Two Steps to the Testing Center
Passing the 75-hour Pre-Licensing course and submitting your license application are prerequisites, but they don’t automatically schedule your test. The process of registering for the North Carolina Real Estate Licensing Exam involves two sequential steps with two different entities: the North Carolina Real Estate Commission (NCREC) and the testing vendor, Pearson VUE. How do you successfully register and schedule your exam date?
You cannot schedule the exam until the NCREC has reviewed your application and officially authorized you.
Step 1: Obtain Your Notice of Exam Eligibility (The NCREC)
- Submit Application: Immediately after passing the school’s final exam, submit your official Broker License Application and the $100 application fee to the NCREC online.
- Order Background Check: Simultaneously, order the required criminal background check from the NCREC’s approved vendor.
- Wait for Approval: The NCREC reviews your application, character disclosure, and background report. If approved, you will receive a Notice of Exam Eligibility (via mail or email). This notice confirms you are authorized to test and starts your 180-day eligibility window.
Step 2: Schedule Your Test (Pearson VUE)
- Contact Pearson VUE: Once you receive the Notice of Exam Eligibility, you can contact Pearson VUE (the state’s contracted testing service) online or by phone.
- Pay Exam Fee: You will pay the $60 exam fee directly to Pearson VUE.
- Select Location and Date: You will choose a time and date at one of the official Pearson VUE testing centers in North Carolina.
- Confirm Appointment: Pearson VUE will issue a confirmation number, which you should save and print.
Crucial Reminder: You must successfully pass both sections of the exam within your 180-day eligibility period. If you do not schedule and pass the exam within this window, your entire application is terminated, and you must start over by reapplying and paying the NCREC application fee again.
Key Takeaway
To register for the NC Real Estate Exam, you must first receive the Notice of Exam Eligibility from the NCREC (after submitting your application and background check). Only then can you schedule and pay the $60 exam fee directly to the testing vendor, Pearson VUE, within your 180-day window.