The Annual Deadline
Unlike licenses in some other professions that renew every two or three years, the North Carolina Real Estate Broker License requires consistent attention. When exactly does my NC Real Estate License expire?
All individual North Carolina real estate licenses operate on a fixed schedule: they expire annually at midnight on June 30th, regardless of the month they were initially issued.
The Two-Step Annual Renewal Process
To ensure your license remains valid and eligible for practice on July 1st, you must complete two separate steps during the renewal period (May 15th to June 30th):
- Meet the CE Requirement (Deadline: June 10th): You must have successfully completed your 8 hours of Continuing Education (CE) by the earlier deadline of June 10th (unless you are a first-year broker and exempt).
- Pay the Renewal Fee (Deadline: June 30th): You must log into the NCREC online portal and pay the annual renewal fee (currently $45) by June 30th.
Crucial Distinction: You can pay the renewal fee on time even if you haven’t finished your CE by June 10th. However, if you renew the license but have a CE deficiency, your license will still be Current, but its status will change to INACTIVE on July 1st.
Consequences of Missing the Renewal Deadline
Missing the June 30th deadline carries serious consequences:
- Expired Status: If you fail to pay the renewal fee by June 30th, your license moves to an Expired status on July 1st. You must immediately cease all brokerage activities.
- Reinstatement: Reinstating an expired license requires an application, a fee (typically twice the annual fee), and may involve additional education or even retaking the licensing exam if the lapse is longer than six months.
Key Takeaway
All NC Real Estate Broker Licenses expire annually on June 30th. To maintain a legal, Active status, you must complete your 8 hours of CE by June 10th and pay the annual NCREC renewal fee by the final June 30th deadline.