North Carolina Real Estate Exam Pass Rate (2025)

North Carolina's provisional broker exam has a first-attempt pass rate of approximately 58%. About 4 in 10 candidates fail their first attempt. Here's what drives the numbers.

The Numbers

First-attempt pass rate: ~58%
Passing score: 75% (90 of 120 questions)
Total questions: 120 (80 national + 40 state-specific)
Time allowed: 3.5 hours
Administered by: PSI testing centers on behalf of NCREC

Why NC Has a 75% Passing Threshold

North Carolina sets the bar at 75% — higher than Georgia (72%), Texas (70%), and New York (70%). This stricter threshold contributes to a higher failure rate. Missing 31 questions out of 120 means failing.

Why Candidates Fail

1. Agency Law Confusion North Carolina's agency law presumes seller representation unless a written buyer agency agreement exists. Candidates who don't study this default rule get tripped up on scenario questions.

2. Working with Real Estate Agents Brochure North Carolina's mandatory brochure requirement is tested on virtually every exam. When to give it, what it covers, and the consequences of not providing it are all exam topics.

3. Provisional vs. Full Broker North Carolina's unique two-tier system (provisional broker → full broker) confuses candidates from other states. The postlicensing requirements (90 hours in 3 courses within 18 months) are frequently tested.

4. Real Estate Education and Recovery Fund This NC-specific fund (RERF) — its purpose, eligibility, maximum payments, and effect on a licensee's license when a claim is paid — appears on nearly every exam.

5. Not Reaching 75% At 75%, there's less room for content gaps. Candidates who pass Florida (70%) or Georgia (72%) standards might just miss the NC threshold at 73-74%.

What the Passing 58% Do Differently

Know the Working with Real Estate Agents brochure rules cold
Know NCREC composition (9 members: 7 brokers + 2 consumers)
Understand the provisional-to-full-broker postlicensing pathway
Know RERF maximum payments ($50,000/transaction, $150,000/licensee lifetime)
Score 80%+ consistently on practice exams before sitting (buffer above 75%)

[Practice at CARealestate.com/states/north-carolina](https://carealestate.com/states/north-carolina)