Real Estate Exam Guide

The national portion tests broad real estate concepts that apply across all states. It's administered by either Pearson VUE or PSI depending on your state, and typically includes 80–100 questions. The passing score is usually 70–75% correct, though some states use scaled scoring rather than a raw percentage.

The state-specific portion tests your state's real estate license law, agency disclosure requirements, and state-unique practices. It's typically 30–50 questions and scored separately. You must pass both portions in the same testing session to receive a passing result. If you pass one but not the other, you retake only the failed portion (in most states).

The total exam runs between 110 and 150 questions depending on your state. Most sessions are 3–4 hours, giving roughly 90 seconds per question. Time management matters: some candidates pass the content but run out of time on the final section.

Most states use either Pearson VUE or PSI to administer the exam. Content and passing standards are set by your state; the testing provider handles the facility, computer system, and identity verification. From a candidate's perspective, both are nearly identical.

Pearson VUE states include Florida, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and about 20 others. PSI states include California, Georgia, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, and about 25 others. Check your state real estate commission website to confirm your provider — this determines where you register and which candidate handbook applies.

Both providers require online registration, exam fee payment ($40–$100 depending on state), and testing center/date selection. Both also offer online proctored testing for some states.

You need two forms of valid ID: one government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID) and one secondary ID with your name and signature. The name must exactly match your registration. Discrepancies may result in being turned away.

Personal items — phones, wallets, bags, watches, notes, and food — are not allowed in the testing room. Most centers provide lockers. The testing computer provides an on-screen basic calculator; bring nothing to calculate with. You'll receive scratch paper or a whiteboard for working through problems.

Arrive 15–30 minutes early. Late arrivals may forfeit their fee. Check-in includes ID verification, a palm scan or fingerprint at most centers, and a photo. The exam begins immediately after.

Most states report results immediately after the exam — you'll see a pass/fail result on screen before leaving. Some states provide a score report showing your percentage by topic area, useful if you need to retake.

Passing scores are set by the state, not the testing provider. Most require 70–75% on each portion independently. Some use scaled scoring where question difficulty affects point value. Texas reports a scaled score from 0–100 with 70 as passing.

If you fail, most states allow a retake after a 24-hour to 30-day waiting period. You pay the exam fee again for each attempt. Some states limit total retake attempts or require additional education after multiple failures.