Your Yearly Fee to Stay Current
Keeping your North Carolina Real Estate Broker License in good standing involves more than just fulfilling your Continuing Education (CE) hours. Every broker must also pay a fee to the North Carolina Real Estate Commission (NCREC) annually to prevent the license from expiring. What is the current annual license renewal fee?
The current annual renewal fee for an individual real estate broker license in North Carolina is $45.00.
The Annual Fee Schedule
This fee is due yearly, regardless of your license status (Active or Inactive) or your Provisional status, and must be paid by the June 30th deadline.
- Renewal Period: The NCREC opens the renewal portal online annually from May 15th to June 30th.
- Payment Method: The renewal process must be completed electronically on the NCREC website using a credit or debit card. Cash or checks are generally not accepted, even if visiting the office in person.
Penalties for Late Renewal
Missing the June 30th deadline is costly and disrupts your ability to practice:
- July 1st to December 31st (Expired but Reinstatable): If you fail to renew by June 30th, your license immediately Expires. You may reinstate the license during this six-month period by paying a higher reinstatement fee (typically $90.00).
- After December 31st (Higher Bar for Reinstatement): If you fail to reinstate by December 31st, the requirements become far more rigorous, often requiring you to take additional Post-Licensing courses or potentially the entire licensing exam again.
Pro-Tip: Pay the $45 renewal fee by June 30th, even if you haven’t finished your CE by June 10th. This ensures your license remains Current (though Inactive due to the CE deficiency) rather than Expired, making reactivation much simpler.
Key Takeaway
The annual renewal fee for the NC Real Estate Broker License is currently $45.00 and must be paid online to the NCREC by June 30th every year. Failure to pay results in an Expired license status and costly reinstatement requirements.