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Real Estate Agent Licenses › North Carolina

Real Estate Agent License Cost in North Carolina 2026: $264 Fees, $52K Salary

Getting a Real Estate Agent license in North Carolina costs $264 upfront. At state-adjusted salaries, that pays back in 0.2 months.

Real Estate Agent License in North Carolina — Key Numbers

$264
Upfront Cost
$52K
Median Salary (Licensed)
$45
Renewal (every 2 yrs)
0.2 mo
Payback Period

Salary data: BLS OEWS 2024 state estimates. Fees: state licensing board schedules.

Real Estate Agent License Cost Breakdown — North Carolina

Exam fee $64
Application fee $100
Initial license fee $100
Total upfront $264
Renewal fee (every 2 yrs) $45
CE hours required per cycle 24 hours
Salary without license (North Carolina) $33,480/yr
Salary with license (North Carolina) $52,080/yr
5-year net ROI $93K

Licensing body: North Carolina Real Estate Commission. Verify current fees before applying — schedules change.

Real Estate Agent License in North Carolina — What to Know

North Carolina requires pre-license education (typically 60–90 hours) before the state exam. The licensing process takes 4–8 weeks from application to active license. Licensed agents in North Carolina earn $52K on average, with the spread wide depending on market activity. New agents in North Carolina typically start with a 50/50 split at a traditional brokerage before negotiating better terms. The total upfront cost — exam, application, license, E&O insurance — is usually under $1,500.

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Other License Costs in North Carolina

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← All states: Real Estate Agent License Costs
All certifications in North Carolina · Payback period by state
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