How to get a Provisional Broker license in North Carolina

North Carolina real estate agent licenses

North Carolina issues 4 real estate agent credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the North Carolina real estate agent licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 4)

Renewal

How often

Every year²

Renew online

license.ncrec.gov⁵

2. Provisional Broker (broker license on provisional status) and Broker (non-provisional or "full" broker status)

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old¹

Education or training

At least 75 clock hours¹
North Carolina Broker Prelicensing Course with a mandatory end-of-course exam, completed within 3 years before applying¹
Who may teach it: Commission-certified Education Providers only; in person, live online, or self-paced online.¹
Alternative: Equivalent 75-hour salesperson prelicensing course from another state, completed within 1 year before applying while a resident of that state²
Alternative: Bachelor's or higher degree in real estate, real estate brokerage, finance or development, or a law degree, from an accredited institution²
Alternative: Current salesperson or broker license in another jurisdiction (active within 3 years) replaces the course¹

Education or training

90 clock hours²

The board's words

“(a) The 90-hour Postlicensing education program pursuant to G.S. 93A-4(a1) shall consist of the following three 30 instructional hour courses prescribed by the Commission:”

Who may teach it: Commission-certified Education Providers; in person, synchronous or self-paced online; end-of-course exams must be passed.¹

Exam

North Carolina Real Estate Broker License Examination (National and State sections)¹
Given by: Pearson VUE¹
Passing score: 75 on each section, scored separately¹
When you can take it: After the Commission accepts the application (course completed, criminal report attached) it emails a Notice of Exam Eligibility valid 180 days; then schedule with Pearson.¹
National section: 80 scored items (+5 unscored pretest items)¹
State section: 60 scored items (+5 unscored pretest items)¹
Up to 4 1/2 hours for the comprehensive exam⁶
Retakes: Wait at least 10 calendar days after a failed exam; each attempt needs a refiled application with a new $105 fee plus the Pearson fee; only the unpassed section is retaken within the same 180-day period.⁶
Time limit: Both sections must be passed in the same 180-day eligibility period; credit for a passed section is lost when the period expires; the period cannot be extended.¹
Exam waived: Holders of a current salesperson/broker license from another U.S. jurisdiction or Canada (active within the past 3 years) skip the National section and either pass the State section or skip it and accept provisional status.²

Residency or citizenship

U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, qualified alien, or lawfully present and authorized to work in U.S. real estate brokerage; NC residency not required.¹

Social Security number

Social Security Number required (verified with the Social Security Administration).¹

Business requirements

Any business entity other than a sole proprietorship needs its own firm license to engage in brokerage or receive commissions.⁴

Also required

Must satisfy the Commission of good character (honesty, truthfulness, integrity, general fitness).¹

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

Apply online

ncrec.gov³

Temporary or provisional license

Temporary practice permit for military-trained applicants and military spouses (21 NCAC 58A.0511(d)); the holder remains a provisional broker for the permit's duration.²

Renewal

When it expires

All licenses expire June 30 each year; renew online between May 15 and June 30 (renewal on time is required even if CE is not finished).⁵

Renewal fee

$50⁵

Continuing education

8 hours each renewal period¹

Required topics

4-hour General Update Course (or the Broker-in-Charge Update Course for BIC Eligible brokers) every year²
4 hours of elective courses every year²
CE must be completed by June 10 to renew on active status¹

Approved courses

Courses approved under 21 NCAC 58H (Commission-approved elective courses and the Update Course).²

Exemptions

No CE during the initial license year; CE is first due before the second renewal.¹
No CE to renew on inactive status.²
Members of the U.S. Congress or the NC General Assembly are exempt.²
Postlicensing courses do not count as CE.⁷

Late renewal

Reinstatement fee: $100⁸ (license expired, revoked or surrendered less than two years (no late-renewal fee exists; an unrenewed license expires on June 30))

If it expires

Expired up to 6 months: pay the $100 reinstatement fee online by December 31; no education or exam.⁸
Expired more than 6 months and up to 2 years: reinstatement application + fee + criminal report, and either one Postlicensing course (within the prior 6 months) or pass the National and State exam sections (State only if actively licensed as a broker in another state).²
Expired more than 2 years: new license application and fee; 75-hour prelicensing course plus both exam sections (licensees active in another state take only the State section). After 3 years the license comes back on provisional status.²
Inactive licenses can be kept indefinitely if the renewal fee is paid every year.⁹

From another state

Who needs a Provisional Broker license

Entry-level broker status: may provide brokerage only on active status under the supervision of a Broker-in-Charge; initial licenses are issued inactive.¹

Work that does not need this license:

• Anyone (person or entity) who performs brokerage for others must be licensed; G.S. 93A-1 and 93A-2 set the exceptions.⁶

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Real estate attorneys also need a NC license on active status to be paid for brokerage.⁶

Requirements for a Provisional Broker license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Background check

Background check required¹
Criminal record report (from CRC, within 6 months before applying, covering every place lived in the past 7 years and a federal check) is reviewed case by case using the G.S. 93B-8.1 factors; character review happens after the exam and may take 45+ days.¹
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply³

Also required

License goes inactive if the 90 postlicensing hours are not completed within 18 months.²

How much a Provisional Broker license costs

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Complete the 75-hour North Carolina Broker Prelicensing Course with a Commission-certified Education Provider (or qualify under an equivalent-education or out-of-state-license option).³
2. Create a login in the NCREC online application, order the criminal record report from CriminalRecordCheck.com through the application, and pay the $105 application fee by credit card to submit.¹ ncrec.gov³
3. Watch for the emailed Notice of Exam Eligibility (valid 180 days).³
4. Schedule the exam with Pearson VUE and pay Pearson's $63 fee; pass the National and State sections (75 each).³
5. After the exam the Commission completes its character review and issues the license (about 10 days if no character issues).³
6. The license is issued inactive. To work, affiliate with a Broker-in-Charge, who files the License Activation/Affiliation form (REC 2.08) with you.¹
7. Finish Post 301, 302 and 303 (90 hours) within 18 months to remove provisional status.¹

Processing time

As little as 10 business days for a complete application, prompt exam, first-time pass and no character issues. NCREC asks applicants not to call about license issuance until at least 10 calendar days after the exam (45 days if there are known character issues).¹

Renewal and continuing education

Broker

May work as an affiliated broker under a Broker-in-Charge or independently; independent sole proprietors must be a Broker-in-Charge for most activities. BIC Eligible status is needed to be designated BIC of an office.¹

Requirements

Experience

At least 2 years²
No experience for broker status itself (it follows completion of postlicensing). To become BIC Eligible: 2 years of full-time (40 hrs/week) brokerage experience within the past 5 years, or 3 years as a NC real estate closing attorney.¹
License you must hold first: Provisional broker license (provisional status removed by completing 90 hours of postlicensing), or a broker license from another jurisdiction plus the NC State exam section.¹

Background check

Background check required¹
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply³

Also required

BIC Eligible status requires the 12-hour Broker-in-Charge Course within 1 year before or 120 days after filing form REC 2.25; the course earns 4 elective CE hours.²

Also required

A designated BIC who holds a trust account must complete the Basic Trust Account Procedures Course within 120 days.¹⁰

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Get licensed as a provisional broker (75-hour course, $105 application, Pearson exam).¹
2. Complete Post 301, 302 and 303 with a certified provider within 18 months; the provider reports completion and NCREC removes provisional status automatically (no application or fee).¹
3. To work independently (sole proprietor) or supervise others, obtain BIC Eligible status: 2 years' full-time experience in the last 5 years, the 12-hour Broker-in-Charge Course and form REC 2.25.¹⁰

Processing time

Provisional status is removed automatically once the education provider reports completion of all three postlicensing courses.¹

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Limited Nonresident Commercial License (LNCL)

Restricted license for nonresidents to enter NC only for commercial real estate transactions, as an affiliated agent of their out-of-state brokerage and under a Declaration of Affiliation and Brokerage Cooperation Agreement with a resident NC broker.¹

Requirements

Experience

Active real estate broker or salesperson license in good standing in the qualifying state (primary place of real estate business); salespersons must be supervised by a broker there.¹¹
License you must hold first: License in the qualifying state; the NC license is valid only while that license stays active.²

Exam

Not required¹

Background check

Background check required¹¹
CRC report from the previous 6 months; character issues may be referred to the Commission.¹¹

Residency or citizenship

Must not live in NC or have any home, business or delivery address in NC; getting one requires a full NC broker license.¹

Social Security number

Social security number on the application.²

Also required

Certification of license history from the qualifying state (and any state licensed in during the past 5 years) issued within 6 months.¹¹

Also required

Reciprocity is not required: licensees from any state may apply.²

Fees

How to apply

1. Order an Official Certification of Licensure from the qualifying state (and any state licensed in during the past 5 years).¹¹
2. Order a criminal report from CriminalRecordCheck.com (CRC).¹¹
3. Mail the paper Nonresident Commercial License Application (REC 1.78), the criminal report and the fee by certified check, bank check or money order.¹¹
4. Before working in NC, sign a Declaration of Affiliation (REC 1.79) and Brokerage Cooperation Agreement with an active resident NC broker (kept by both parties, not filed).¹¹

Application form

ncrec.gov¹¹

Processing time

Issued promptly once staff find the applicant eligible; character issues can make it lengthy.¹¹

Renewal

When it expires

Expires June 30 following issuance; renewed under Rule.0503 only if the qualifying-state license is active and in good standing.²

Renewal fee

$50² (LNCL renews under Rule.0503 per Rule.1805(a))

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Applies to every license level.

Firm License

License for a business entity (corporation, LLC, partnership, etc.) that engages in brokerage; sole proprietorships do not need a firm license.⁴

Requirements

Experience

A qualifying broker (owner, manager or officer) holding an active NC broker license; a Broker-in-Charge for each office.¹
License you must hold first: Qualifying broker must hold an active NC broker license.¹

Background check

Background check required²

Business requirements

Entity must be authorized by the NC Secretary of State (SOSID number on the application).¹

Business requirements

LLC and partnership applicants submit their operating or partnership agreement (or a written description).²

Also required

Firm license goes inactive if the firm has no qualifying broker with an active license.²

Fees

How to apply

1. Register the entity with the NC Secretary of State.⁴
2. Have a broker with an active NC license act as Qualifying Broker and name a Broker-in-Charge for each office.¹
3. Submit the Firm Application (REC 1.72) online with the $105 fee.¹ firmapp.ncrec.gov⁶

Apply online

firmapp.ncrec.gov⁶

Renewal

When it expires

Expires June 30 each year; renew via Firm Login.⁵

Renewal fee

$50² (Firm license (rule.0503 sets one renewal fee for licenses issued under G.S. 93A art. 1))

If it expires

Expired more than 2 years: new firm license application required.²

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Broker (non-provisional or "full" broker status)State license only; no county or municipal real estate broker license identified.¹

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a real estate agent in North Carolina, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in North Carolina is on the North Carolina license lookup page.

Look up a license: Provisional Broker (broker license on provisional status)

license.ncrec.gov¹²

File a complaint

ncrec.gov¹³

Look up a license: Limited Nonresident Commercial License (LNCL)

license.ncrec.gov¹²

Look up a license: Firm License (for Entities)

license.ncrec.gov¹²

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• 21 NCAC 58A .0301-.0305
• 21 NCAC 58A .0503-.0506, .0511 (renewal, status, reinstatement, out-of-state applicants)
• 21 NCAC 58A .1702 (continuing education), .1902 (postlicensing)
• 21 NCAC 58A .1801-.1810 (limited nonresident commercial licensing)
• 21 NCAC 58A .0502 (firm licensing), .0302

Rule changes since January 2024

• April 1, 2026: Rule changes to 21 NCAC 58A.0302 (application fee $100 to $105),.0503 (renewal fee $45 to $50) and.1803 (limited nonresident commercial license fee $100 to $105) took effect, and new rule.0513 (voluntary license cancellation) was adopted.¹⁴

Common questions

Real estate agent licenses in other states

• Alabama
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• District of Columbia
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