A broker manages an apartment complex and employs an unlicensed salaried leasing clerk. Which act is outside the clerk's exemption from licensing?G.S. 93A-2
A broker whose license is on inactive status refers a seller to another broker and is paid a fee. Under Commission rules, this is21 NCAC 58A .0504
Within how many months of initial licensure must a provisional broker complete the 90-hour postlicensing program?G.S. 93A-4
Agency 16
A broker is selling a house that the broker owns. May the broker also represent the buyer of that house?21 NCAC 58A .0104
A broker who represents the seller wants to represent the buyer in the same transaction as well. What does Rule .0104 require?21 NCAC 58A .0104
A buyer works with a broker under an oral agreement that does not bind the buyer for any period. By when must the agreement be in writing and signed?21 NCAC 58A .0104
A buyer's broker must give the seller or the seller's agent written confirmation that the broker represents the buyer no later than21 NCAC 58A .0104
Show all 60 questions (53 more)
Agency, continued
A firm practicing dual agency wants to designate one of its brokers to represent only the buyer. The broker may not be designated if the broker21 NCAC 58A .0104
A listing broker shows the listed house to a buyer who has no agent. What must the broker give the buyer at first substantial contact?21 NCAC 58A .0104
A provisional broker is the designated agent for the buyer. May the provisional broker's own broker-in-charge be the designated agent for the seller in that sale?21 NCAC 58A .0104
Designated brokers must tell both the buyer and the seller who all of the designated brokers are. By when?21 NCAC 58A .0104
First substantial contact with a prospective buyer happens by telephone. At the latest, the broker must send the agency publication within21 NCAC 58A .0104
One broker of a firm represents the seller and another broker of the same firm represents the buyer of the same house. Under Rule .0104 the firm is21 NCAC 58A .0104
What provision must every listing agreement and written buyer agency agreement set out in a clear and conspicuous manner?21 NCAC 58A .0104
When must a brokerage agreement between a broker and the owner of the property be in writing and signed?21 NCAC 58A .0104
Which brokerage agreement may provide for automatic renewal?21 NCAC 58A .0104
Which buyer agency agreement must be in writing from its formation?21 NCAC 58A .0104
Which two things must every written agreement for brokerage services include?21 NCAC 58A .0104
Without the seller's permission, a broker designated to represent only the seller may not tell the buyer's designated broker21 NCAC 58A .0104
Supervision and compensation 4
A broker may pay a travel agent for procuring a tenant for a vacation rental only if the travel agent21 NCAC 58A .0109
To qualify as a broker-in-charge, a broker needs how much full-time brokerage experience, or the part-time equivalent, within the previous five years?G.S. 93A-4.2
When may one broker serve as broker-in-charge of two offices of a firm?21 NCAC 58A .0110
Who may pay a commission or referral fee directly to a broker affiliated with a firm?21 NCAC 58A .0120
Brokerage practice 12
A broker is convicted of a misdemeanor. Within how many days of the final judgment must the broker file the reporting form with the Commission?21 NCAC 58A .0113
A broker moves to a new residence address. Within how many days must the Commission be told in writing?21 NCAC 58A .0103
A broker wants to put a "for sale" sign on a client's lot. What does the rule require first?21 NCAC 58A .0105
A broker who is not a provisional broker receives cash rent for a client. By when must it be in a trust or escrow account?21 NCAC 58A .0116
A buyer gives a broker an earnest money check with an offer. From what event does the deadline to deposit the check run?21 NCAC 58A .0116
A provisional broker receives a tenant's security deposit. What must the provisional broker do with it?21 NCAC 58A .0116
A seller signs a listing agreement. Within how many days of receiving the executed agreement must the broker give the seller a copy?21 NCAC 58A .0106
Before promoting a listing, an affiliated broker needs the consent of the broker-in-charge. What must the promotion itself include?21 NCAC 58A .0105
Before trust money goes into an account that bears interest, the broker must have21 NCAC 58A .0116
Buyer and seller both claim an earnest money deposit. After notifying them, how long must the broker wait before depositing the money with the clerk of court?G.S. 93A-12
For how long must a broker keep the records of a completed sale?21 NCAC 58A .0108
How early may a broker move an earnest money deposit from the trust account to the closing attorney?21 NCAC 58A .0116
Taxes 4
As of what date each year is the ownership of real property determined for property tax listing?G.S. 105-285
County property taxes are due September 1. Taxes paid on or after what date are subject to interest?G.S. 105-360
Unless a county advances the date, how often must it reappraise all real property?G.S. 105-286
Who must pay the excise tax on a deed, and at what rate?G.S. 105-228.30
Contracts and closing 7
A buyer and a seller agree orally on the sale of a lot and shake hands. Under G.S. 22-2 the contract isG.S. 22-2
An attorney prepares the closing statement for a sale. What is the broker's duty about that statement?G.S. 93A-6
The parties want a sentence struck from a preprinted contract form. What does Rule .0111 require?21 NCAC 58A .0111
Two buyers have offers on the same house. May the listing broker tell the second buyer the price in the first buyer's offer?21 NCAC 58A .0115
Under the Good Funds Settlement Act, when may the settlement agent disburse the sale proceeds from the trust or escrow account?G.S. 45A-4
What may a broker acting as an agent do with a sales contract under Rule .0111?21 NCAC 58A .0111
Which lease is void under G.S. 22-2 unless it is in writing and signed by the party to be charged?G.S. 22-2
Landlord and tenant 3
After a residential tenancy ends and possession is returned, how long does the landlord have to refund the deposit balance with an itemized list of damage?G.S. 42-52
Rent is due monthly. What is the largest late fee a residential landlord may charge once the rent is five calendar days late?G.S. 42-46
What is the largest security deposit a landlord may take for a month-to-month residential tenancy?G.S. 42-51
Other North Carolina laws 11
A buyer receives the disclosure statement only after making an offer, and a contract results. The right to cancel ends at the earliest of settlement, occupancy, or the end of which day after receipt of the statement or after the contract was made?G.S. 47E-5
A contractor wants to file a claim of lien on real property. The latest day to file is how many days after the contractor last furnished labor or materials at the site?G.S. 44A-12
A deed conveys a home to two named individuals who are married to each other and says nothing about how they hold title. They take title asG.S. 41-56
A grantor deeds the same lot to two different buyers for value. Under G.S. 47-18, which deed has priority?G.S. 47-18
A previous occupant died in a house now listed for sale. Under G.S. 39-50, that fact isG.S. 39-50
A purchaser signs a contract for a new condominium unit from a seller who must deliver a public offering statement. For how long may the purchaser cancel without penalty?G.S. 47C-4-108
A timeshare purchaser may cancel the contract of sale until midnight of which day after the later of signing the contract and receiving the public offering statement?G.S. 93A-45
By when must the owner give a purchaser the residential property disclosure statement?G.S. 47E-5
Which of these is a protected class under the State Fair Housing Act?G.S. 41A-4
Which transfer needs no residential property disclosure statement but still needs the mineral and oil and gas rights disclosure?G.S. 47E-2
With no color of title, how many years of adverse possession under known and visible boundaries give title to the possessor?G.S. 1-40
How this list was compiled: Written from the North Carolina General Statutes (Chapter 93A and sections of Chapters 1, 22, 39, 41, 41A, 42, 44A, 45A, 47, 47C, 47E and 105) as published by the General Assembly at https://www.ncleg.gov/Laws/GeneralStatutes, and from the Real Estate Commission's rules in 21 NCAC 58A as published in the North Carolina Administrative Code by the Office of Administrative Hearings (linked as Chapter 58 from the Commission's page https://www.ncrec.gov/Resources/LicenseLaw), all read 2026-10-08. The spread of topics follows the State section content outline in the Commission's booklet Real Estate Licensing in North Carolina, April 2026, https://www.ncrec.gov/Pdfs/Licensing/RELINC.pdf. Licence: Own work. Questions, answer choices and explanations were written for this site from the statute and rule text; nothing is copied from another practice test, a prep book or the state exam. Short quotations from the statutes and rules are marked.
How it works
This unofficial North Carolina real estate state portion practice test has 60 of our own questions, spread as the Commission's outline spreads the State section. It is not affiliated with the North Carolina Real Estate Commission. Checked October 8, 2026.
Read the full guide
An NC real estate state exam practice test in the outline's proportions
The Commission's booklet, Real Estate Licensing in North Carolina, gives the State section eight categories: licensure 3 items, agency 16, supervision and compensation 4, brokerage practice 12, taxes and insurance 4, contracts and closing 7, landlord and tenant 3, other North Carolina laws 11. This bank matches those counts. Its four tax questions are property tax and excise tax; it has no insurance question.
Use it as an NC real estate state exam study guide
Each explanation names the General Statute or the Commission rule in 21 NCAC 58A it rests on and links to the text. Exam mode gives all 60 in two hours, the State section's own length.
Trust money goes into a trust or escrow account within three banking days; a provisional broker hands it to the affiliated broker (Rule .0116).
A firm with brokers on both sides of a sale is a dual agent and needs each party's written authority (Rule .0104).
A month-to-month security deposit tops out at one and one-half months' rent (G.S. 42-51).
Questions and answers
How many questions are on the NC real estate state exam?
The Commission's booklet of April 2026 gives the State section 60 scored items and 5 pretest items, with 2 hours allowed. The National section has 80 scored items and 5 pretest items, with 2.5 hours.
What is the passing score on the North Carolina real estate exam?
The booklet gives a passing score of 75 for each section, computed separately. Both sections must be passed within the same 180-day eligibility period.
Is there a practice test for a real estate salesperson in North Carolina?
North Carolina is a broker-only state with one license exam, the Commission's booklet says. A new licensee starts as a provisional broker under a broker-in-charge, so this is the State section practice a would-be salesperson needs.
Is this an NC Real Estate Commission practice test?
No. The questions are our own, written from the statutes and the Commission's rules. This site has never seen the exam, and no licensed North Carolina broker or attorney has reviewed the answers yet.