Getting ready for the North Carolina real estate exam? This guide gives you everything you need: an easy-to-understand overview of the exam, a breakdown of the topics, and study strategies that actually work.
Passing the exam takes more than just memorization. You need to practice with real questions, understand how the concepts apply under North Carolina law, and use proven methods that boost long-term memory and confidence on test day.
What You Need to Get Your Real Estate License in North Carolina
To qualify for a North Carolina real estate license, you must:
Be 18 or older
Have a valid Social Security number
Be a U.S. citizen or legally present and authorized to work in the U.S.
Schedule your test with Pearson Vue and pay the exam fee
Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID to the exam
In North Carolina, all new licensees start as Provisional Brokers, not sales agents. As a Provisional Broker, you’ll work under a Broker-in-Charge until you finish 90 hours of post-licensing education.
How Many Questions Are on the NC Real Estate Exam?
The whole exam includes 140 multiple-choice questions:
80 questions from the national portion
60 questions from the North Carolina portion
You will have 2.5 hours for the national section and 2 hours for the state section, totaling 4.5 hours.
Start here: mastering real estate national exam practice
The following study strategies are really effective for both portions of the exam:
Take North Carolina-Specific Practice Exams: Use realistic practice exams that focus on the content required by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.
Use Flashcards to Learn Key Terms: Flashcards help reinforce definitions, legal concepts, and exam vocabulary such as encumbrances, fiduciary duty, and title theory.
Study the NC Real Estate Manual Thoroughly: The Real Estate Manual is your primary resource for state-specific laws and rules. Focus on brokerage relationships, license law, trust account handling, and disciplinary procedures.
Review Your Missed Questions Strategically: Don’t just move on from wrong answers. Take time to understand why you missed them and revisit the related topic. This helps build long-term retention and improve your test performance.
Lexawise offers all these proven study methods in one place: custom quizzes by topic, vocabulary flashcards to master key terms, smart practice exams that adjust to your level, detailed study guides, a math formula sheet, and a progress tracker that indicates when you’re truly prepared to pass.
Your North Carolina Real Estate Exam Study Plan
Use this timeline to stay organized and confident:
Weeks 1–3: Focus on completing your 75-hour pre-licensing course. Pay attention, and take good notes.
Weeks 4–5: Start working through full-length practice exams. Review your results and highlight areas where you’re struggling.
Weeks 6–7: Dive deeper into your weaker subjects and review North Carolina-specific content like license law and agency relationships.
Week 8: Use this time for a light review. Take a couple of timed practice tests, revisit key concepts, and go over your flashcards.
Plan on setting aside at least 6 to 8 weeks to prepare. It’s not about cramming—it’s about building absolute confidence in the material.
What is the best way to study for a real estate exam?