Built by experts in learning science, Aceable Agent’s courses feature videos, interactive games, and bite-sized lessons to help you successfully meet your 75-hour prelicensing coursework requirement. And the school’s practice tests, contract workshops, and other tools are designed to ensure confidence as you begin your career. Students appreciate that course content is presented in a highly engaging way and find the layout of the courses interactive and stimulating. With the ability to stop and resume where you left off from your iPhone or computer, Aceable Agent’s courses are refreshingly accessible.
All AceableAgent’s prelicensing classes meet North Carolina’s 75-hour prelicensing requirement..
All Deluxe features + 1 hr of private tutoring, 5 live webinars weekly, access to webinar archives, live Q&A with experts weekly
All Basic features + Virtual instructor + PrepAgent w/ 75 videos, 70 audio lessons, digital flashcards, 1,660 additional practice questions & 100+ pg Exam Prep Ebook
Required 75 hrs of coursework. Lite Exam Prep includes 1000 exam practice questions and audio guide. Mini course on starting your career by finding a sponsoring broker
New virtual instructor feature provides answers and detailed explanations about content and concepts 24/7 (Available in Deluxe and Premium packages only).
Courses are self-paced so you can plan your education around your schedule.
No NC post-licensing or CE courses are offered.
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Overview
The CE Shop combines updated course content with an interactive teaching approach, which has been proven to be a far more effective learning method. The school consistently updates its course material to stay on top of industry changes. And its custom online learning platform, LEAP, encourages students to engage with essential content for improved retention. With a 96% student satisfaction rate, it’s clear that The CE Shop’s students appreciate the courses’ features, support, and intuitive interface.
Course Options
Pricing
All of The CE Shop’s prelicensing classes meet North Carolina’s 75-hour prelicensing requirement. All post-licensing courses meet NC’s 90-hour continuing education requirement for first-time renewals, which must be completed within the first 18 months of licensure.
Prices Starting at
Prelicensing
$715
Exam Prep
$79
Post-licensing CE
$249
Prelicensing Pricing
Career Accelerator
Career Builder
Career Essentials
$1079
$795
$715
All Career Builder Features + NC Post-Licensing Package
All Career Essentials Features + Business Building Courses
Required 75-hr NC prelicensing coursework. Paid for Proctoring Attempt, Exam Prep Edge, Instructor Led Webinars on Exam Topics, North Carolina Real Estate: Principles and Practices, 8th Edition, Business Ebooks, Career Resources, Downloadable Resources, Digital Flashcards, Real Estate Glossary, Study Schedule
Pros + Cons
Pros:
Free 5-day trial of the NC Salesperson Prelicensing courses.
Treated like a 40-hour work week, your education can be completed in as little as two weeks.
Cons:
Lack of access to live instructors.
Features
Course Formats: Online interactive.
Course Access: Six months from the date of purchase.
Pass Guarantee: With the CE Shop’s “Pass Guarantee,” prelicensing students can request a reimbursement of the cost of the initial licensing exam if a retake is required.
Student Support: Support is available seven days a week via chat, email, and phone.
Exam Prep: The CE Shop’s Exam Prep Edge courses include an initial assessment, after which the school’s interactive dashboard guides you through each topic while gauging your competency. The course also prepares students for the licensing exam through unlimited practice tests with unique questions.
Final Exam: The state of North Carolina requires that the final course exam be proctored. Prelicensing final exams must be passed with a minimum of 80%.
Carolina School of Real Estate
Best North Carolina real estate school for all stages of your career
Overall Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
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Overview
A locally-owned, Winston-Salem, NC-based real estate school, the Carolina School of Real Estate’s various course offerings help students succeed in obtaining their North Carolina Real Estate License, maintaining licensure, and expanding their industry knowledge base. With more than 60 years of combined experience in the industry, the school delivers quality educational instruction at all stages of your career. Students enjoy the convenience of simply hitting pause to stop the class, then picking up exactly where they left off, anytime. The Carolina School of Real Estate is exclusively focused on North Carolina. As such, it can offer expertise on the state’s requirements and markets.
Course Options
Pricing
All Carolina School of Real Estate’s prelicensing classes meet North Carolina’s 75-hour prelicensing requirement. All post-licensing courses meet NC’s 90-hour continuing education requirement for first-time renewals, which must be completed within the first 18 months of licensure.
Prices Starting at
Prelicensing
$455
Post-Licensing
$225
Post-licensing CE
$55
Pricing for Courses
Course
Prelicensing Course
Post-licensing Courses
Self-paced Prelicensing Course
$529
$455
$269
$225
Required 75 hrs of coursework. Read-only course is self-paced. Quizzes throughout the course must be passed in order to move forward. Includes access to Buffini & Company’s coaching videos
75 hrs of required instruction.
In-person or livestream via Zoom on designated dates / times.
Topics include basic real estate practices & principles, real estate law, financing, brokerage, contracts, closings + more
Required 30 hrs of post-licensing coursework. Primarily video with some light reading, activities & quizzes. Includes The Adventure Guide book. Choose from the following courses: Broker Relationships and Responsibilities, Contracts and Closings or NC Law, Rules & Legal Concepts
Taught by experienced professionals. Each course fulfills 30 of the required 90 hrs of renewal coursework. Courses include Broker Relationships and Responsibilities, Contracts and Closings + NC Law, Rules & Legal Concepts
Pros + Cons
Pros:
If you fail the self-paced prelicensing final exam, you may take the course again at no charge.
Weekend and evening courses are available.
Cons:
The self-paced prelicensing course is a read-only course. There are no videos or virtual instructors.
Features
Course Formats: In-person or livestream.
Course Access: All courses must be completed within 180 days from registration.
Refund Policy: A non-refundable $100 deposit is required with registration. The deposit is, however, returned if the class is canceled or postponed. If a student transfers to another scheduled class, you may receive credit for the $100 deposit.
Student Support & Engagement: Support is available via phone during normal business hours. Students can also submit a form requesting help or asking questions.
Final Exam: The self-paced prelicensing final exam consists of 112 questions taken online and will be monitored using an online proctor. The post-licensing final exam consists of 40 questions taken online and will also be monitored using an online proctor.
Kaplan Real Estate Education
Best North Carolina real estate school for exam prep
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
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Overview
Kaplan Real Estate Education works with thousands of students each year, helping them begin and advance their real estate career. Students report being impressed with the school’s high-quality prelicensing, exam prep, and continuing education courses and the industry-expert instructors who teach them. Kaplan’s online prelicensing courses not only include full access to the instructor, but also enable you to complete your required education when and where it’s convenient for you. And each course combines solid industry fundamentals with the latest state-specific information needed to ace the North Carolina licensing exam.
Course Options
Pricing
All Kaplan’s prelicensing classes meet North Carolina’s 75-hour prelicensing requirement. All post-licensing courses meet NC’s 90-hour continuing education requirement for first-time renewals, which must be completed within the first 18 months of licensure.
Prices Starting at
Prelicensing
$449
Exam Prep
$99
Post-licensing CE
$429
Prelicensing Pricing
Career Launcher Live Online Package
Career Launcher Package
Prelicensing Live Online Course
Prelicensing Course
$749
$649
$549
$449
Required 75 hrs of NC coursework. Includes Modern Real estate Practice in North Carolina textbook, NC and National Drill & Practice QBank + Exam Prep courses, Access to National Interactive Study Group & Online Career Mentor Connect, 1-on1 tutoring. Choose from live online or online video format
Required 75 hrs of NC coursework. Includes Modern Real estate Practice in North Carolina textbook, NC Drill & Practice QBank + NC Exam Prep courses, Accelerator Online Video Course and Live Online Coaching. Access to Interactive Study Group & Online Career Mentor Connect, 1-on1 tutoring. Choose from live online or online video format
Required 75 hrs of NC coursework. Includes Modern Real estate Practice in North Carolina textbook, NC and National Drill & Practice QBank + Exam Prep courses, Access to Interactive Study Group. Choose from live online or online video format
Required 75 hrs of NC coursework. Online video course includes Modern Real estate Practice in North Carolina textbook, NC Drill & Practice QBank + NC Exam Prep courses. Access to Interactive Study Group & Online Career Mentor Connect, 1-on1 tutoring. Choose from live online or online video format
Pros + Cons
Pros:
Tuition fee includes exam prep course.
Kaplan’s online video courses let you stop, start, and resume your courses as needed.
Cons:
You must have Zoom downloaded and installed on your computer/ laptop for Live Online classes.
Features
Course Formats: Live online or online video courses.
Course Access: Per the North Carolina Real Estate Commission Rule, all students taking an asynchronous online video course have six months from the date of purchase to complete their course.
Pass Guarantee or Refund Policy: Kaplan offers online students a full tuition refund within 30 days of purchase, but only if the class has not been completed.
Student Support & Engagement: Student or Technical Support staff are available to answer any questions via phone during business hours. General support is also available via email or live chat.
Exam Prep: Kaplan offers comprehensive, instructor-led North Carolina broker exam prep courses delivered in both live online and online video formats. When you enroll in one of the North Carolina prelicensing online video courses, you receive free enrollment in the real estate exam prep course.
Final Exam: All students taking a synchronous live online class must complete their course and pass the proctored end-of-course final exam within 23 days of the last day of class. According to North Carolina Real Estate Commission rules, course extensions cannot be granted.
Colibri’s Sister School, Superior
Best Best North Carolina real estate school for career resources
Pass Rates: 63%
Overall Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
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Overview
Superior’s instructors hold distinguished titles and are also actively engaged in North Carolina’s communities. And most of Superior’s instructors are practicing area brokers themselves. To accommodate professionals leading busy lives, the school has ample course options, offering half-day, full-day, night, and weekend classes. Students are impressed with Superior’s leading course material, instructor insights, and career connections. Superior also offers exclusive access and discounts to real estate coaching company Buffini & Company.
Course Options
Pricing
All Superior’s prelicensing classes meet North Carolina’s 75-hour prelicensing requirement. All post-licensing courses meet North Carolina’s 90-hour continuing education requirement for first-time renewals, which must be completed within the first 18 months of licensure.
Prices Starting at
Prelicensing
$529
Exam Prep
$69
Post-licensing CE
$269
Prelicensing Pricing
Career Ultimate
Career Professional
Classroom & Livestream Packages
Career Essentials
$949
$639
$549
$529
Required 75 hrs of NC coursework. Online course includes practice exams, Buffini & Company Career Coaching videos, printable Adventure Guide, audio review of National Exam topics, Instructor Q&A, Crammer Course, Exam Prep powered by CompuCram, hardcopy course textbook + more
Required 75 hrs of NC coursework. Online course includes practice exams, Buffini & Company Career Coaching videos, printable Adventure Guide, audio review of National Exam topics, Instructor Q&A + more
Required 75 hrs of NC coursework. Includes practice exams, Buffini & Company Career Coaching videos, printable Adventure Guide, hardcopy course textbook + more. Choose from Virtual Classroom or Live Class on designated dates / times, at various locations across NC
Required 75 hrs of NC coursework. Online course includes practice exams, Buffini & Company Career Coaching videos, printable Adventure Guide & more
Pros + Cons
Pros:
A Free Career Starter Kit is available.
Virtual Career Nights are offered.
Cons:
Course is paced at a learning level that the school sets, so you may have to sit through additional class hours even after you take and pass the quiz
Features
Course Formats: Self-paced online courses or live classes.
Course Access: Per North Carolina Real Estate Commission rules, you must complete your course, including passing the proctored end-of-course exam, within 180 days of enrollment.
Pass Guarantee or Refund Policy: Students who take the school’s CompuCram® North Carolina Exam Prep and don’t pass the exam on the first try are eligible for a refund of the original price of the CompuCram purchase.
Student Support: With Classroom & Livestream Packages, you can engage with instructors and other real estate students through Q&A sessions. Support is also available by chat and phone during normal business hours.
Exam Prep: Superior offers a suite of North Carolina exam prep tools, from all-in-one solutions like CompuCram to an intensive eight-hour livestream crammer course. Exam prep includes practice tests, simulated exams, exam vocab, a livestream prep course led by area instructors, and a Readiness Indicator to track your progress.
Final Exam: The free, online final exam must be taken by the designated date and will be monitored using an online proctor.
FastPass
Best North Carolina real estate school for affordable learning
Overall Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars
Rating: 4 out of 5.
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Overview
FastPass Learning is a North Carolina-approved real estate school providing high-quality online courses, from prelicensing to continuing education. The school prides itself on offering exceptional service and guidance, as well as an intuitive learning experience. FastPass Learning’s online courses were designed to make it as easy as possible for students to get the education they need. And students feel better prepared for their real estate career after completing the school’s courses.
Course Options
Pricing
FastPass Learning’s prelicensing classes meet North Carolina’s 75-hour prelicensing requirement. All post-licensing courses meet North Carolina’s 90-hour continuing education requirement for first-time renewals, which must be completed within the first 18 months of licensure.
Prices Starting at
Prelicensing
$356
Exam Prep
$72
Post-licensing CE
$167
Pricing
Premium Prelicensing
Prices Starting at
Post-Licensing Course Package
Individual Post-Licensing Online Video Courses
Continuing Education Courses
$470
$356
$367
$167
$47
Required 75-hrs of coursework. Includes NC Exam Simulator & course eBook. 7 days/week instructor support
Required 75-hrs of coursework. 7 days/week instructor support
Required 90-hrs of coursework. Includes 3 x 30-hour online video courses: Broker Relationships and Responsibilities, Contracts and Closings + NC Law, Rules & Legal Concepts
30-hr online video courses Broker Relationships and Responsibilities, Contracts and Closings or NC Law, Rules & Legal Concepts may be purchased as stand-alone courses
Stand-alone CE online courses cover current industry topics. Each course fulfills required 4 credits of CE coursework
Pros + Cons
Pros:
Complete courses using your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
Free trial of prelicensing courses available.
Cons:
Course selections are limited.
For post-licensing courses, textbook is not included in the tuition.
Features
Course Formats: Online video
Course Access: All courses expire six months after the date of enrollment. In some cases, expired prelicensing course enrollments may be extended for a fee.
Refund Policy: FastPast Learning’s Premium Prelicensing package includes a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.
Student Support: Students that enroll in the Prelicensing Premium class receive instructor support seven days/week. For general support, the FastPass team is available via submission form, email, or phone during normal business hours.
Exam Prep: FastPass Learning’s practice exam package is meant to prepare you for the North Carolina real estate licensing exam with exam simulations and an intuitive exam prep to help improve your score on topics that are difficult for you.
Final Exam: North Carolina regulations require that you take a proctored final exam after completing your course
Sea Coast Real Estate Academy
Best North Carolina real estate school for unique offerings
Overall Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
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Overview
For over two decades, Sea Coast Real Estate Academy has been providing a quality education for those wanting to obtain a real estate license and continue their learning. The school is known for its affordable prelicensing education and real estate courses are taught by dynamic teachers in a comfortable setting that student’s appreciate. Sea Coast Real Estate Academy also provides post-licensing, exam prep, and continuing education. Accessible on all devices, course formats are offered via livestream, self-study, and on-demand video.
Course Options
Pricing
Sea Coast Real Estate Academy’s prelicensing classes meet North Carolina’s 75-hour prelicensing requirement. All post-licensing courses meet NC’s 90-hour continuing education requirement for first-time renewals, which must be completed within the first 18 months of licensure.
Prices Starting at
Prelicensing
$450
Exam Prep
$25
Post-licensing CE
$225
Pricing
NC Prelicensing
Self-Paced Prelicensing
Post-Licensing
$450
$450
$225
Required 75-hrs of coursework. Covers real estate principles & practices, including property ownership, real estate law, finance, brokerage relationships, closings, transfer of title & more. Includes textbook / e-book, math workbook, free exam review sessions & course material.
Designated dates, Night or Day
Required 75-hrs of coursework. Read-only course. Quizzes throughout the course must be passed before moving forward. No additional books or materials required. Includes textbook / e-book, math workbook, free exam review sessions & course material.
Designated dates, Night or Day
30-hr online courses Broker Relationships and Responsibilities, Contracts and Closings or NC Law, Rules & Legal Concepts. Must be purchased as stand-alone courses. Choose from designated dates / times
Pros + Cons
Pros:
Real estate education can be gifted to aspiring agents by purchasing credits.
Free exam prep review sessions available.
Cons:
No post-licensing packages available. Each post-licensing class has to be purchased separately.
Features
Course Formats: Online, self-paced.
Course Access: All prelicensing courses must be completed within 180 days of registration. This timeframe includes the final exam and retake exam.
Refund Policy: A student who withdraws from the broker prelicensing or a post-licensing course can choose from receiving a full refund or transfering to a different class before the first class. No refunds will be made on or after the first class.
Student Support: If you need to speak to someone over the phone, you can leave a voicemail that the school’s admin will return during normal business hours. Support is also available via email.
Exam Prep: Sea Coast’s Broker Exam Review is an online class offered via Zoom on designated dates/ times. It includes three hours of exam review and one hour of Q & A.
Final Exam: The prelicensing course includes a 112-question final exam. The exam must be taken online and will be monitored using an online proctor.
Methodology: How we chose the best real estate schools in North Carolina
To determine the very best North Carolina real estate schools, we conducted extensive research, rating each school based on the following:
Affordability and flexibility
Course offerings, including study tools and technology
Course access and format options
Instructor expertise and accessibility
Pass rates and student satisfaction
Return policies or pass guarantees
Student support and engagement
Finally, we considered each school’s unique features and professional development opportunities, which can be of lasting value to real estate agents like yourself.
Frequently asked questions
What are the steps to getting a North Carolina real estate license?
The requirements for taking the NC real estate exam and becoming a provisional broker are as follows:
Be at least 18 years old
Complete 75 hours of NC prelicensing real estate classes
Complete a background check
Apply for your Provisional Broker’s License online
Schedule, take, and pass the licensing exam
Select a sponsoring broker-in-charge so that you can get an active license and become a
North Carolina provisional real estate broker
How much does real estate school cost in North Carolina?
Starting a new career in real estate will require an investment, so support it with an education that will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need. To become a real estate agent in North Carolina, here’s what to budget for:
Prelicensing exam coursework = $356 to $715
Background check = $35
North Carolina application fee = $100
State examination fee = $56
Estimated total = Between $547 and $906
How long is the North Carolina licensing exam?
The NC Real Estate License Exam consists of 120 questions and is based on the 75-hour prelicensing curriculum. The number of questions included on the License Exam are as follows:
The provisional broker exam consists of 80 national questions. You’re given 2.5 hours to complete this section.
The provisional broker exam consists of 40 state specific questions. You’re given 1.5 hours to complete this section.
How hard is the North Carolina real estate exam?
To pass the North Carolina real estate licensing exam, you’ll need to score a minimum of 71% on the National portion and 72% on the State portion. For the thousands of students who pass the North Carolina licensure exam every year, the key to not just passing but scoring higher than what’s required is preparation through the right education provider.
What is the average salary for a North Carolina real estate agent?
According to Glassdoor.com, the estimated average salary for a North Carolina real estate agent is $114,091 annually (as of this writing).
The full picture: Best real estate schools in North Carolina
Starting a new career in real estate can be exciting. If you’re new to North Carolina real estate, knowing what the best online real estate schools in the state have to offer can make all the difference! Now that you have the inside scoop on the top North Carolina real estate schools, you can choose one that best suits your goals, learning style and budget.
From tips on finding the best school for getting your real estate education to passing the state licensing exam and fulfilling your continuing education requirements, HousingWire has the information you need to start your career and succeed as a North Carolina real estate professional.
Helpful links for North Carolina real estate schools
We’ve rounded up the links and sites that prospective real estate agents visit the most for more information on obtaining a license, choosing a school, and other requirements in North Carolina:
National Association of Realtors ®
North Carolina Association of Realtors ®
North Carolina Real Estate Commission
ENB
Sandstone Group
