Pass Your Georgia Real Estate Exam the First Time

How hard is the Georgia real estate exam?

Georgia's exam has 152 questions, the most of any major state. The first-attempt pass rate runs roughly 60-70%. The 75-hour pre-licensing requirement is moderate, but Georgia's distinctive Brokerage Relationships in Real Estate Transactions Act (BRRETA) tests heavily and catches candidates who relied on national prep alone.

How many questions are on the Georgia real estate exam?

152 questions total: 100 national questions and 52 Georgia-specific state questions. Both portions count, and you must pass both.

What's the passing score on the Georgia real estate exam?

75% on the combined exam. You need at least 114 of 152 questions correct.

How long do I have to take the Georgia real estate exam?

255 minutes (4 hours 15 minutes). The longest exam time in the country, befitting the most questions.

What does the Georgia real estate exam cost?

$88 per attempt. Application fee through GREC is $170. Background check ~$40.

Total cost including 75 hours of pre-licensing ($300-$600): roughly $598-$898.

What's covered on the GA-specific portion?

The 52 state questions concentrate on:

1. Georgia license law and GREC rules. License categories, broker supervision, advertising.
2. BRRETA (Brokerage Relationships in Real Estate Transactions Act). Georgia's distinctive agency disclosure framework.
3. Georgia property disclosures. Required seller disclosures.
4. Trust accounts and earnest money. Georgia's specific earnest money handling rules.
5. Georgia contracts. State-specific contract provisions and timber/agricultural property considerations.

What if I fail the Georgia real estate exam?

You can retake. Score report shows weak content areas.

What's BRRETA?

The Brokerage Relationships in Real Estate Transactions Act (BRRETA) is Georgia's framework for agency relationships. BRRETA defines:

• Client relationships: Full agency with fiduciary duties
• Customer relationships: Brokerage services without representation
• Designated agency: A broker assigns different agents to represent buyer and seller
• Dual agency: Same agent represents both parties (rare under BRRETA)

BRRETA requires written disclosure of the relationship type at the first substantive contact.

Do I need a sponsoring broker before taking the GA exam?

No. You can take the exam without a sponsoring broker, but you cannot activate your license without affiliating with a Georgia-licensed broker.

How long until I get my GA license after passing?

GREC processes complete applications within 2-4 weeks. Required: passing scores, $170 fee, sponsoring broker designation, fingerprint background check.

How much do real estate agents make in Georgia?

Median agent income $50,000. Brokers $70,000. Top earners in Atlanta metro can clear $200K+. Georgia's median home price is $350,000.

What's the post-licensing requirement?

Georgia salespersons must complete 25 hours of post-licensing education within the first year. After post-licensing, ongoing CE is 36 hours every 4 years.

What's GREC's role?

The Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC) regulates real estate licensing under Georgia Code Title 43 Chapter 40. GREC licenses professionals, approves courses, investigates complaints, and enforces license law.

The Georgia salesperson exam combines 100 national questions and 52 state-specific questions in 255 minutes. It's the largest US real estate exam by question count.

Question breakdown

National portion: 100 questions

Standard PSI national content: property ownership, valuation, financing, agency, contracts, math, federal disclosures.

Georgia portion: 52 questions

Topics:

• GA license law and GREC rules (12-15 questions)
• BRRETA agency relationships (10-12 questions)
• Property disclosures (6-8 questions)
• Trust accounts and earnest money (6-8 questions)
• Contracts and state-specific provisions (8-10 questions)

Combined scoring

Georgia uses combined scoring (75% across the full 152 questions = 114 correct).

Time management

255 minutes for 152 questions = 100 seconds per question. Generous. Most candidates use 3-3.5 hours.

Cost structure

• Pre-licensing (75 hours): $300-$600
• Exam: $88
• License: $170
• Background check: ~$40
• Total: $598-$898

Retake rules

Retakes allowed. $88 per attempt.

National Exam Topics (100 questions)

1. Property Ownership and Land Use Controls — Estates, easements, zoning
2. Valuation and Market Analysis — Three approaches, CMA
3. Real Estate Financing — Mortgages, FHA/VA, RESPA, TILA
4. Real Estate Calculations — Math, prorations, commissions
5. Laws of Agency — Agency relationships, fiduciary duties
6. Mandated Disclosures — Federal disclosures
7. Contracts — Listing agreements, purchase contracts
8. Real Estate Practice — Working with buyers and sellers, fair housing, advertising

Georgia State Exam Topics (52 questions)

1. Georgia Commission Regulations — GREC rules, license categories, advertising
2. BRRETA (Agency Relationships) — Client, customer, designated agency, dual agency
3. Trust Accounts and Earnest Money — Georgia's specific rules
4. Georgia Property Disclosures — Required seller disclosures
5. Georgia Contracts — State-specific contract provisions

Why this list matters

Each state topic generates 8-12 questions. BRRETA alone is 10-12 questions. Master BRRETA and you've handled a major chunk of the state portion.

What this list doesn't tell you

PSI writes scenario-based questions. Practice questions, not just topic review.

Georgia offers Salesperson and Broker licenses under Georgia Code Title 43 Chapter 40, regulated by GREC.

Salesperson License Requirements

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Complete 75 hours of GREC-approved pre-licensing education
• Pass the Georgia real estate Salesperson exam
• Submit a Salesperson license application with the $170 fee
• Complete fingerprint-based background check
• Affiliate with a Georgia-licensed Broker

Post-Licensing

Salespersons must complete 25 hours of post-licensing education within the first year of licensure.

Broker License Requirements

• Hold an active Salesperson license for at least 3 years
• Have demonstrable active practice during those 3 years
• Complete 60 hours of broker pre-licensing education
• Pass the Broker exam
• Submit a Broker license application

Continuing Education

Georgia requires 36 hours of CE every 4 years. The 36 hours must include specific mandatory topics.

Reciprocity

Georgia has limited reciprocity. Check with GREC for current terms.

Mistake 1: Underestimating BRRETA

Georgia's Brokerage Relationships in Real Estate Transactions Act tests 10-12 questions. National prep doesn't cover BRRETA's specific framework.

The fix: Spend dedicated study sessions on BRRETA. Memorize client vs. customer relationships, designated agency rules, and required disclosures.

Mistake 2: Skipping earnest money rules

Georgia has specific rules for earnest money handling, broker trust accounts, and disbursement. The exam tests these in scenarios.

The fix: Memorize Georgia's earnest money timing rules and disbursement procedures.

Mistake 3: Misreading agency disclosure timing

BRRETA requires written disclosure at first substantive contact. The exam tests timing in scenarios.

The fix: Memorize the timing trigger (first substantive contact) and what must be disclosed.

Mistake 4: Skipping math practice

100 national questions include significant math. Calculations are woven into scenarios.

The fix: Do at least 50 practice math problems.

Mistake 5: Not practicing under timed conditions

Georgia's 152-question exam in 255 minutes requires sustained focus. Candidates who haven't practiced under exam conditions tire late in the test.

The fix: Take at least 2 timed full-length practice exams before exam day.

What separates pass from fail

Pass: studied BRRETA deeply, mastered earnest money rules, did 250+ practice questions, took 2+ timed simulations.

Fail: relied on national prep, skipped Georgia-specific topics, didn't practice under timed conditions.

Week 1: Foundation and assessment

Day 1-2: Cold practice exam. Day 3-7: GA license law, GREC rules, foundation.

Week 2: BRRETA deep dive

Day 8-11: BRRETA agency relationships. Spend 4 days here. Master client vs. customer, designated agency, dual agency. Day 12-14: Property disclosures, earnest money, trust accounts.

Week 3: National content

Day 15-17: Contracts. Day 18-19: Financing. Day 20-21: Math intensive.

Week 4: Simulation

Day 22-24: Two full timed practice exams (252+ minutes each is sustained focus). Day 25-27: Targeted review. Day 28: Review missed questions. Day 29: Light review. Day 30: Exam day.

Three things every plan should include

1. At least 2 full-length timed simulated exams (255 minutes is a lot of stamina).
2. At least 50 BRRETA practice questions.
3. At least 50 math problems.

The Brokerage Relationships in Real Estate Transactions Act (BRRETA) is Georgia's framework for how real estate licensees relate to consumers. BRRETA defines four relationship types and the duties owed under each.

The exam tests BRRETA 10-12 times across the 52 state questions. Master it and you've handled a major chunk of the state portion.

The four BRRETA relationships

Client relationship:

• The licensee represents the client (buyer OR seller) with full fiduciary duties
• Owes loyalty, confidentiality, obedience, full disclosure, and accounting
• Established by written brokerage engagement agreement

Customer relationship:

• The licensee provides brokerage services without representing the customer
• Owes honesty, fair dealing, and reasonable skill but no fiduciary duties
• Establishes the licensee as a "transaction broker" essentially

Designated agency:

• A broker designates different agents within the same brokerage to represent buyer and seller
• Each designated agent owes full fiduciary duties to their respective client
• Confidentiality is maintained between the two designated agents
• Both parties must consent in writing

Dual agency:

• Same agent represents both buyer and seller
• Modified duties to maintain fairness to both parties
• Limited disclosure obligations
• Both parties must consent in writing
• Rare under BRRETA because designated agency is preferred

Required disclosures

BRRETA requires:

• Written agency disclosure at the first substantive contact with a buyer or seller
• The disclosure must explain the relationship the licensee is offering
• The disclosure must explain duties owed under that relationship
• New disclosure when the relationship changes

The brokerage engagement agreement

BRRETA distinguishes between informal agency relationships and formal engagement agreements:

• An informal client relationship can exist before a written agreement
• The brokerage engagement agreement formalizes the relationship in writing
• The engagement agreement specifies duties, compensation, and termination

The exam tests when a written agreement is required vs. when informal client status applies.

Compensation and BRRETA

BRRETA allows flexible compensation structures:

• Buyer's agent compensation can come from seller, buyer, or both (with disclosure)
• Customer relationships often have different compensation structures
• Designated agency typically uses standard listing agreement terms

Required disclosure: who pays the licensee and how much.

Sample exam questions

Q: A Georgia licensee meets a potential buyer at an open house. They have a substantive conversation about the buyer's home search. What relationship has formed under BRRETA, and what disclosure is required?

A: A customer relationship has formed by default. The licensee must provide written agency disclosure explaining the customer relationship and any duties owed.

Q: A Georgia broker assigns Agent A to represent the seller and Agent B to represent the buyer in the same transaction. Both parties consent in writing. What relationship type is this?

A: Designated agency. Each designated agent owes full fiduciary duties to their respective client.

Q: A Georgia licensee represents a buyer (client) and shows the buyer a property listed by the same brokerage. The licensee continues representing only the buyer. What disclosure is required?

A: The licensee must disclose that the property is listed by the same brokerage and that designated agency or dual agency may apply, depending on whether the listing agent represents the seller.

Why this matters for your career

If you pass the exam and become a Georgia licensee, BRRETA shapes every consumer interaction. Misunderstanding it leads to:

• Incomplete disclosures (regulatory violations)
• Misrepresented relationships (lawsuits)
• Compensation disputes
• License disciplinary action

The exam tests BRRETA because it's the foundation of how Georgia real estate practice works.

You walked out of the testing center with a passing score. Congratulations. Here's what happens next.

Step 1: Confirm your sponsoring Broker

You cannot operate as a licensed Salesperson without affiliating with a Georgia-licensed Broker. The Broker holds your license, supervises transactions, provides E&O insurance, and pays your commission.

Step 2: Submit your license application via GREC

Required: passing scores, completed application, $170 license fee, sponsoring Broker designation, background check authorization.

Step 3: Background check

Georgia requires fingerprint-based background checks through approved livescan vendors.

Step 4: Wait for license issuance

GREC processes complete applications within 2-4 weeks.

Step 5: Post-licensing (25 hours within first year)

Georgia Salespersons must complete 25 hours of post-licensing education within the first year. Schedule it early.

Step 6: Continuing education

After post-licensing, Georgia requires 36 hours of CE every 4 years.

Common post-licensing mistakes

Trap 1: Forgetting post-licensing deadline. 25 hours within first year. Missing it results in license expiration.

Trap 2: Skipping E&O insurance verification. Verify your broker covers E&O.

Trap 3: Forgetting CE renewal. Georgia's 4-year cycle is longer than most. Mark your calendar but don't forget about it.

Realistic income expectations

Median Georgia agent earns $50,000. Brokers $70,000.

• Year 1: $20K-$45K
• Year 2-5: $45K-$80K
• Top 25%: $80K-$200K+
• Top 5% (Atlanta metro): $200K+

Atlanta's high-growth market rewards productive agents. Smaller markets across Georgia have lower volume but less competition.

The first 30 days

Week 1: Set up MLS access, learn brokerage CRM. Week 2: Send "I'm now licensed" announcement. Week 3: Shadow your Broker. Week 4: Start prospecting. Schedule your first post-licensing courses.