Is a degree needed? A college degree is not a requirement to earn a real estate license in North Carolina, but education and training are essential for success. There are also a few other requirements to keep in mind: 

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must be a US citizen, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien under federal law. You are not required to be a resident of North Carolina.
• You must complete a state-approved 75-hour broker pre-licensing course.
• You must pass the North Carolina State Licensing Examination with a score of at least 75%.

Once you receive your broker’s license from the North Carolina Real Estate Commission, you then need to complete three post-licensing courses within 18 months of initial licensure to retain eligibility.

Although a college degree is not a requirement, it can be helpful to have education in related fields like business, finance, or marketing.

While there are fees associated with licensing and education requirements, the investment in your future career can easily pay for itself.

1. Pre-licensing real estate classes and training 

Estimated cost: $529+

Before you can sit for your real estate licensing exam, you need to attend a qualified and accredited real estate school such as Superior School of Real Estate. Because North Carolina requires that you take your coursework in person, online classes are not an option. Costs for education can range from school to school, as well as the extra course materials and study guides you might decide to purchase. To provide financial flexibility, some schools, including Superior, also offer a pay-over-time option with monthly payment plans through Affirm.

2. Real estate examination and licensing fees

Estimated cost: $185

The North Carolina real estate broker licenses are issued at no charge, but the application fee is $100, and the exam fee is $64. Licenses are issued for a one-year period ending on June 10. You will also have to pay for a criminal background check which starts around $20. This can vary widely depending on what state you have previously lived in.
You can also see other costs of becoming a real estate broker.

The classes and exam may challenge you, but with dedication and the right resources, you can achieve your goal of becoming a licensed real estate broker.

The North Carolina real estate exam comprises two sections: the national section and the state section. Most applicants must pass both sections. The only exception is applicants who are licensed in another state: they only need to pass the state section.

The state section is 40 questions. 
The national section is 80 questions. 

Additionally, there will be 5 pretest questions in the national portion and 5 pretest questions in the state portion. These are questions that the exam provider is considering for future tests; they don’t count toward your score.

To pass, you need a 75% score. So, for the state section, you need to answer 30 out of 40 questions correctly. For the national section, you need to answer 60 out of 80 questions correctly.

The length of time varies for each individual, but on average you can expect to need several months to complete the required education and pass the licensing exam. How long the 75-hour coursework takes to complete will depend on the school you choose and which method of study you prefer.

Taking the exam and receiving your license may take some time, too. You’ll have lots of options for locations and scheduling the exam with Pearson Vue—often even within days. So, when you plan your timeline for getting your North Carolina real estate license, it could take a few months, but you’ll be able to move at your pace.

But don’t forget: the most important part of earning your North Carolina real estate license is passing the exam! So, first and foremost, pick the education that fits you best.

You’ll find lots of opportunities when you’re looking to land your first job, but here are a few options.

Sales Broker
You know this one. Not only do you have the chance to earn the income you want, but you also get to help people find the home that they’ll love.

Property Manager
If you’re not as interested in the client-facing side of real estate, this choice could be appealing if you’d like to work on maintaining or improving properties.

Office Manager
Many brokerages want a licensed professional to help out with their office. If you have a license, you’ll be able to handle activities that require licensure.

Broker Price Opinions
If you enjoy the financial side of real estate, you can offer broker price opinions to banks and lenders who want to get a home valuation without going through the formal appraisal process.

Leasing Broker
With North Carolina’s growing population, many people are interested in renting rather than buying. Leasing brokers handle listing, showing, and helping renters lease properties.

Real Estate Instructor
To help other aspiring brokers learn the craft of real estate, you can teach courses. Often, this can be a great secondary income avenue beyond other real estate careers.

There are many other potential career paths, too, including foreclosure bidder, consultant, showing broker, transaction coordinator, and more.

If you want to expand your real estate career beyond state lines, there are reciprocity agreements that let you use license in other states.

The state has what’s called a "limited license recognition" agreement with every other state in the US. This agreement extends to U.S. territories and Canadian provinces as well. What's more, your place of residence is not a factor in getting a North Carolina real estate license.

You can obtain your NC license by passing the state section of the license examination; you do not have to repeat the general pre-licensing coursework. You may have to take post-licensing courses depending on your current state license. This varies state to state, so refer to your state’s real estate commission for the reciprocity agreement.