 18 years old (G.S. 93A-4) and show good moral character and general fitness.
How many pre-license hours does North Carolina require?
North Carolina requires a 75-hour Commission-certified prelicensing course completed within three years before applying.
What is a provisional broker?
North Carolina has no separate salesperson license. New licensees hold a broker license with provisional status, are supervised by a broker-in-charge, and must complete 90 hours of postlicensing education within 18 months of initial licensure or the license is placed on inactive status.
Can I retake only one section of the North Carolina exam?
Yes. If you pass one section you retake only the other, but both sections must be passed within the same 180-day eligibility period. If the period ends with only one section passed, that credit is lost and you must reapply. There is no limit on the number of attempts, but each attempt requires a new application and fee.
Who administers the North Carolina real estate exam?
Pearson VUE has administered the exam since March 1, 2024. The Commission determines your eligibility and sends the Notice of Exam Eligibility before you schedule.