North Carolina

North Carolina Licensing Requirements

To qualify for an individual real estate broker license, an applicant must:

  • Minimum age requirement is 18 years old.
  • Application with picture – this is obtained at the testing center upon successful completion of the examination
  • Proof of High School Graduation
  • Proof of completion of pre-license education (60 hr. & 30 hr.)
  • Proof of errors and omissions insurance policy
  • Payment of all fees due. ($91.00)
  • Eligibility Verification
  • Electronic
  • Fingerprinting  (Criminal History Record Check)
  • Proof of US Citizenship of Qualified Alien Status

Education Requirement

License applicants must complete the 75-hour North Carolina Broker Prelicensing Course at a North Carolina school approved by the Commission or possess education and/or real estate experience the Commission finds equivalent to such course.

Education Qualification Options

Shown below are four (4) options for satisfying the education requirement. Option 1 is the base requirement to complete the 75-hour North Carolina Broker Prelicensing Course, which will be the required qualification method for a vast majority of license applicants. Options 2-4 are options for demonstrating “equivalent real estate education and/or experience.”

01

OPTION : COMPLETION OF THE 75-HOUR NORTH CAROLINA BROKER PRELICENSING COURSE

An applicant (resident or nonresident) may qualify to take the North Carolina real estate license examination by successfully completing, within three (3) years prior to license application, the Commission-approved 75-hour North Carolina Broker Prelicensing Course. This course is only available at Commission-approved schools located in North Carolina.

Required Documentation

North Carolina real estate schools will electronically report all successful completions of the 75-hour North Carolina Broker Prelicensing Course automatically to the Commission to be paired with online license applications. An applicant who submits a paper application must attach the Official Certificate of Course Completion signed by the school director. No other proof of course completion will be accepted. 6 Real Estate Licensing in North Carolina

02

OPTION : COMPLETION IN ANOTHER STATE OF AN EQUIVALENT REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON PRELICENSING COURSE

An applicant may seek a waiver of the 75-hour North Carolina Broker Prelicensing Course based on completion of equivalent salesperson prelicensing education in another state. Per Commission Rule 58A .0304, to qualify for such waiver, the completed prelicensing education in the other state MUST:

  1.  have consisted of at least 75 hours of instruction [no partial credit granted
  2. have been completed within one (1) year prior to North Carolina license application and while the applicant was a resident of the other state and

  3. be parallel to the topics and timings described in the Commission’s Prelicensing course syllabus. 

Required Documentation

A course completion certificate or transcript evidencing the successful completion of a prelicensing education program that meets the requirements stated in Rule 58A .0304.

03

OPTION : EQUIVALENT REAL ESTATE EDUCATION

An applicant may seek a waiver of the 75-hour North Carolina Broker Prelicensing Course based on completion of substantial real estate education other than prelicensing courses.

Per Commission Rule 58A .0304, to qualify for such waiver, the applicant must have a baccalaureate or higher degree in the field of real estate, real estate brokerage, real estate finance, real estate development, or a law degree conferred on the applicant from any college or university accredited by a college accrediting body recognized by the U. S. Department of Education.

Required Documentation

A transcript evidencing the successful completion of a baccalaureate or higher degree that meets the requirements stated in 58A .0304.

04

OPTION : CURRENT LICENSURE AS A REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON OR BROKER IN ANOTHER STATE

An applicant who holds a current real estate license in another state (or U.S. territory or Canadian jurisdiction) that is equivalent to NC’s provisional broker license and that has been on active status within the previous three (3) years may

EITHER 

  1. submit an application, including criminal record report, certification(s) of licensure, and application fee,

  2. pass the State portion of the license examination, and 

  3. be issued a provisional broker license (assuming requisite character requirements are met) and be subject to the Post licensing education requirement;  

OR 

  1. submit an application, including criminal record report, certification(s) of licensure, and application fee, and 

  2. be issued a provisional broker license (assuming requisite character requirements are met) and be subject to the Post licensing education* requirement.

Required Documentation

A course completion certificate or transcript evidencing the successful completion of a prelicensing education program that meets the requirements stated in Rule 58A .0304.

*Please note that provisional brokers who applied for an NC license based on licensure in another jurisdiction and who opted not to take the State section of the license examination are NOT eligible for any waiver of Post Licensing education under Rule 58A .1905. Real Estate Licensing in North Carolina 7 

EITHER

  1. submit an application, including criminal record report, certification(s) of licensure, and application fee, 

  2. pass the State portion of the license examination, and

  3. be issued a “full” broker license (assuming requisite character requirements are met); 

OR 

  1. submit an application, including criminal record report, certification(s) of licensure, and application fee, and
  2. be issued a provisional broker license (assuming requisite character requirements are met) and be subject to the Post Licensing education* requirement.

*Please note that provisional brokers who applied for an NC license based on licensure in another jurisdiction and who opted not to take the State section of the license examination are NOT eligible for any waiver of Post Licensing education under Rule 58A .1905. 

Required Documentation

Official Certification of Licensure from the licensing agency in the state or jurisdiction in which the applicant is currently licensed. The certification must have been issued within the six (6) months preceding the application and must indicate the license (and status) history and any disciplinary action taken or complaints pending against the applicant. A copy of the applicant’s real estate license certificate or pocket identification card is not acceptable. Proof of education is not required.