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Real estate license · North Carolina

North Carolina real estate license: the official requirements

Age, pre-licensing hours, the exam, background check, broker sponsorship, fees and renewal, from the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.

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Updated Nov 6, 2026 · Requirements: each state's real estate licensing authority or its statute
Quick answer

To get a real estate license in North Carolina (the broker (provisional broker) license): Minimum age: At least 18. Pre-licensing education: The 75-hour North Carolina Broker Prelicensing Course, with a mandatory end-of-course exam, from a Commission-certified provider. Licensing exam: A two-part license exam with separate National and State sections, administered by Pearson. Sponsoring broker: A provisional broker must be supervised by a broker-in-charge to be on active status. Your licensing authority is the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.

Requirements

Requirements for the North Carolina broker (provisional broker) license

Data
North Carolina real estate license requirements (North Carolina Real Estate Commission)
RequirementNorth Carolina
License you apply forNorth Carolina is a broker-only state: the entry-level license is a broker license on provisional status.
Minimum ageAt least 18.
Pre-licensing educationThe 75-hour North Carolina Broker Prelicensing Course, with a mandatory end-of-course exam, from a Commission-certified provider.
Post-licensing educationThe 90-hour Postlicensing education program within 18 months of initial licensure, to remove provisional status.
Licensing examA two-part license exam with separate National and State sections, administered by Pearson.
Background checkA criminal record report from the Commission's approved vendor, prepared within six months before you apply.
Sponsoring brokerA provisional broker must be supervised by a broker-in-charge to be on active status.
State fees$105 application fee; $50 annual renewal.
License termOne year: every license expires on June 30 unless renewed.
Continuing education8 hours a year (a 4-hour Update course plus a 4-hour elective) by June 10; none during your first license year.

Where the official source we read does not state something, the table says so rather than guessing. Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools and course providers, and fingerprint vendors are not included.

Steps

How to get licensed in North Carolina

Data
  1. Complete the 75-hour North Carolina Broker Prelicensing Course.
  2. Submit a license application with the fee and the required documents, including the criminal record report.
  3. The Commission decides whether you are eligible for the exam and sends a Notice of Examination Eligibility.
  4. Contact the testing service to schedule the exam and pay the exam fee.
  5. After you pass, the Commission reviews your character for licensure.
  6. The Commission issues the license.
Next

Go further

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FAQ

Questions people ask

How do I get a real estate license in North Carolina?
To get a real estate license in North Carolina (the broker (provisional broker) license): Minimum age: At least 18. Pre-licensing education: The 75-hour North Carolina Broker Prelicensing Course, with a mandatory end-of-course exam, from a Commission-certified provider. Licensing exam: A two-part license exam with separate National and State sections, administered by Pearson. Sponsoring broker: A provisional broker must be supervised by a broker-in-charge to be on active status. Your licensing authority is the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.
How many hours of pre-licensing education does North Carolina require?
The 75-hour North Carolina Broker Prelicensing Course, with a mandatory end-of-course exam, from a Commission-certified provider.
Do I need a sponsoring broker in North Carolina?
A provisional broker must be supervised by a broker-in-charge to be on active status.
How long is a North Carolina real estate license good for?
One year: every license expires on June 30 unless renewed.
How much does a North Carolina real estate license cost?
$105 application fee; $50 annual renewal. Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools and course providers, and fingerprint vendors are not included.
Method

How this page is built

Each fact on this page comes from the North Carolina Real Estate Commission, read on the dates shown, with the exact wording we relied on kept on file. Requirements and fees change; the North Carolina Real Estate Commission's current instructions govern. We re-read each state's sources every six months (next review by May 6, 2027).

What this page can't tell you
  • Not legal advice.
  • Licensing rules can change. Verify current requirements with the issuing agency.
  • Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools and course providers, and fingerprint vendors are not included.
  • This page covers the entry-level license. Broker, nonresident and reciprocal licenses have their own rules.
Sources
  1. North Carolina Real Estate Commission, Real Estate Licensing in North Carolina (April 2026), official source, read Nov 5, 2026.
  2. North Carolina Real Estate Commission, Apply For a License, official source, read Nov 5, 2026.
  3. North Carolina Real Estate Commission, Licensing FAQs, official source, read Nov 5, 2026.