How to Become a Real Estate Agent in North Carolina

Who can apply

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien, or be lawfully present and authorized to work in real estate brokerage.
• Have a Social Security number.
• Complete the 75-hour NC Broker Prelicensing Course within 3 years before applying (or qualify for an equivalent-education option).
• Pass both sections of the license exam.
• Satisfy the Commission's character review.

Step by step

1. Complete the 75-hour NC Broker Prelicensing Course and its end-of-course exam with a Commission-certified provider.
2. Order a criminal record report from the Commission's vendor (CriminalRecordCheck.com).
3. Apply online and pay the $105 application fee.
4. After you get the Notice of Exam Eligibility, schedule with Pearson VUE and pay $63 for both sections.
5. Pass the national and state sections (75 on each) within your 180-day eligibility period.
6. After the character review, the Commission issues an inactive provisional broker license.
7. To go active, file a License Activation/Affiliation form (REC 2.08) with a broker-in-charge.
8. Finish 90 hours of postlicensing education within 18 months to remove provisional status.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: The NC Broker Prelicensing Course is at least 75 hours with a mandatory end-of-course exam, from a Commission-certified provider, completed within 3 years before you apply. Waivers are possible for an equivalent 75-hour prelicensing course from another state taken within 1 year while a resident there, a real estate-field bachelor's or law degree, or a current license in another state.

Exam: Given by Pearson VUE. National section: 80 scored items plus 5 pretest, 2.5 hours. State section: 60 scored items plus 5 pretest, 2.0 hours. Passing score is 75 on each section, scored separately. Fee: $63 for both sections or $53 for one. Each retake also needs a new $105 application fee. Both sections must be passed in the same 180-day eligibility period, or you must retake both.

What it costs in North Carolina

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

How long it takes

NCREC says a Notice of Exam Eligibility is emailed within 5 to 7 days after it receives your application, and a complete application with a first-try pass and no character issues can be finished in as little as 10 business days.

What other sites get wrong about North Carolina

After you're licensed

Renewal: Every license expires June 30 and renews yearly between May 15 and June 30 for $50. Provisional brokers must finish 90 hours of postlicensing (Post 301, 302 and 303, 30 hours each) within 18 months of licensure or the license goes inactive. Continuing education is 8 hours each license year (a 4-hour Update course plus a 4-hour elective) by June 10, starting with the second renewal; there is no CE in the first license year.

Good to know in North Carolina

Broker-in-charge: North Carolina has no salesperson license. New licensees are provisional brokers and must be supervised by a broker-in-charge to be on active status.

Out-of-state licensees: If you hold a license in another state that was active within the last 3 years, you can skip the 75-hour course and the national section. If you pass the state section, you get an NC license equivalent to the one you hold (a broker licensed elsewhere may get a full, non-provisional broker license). If you skip the state section, you get a provisional license and are not eligible for any postlicensing waiver.

Sources

• NCREC — Apply for a License
• NCREC — Real Estate Licensing in North Carolina (April 2026)
• NCREC — Online License Application