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Can a convicted felon get a real estate license in North Carolina? If your criminal history shows a criminal conviction, including a serious traffic offense or DWI, you are considered to have a character issue that must be reviewed by the Commission. The Commission reviews every application with a character issue and evaluates it on a case-by-case basis. By law, the Commission is required to consider the following factors: • The crime’s level and seriousness. • Date the crime was committed. • Age of the person at the time the crime was committed. • Circumstances surrounding the applicant while committing the crime, if known. • The connection, if any, between the criminal activity and the prospective real estate duties of the applicant. • The prison, jail, probation, parole, rehabilitation, and employment records of the applicant since the date the crime was committed. • Any subsequent criminal activity by the applicant. • Any affidavits or other written documents, including character references. The Commission may take up to 45 days to evaluate your character once you’ve passed the state licensing exam. This timeline may be extended if additional investigation is required. If any criminal charges are pending, the Commission will not move forward until it is resolved. If the Commission determines your character does not meet the required standards, you will be notified of the decision as well as your right to request a formal hearing before the Commission.

Do you need high school diploma for real estate license in North Carolina? There is not a minimum education requirement to apply for a real estate license. You do not need to have a high school diploma to apply for a real estate broker license in North Carolina.

To become a real estate broker in North Carolina, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, be a US citizen or qualified alien with lawful presence, have a Social Security Number, complete a 75-hour Broker Prelicensing Course, file a complete application with a $105 fee, pass both sections of the license exam with a score of 75, and satisfy the Commission's character requirement. The exam consists of 80 National and 60 State scored items, administered by Pearson VUE. Upon passing, the Commission issues an inactive Provisional Broker license, which the licensee activates by filing a License Activation/Affiliation form with a Broker-in-Charge.

North Carolina is a "broker-only" state and does not issue a salesperson license. The entry-level license status is Provisional Broker, which requires completing a 75-hour Broker Prelicensing Course from a Commission-certified provider, filing an application with a $105 fee (effective April 1, 2026), passing a two-part license examination, and satisfying a character review. Initial licenses are issued on inactive status; to begin working, the Provisional Broker and a Broker-in-Charge must file a License Activation/Affiliation form (REC 2.08) with the Commission.

To become a REALTOR®, a licensed real estate professional must join a local REALTOR® association and pay membership dues, which also provides membership in the state and national associations. In North Carolina, NC REALTORS® serves as the state-level association, and applicants are directed to contact their local board for specific dues amounts. For 2027, National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) national dues are $156 per member, plus a $45 special assessment for the Consumer Advertising Campaign, totaling $201 at the national level. The principals of a real estate firm must join a REALTOR® association before any non-principal agents at that firm can join.

How to get a copy of my real estate license in North Carolina? If you’ve lost your wall certificate and wish to replace it, submit the ‘Request To Reissue Real Estate License Certificate and/or Pocket Card’ form from the NCREC website, along with a $5 fee to the Commission. You can also download and print your digital pocket card for free by logging in as a Licensee and searching for your license record.

Anyone can check the license status of a North Carolina broker on the NCREC website by searching the online database using the broker's license number, name, city, or county. The database displays all brokers with both active and inactive license status. A broker with an inactive license may not engage in any activity requiring a real estate license, per Rule 58A.0504(a).

License status can be verified on the NCREC website by searching the online database using a license number, name, city, or county. The database displays all brokers with both active and inactive license status. Per Rule 58A.0504(a), a broker with an inactive license may not engage in any activity requiring a real estate license. This search is useful for Provisional Brokers verifying a Broker-in-Charge's active status before affiliating.

Becoming a REALTOR® requires three steps: obtaining a real estate license, joining a local REALTOR® association, and paying membership dues. The licensing timeline depends on completing the 75-hour prelicensing course (typically several weeks to a few months) plus application processing and exam scheduling. If there are no character issues, the NCREC can issue a license within approximately 10 business days after the exam date. Joining a local association and processing membership typically adds a short additional period. For 2027, NAR national dues are $156 per member plus a $45 special assessment for the consumer advertising campaign.

To qualify for a North Carolina broker license, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien with lawful presence, have a Social Security Number, and satisfy one of the education qualification options, which most commonly means completing the 75-hour Broker Prelicensing Course from a Commission-certified provider within 3 years prior to application. The applicant must then file a complete application with the $105 application fee, obtain a criminal record report from the Commission's approved vendor within 6 months prior to filing, pass the two-part license examination, and satisfy the Commission that the applicant possesses the requisite character for licensure.