Become a North Carolina Real Estate Broker
About In-Person Classroom
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)
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
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
Your Path to Becoming a Licensed Agent
Follow these 5 simple steps to start your real estate career in North Carolina
Complete 75 Hours of NC Pre-Licensing Education
NCREC-Approved Broker Course
Finish Fortune Academy's 75-hour NCREC-approved NC Broker pre-licensing course. Online, live virtual, or in-person — all formats satisfy the 75-hour requirement.
Comprehensive NC real estate curriculum.
Pass the NC PSI Broker Licensing Exam
National + NC State Portions
Schedule your NC Broker exam with PSI Services. Fortune Academy's NC Exam Prep Edge is included with standard packages and prepares you for both National and NC State portions.
What PSI tests on the NC Broker exam.
Apply for Your NC Provisional Broker License
NCREC Application + Background Check
Submit your NCREC application with course completion certificate, PSI exam score, criminal background check, and fees. NCREC issues Provisional Broker licenses in 2–4 weeks.
Gather these before applying to NCREC.
Activate Your License with a NC BIC
Start Practicing Real Estate
NC Provisional Brokers must activate their license by affiliating with a Broker-in-Charge (BIC) at a NC real estate firm. Fortune Academy offers career placement support to help you find a NC firm.
Transition from classroom to active practice.
Complete 90 Hours of Post-Licensing in 18 Months
Transition to Full Broker Status
NC Provisional Brokers must complete 90 hours of post-licensing education within 18 months: Post 301 (Broker Relationships), Post 302 (Contracts & Closing), and Post 303 (NC Law). Fortune Academy offers all three as a bundled package.
Complete all three to become a full NC Broker.
Meet Our Expert Instructors
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.
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Mark Davis-Cote
Licensed Broker, SFR
13+ YearsBA from URI, MBA from Webster University. Licensed salesperson since 2011, broker since 2016, SFR certified.
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Amanda Farnum
Licensed Real Estate Broker
17+ YearsAward-winning agent with experience across residential, commercial, foreclosures, and investments.
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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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our real estate courses
Why does North Carolina call its entry-level license a "Broker" instead of "Salesperson"?
North Carolina is one of the few states that uses "Broker" as the entry-level real estate license. In NC, new licensees start as Provisional Brokers and must complete 90 hours of post-licensing education within 18 months to become full Brokers. NC does not have a separate "salesperson" tier like SC or GA. Despite the naming, the entry license requires only 75 hours of pre-licensing — similar to salesperson licenses in other states.
How many hours of pre-licensing education does NC require?
North Carolina requires 75 hours of NCREC-approved pre-licensing education to qualify for the Broker license exam. Fortune Academy's 75-Hour NC Broker Pre-Licensing Course (NCREC School #0004) covers all required topics and satisfies the full requirement in one enrollment.
How long does it take to get a real estate license in North Carolina?
Most students complete the 75-hour NC pre-licensing course in 4–8 weeks part-time, or 2–3 weeks in accelerated self-paced online format. Add 1–2 weeks to schedule and pass the PSI exam, plus 2–4 weeks for NCREC to process your application — most NC students earn their Provisional Broker license in 2–4 months.
Who administers the North Carolina real estate licensing exam?
The NC real estate broker exam is administered by PSI Services. It consists of a National portion and a North Carolina State portion. Fortune Academy students receive free access to PSI-style practice exams with detailed answer rationales.
What is a "Provisional Broker" in North Carolina?
A Provisional Broker is a newly-licensed NC real estate broker who has not yet completed post-licensing education. Provisional Brokers must work under a BIC-designated full Broker and complete 90 hours of post-licensing education within 18 months. Once post-licensing is complete, you transition to a full Broker license.
How much does NC real estate school cost?
Fortune Academy's NC real estate pre-licensing packages range from affordable self-paced online options to premium packages with live instructor access, exam prep, and post-license education. Pricing is shown on this page — see the package options to the right. Bundled packages offer the best value.
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.