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How To Get a Real Estate License in North Carolina

Ryan FitzgeraldRyan Fitzgerald
Oct 17, 2022 9 min read
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How To Get a Real Estate License in North Carolina
Chapters
01
Prelicensing
02
The Prelicensing Curriculum
03
North Carolina Real Estate Schools
04
Complete a Background Check
05
Apply to Take the State Exam
06
Take the North Carolina State Licensing Exam
07
Passing the North Carolina Broker Licensing Exam
08
License Categories/Status Level
09
Your Next Steps
10
Steps Overview

NC Real Estate License 

Are you considering becoming a real estate agent in North Carolina? Let's dive into the steps and process of obtaining your license.

A real estate agent is a licensed professional representing buyers or sellers in a real estate transaction. The primary role of an agent is to work as an advisor to their respective party and act as their representative in negotiations. Real estate agents typically work for commission, being paid a percentage of the property's purchase price. It's important to remember that when becoming a real estate agent, your income is solely based on the number of clients you work with and your ability to close a deal.

During a transaction, the agent either represents the buyer or seller or sometimes both, depending on the state laws. Agents representing the seller in a transaction are the listing agents. Their role is to help homeowners sell their property. They do this by researching the market to help advise on an appropriate listing price, staging and marketing the property, getting potential buyers through the doors, and assisting in negotiating offers on the seller's behalf. The role of an agent representing a buyer is to research homes that match their wants and needs and help them through the process of putting in an offer and getting to the closing table.

The North Carolina Real Estate Commission must license any person or entity transacting real estate-related business for compensation.

Responsibilities and duties vary per transaction, but it's essential to understand what a real estate agent is responsible for. So are you still considering becoming an agent? In this article, we will discuss the steps to obtaining your license.

Typing on a computer with house images on a wood table

Prelicensing

The first step in getting your real estate license is taking the 75-hour North Carolina broker prelicensing course. That may sound long, but every aspect of the curriculum is vital in passing the state/national exam. Every available school teaches the same curriculum overall, but it's essential to research and choose a school that best fits your needs. The North Carolina Real Estate Commission allows for the course to be taken in many ways. You can decide to take the course in person with an instructor, through zoom or other web services with an instructor, or online and self-paced.

Every course available will include in-course reviews, quizzes, and a course final that must be passed before qualifying for the state exam. Depending on the course provider, you will be given one or multiple opportunities to pass the course's final exam. If not passed in the allotted time, you must retake and pass the 75-hour prelicensing period before qualifying for the state exam.

After passing the prelicensing course, your education provider will automatically report your completion to the commission to be paired with your online license application.

Applicants who are qualified have the option to skip the 75-hours prelicensing course. Qualifications include:

  • Having an active, equivalent license in another state or Canadian jurisdiction.
  • Having a B.A. or higher degree in real estate, real estate brokerage, real estate finance, real estate development, or a law degree from an accredited university or college.
  • Previously completing equivalent prelicensing education in another state.

The Prelicensing Curriculum

The North Carolina Real Estate Commission only approves prelicensing educators who follow the course syllabus.

The following topics are covered in the course:

  • Basic real estate concepts
  • Property insurance basics
  • Basic construction
  • Basic real estate investment
  • Property ownership and interest
  • Property taxation and assessment
  • Transfer of title to real property
  • Federal income taxation of home ownership/sale
  • Land use controls
  • Environmental issues in real estate
  • Brokerage relationships: law and practice
  • Agency contracts (sales) and related practices
  • Basic contract law
  • Sales contracts and related procedures
  • Real estate financing
  • Closing a sales transaction
  • Real property valuation
  • Landlord and tenant
  • Property management
  • Fair housing
  • Real estate license law and commission rules
  • Agent Safety
  • Real estate mathematics

North Carolina Real Estate Schools

When pursuing your real estate career, you must ensure you get the most out of your investment. While North Carolina has a wide array of real estate schools that follow the same curriculum, features are different from school to school. Some are more interactive than others, some provide more quizzes than others, and some offer more practice tests. Overall, researching the different schools is essential to ensure all of your needs are met.

According to The close, these are the five best real estate schools in North Carolina in 2022:

School Best for: Approximate Pricing
The CE shop Extra features $716
Aceable Agent Mobile $594
Kaplan Online-live streaming hybrid $448
Superior School of Real Estate Class options $529
Carolina School of Real Estate In-person classes $450

From our research, prices tend to vary and change due to the time of year of discounts offered at the time of enrolment.

Complete a Background Check

Towards the end of your prelicensing course, your instructor will advise you and walk you through the steps of obtaining a background check. You must get a criminal record check to qualify for the state exam.

An agency must have completed this criminal record check within six months before filling out and submitting your application.

Criminal Background Check paper with a pen and glasses

Apply to Take the State Exam

After successfully taking and passing the 75-hour North Carolina Broker prelicensing course and completing your background check, the next step is to apply to take the North Carolina State exam. You can find and fill out your licensing application on the NC Real Estate Commission website. When applying, you must also submit your prelicensing course completion certificate.

To qualify to be a real estate agent, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be a legal resident of the United States
  • Have a social security number
  • Meet the North Carolina Real Estate Commission's character requirements

Once you have submitted your licensing application and paid the $100 application fee, the commission will process your application. You will be issued a certificate of eligibility to take the NC State exam. Please keep in mind that if your application is incomplete or you do not qualify, the application fee is non-refundable.

After completing the above steps, you will contact the testing service and pay a $56 examination fee to schedule and take your license exam.

Take the North Carolina State Licensing Exam

Person taking an exam on a white desk with a pencil

The most crucial step in obtaining your NC real estate exam is passing the North Carolina Real Estate Broker license examination within 180 days of exam eligibility. The exam is scheduled and administered through the professional testing service (PSI) and can be taken in person or online through a scheduled proctor. North Carolina is a "broker only" state, meaning there is only one license examination between state and national portions.

The license exam is an entry-level examination designed to determine your minimal competency to practice real estate. The state portion of the exam is 40 questions, and you must answer 29 correctly to pass. The national portion is 80 questions, and you must pass 57 correctly to pass. This is a comprehensive exam, and you may NOT choose to take only one section during your scheduled appointment, and you must give both for license eligibility. You have 4 hours to complete both portions of the exam, and all questions are multiple-choice.

If you fail both the national and state section of the exam, you can retake it within the same 180 days. Unfortunately, the $100 application fee and the $56 examination fee will be collected each time you retake the exam.

If you pass one of the two sections, you may apply to take the remaining section in the same 180 days. If at the end of your 180-day period, you have still only passed one section, you will lose your benefit of having passed one area. In this event, you will have to reapply and take both sections to receive a North Carolina real estate license.

Passing the North Carolina Broker Licensing Exam

Once you have successfully passed the licensing exam, the commission will determine if you possess the necessary "character" for licensure. If they deem you fit, you will be issued your inactive North Carolina provisional broker license!

Your license will be sent to you by the commission via mail within ten days of passing.

Taking and passing the North Carolina State licensing exam may seem daunting, but with the proper education and preparation, you will pass without a doubt!

Congratulations, you have been issued your North Carolina Real Estate license! So, what's next?

License Categories/Status Level

Provisional broker status is your entry-level license status issued upon passing the North Carolina real estate exam. Provisional brokers must be under the supervision of a broker-in-charge to be on active status and complete the 90-hour post-licensing requirement to remove the provisional status.

Broker status is the primary license status and is issued when all requirements are met. As a full broker, you may now engage in real estate activities as an affiliated agent under a BIC or independently as a sole proprietor or entity.

Your Next Steps

Joining a Brokerage

After you complete the North Carolina Broker exam, your license is issued to you on inactive provisional status. An active broker-in-charge must supervise all provisional brokers. To become an active broker, you must first affiliate with a brokerage. From there, your broker-in-charge will file a "license activation/affiliation" form with the commission. Once you have an active status, it is essential to maintain it. To remain active, you must pay for annual license renewal on time and complete the post-licensing and continuing education requirements in your allotted time frame. You must always be on the active status if you are performing real estate brokerage activities.

Paper, pens, and a wood toy house on a white desk

Post-Licensing and Provisional Status Removal

To remove the provisional status on your license, you must complete post-licensing. Post-licensing consists of 90 hours of additional education divided into three 30-hour courses. The courses are as follows:

  • Broker relationships and responsibilities
  • Contracts and closings
  • License law, commission rules, and legal concepts

Once you've completed all three post-licensing courses within the time frame, your education provider will automatically notify the commission, and your provisional status will automatically be terminated. If you fail to complete the course in time, your license will be placed on inactive status, and you will have to complete the course and request the reactivation of your license.

Joining the RRAR

RRAR is short for Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS. An agent becomes a REALTOR when they become a member of the National Association of REALTORS. The term REALTOR is a membership mark that identifies you as a real estate professional member of the national association and abides by its strict code of ethics. While it's not required that you join the association and become a REALTOR, it is highly recommended. You must be a member of the association to join a North Carolina MLS, which is one of the most helpful tools in real estate. Raleigh Regional Association of Realtor dues is $541 per year plus a $300 application fee.

Joining the MLS

The multiple listing service (MLS) is a database of property listing data available for sale (currently or in the past) maintained and shared by real estate brokers. As said before, you must be a member of the realtor association to join. The MLS is beneficial for all brokers because it establishes rules for cooperation in sharing and selling listings. When entering the MLS, you essentially agree to sell other brokers' listings, and those brokers do the same for you. The MLS helps agents find the perfect home for their buyers and helps agents reach a larger audience when listing their client's homes for sale. The quarterly fee for licensed users is $150.

Steps Overview

How To Get A Real Estate License Graphic

  1. Complete the North Carolina 75-hour Broker prelicensing course.
  2. Submit a license application with the application fee and the required documentation
  3. The commission will determine your eligibility for licensing examination. If you are qualified, the commission will send you a "notice of examination eligibility."
  4. Contact testing services to schedule your exam and pay your examination fee.
  5. Successfully pass the examination, and the commission will determine if you possess the requisite "character" for licensure.
  6. If qualified, the commission will issue your license.
Are you ready to become a North Carolina real estate agent?

Becoming a real estate agent can be an extremely rewarding career choice. If you follow the steps above, you will become a successful realtor in North Carolina in no time. We have provided you with a lot of information that can often be complicated; feel free to contact us if you have any questions!

WRITTEN BY
Ryan Fitzgerald
Ryan Fitzgerald
Realtor

Ryan Fitzgerald is a top Realtor®, founder and owner of Raleigh Realty, one of the Triangle’s fastest-growing and most innovative real estate brokerages. Driven by a mission to be the best—not the biggest—brokerage in Raleigh, Ryan has built Raleigh Realty into a firm known for its cutting-edge marketing, high-performing agents, and culture rooted in collaboration, growth, and excellence.

Raleigh Realty

Under Ryan’s leadership, Raleigh Realty has become a top boutique brokerage in Raleigh-Durham, serving clients across Wake County and the surrounding areas. Raleigh Realty stands apart for its:

  • Top-Tier Agents – Every Realtor on the team is hand-selected for their skill, professionalism, and client-first approach. Raleigh Realty isn’t about quantity—it’s about quality.

  • Award-Winning Website – RaleighRealty.com is consistently ranked among the best real estate websites with incredible user experience, cutting-edge IDX technology, and hyper-local guides that help buyers and sellers navigate the market.

  • Inbound Lead Generation – With a strong focus on SEO and digital marketing, the brokerage generates a steady flow of organic leads, giving agents the opportunity to grow thriving businesses.

  • Supportive Culture – Ryan emphasizes mentorship, accountability, and autonomy—no micromanaging, just the right systems and tools for agents to succeed.

  • Community Focus – From neighborhood spotlights to relocation guides, Raleigh Realty is committed to being a resource for both buyers and sellers as they make one of life’s biggest decisions.

The firm continues to expand its reach, with the goal of 100 agents and $1 billion in annual sales volume by 2030—all while staying true to its boutique, client-centered values.

Awards & Recognition

Ryan already has notable public credentials and prestige:

  • He has been featured in outlets such as Forbes, Wall Street Journal, U.S. News, among others (as mentioned on the site).

  • Realtor Magazine named him a “Top 30 Under 30” in the country (as noted on his Raleigh Realty page).

  • Raleigh Realty is widely acknowledged in the local real estate community for its digital prowess and thought leadership.

  • The company is consistently ranked among the top real estate firms in Raleigh and is known for having one of the highest-traffic real estate websites in the region.

Community Involvement & Giving Back

Ryan’s leadership extends far beyond the closing table. He has built Raleigh Realty to be a company that actively gives back to the community and invests in making Raleigh a better place to live.

  • The Green Chair Project – Ryan and Raleigh Realty proudly support The Green Chair Project, a local nonprofit that provides essential furnishings and household items to families transitioning out of homelessness, crisis, or disaster. By partnering with this organization, Ryan helps ensure families have the comfort and dignity of a furnished home.

  • Food Donations & Drives – Raleigh Realty regularly organizes and contributes to food donation efforts, partnering with local pantries and organizations to help fight food insecurity across Wake County. These efforts bring agents, clients, and neighbors together to support those in need.

  • Local Events & Client Appreciation – Raleigh Realty hosts family-friendly gatherings such as pumpkin patch outings, coffee + donut socials, and seasonal celebrations designed to strengthen neighborhood bonds.

  • Supporting Schools & Youth Programs – Ryan partners with local schools and youth organizations to provide resources, sponsorships, and mentorship opportunities, ensuring that the next generation has access to growth and guidance.

  • Small Business Advocacy – Raleigh Realty proudly highlights and partners with local small businesses, amplifying their visibility and reinforcing Raleigh’s reputation as a vibrant place to live and work.

For Ryan, success is measured not just in sales, but in the lasting relationships and community impact Raleigh Realty leaves behind.

AgentLoft – Powering the Next Generation of Realtors

Ryan is also the visionary behind AgentLoft, a SaaS platform designed to help Realtors nationwide build their brand and generate leads. AgentLoft websites combine IDX technology, SEO expertise, and AI integration to give agents the competitive edge they need.

Personal Mission

As a proud father to his daughter Emma, Ryan’s mission is bigger than business. He’s dedicated to building a brokerage and a platform that create opportunity and stability for families, clients, and agents alike. His approach blends entrepreneurship with empathy—ensuring that Raleigh Realty continues to grow not just in sales volume, but in reputation, trust, and impact.


👉 Whether you’re buying or selling a home, or you’re a Realtor looking for the right brokerage to grow your business, Raleigh Realty—under Ryan Fitzgerald’s leadership—offers the expertise, technology, and community-minded culture to help you succeed.

Chapters
01
Prelicensing
02
The Prelicensing Curriculum
03
North Carolina Real Estate Schools
04
Complete a Background Check
05
Apply to Take the State Exam
06
Take the North Carolina State Licensing Exam
07
Passing the North Carolina Broker Licensing Exam
08
License Categories/Status Level
09
Your Next Steps
10
Steps Overview
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