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North Carolina Real Estate License Examination (Comprehensive Examination — National and State sections)
North Carolina's entry-level real estate license examination: a single comprehensive, computer-based, all-multiple-choice exam of two separately timed and scored sections — National (80 scored items + 5 pretest, 2.5 hours, developed by Pearson VUE) and State (60 scored items + 5 pretest, 2.0 hours, developed by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission). A passing score of 75 is required on each section within the same 180-day examination eligibility period. North Carolina is a 'Broker-only' state with no salesperson license; the entry-level status is Provisional Broker, and this comprehensive exam is the examination requirement for it. Administered by Pearson VUE under contract with the Commission; a $100 license application fee is paid to the Commission and a $60 Pearson VUE exam fee covers the 2-part comprehensive exam.
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QuestionsComprehensive Examination: 140 scored items (80 National + 60 State) plus 10 unscored pretest items (5 per section)
Testing time4.5 hours total, separately timed by section: National section 2.5 hours, State section 2.0 hours (break time between sections is not deducted from either timed section)
ScoringPassing score is 75 on each section, computed separately for the National and State sections; both sections must be passed within the same 180-day Examination Eligibility Period
Exam feeUSD 100 license application fee paid to the Commission with the application, plus a USD 60 Pearson VUE examination fee for the 2-part comprehensive exam (USD 50 for a single National or State section), payable directly to Pearson VUE at scheduling; exam fees are non-refundable, non-transferable, and expire at the end of the 180-day eligibility period
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Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- NCREC
- Category
- Real Estate Licensing
- Current version
- Current specification; no public version label (candidate booklet 'Real Estate Licensing in North Carolina', April 2025 edition, carrying the current National and State content outlines)
- Where it applies
- US-NC, United States
- Exam languages
- English
- Testing provider
- Pearson VUE (now branded 'Pearson Professional Assessments (formerly Pearson VUE)'), contracted by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission
- Format
- Computer-based, all multiple-choice items, delivered at Pearson VUE test centers (including centers outside North Carolina); no walk-in testing
- Availability
- Year-round by appointment; scheduling online 24 hours a day or by phone; in almost all cases an appointment is available at the test center of choice within seven calendar days; candidates may test in any state where Pearson VUE has a physical testing center
- Results
- Licenses are not issued at test centers; results are reported to the Commission, and absent character issues the license is mailed within 7-10 business days of the examination date (Notice of Exam Eligibility itself is emailed within 5-7 business days of application receipt)
- Score validity
- All required sections must be passed within the same 180-day Examination Eligibility Period; exam fees expire at the end of that period, and a new application with a new criminal records report is required to test again after it
- Remote testing
- Not available
Exam structure
One comprehensive exam of two separately timed and separately scored sections: National section (80 scored items + 5 pretest, 2.5 hours) and State section (60 scored items + 5 pretest, 2.0 hours). All items are multiple choice. The National section covers national real estate content (Real Property, Ownership, Valuation, Contracts & Agency, Real Estate Practice, Property Disclosures, Financing, Real Estate Math); the State section covers North Carolina license law and practice (Licensure, Agency, Supervision/Compensation, Brokerage Practice, Taxes/Insurance, Contracts/Closing, Landlord/Tenant, Other NC Laws)
Where rules vary
North Carolina's own real estate license examination; the State section is specific to North Carolina law and is administered only to North Carolina license applicants. Candidates already licensed in another state may waive the Prelicensing course and the National section but generally must still pass the State section (reciprocity/waiver rules on the NCREC ApplyLicense page).
Eligibility
Successful completion of the 75-hour North Carolina Broker Prelicensing Course; submission of a license application with the $100 fee and criminal records report; the Commission's Notice of Examination Eligibility and a Pearson VUE Authorization to Test are required before scheduling
Retake policy
No retake for at least 10 calendar days after a failed exam; otherwise no limit on the number of attempts during the 180-day eligibility period; each attempt (whole exam or single section) requires a separate Pearson VUE exam fee