FAQs
What type of licensing is required in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, there are three levels of broker licensing: Provisional Broker (PB), Broker (B), and Broker-in-Charge (BIC).
Provisional Broker
A Provisional Broker (PB) is the entry level license status who has completed the 75-hour pre-licensing course and passed the Commission’s license examination. A provisional broker must be supervised by a broker-in-charge when performing any act for which a real estate license is required. Provisional brokers must complete the required post licensing education to remove the “provisional” status of their licenses and to remain eligible for “active” license status within 18 months of receiving their license.
Broker
A Broker is not required to be supervised by a broker-in-charge in order to hold an “active” license. A Broker must satisfy the post licensing education requirement to become a non-provisional broker within 18 months of becoming a Provisional Broker.
An applicant who holds a current real estate license in another U.S. jurisdiction that is equivalent to NC’s broker license and that has been on active status within the previous three (3) years may pass the State portion of the license examination and be issued a broker license (assuming requisite character requirements are met).
Broker-In-Charge (BIC)
A real estate broker who has been designated as the BIC with the Commission and supervises provisional brokers engaged in real estate brokerage at a particular real estate office. The BIC is also responsible for other administrative and supervisory duties for the firm as outline in as the Commission Rule A.0110.
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What do I need to do to get my real estate license?
Complete the 75-Hour Pre-Licensing Course
Start the NCREC’s Application for Real Estate License
Get your "Criminal Record Report"
Send in your completed application to the NC Real Estate Commission
Receive Notice of Eligibility and Schedule Exam
Choose Your Real Estate Firm or Broker-In-Charge
Complete your Post-Licensing and Continuing Education Requirements within 18 months of receiving your license.
1. Complete our 75-Hour Broker Pre-Licensing Course
AIM School’s 75-Hour Broker Pre-Licensing course is approved by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission (NCREC). To fulfill this requirement, you much attend at least 80% of the class, which means that you cannot miss more than 15 hours of the class. You also must pass the class test that is administered on the last day of class by scoring at least a 75%.
2. Start the NCREC’s Application for Real Estate License
It is a good idea to gather appropriate documentation and fill out as much information in advance for the NCREC Application, but you will not be able to submit it until you have completed your 75-Hour Broker Pre-Licensing course. You will need to provide your legal name, address, Social Security number, Education Provider/School, Instructor, Course, license history, places of residence for the last 7 years, employment history for the last 3 years, criminal offenses, professional license disciplinary actions, liens or unpaid judgements. Here is the link to the NCREC website to apply for your real estate license. You will be directed to set up a login to access the forms: https://www.ncrec.gov/Licensing/ApplyLicense
For more information, review the Real Estate Licensing in NC Booklet:https://www.ncrec.gov/Brochures/general.pdf
3. Obtain your "Criminal Record Report"
The NCREC requires you to obtain a criminal record report prepared by CriminalRecordCheck.com (https://ncreccheck.com). This report must include results from each place that you’ve lived in over the past seven years. Typically, your report will be sent back to you in 2-4 business days if it is involving NC records only. If a report contains a search of out of state records, it will require more time.
4. Send in your completed application to the NC Real Estate Commission
Once you have completed the 75-hour NC Broker Prelicensing Course or one of the other Education Qualification options, submit a complete license application, including the $100 application fee, $56 examination fee, and all required documentation.
5. Receive Notice of Eligibility and Schedule Exam
One the NCREC approves your application, they will notify you via a letter that you are eligible to take the exam. It usually takes 7 to 10 business days to receive this letter, and as soon as you receive it, contact the testing center to schedule your exam.
The state exam consists of 120 questions which are divided into a national section (80 questions) and a state section (40 questions). There are usually a few additional questions that are not scored by are being used to determine their potential use on future exams. To pass, students must score 75% or higher on EACH section. Students who fail to pass both sections will be allowed to re-take the section not passed by scheduling another exam with the testing center no sooner than 10 days after you initially took your exam. If you pass your exam, your application will be considered for licensure after review of your criminal report. After you are approved for licensure, you will receive your broker license in the mail. Your status will be "provisional," and you will be referred to as a "provisional broker".
6. Choose Your Real Estate Firm or Broker-In-Charge
If you want actively work in real estate, you will need to affiliate with a real estate firm or Broker-In-Charge and pay your annual renewal fee to the NCREC every year before June 30th.
If you do not want to actively work in real estate, you do not need to affiliate with a firm or Broker-in-Charge, but you still need to pay your annual renewal fee to the NCREC every year before June 30th.
7. Complete your Post-Licensing and Continuing Education Requirements
Once licensed, a Provisional Broker must complete a Post-Licensing Education Program in order to terminate the “Provisional” status of their license and to avoid license inactivation and possible eventual cancellation. You will need to take three 30-hour Broker Post-Licensing courses within 18 months of receiving your license. To pass the class, you must attend at least 90% of the class, which means that you cannot miss more than 3 hours of the class. You also must pass the class test that is administered on the last day of class by scoring at least a 75%. After completing each of the three 30-hour Broker Post-Licensing courses, your "provisional" status is removed, and you are a "Broker".
In addition, you are required to take 8 hours of Continuing Education before the second renewal of your real estate license. These CE credits are required every year and are made up of 4 hours of a Mandatory Update course and 4 hours of an approved elective.
This is a frequently asked question?
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
This is a frequently asked question?
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
This is a frequently asked question?
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.