Pass Your North Carolina Real Estate Exam the First Time

North Carolina requires 75 hours of pre-licensing education. The exam tests NC's unique 'provisional broker' system (instead of salesperson) and Working with Real Estate Agents disclosure. Coastal properties require understanding erosion setback rules.

Questions

140

80 NAT / 60 STATE

To Pass

75%

~105 / 140 TO PASS

Time Limit

4.5 Hrs

270 TOTAL MINUTES

Provider

Pearson VUE

NCREC

Exam data verified August 2026Licensed CC-BY 4.0

Pass your North Carolina Provisional Broker License

North Carolina is widely regarded as one of the hardest state real estate exams in the country, and generic prep tools are a primary reason candidates fail it.

The NCREC holds brokers to a higher disclosure standard than any national course teaches, and the closing math section uses a calendar convention that disqualifies every candidate who practiced with a generic formula. AI generated question banks recycle national content and miss what makes this exam genuinely hard. Candidates who pass on the first attempt used North Carolina specific preparation.

The License Professor is written by licensed North Carolina professionals who know what the Pearson VUE state portion actually demands. Every question on North Carolina disclosure standards, provisional broker requirements, and closing math is drawn from North Carolina law.

North Carolina Sample Exams

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Provisional Broker

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

Three Topics that Trip Up North Carolina Students Most

Material Fact Disclosure

North Carolina requires brokers to disclose any material fact they know or reasonably should know, even if the seller refuses to disclose it — students fail because they assume the seller’s silence protects the agent.

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Working With Agents Brochure

The brochure must be provided at "first substantial contact" when conversation shifts to personal or confidential information — the exam tests the exception that buyer’s agents must disclose agency at first contact with sellers.

Closing Statement Math

North Carolina tests up to 8 math questions using the 360-day calendar method for prorations — students who practiced with a 365-day method consistently lose easy points.

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

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North Carolina Real Estate Practice Questions

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

1. Which ownership form in NC includes automatic survivorship rights and cannot be unilaterally severed by one owner?

  1. A.Cooperative ownership
  2. B.Tenancy by the entirety
  3. C.Joint tenancy with rights of survivorship
  4. D.Tenancy in common
Explanation: Tenancy by the entirety is a special ownership form for married couples that includes automatic survivorship rights. Upon one spouse's death, the property automatically passes to the surviving spouse and cannot be severed by will or unilateral action.

2. Under NC law, which defect must a seller disclose even if the property is marketed 'as-is'?

  1. A.Minor cosmetic issues like paint chips
  2. B.None is compelled; the owner must deliver the disclosure statement but may answer 'No Representation'
  3. C.Seasonal moisture in the basement
  4. D.Normal wear and tear on carpet
Explanation: North Carolina makes the form mandatory and the disclosure itself optional. Under General Statute 47E-4 the owner either discloses items of which the owner has actual knowledge or states that the owner makes no representations as to the characteristics and condition of the property. The statute is explicit that where the statement makes no representations, the owner has no duty to disclose those conditions, whether or not the owner should have known of them. An as-is marketing description is beside the point, because the No Representation election is what removes the duty.

3. A real estate broker's license in North Carolina could be revoked or suspended by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission (NCREC) for any of the following reasons, EXCEPT:

  1. A.He has failed to supervise his provisional broker.
  2. B.He has demonstrated negligence or incompetence in performing a real estate act.
  3. C.He has been convicted of fraud in a court suit levied against him for the loss.
  4. D.Two reliable witnesses have given sworn testimony that the broker is mentally ill.
Explanation: Under North Carolina law, a real estate broker's license can be revoked or suspended by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission (NCREC) for various reasons, such as failing to supervise provisional brokers or demonstrating negligence or incompetence. However, the North Carolina Real Estate Commission (NCREC) cannot automatically revoke a broker's license solely based on sworn testimony from two witnesses claiming the broker is mentally ill. The North Carolina Real Estate Commission (NCREC) would need to independently establish that fact.
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More on North Carolina Licensing

Deeper reading on the topics that matter most for North Carolina candidates.

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North Carolina Real Estate Exam Structure: What to Expect

The NC Provisional Broker exam is administered by Pearson VUE in testing centers across NC. It combines 80 national questions and 60 state-specific questions in 270 minutes (150 min national + 120 min state).

Question breakdown

National portion: 80 questions, 150 minutes, scaled score of 75 to pass

Standard Pearson VUE national content covering property ownership, valuation, financing, agency, contracts, math, federal disclosures.

NC portion: 60 questions, 120 minutes, scaled score of 75 to pass

Topics:

  • NC license law and NCREC rules (15-18 questions)
  • Provisional Broker structure (4-6 questions)
  • Working with Real Estate Agents disclosure (6-8 questions)
  • NC property disclosures (7-9 questions)
  • Trust accounts (6-8 questions)
  • Coastal regulations and CAMA (4-6 questions)

Time management

The national and state portions are timed separately: 150 minutes for 80 national questions (about 113 seconds per question), 120 minutes for 60 state questions (about 120 seconds per question). Both are generous, but practice under timed conditions.

Cost structure

  • Pre-licensing (75 hours): $300-$600
  • Exam: $56
  • License: $100
  • Background check: ~$40
  • Total: $496-$796

Retake rules

Retakes allowed. $56 per attempt. Score report shows weak areas.

Topics Covered on the North Carolina Real Estate Exam

National Exam Topics (80 questions)

  1. Property Rights and Ownership — Estates, deeds, easements, joint ownership
  2. Land Use Controls — Zoning, deed restrictions, government powers
  3. Valuation and Market Analysis — Three approaches to value, CMA
  4. Real Estate Financing — Mortgages, FHA/VA, RESPA, TILA
  5. Agency Relationships — Agency law, fiduciary duties (national framework)
  6. Real Estate Contracts — Listing agreements, purchase contracts
  7. Closing and Settlement — Closing procedures, prorations
  8. Real Estate Practice — Working with buyers and sellers, fair housing, advertising, math

NC State Exam Topics (60 questions)

  1. NC Commission Regulations (Chapter 93A) — License law, broker supervision, advertising
  2. NC Licensing Laws — Provisional Broker, Broker, Broker-in-Charge structure
  3. Trust Account Rules — Broker trust account requirements
  4. Working with Real Estate Agents — NC's mandatory agency disclosure
  5. Property Disclosures — Residential Property Disclosure Statement requirements

Why this list matters

Each state topic generates 4-7 questions. Skip Provisional Broker rules and you've lost points on NC's distinctive license structure. Effective candidates allocate study proportional to question weight.

What this list doesn't tell you

Pearson VUE writes scenario-based questions that test application. Practice questions, not just topic review.

North Carolina Exam FAQ

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