Pass Your Iowa Real Estate Exam the First Time

Iowa requires a "Groundwater Hazard Statement" for every transfer; students often miss the specific items that must be disclosed.

Questions

120

80 NAT / 40 STATE

To Pass

70%

~84 / 120 TO PASS

Time Limit

3 Hrs

180 TOTAL MINUTES

Provider

PSI

IARC

Pass your Iowa Salesperson or Broker License

Iowa requires a mandatory disclosure form that exists in no other state, and candidates who have never encountered it fail an entire category of questions they did not know to prepare for.

National courses were not written around Iowa’s specific disclosure requirements, because those requirements are unique to this state. Generic prep platforms and AI tools trained on multistate content produce questions that reflect what most states do. Iowa does not do what most states do, and the exam tests the difference.

The License Professor is written by licensed Iowa professionals who know the PSI state portion’s content. Every question on Iowa disclosure requirements, agency timing rules, and trust account compliance is grounded in Iowa law.

Iowa Sample Exams

Experience the real study interface — no account required.

Salesperson

Individuals new to real estate who want to start their career helping clients buy and sell property

Broker

Experienced professionals who want to operate independently or run their own brokerage

Three Topics that Trip Up Iowa Students Most

Groundwater Hazard Statements

Iowa uniquely requires a Groundwater Hazard Statement filed with the county recorder for most transfers, disclosing wells, burial sites, underground storage tanks, and hazardous waste — if no hazards exist, the deed itself must include specific statutory exemption language.

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Agency Disclosure Timing

Unlike states requiring disclosure at "first substantial contact," Iowa ties it to the moment the licensee provides "specific assistance" — candidates from other states instinctively choose the wrong trigger point.

Continuing Education Audits

Iowa doesn’t require CE certificates at renewal, but the Commission conducts random audits requiring proof — failure to produce certificates during an audit can constitute a violation even if the courses were actually completed.

The Iowa Real Estate License Professor includes specialized deep dives for each of these.

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Iowa Real Estate Practice Questions

Sample questions from the Iowa real estate exam — with answers and explanations.

1. Which protected class does Iowa state law add beyond the seven federal Fair Housing Act categories?

  1. A.Gender identity
  2. B.Iowa has no additional state protected classes
  3. C.Sexual orientation
  4. D.Military status
Explanation: Iowa Code Chapter 216 prohibits housing discrimination based on sexual orientation, establishing it as a state-level protected class that extends beyond federal Fair Housing Act protections.

2. In Iowa, does marketing a property 'as-is' eliminate seller disclosure obligations?

  1. A.Only if the as-is designation is in writing before contract
  2. B.Yes, as-is sales fully exempt sellers from disclosure duties
  3. C.Yes, but only for cosmetic defects and minor issues
  4. D.No, disclosure obligations apply regardless of as-is status
Explanation: Iowa law requires sellers to disclose all known material facts about property condition. An as-is designation does not waive these statutory disclosure obligations. Sellers must provide required disclosures even when selling as-is.

3. A licensed salesperson in Iowa is asked by a property owner to manage a rental property, collect rents, and handle tenant complaints. What is required?

  1. A.Refer the owner to the supervising broker; only brokers can manage property
  2. B.Manage the property independently with an active salesperson license
  3. C.Obtain a separate property management certificate to manage
  4. D.Collect rents but refer tenant complaints to the broker
Explanation: In Iowa, property management activities—including collecting rent, leasing, and handling tenant matters—require a broker's license, not a salesperson's license. Salespersons must work under broker supervision and cannot independently manage properties.
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More on Iowa Licensing

Deeper reading on the topics that matter most for Iowa candidates.

Iowa Real Estate Exam Structure: What to Expect

The Iowa Salesperson exam combines 80 national questions and 40 state-specific questions in 180 minutes.

Question breakdown

National portion: 80 questions, 56 correct to pass (70%)

Standard PSI national content.

Iowa portion: 40 questions, 28 correct to pass (70%)

Topics:

  • IA license law (10-12 questions)
  • Groundwater Hazard Statement (3-5 questions)
  • Agricultural land and CRP (4-6 questions)
  • Agency disclosure (5-7 questions)
  • Property disclosures (4-6 questions)
  • Trust accounts (3-5 questions)

Time management

180 minutes for 120 questions = 90 seconds per question. Moderate pacing. Practice under timed conditions.

Cost structure

  • Pre-licensing (60 hours): $300-$550
  • Exam: $95
  • License: $125
  • Background check: ~$50
  • Total: $570-$820

Retake rules

Retakes allowed. $95 per attempt.

If you're taking the Broker exam

The Iowa Broker exam is 115 questions (75 national + 40 state) in 180 minutes — the national portion has fewer raw questions than the Salesperson exam's 80, but some items score up to two points, so it's not simply "easier." You need 60 of 75 national and 30 of 40 state, each portion scored independently at 75%. Broker content emphasizes supervision, trust accounts, and brokerage management over the fundamentals tested on the Salesperson exam. Source: PSI Iowa Real Estate Commission Licensing Information Bulletin (dial.iowa.gov/media/4323, Effective 2/8/2024), Examination Summary Table p.3.

Topics Covered on the Iowa Real Estate Exam

National Exam Topics (80 questions)

  1. Property Ownership — Estates, deeds, easements
  2. Land Use Controls — Zoning, government powers
  3. Valuation — Three approaches, CMA
  4. Financing — Mortgages, FHA/VA, RESPA, TILA
  5. Agency — Agency relationships
  6. Contracts — Listing agreements, purchase contracts
  7. Closing — Closing procedures, prorations
  8. Practice — Working with buyers and sellers, fair housing, math

Iowa State Exam Topics (40 questions)

  1. Iowa License Law (Chapter 543B) — IARC rules, license categories
  2. Groundwater Hazard Statement — Mandatory environmental disclosure
  3. Agricultural Property — Farm transactions, CRP contracts
  4. Agency Disclosure — Iowa-specific requirements
  5. Trust Accounts — Broker trust account requirements

Why this list matters

Each state topic generates 3-7 questions. The Groundwater Hazard Statement is uniquely Iowa — master it for easy points.

What this list doesn't tell you

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

Iowa Exam FAQ

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