Metadescription: Wondering which state has the hardest real estate exam? See pass rates by state, toughest exams, and smart prep tips to boost your chances.

Hardest Real Estate Exam by State

Have you ever thought of becoming a real estate agent? It is a very competitive and enticing industry, but the very first step often scares candidates. The real estate exam is hard to pass, and many people fail it on their first attempt. However, the exam is not the same in every state, and some are regarded as more difficult than others. 

In this article, we’ll explore how challenging a real estate exam can be, from the perspective of states with the lowest pass rates. What makes them hard, and how can you prepare better to be a part of the low percentage?

How Hard is the Real Estate Exam

Every state has its own parameters and requirements, and of course, each has a unique exam. So the process is not the same, and when people say that becoming a real estate agent is difficult, they might be thinking of a different aspect of the journey. 

There are several factors that vary from state to state, like:

• Pre-Licensing Education Requirements: Some states have more extensive pre-licensing education requirements, including longer hours or more in-depth coursework. 
• Examination Difficulty: The real estate exams vary by state in terms of content, complexity, and format. An easy way to estimate the difficulty is to check the passing rates. 
• State-Specific Laws and Regulations: Each state has its own real estate laws, which agents must learn and adhere to. States with complex or constantly changing laws, such as California or New York, may make the licensing process more challenging for prospective agents.
• Background Check and Fingerprinting Requirements: Some states may have stricter background check or fingerprinting requirements for licensees, which can be a barrier to entry, especially for those with criminal records.

But what about the difference in exam difficulty between states? While you can do an in-depth study, a good indicator could be the passing rate. How many candidates pass it on their first try? We reviewed the data from 2024 and 2025 collected by World Population Review, and made this comparative table, ordered from the states with the lowest pass rates.

States Ranked by Pass Rate

State	Pre licensing courses (h)	Passing Score (%)	Pass Rate (%)
North Carolina	75	70	39
California	125	70	45
Illinois	90	75	45
Florida	63	75	47
Tennessee	90	70	47.5
Arkansas	60	70	50
Kentucky	96	75	50
Georgia	75	75	50-60
Maryland	60	70	52
Alabama	60	70	55
Oklahoma	90	70	55
South Carolina	90	70	56
Hawaii	60	70	46-56
Virginia	60	72	57
Texas	180		57.69
Connecticut	60	70	60
New York	75	70	60
Arizona	90	75	60–66
North Dakota	90	70	61
Delaware	99	70	62

Source

The Most Challenging States 

As you can see in the table, many states are considered difficult based on the pass rate alone. However, when you search online in forums like Reddit, some states are mentioned more often than others. Three classic examples are California, New York, and Texas, which rank 2nd, 17th, and 15th, respectively, by pass rate alone. 

Why does this happen? Well, one reason is the number of students per state. In very populous states like New York and California, there will be plenty more candidates each year than in less populous states like Tennessee. So, of course, even if the smaller state has a subjectively more difficult exam, you will see more people online talking about the New York exam. 

To understand this concept better, let’s explore why some of these states are considered so hard, even if the pass rate doesn’t seem to indicate it. 

How Hard is the California Real Estate Exam 

The California Real Estate Exam pass rate is one of the lowest, getting in second place in the previous table. For the past two years, the pass rate has been below 50%, meaning that about half of the candidates have had to retake the exam. 

Let’s first review the exam structure, as it’s essential to mentally prepare. 

The California Real Estate Agent Exam contains: 

• 150 questions you must answer within 3 hours. 
• These questions are divided into seven sections, each covering different topics and situations you should have learned about while studying real estate and practicing online courses. 
• The California Broker Exam has 200 questions; you have 4 hours to complete it.

Among the most difficult sections, candidates find the Real Estate Practice and Disclosures particularly challenging. This section takes up 25% of the exam and has between 37 and 38 questions to answer, so it’s easier to see how it can affect the final result. Think of it this way: if you ace this section, you already have a third of the correct answers you need to pass the exam. 

Learn More: You can read all the requirements to become a real estate agent in California here, and learn more about our prep courses for the California Real Estate Exam here. 

How Hard is the Texas Real Estate Exam 

How about Texas, you might ask yourself. It’s often cited as one of the most challenging states in which to obtain your real estate license, but it ranked 15th in the table. How hard is it actually?

There are many factors that contribute to making the exam so hard. First of all, we’re talking about a huge state, and on top of that, one that is a prime destination for international and domestic immigration. This means that the laws are more complicated, as they have so much to cover. So much so that Texas requires 180 hours of pre-licensing education. Which is the highest of all 50 states, followed by Colorado with 168, and Oregon with 150.

The exam itself consists of: 

• 125 questions about national and state topics. 
• To pass, applicants must pass 56 out of 85 questions in the national section and 21 out of 40 in the state section. 
• Only 60% of test takers pass on the first try. 

On top of this, when you apply, you must meet the Texas Real Estate Commission’s honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness qualifications. Depending on your background, this step makes obtaining a license trickier, as the requirements are not straightforward. 

But you can be proactive and fill out a Fitness Determination Form. This is not a necessary step, but if you are unsure if you can obtain a license, you can use this method so the Commission reviews your case before you spend any money on the process. 

Learn More: You can read all the requirements to become a real estate agent in Texas here, and learn more about our prep courses for the Texas Real Estate Exam here. 

How Hard is the New York Real Estate Exam

New York is consistently cited as one of the most challenging states in which to obtain a real estate license. However, this doesn’t seem to match its place in the previous table. This doesn’t mean that people calling it hard are wrong, so let’s see why this happens.  

The pre-licensing course might not be as long as Texas’s, but it still covers a lot of material that you have to learn by heart. For prospective agents, it’s only 75 hours of pre-licensing coursework. But for brokers, the requirement increases to 120 hours on top of their experience as a licensed salesperson.

But also, New York has a complex set of real estate laws, including detailed regulations on property management, landlord-tenant laws, and specific rules governing real estate transactions. These are more intricate compared to the national standards that other states use. 

Despite these challenges, you can succeed in any state with the proper preparation. Lexawise offers state-specific exam prep tailored to the needs of aspiring real estate agents nationwide.

Learn More: You can read all the requirements to become a real estate agent in New York here, and learn more about our prep courses for the New York Real Estate Exam here. 

Provider exam passage rates for salespersons and brokers

Now that you know how hard the exam can be, don’t worry. There are steps you can take to help you pass. For example, enrolling in exam prep courses. Check which providers are available in your area, and see if they publish their pass rates for sales agents and brokers.

For example:

• Texas: Many providers report high pass rates, with some reaching 70-80% for sales agents. These providers offer comprehensive prep covering both state and national topics.
  
• California: With one of the toughest exams, providers with pass rates over 50% are considered effective. These courses focus on critical areas like real estate law, finance, and contracts.
  
• Florida: While competitive, some providers in Florida have achieved 60-70% pass rates. Top programs offer practice exams and state-specific content, helping students master complex topics.
  
  

Why Prep for the Real Estate Exam With Lexawise

If you’re preparing for the real estate exam in any of the states we’ve discussed, don’t fret, we’re here to help you prepare. We have exam prep courses for all states and levels, plus, our students report higher confidence and less stress during the exam, and the results are incredible. 

Check out all the resources we offer with our Exam prep courses!

• 4,500+ Practice Questions across every key exam topic
• Smart Analytics to track your performance and progress
• Real Estate Math Guide with easy-to-follow steps
• Unlimited Practice Exams to build confidence and endurance
• Real Estate Exam Study Guide PDF to study anywhere, anytime
• 818 Flashcards to master your exam’s real estate terms
• Complete Real Estate Glossary to quickly find any term
• 24/7 AI Tutor ready to answer your questions on the spot
• Video Lessons to visually guide you through complex concepts
• 100 Audio Lessons so you can review key material on the go, hands-free

Lexawise suits every learning style and has very affordable pricing. Check our exam prep courses and find the program that fits you best.

Summary

While some states have harder exams, this doesn’t mean that they’re impossible. There are plenty of factors that make people consider them challenging, but knowing them means that you can be better prepared! Even in states with lower pass rates, you can still become a real estate agent if you put in the hours and work hard. 

Ready to take the next step toward your real estate career? Check out Lexawise exam prep and join the ranks of successful agents today!

real estate career? Check out Lexawise exam prep and join the ranks of successful agents today!