What topics are covered on the exam?
National Concepts Meet North Carolina Law
Successful preparation for the NC Real Estate Licensing Exam starts with knowing the content blueprint. The exam is structured to test your knowledge across two vast, yet distinct, areas: general national real estate principles and specific North Carolina License Law. What are the specific topics covered on the NC Real Estate Exam?
The entire 120-question test is derived from the NCREC Broker Pre-Licensing Course Syllabus, ensuring that if you studied the course material diligently, you have covered every required topic.
Part 1: The National Section Topics (80 Questions)
The National portion covers universal real estate concepts and federal regulations. While the exact weighting can shift slightly, it generally follows this pattern:
- Ownership & Transfer: Types of ownership (tenancy, fee simple), property descriptions, deeds, and title transfer.
- Valuation & Market Analysis: Appraisal methods, factors affecting value, and the brokerage’s role in pricing.
- Contracts & Agency: Formation of contracts, listing agreements, purchase agreements, and general agency principles.
- Real Estate Finance: Mortgage types, lenders, primary and secondary markets, and the loan application process.
- Real Estate Calculations: Math problems related to commissions, PITI, capitalization rates, area, and prorations.
- Property Disclosures & Practice: Environmental hazards, property condition disclosures, and prohibited practices.
Part 2: The State Section Topics (40 Questions)
This section is where NC stands alone. It requires deep knowledge of state-specific rules, which is often cited as the most difficult portion of the exam.
- NC License Law & Commission Rules: Licensure requirements, broker duties, supervision, and renewal.
- Agency and Disclosure: The mandatory “Working with Real Estate Agents” disclosure brochure and the specific rules for designated and dual agency in NC.
- Brokerage Practice: Rules regarding handling client funds (Trust Accounts), advertising, and dealing with timeshares.
- Contracts & Closing: Specific NC contract forms and the state-specific procedures related to closing a transaction.
- Taxes and Landlord/Tenant Laws: NC-specific laws regarding property taxes, excise tax, and residential rental agreements.
Study Strategy: The most common failure point is the State section due to its hyper-focus on specific statute language. Use your score report after any practice tests to drill down on these unique NC License Law and Commission Rules.
Key Takeaway
The NC Real Estate Exam covers National topics (like contracts and finance) and highly specific State topics (like NCREC rules and NC agency law). A focused study plan must allocate significant time to mastering the 40-question State section, which is critical for passing.