North Carolina · NC
North Carolina Real Estate License Checklist (2026)
Every step, fee, and deadline on one page — designed to print cleanly to PDF and check off as you go.
Before you start
- You are at least 18 years old
- You hold a high school diploma or GED
- You can pass a criminal background check / fingerprinting
Education
75-hour NC Broker Prelicensing Course. NC is a broker-only state — no 'salesperson' license exists. Everyone enters as a 'provisional broker' and must complete 90 additional post-licensing hours (three 30-hour courses) within 18 months to remove provisional status.
- Complete the 75-hour Broker Prelicensing Course through an NCREC-approved provider
- Pass the end-of-course exam for your completion certificate
- After licensure: complete 90 hours of post-licensing (Post 301, 302, 303) within 18 months — no extensions; missing the deadline inactivates the license
Application & exam
- Meet eligibility: 18+, Social Security number, U.S. citizen/national or qualified alien
- Complete the 75-hour prelicensing course
- Order your criminal background report from CriminalRecordCheck.com (NCREC's exclusive vendor; ~$25–$60 + $10 SSN verification, dated within 6 months)
- Apply online at ncrec.gov — $105 fee (effective April 1, 2026)
- Receive your Notice of Exam Eligibility (valid 180 days), pass both Pearson VUE sections ($63; $53 single-section retake)
- License issues as provisional broker; activate under a supervising Broker-in-Charge, then finish post-licensing within 18 months
Budget
| Item | Estimate | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-licensing education | $300 – $900 | |
| Application fee | $105 | |
| Background report | $35 – $70 | |
| Pearson VUE exam fee | $63 ($53 single-section retake) | |
| Estimated total | $550 – $1,200 |
Key deadlines
- Everyone enters as a 'provisional broker' and must complete 90 additional post-licensing hours (three 30-hour courses) within 18 months to remove provisional status.
- Annually — all licenses expire June 30; renew May 15–June 30 ($50 fee, effective 2026) with 8 hours CE per year (4-hr Update + 4-hr elective)
- After licensure: complete 90 hours of post-licensing (Post 301, 302, 303) within 18 months — no extensions; missing the deadline inactivates the license
- Order your criminal background report from CriminalRecordCheck.com (NCREC's exclusive vendor; ~$25–$60 + $10 SSN verification, dated within 6 months)
- Receive your Notice of Exam Eligibility (valid 180 days), pass both Pearson VUE sections ($63; $53 single-section retake)
- License issues as provisional broker; activate under a supervising Broker-in-Charge, then finish post-licensing within 18 months
- About 2–4 months: 4–10 weeks for the 75-hour course, plus background check, application processing, and the Pearson VUE exam.
- Then you have 18 months to finish 90 post-licensing hours to keep your license active.