North Carolina State Requirements

North Carolina Real Estate Commission

1313 Navaho Drive
Raleigh, NC 27609
Phone: 919-875-3700
Regulatory Affairs: 919-719-9180
Website: www.ncrec.gov

Real Estate Broker Prelicensing Requirements (Provisional Broker)

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a United States Citizen, a non-citizen national or a qualified alien
• Have a Social Security Number
• Order background check within six months prior to filing application
• Successfully complete the 75-hour Broker Pre Licensing Course
• Submit application and fee and required documentation to state prior to attempting to schedule exam with testing provider.(Applications can be found online at www.ncrec.gov/)
• Commission determines applicant’s eligibility for licensing exam. Once applicant is deemed qualified, Commission sends a “Notice of Examination Eligibility” which is good for 180 days
• Application Applicant schedules exam with testing service (Pearson Vue) to schedule exam and pay fees. 

Real Estate Broker-in-Charge Requirements

• Have at least two years full-time or four years of part-time real estate brokerage experience within the last five years
• Completion of the Commission’s 12-hour Broker-in-Charge Course no earlier than one year prior to application  and no later than 120 days after application. Brokers will receive four hours of Continuing education elective credit for the 12 hour course.
• Submit a Broker-in-Charge Declaration form (REC Form 2.04)

Real Estate Postlicensing Education Requirements

• Before June 30, 2020, brokers must complete at least one postlicensing course in each of the first three years following initial licensure to retain eligibility
• After July 1, 2020, brokers must complete all three postlicensing courses within 18 months of initial licensure to retain eligibility
• Complete 90 hours of education and the final exams. They include:
  • Post 301-Broker Relationships & Responsibilities
  • Post 302-Contracts & Closing
  • Post 303-NC Law, Rules & Legal Concepts

• Only licensed students may enroll in post licensing education courses. The required identifier (North Carolina Real Estate License) is needed to purchase these courses.

Continuing Education Requirements

• Licensees must complete eight hours per annual license period to include the General Update Course (four credit hours) or the Broker-in-Charge Update Course (four credit hours), plus one four-hour, Commission-approved elective course

Exam Provider and Application Information

• All applicants must complete the online application with the NCREC and be found qualified to take the license examination
  • Visit www.ncrec.gov/Licensing/ApplyLicense to complete the online application
• Once the Commission determines the applicant is qualified to take the exam, a Notice of Exam Eligibility, which is valid for 180 days from the date it is issued. (exam eligibility notice will be emailed within 2-3 business days of receipt of application and expiration date will be indicated on the Notice). The Commission will also notify Pearson Vue that the applicant is now an eligible exam candidate.
• Wait 1 business day following receipt of electronic Notice of Exam Eligibility before contacting Pearson VUE to schedule examination. The wait is necessary to allow Pearson VUE to upload eligibility record from the Commission. Walk-in testing is not available.
  • Online Scheduling Candidates - schedule at https://pearsonvue.com/nc/realestate
  • Telephone Scheduling - 800-745-2627. Pearson VUE registrars are available M-F, 8 a.m. - 11 p.m., Sat 8 a.m - 5 p.m., Sun 10 a.m - 4 p.m., Eastern.
• On the day of examination, applicants should arrive 30 minutes before scheduled examination appointment.
• All applicants must bring two forms of valid signature-bearing identification
  • Government issued Driver’s License
  • U.S. Learner’s Permit
  • National/State/Country Identification Card
  • U.S. Government Issued Passport or Passport Card
  • U.S. Government Issued Military Identification Card
  • Credit/Debit Card (must be signed)
  • Social Security Card
• If one or both sections of the exam are not passed, the Notice of Exam Eligibility will allow applications to schedule another examination, as long as scheduled within the 180 day time-frame and application has waited 10 days after last testing date.