StateLicensed

Real Estate Agent License Requirements in North Carolina

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
75 hrs
Upfront cost
$168
Exam
North Carolina Real Estate License Examination (National and State sections)
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
North Carolina Real Estate Commission

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, 75-hour Broker Prelicensing Course (see training); U.S. citizenship, non-citizen national, qualified alien, or other lawful work authorization in real estate brokerage; a Social Security Number., pass a criminal background check. Applicants must submit a criminal history record report from Criminal Record Check (CRC), the Commission's only approved vendor, covering every state/country lived in during the past 7 years plus a federal report (required since July 1, 2021); reports must be no more than 6 months old. Applicants may optionally file a $45 Petition for Pre-Determination before applying to learn whether their criminal history will likely disqualify them. [2]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 75 hours of training at a state-approved program. North Carolina does not issue a 'salesperson' license; it is a 'Broker-only' state, and the entry-level license status is the Provisional Broker. The 75-hour Broker Prelicensing Course must be completed within 3 years prior to applying for the exam. After initial licensure as a Provisional Broker, an additional 90 hours of Postlicensing education (three 30-hour courses: Post 301 Broker Relationships and Responsibilities, Post 302 Contracts and Closing, Post 303 NC Law, Rules, and Legal Concepts) must be completed within 18 months to remove provisional status and reach full Broker status. Applicants currently licensed as a broker in another jurisdiction on active status within the prior 3 years may waive the 75-hour Prelicensing course and the National section of the exam. [1]

  3. 3

    North Carolina Real Estate License Examination (National and State sections)

    Pass the North Carolina Real Estate License Examination (National and State sections) (fee: $63). Comprehensive 2-part exam, 4.5 hours, 140 scored items (80 National, 60 State) plus 10 unscored pretest items; passing score is 75 for each section $63 for the full 2-part comprehensive exam; $53 to retake a single unpassed section. This fee is separate from and in addition to the $105 license application fee. The exam eligibility window is 180 days from the Notice of Exam Eligibility. As of the current RELINC edition, Pearson VUE administers the exam (a change from the prior PSI contract). [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to North Carolina Real Estate Commission with the $105 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, North Carolina Real Estate Commission issues your Provisional Broker License for North Carolina.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $105
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $50
North Carolina Real Estate License Examination (National and State sections) [2] $63
Criminal history record report (Criminal Record Check, per state/country lived in during past 7 years) [3] $50
Petition for Pre-Determination of criminal history (optional, before applying) [3] $45

No separate license-issuance fee beyond the $105 application fee, which covers the exam application process. Annual renewal fee is $50, payable online only (no checks, cash, or phone payments accepted).

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year. 8 continuing education hours required per cycle.

License renewal runs annually, May 15 through June 30. To maintain Active status, licensees must complete 8 hours of continuing education each year (by June 10): Provisional Brokers and non-BIC Brokers take the General Update course plus one elective; Brokers-in-Charge (BICs) and BIC-eligible brokers take the BICUP course plus one elective.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

North Carolina does not maintain a fixed list of reciprocal partner states; instead, any applicant holding a current real estate license (broker-equivalent or higher) in another U.S. state, territory, or Canadian jurisdiction that has been on active status within the previous 3 years may waive the 75-hour Prelicensing course and the National section of the exam, generally still needing to pass the State section.

Cost calculator

  • $105
  • $63
Total$168

Frequently asked questions

Does North Carolina have a salesperson license?

No. North Carolina is a 'Broker-only' state; the entry-level license status is the Provisional Broker, per the Commission's own FAQ.

How many hours of education does a new North Carolina Provisional Broker need?

75 hours of Broker Prelicensing Course before the exam, plus 90 hours of Postlicensing education (three 30-hour courses) within 18 months of initial licensure to remove provisional status.

Who administers the North Carolina real estate exam, and what does it cost?

Pearson VUE administers the exam. The fee is $63 for the full 2-part exam or $53 to retake a single section, separate from the $105 license application fee.

Is a background check required for a North Carolina real estate license?

Yes. Applicants must submit a criminal history record report from Criminal Record Check (CRC), the Commission's sole approved vendor, covering every state or country lived in during the past 7 years plus a federal report.

Does North Carolina have reciprocity with other states?

Not a fixed partner-state list, but a general waiver: any applicant with an active broker-equivalent license from another U.S. state, territory, or Canadian jurisdiction within the past 3 years may waive the Prelicensing course and the National exam section.

Sources

  1. [1] ncrec.gov/Licensing/ApplyLicense — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] ncrec.gov/Pdfs/Licensing/RELINC.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] ncrec.gov/Licensing/LicenseRenewalFaq — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] ncrec.gov/Education/CEFAQ — accessed 2026-07-12
  5. [5] ncrec.gov/Licensing/Licensingfaq — accessed 2026-07-12