2026 Data · All 50 States

Real Estate Exam Pass Rates
by State (2026)

First-time pass rates for the real estate salesperson exam in all 50 states. See where your state ranks — and what the numbers mean for your study plan.

57%

National Average

50%

Lowest (NY, WA)

63%

Highest (ME, NH)

Source: State real estate commissions (updated May 2026)

≤52% — Very Hard 53–55% — Hard 56–59% — Moderate 60%+ — Above Average

All 50 States — Sorted by Difficulty

Sorted from hardest (lowest pass rate) to easiest. Click any state to access free practice questions.

Source: State real estate commissions (updated May 2026)

#	State	Pass Rate	Questions	Passing Score	Exam Fee	Practice
1	New YorkNY	50%	75	70%	$15	Practice →
2	WashingtonWA	50%	140	70%	$138.25	Practice →
3	ColoradoCO	52%	154	75%	$44.95	Practice →
4	FloridaFL	52%	100	75%	$36	Practice →
5	NevadaNV	52%	120	75%	$100	Practice →
6	West VirginiaWV	52%	150	70%	$75	Practice →
7	New JerseyNJ	53%	110	70%	$45	Practice →
8	OregonOR	53%	130	75%	$75	Practice →
9	CaliforniaCA	54%	150	70%	$100	Practice →
10	MarylandMD	54%	110	70%	$44	Practice →
11	North DakotaND	54%	140	70%	$80	Practice →
12	ArizonaAZ	55%	180	75%	$75	Practice →
13	LouisianaLA	55%	135	70%	$85	Practice →
14	MassachusettsMA	55%	120	70%	$54	Practice →
15	PennsylvaniaPA	55%	110	75%	$75	Practice →
16	South DakotaSD	55%	157	70%	$85	Practice →
17	UtahUT	55%	130	70%	$71	Practice →
18	WyomingWY	55%	120	70%	$300	Practice →
19	IllinoisIL	56%	140	75%	$46	Practice →
20	MississippiMS	56%	120	70%	$75	Practice →
21	South CarolinaSC	56%	120	70%	$63	Practice →
22	TennesseeTN	56%	120	70%	$63	Practice →
23	AlabamaAL	57%	140	70%	$85	Practice →
24	KentuckyKY	57%	130	75%	$100	Practice →
25	MichiganMI	57%	115	70%	$88	Practice →
26	North CarolinaNC	57%	120	75%	$60	Practice →
27	TexasTX	57%	125	70%	$43	Practice →
28	WisconsinWI	57%	140	75%	$60	Practice →
29	ArkansasAR	58%	110	70%	$75	Practice →
30	IndianaIN	58%	125	75%	$53	Practice →
31	MissouriMO	58%	140	70%	$62	Practice →
32	New MexicoNM	58%	130	75%	$95	Practice →
33	VirginiaVA	58%	120	75%	$60	Practice →
34	DelawareDE	59%	120	70%	$85	Practice →
35	IdahoID	59%	120	70%	$88	Practice →
36	KansasKS	59%	110	70%	$82	Practice →
37	OhioOH	59%	120	70%	$63	Practice →
38	AlaskaAK	60%	120	70%	$100	Practice →
39	GeorgiaGA	60%	152	72%	$121	Practice →
40	IowaIA	60%	120	70%	$95	Practice →
41	NebraskaNE	60%	130	70%	$75	Practice →
42	OklahomaOK	60%	130	70%	$75	Practice →
43	VermontVT	60%	100	70%	$75	Practice →
44	ConnecticutCT	61%	110	70%	$85	Practice →
45	MinnesotaMN	61%	130	75%	$65	Practice →
46	Rhode IslandRI	61%	130	70%	$65	Practice →
47	HawaiiHI	62%	130	70%	$61	Practice →
48	MontanaMT	62%	113	70%	$85	Practice →
49	MaineME	63%	120	75%	$100	Practice →
50	New HampshireNH	63%	140	70%	$95	Practice →

10 Hardest States

#1New York

50%

#2Washington

50%

#3Colorado

52%

#4Florida

52%

#5Nevada

52%

#6West Virginia

52%

#7New Jersey

53%

#8Oregon

53%

#9California

54%

#10Maryland

54%

10 Highest Pass Rates

#1New Hampshire

63%

#2Maine

63%

#3Montana

62%

#4Hawaii

62%

#5Rhode Island

61%

#6Minnesota

61%

#7Connecticut

61%

#8Vermont

60%

#9Oklahoma

60%

#10Nebraska

60%

Why Do Pass Rates Vary So Much by State?

The real estate salesperson exam is not a single national test — each state administers its own exam through vendors like PSI or Pearson VUE, with its own question bank, passing score requirement, and state-specific content weight. These structural differences create meaningful variation in difficulty.

State-specific content complexity

States with complex licensing laws (New York's RPL Article 12-A, California's DRE regulations) require candidates to master significantly more state-specific material. Most national prep materials undercover these sections.

Passing score threshold

Some states require 70%, others 75% or higher. A higher threshold means less margin for error, which directly depresses pass rates even when the questions are no harder.

Pre-license education hours

States requiring more pre-license hours (California at 135 hours, New York at 77 hours) produce candidates who are more thoroughly prepared — but some states with fewer required hours still have high pass rates due to simpler exam content.

Exam question count

More questions mean more surface area for state-specific content and less ability to guess well on individual questions. States with 140–150 question exams tend to have lower pass rates.

Candidate preparation quality

States with a higher volume of exam takers (Texas, California, Florida) see more underprepared candidates enter the exam pool, which can compress pass rates statistically.

How to Beat Your State's Pass Rate

Regardless of your state's average, candidates who follow a structured study plan significantly outperform the mean. The highest-leverage strategies:

✓

Start practice questions immediately after completing pre-license — not the week before the exam.

✓

Dedicate at least 40% of study time to state-specific content. That's where most candidates lose points.

✓

Take at least 3 full-length timed mock exams before sitting for the real thing.

✓

Review every wrong answer — understanding why you missed a question is more valuable than answering 20 new ones.

✓

Focus on agency law, contracts, and license law — consistently the highest-weight topics on state exams.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average first-time pass rate for the real estate exam?

The national average first-time pass rate for the real estate salesperson exam is approximately 57%. Pass rates vary significantly by state — from around 50% in New York and Washington to over 63% in states like New Hampshire and Maine.

Which state has the hardest real estate exam?

New York and Washington consistently have the lowest first-time pass rates at around 50%, making them the hardest real estate exams in the country. Nevada, Florida, Colorado, and West Virginia also have pass rates at or below 52%.

Which state has the easiest real estate exam?

Maine and New Hampshire have among the highest first-time pass rates at approximately 63%. Montana, Hawaii, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Rhode Island also have above-average pass rates above 61%.

Why do real estate exam pass rates differ by state?

Pass rates vary because each state sets its own exam difficulty, passing score threshold, number of questions, and pre-license education requirements. States with more complex state-specific laws (like New York's agency and licensing statutes) tend to have lower pass rates. The exam vendor (PSI vs. Pearson VUE) also influences format and difficulty.

How can I improve my chances of passing on the first try?

Candidates who pass on the first attempt typically complete their pre-license course, then immediately study with state-specific practice questions for 4–6 weeks. Taking multiple full-length timed mock exams in the final week is the single biggest predictor of first-time pass rates. Focus extra time on your state's specific laws and regulations — that's where most candidates lose points.

Find out where your state stands.

Free practice questions for all 50 states — built around each state's actual exam outline.

New York (50%)Washington (50%)Colorado (52%)Florida (52%)Nevada (52%)West Virginia (52%)

See all 50 states →

Real Estate Exam Pass Ratesby State (2026)