Become a North Carolina Real Estate Broker
About In-Person Classroom
Complete your 75-hour North Carolina Broker Pre-Licensing Course in a traditional classroom with experienced real estate instructors. You’ll follow a structured schedule, work through NCREC-required material alongside other students, and get answers to your questions in real time. In-person classes provide direct instructor support while helping you stay focused and on track as you prepare for the North Carolina real estate licensing exam.
Choose Your Package
BRONZE PACKAGE
CORE COURSES ONLY- 75 Hours of NC Pre-License Course
SILVER PACKAGE
CORE COURSES + EXAM PREP- 75 Hours of NC Pre-License Course
- Exam Prep Edge - National & North Carolina
GOLD PACKAGE
LICENSING + EXAM PREP + BUSINESS- 75 Hours of NC Pre-License Course
- Exam Prep Edge
- Instructor Led Webinars on Exam Topics
- Business Building Courses
About Online Live (Zoom)
Complete your North Carolina Broker Pre-Licensing Course through live, instructor-led Zoom classes from wherever you have a reliable internet connection. Follow a structured schedule, ask questions in real time, and work through the required course material with direct instructor support while preparing for your North Carolina real estate license.
Choose Your Package
BRONZE PACKAGE
CORE COURSES ONLY- 75 Hours of NC Pre-License Course
SILVER PACKAGE
CORE COURSES + EXAM PREP- 75 Hours of NC Pre-License Course
- Exam Prep Edge - National & North Carolina
GOLD PACKAGE
LICENSING + EXAM PREP + BUSINESS- 75 Hours of NC Pre-License Course
- Exam Prep Edge
- Instructor Led Webinars on Exam Topics
- Business Building Courses
About Online Self-Paced
Complete your 75-hour North Carolina Broker Pre-Licensing Course on a schedule that works for you. Study the required material at your own pace, revisit lessons when needed, and track your progress as you work toward completing the education required for your North Carolina real estate license.
Choose Your Package
BRONZE PACKAGE
CORE COURSES ONLY- 75 Hours of NC Pre-License Course
SILVER PACKAGE
CORE COURSES + EXAM PREP- 75 Hours of NC Pre-License Course
- Exam Prep Edge - National & North Carolina
GOLD PACKAGE
LICENSING + EXAM PREP + BUSINESS- 75 Hours of NC Pre-License Course
- Exam Prep Edge
- Instructor Led Webinars on Exam Topics
- Business Building Courses
How to Get Your North Carolina Real Estate License
Follow these five steps to complete your education, earn your North Carolina Provisional Broker license, and begin your real estate career.
Complete 75 Hours of NC Pre-Licensing Education
NCREC-Approved Broker Course
Complete Fortune Academy’s 75-hour NCREC-approved Broker Pre-Licensing Course. Choose from in-person, live online, or self-paced learning while completing the education required to apply for your North Carolina real estate license.
Build the knowledge you’ll need for the licensing exam and your entry into North Carolina real estate.
Apply for Your North Carolina Broker License
Submit Your Application to NCREC
After completing your pre-licensing education, submit your license application to the North Carolina Real Estate Commission. You’ll also need to complete the required criminal background report so NCREC can determine your eligibility for the licensing exam.
Prepare the required information and documentation before submitting your application to NCREC.
Pass the North Carolina Real Estate Licensing Exam
Complete the National and State Sections
Once NCREC determines that you meet the licensing qualifications, you’ll receive authorization to schedule your North Carolina real estate licensing exam. The exam includes both national and North Carolina-specific sections and tests the knowledge covered during your pre-licensing education.
Prepare for national real estate concepts and North Carolina-specific laws, rules, and practices.
Activate Your License With a North Carolina BIC
Begin Practicing as a Provisional Broker
New North Carolina brokers receive Provisional Broker status. To place your license on active status and perform brokerage activities, you must affiliate with a designated Broker-in-Charge (BIC). Fortune Academy offers career support to help graduates prepare for the transition into the industry.
Once you find the right brokerage, your BIC submits the required activation and affiliation information to NCREC.
Complete 90 Hours of Post-Licensing Education
Remove Provisional Status
North Carolina Provisional Brokers must complete 90 hours of Post-Licensing education within 18 months of initial licensure. The requirement includes three 30-hour courses designed to build the practical knowledge you need as you transition from Provisional Broker to full Broker status.
Complete all three to become a full NC Broker.
Learn From Experienced North Carolina Real Estate Professionals
Your instructors bring real estate, brokerage, and teaching experience into your pre-licensing education. Learn from professionals who understand North Carolina real estate and can connect course concepts to the licensing exam and situations you may encounter as a Provisional Broker.
Joseph F. Gobbett, Jr.
Licensed Broker, GRI
50+ YearsStarted his real estate career in Maryland in 1971. Training director, branch sales manager, and broker in charge of Rescom Realtors.
Read more
Mark Davis-Cote
Licensed Broker, SFR
13+ YearsBA from URI, MBA from Webster University. Licensed salesperson since 2011, broker since 2016, SFR certified.
Read more
Amanda Farnum
Licensed Real Estate Broker
17+ YearsAward-winning agent with experience across residential, commercial, foreclosures, and investments.
Read more
Dale Clift
Real Estate Instructor
40+ YearsPassionate about real estate from age 20. Made it his goal to teach, train, and coach professionals across South Carolina.
Read more
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about North Carolina real estate pre-licensing courses, the licensing exam, Provisional Broker requirements, and starting your real estate career.
Can I take the North Carolina real estate course while working full time?
Yes. You can complete your pre-licensing education while working full time or managing other commitments. Choosing a learning format that fits your availability can make it easier to build the required coursework into your existing schedule.
Does my North Carolina real estate license become active as soon as I pass the exam?
Not necessarily. A new Provisional Broker who has not affiliated with a designated Broker-in-Charge remains on inactive status. You cannot perform brokerage activities until your license is placed on active status through the required affiliation.
Can I make real estate referrals while my North Carolina license is inactive?
No. North Carolina does not allow an inactive Provisional Broker to perform brokerage activities, including making referrals for compensation. You must properly activate your license before conducting activities that require a real estate license.
When does the 18-month post-licensing deadline begin?
The 18-month period begins on the date your North Carolina real estate license is initially issued, not when you activate your license or begin working with a brokerage. Completing all three required Post-Licensing courses within that period removes your provisional status.
Is North Carolina post-licensing education the same as continuing education?
No. Post-Licensing and Continuing Education are separate requirements. Provisional Brokers complete 90 hours of Post-Licensing education to remove provisional status, while Continuing Education is an ongoing requirement associated with maintaining an active North Carolina real estate license.
Can I change brokerages while I am still a Provisional Broker?
Yes. Provisional status does not require you to remain with the same brokerage throughout your 18-month post-licensing period. However, you must remain properly affiliated with a designated Broker-in-Charge to maintain active status and perform brokerage activities.
Can I take the NC real estate course online?
Yes. Fortune Academy offers the full 75-hour NC Broker course in three NCREC-approved formats: self-paced online, live virtual classroom, and in-person. All three satisfy the 75-hour requirement. Self-paced online is the most flexible — study evenings and weekends while maintaining full-time employment.
Do I need post-licensing education in NC after getting my Broker license?
Yes. NC requires all Provisional Brokers to complete 90 hours of post-licensing education within 18 months of license issuance. The post-licensing requirement is split into three 30-hour courses: Post 301 (Broker Relationships), Post 302 (Contracts & Closing), and Post 303 (NC Law, Rules & Legal Concepts). Fortune Academy offers all three as a bundled post-licensing package.
What are the eligibility requirements for a NC real estate license?
To qualify for a NC real estate Broker license, you must be at least 18 years old, be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, complete the 75-hour pre-licensing education from an NCREC-approved school like Fortune Academy, pass the PSI broker exam, submit to a criminal background check, and apply to NCREC with the required fees.
Is a North Carolina real estate license reciprocal with other states?
NC has limited reciprocity and license recognition agreements with certain states. Out-of-state licensees may be able to waive portions of pre-licensing education. However, you must still pass the NC State portion of the PSI exam. Fortune Academy offers a dedicated NC State-portion exam prep course for out-of-state licensees transferring to NC.
How often do I need to renew my NC real estate license?
NC real estate licenses renew annually on June 30. Active Brokers and Provisional Brokers must complete 8 hours of NCREC-approved Continuing Education annually — 4 hours of General Update (mandatory) plus 4 hours of approved electives — before renewing. Fortune Academy offers the required NC General Update plus a library of electives.
What if I fail the NC real estate exam?
If you don't pass the PSI NC Broker exam on your first attempt, you can retake either portion (State or National) individually without waiting. Each retake requires a new PSI exam fee. Fortune Academy's Money-Back Pass Guarantee refunds your course fee if you don't pass, and our NC exam prep targets the specific question types PSI uses.
Can Provisional Brokers work independently in NC?
No. A NC Provisional Broker must always work under the supervision of a BIC (Broker-in-Charge) of a real estate firm until they complete 90 hours of post-licensing education and obtain their full Broker license. Fortune Academy's career placement support helps new NC Provisional Brokers connect with NC firms that hire new licensees.
How much does the NC Broker exam cost?
The NC PSI Broker exam fee is approximately $64 per attempt. Retakes require new fees. NCREC application and license fees total around $100. Budget approximately $150–$200 in addition to your Fortune Academy course for complete NC licensure costs.
What does the 75-hour NC Broker course cover?
Fortune Academy's 75-hour NC Broker Pre-Licensing course covers: (1) NC License Law & Regulations, (2) Agency Relationships, (3) Real Estate Contracts, (4) Real Estate Finance, (5) Property Valuation, (6) Land Use Controls, (7) Closing & Settlement, (8) Fair Housing, (9) Property Management, and (10) NC-specific disclosure requirements. Every topic aligns with NCREC's required syllabus.
Do I need to find a BIC before taking the NC Broker exam?
No. You can take the PSI NC Broker exam and receive your Provisional Broker license without first finding a BIC. However, to practice real estate, your license must be activated with a BIC of a NC real estate firm. Fortune Academy offers career placement support to help you find a NC firm that hires new Provisional Brokers.