Getting your North Carolina Real Estate License is the first step to becoming a real estate provisional broker in North Carolina. Nowadays, this process can be done almost entirely online. You will still need to take your North Carolina real estate license exam in person, but the rest of the process can be completed entirely online!

This article outlines how to become a real estate broker in North Carolina in an easy to understand, step-by-step manner. You’ll learn how much it will cost, how long it will take, what is on the exam, and much more.

How to Become a Real Estate Provisional Broker in North Carolina

Becoming a real estate provisional broker in North Carolina is as simple as getting your license, finding a broker sponsor, and getting to work selling real estate! As long as you fulfill the below requirements, you are already on your way to your goal.

North Carolina Real Estate License Requirements

The requirements to become a real estate agent in North Carolina are:

• Be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien
• Be 18 years of age or older

How to Get Your Real Estate License in North Carolina

Step 1. Real Estate Pre-Licensing Course

North Carolina requires that real estate provisional brokers complete 75 hours of pre-license coursework prior to sitting for their exam.

Most people choose to take their pre-license education course online. The majority of online courses are self-paced and include study materials like real estate practice exams and flashcards. Some also come with a “guarantee” that you will pass the exam on your first attempt if you complete their course. These benefits are all dependent on the education provider and package you choose, so be sure to get the course that best suits your needs.

Remember that the point of these courses isn’t just to check a box and complete a requirement, but rather to prepare you to pass your exam and become a better agent.

North Carolina does not require the final pre-license exam to be supervised by a proctor. This is not the same as the state exam. This test is provided by your pre-license education company and is an indication that you have completed and retained the information from your pre-license education course.

Similar to the state exam, this test is closed-book and closed-note. You are allowed a basic-function calculator and scratch paper, but no cell phones or outside internet access.

Step 2. Real Estate License Application

Licensees must submit an application to the North Carolina Real Estate Commission before attempting to schedule the license exam.

The fee for this application is $100.

On The North Carolina Real Estate Commission’s website, you can apply for your North Carolina Broker License. You’ll need to create a log-in profile with the commission to submit your application.

Step 3. Fingerprinting and Background Check

After submitting your application, you need to complete your fingerprinting and background check. The North Carolina Real Estate Commission requires that all applicants have a background check performed before they can become a licensed real estate broker in North Carolina.

You can submit your background check online through the North Carolina Real Estate Commission. Only a report prepared by the agency within the six (6) months prior to filing your application will be acceptable to the Commission.

If you have only lived in North Carolina for the last 7 years and have no other reportable records out of any other jurisdictions, the fee would be $17.50.

The cost of criminal records searches in some other states may be substantial. You can refer to the North Carolina Criminal Record Check for further details.

Completing and turning in your fingerprints will begin the background check process. The North Carolina Real Estate Commission will review any findings in your background report to ensure your eligibility. During this process, they may reach out to you to provide additional information or documentation to clear up any findings.

For those who have criminal offenses or judgments against them, there’s a possibility that you may not be eligible for a real estate license in North Carolina. If this is the case, you will be advised of your right to request a formal hearing before the North Carolina Real Estate Commission on this matter. Failure to request such a hearing within 60 days will constitute a waiver of the right to a hearing and will result in the application being denied.

Step 4. North Carolina Real Estate License Exam

Once your application is approved, you will receive a Notice of Exam Eligibility by email. Your Notice of Exam Eligibility will be sent within 2-3 days after application receipt and acceptance. You should wait one business day following receipt of your electronic Notice of Exam Eligibility before contacting PSI to schedule your examination. You will be given 180 days to take the exam.

The fee to take the exam is $64 per attempt.

The North Carolina Real Estate Exam consists of 120 questions. This includes 80 for the National section and 40 for the State section.

You will have 210 minutes (3.5 hours) to complete the entire exam. The National section time is 120 minutes (2 hours) and the State section time is 90 minutes (1.5 hours).

A passing score for the North Carolina Real Estate Provisional Broker Exam is 57/80 on the National section and 29/40 on the State section.

You can register to take your exam on the PSI Exams page. On this page, you will find some other helpful resources as well, including the Candidate Handbook and North Carolina Real Estate Content Outline.

Immediately after completing your exam, you will receive a scoring document that states whether you passed or failed. If it is marked “Fail,” then you will see a breakdown of your score in the different areas of the exam. If you decide to retake the exam, use this as a guide for your studies.

You can register to take your exam on the PSI Exams page. On this page, you will find some other helpful resources as well, including the Candidate Handbook and North Carolina Real Estate Content Outline.

Step 5. Application Review

Once you’ve passed your exam, you will only need to wait for your background report to come back as a pass. In most cases, this process should take not more than 10 business days. After this, you should receive an email from NRREC with a license document. You may contact NCREC at (919) 875-3700 or info@ncrec.gov at least 10 calendar days after the examination date.

Congratulations! 

Be sure to take some time to celebrate your accomplishment. You’ve put in a lot of work and effort and deserve a celebration!

Step 6. Real Estate License Sponsorship

When you receive your initial Real Estate License in North Carolina, your license will be in an “inactive” status. This means that you cannot sell real estate yet.

In order to “activate” your license, you must file a License Activation/Affiliation (REC 2.08) with the North Carolina Real Estate Commission office. Allow 30 calendar days after submission of this form for processing.

If you don’t have a broker to work with yet, check out StateRequirement Jobs for a real estate broker opening in your area.

NCREC – North Carolina Real Estate Commission

Mailing Address: 

North Carolina Real Estate Commission
1313 Navaho Drive
Raleigh, NC 27609

Phone: (919) 875-3700

Email: info@ncrec.gov

Website: https://www.ncrec.gov/