How many times can you retake the real estate licensing exam?
There is no single national retake policy. Most states allow unlimited retakes within your exam eligibility window: California places no limit on attempts during the two years after filing the original application, and North Carolina allows unlimited retakes within its 180-day eligibility period with a 10-day wait after a failure. Some states add conditions, such as Texas, where failing a section three times requires additional coursework before retesting.
Candidates are allowed up to 4 attempts to pass the Illinois broker exam during the 2-year eligibility period that begins when pre-license education is completed. If a candidate fails one portion but passes the other, only the failed portion must be retaken. After failing the fourth attempt, the candidate must retake the entire 75-hour pre-license education before testing again.
Sources: PSI — IL Exam Candidate Bulletin; Justia — IL Real Estate Act Art. 5 (225 ILCS 454/5-27); IDFPR – Real Estate Broker 75-Hour Pre-License Curriculum (Official Document).
New York does not limit the number of times you can retake the real estate licensing exam. If you fail, you can schedule another exam through your eAccessNY account and pay the $15 exam fee for each attempt. There is no mandatory waiting period between attempts, though scheduling depends on seat availability.
Sources: New York Department of State — Real Property Law §441-b (statutory) and NY DOS Salesperson Application Instructions.
There is no limit to the number of times a qualified candidate can retake the North Carolina license exam during the 180-day examination eligibility period. Applicants must wait at least 10 calendar days after a failed attempt before retaking, and each application submission and fee payment is valid for only one exam attempt. Both the National and State sections must be passed within the same 180-day period; if the period expires, the applicant must refile with a new application, fee, and criminal record report, and retake both sections.
Sources: North Carolina Real Estate Commission (NCREC) — Real Estate Licensing in North Carolina (RELINC booklet, April 2026 edition).