We get it. You’re ready to help clients in Raleigh, Wilmington, Charlotte, Asheville, and greater North Carolina find their dream homes. But you don’t have unlimited time to sift through all the approved real estate schools to find the best option for you in NC.
Don’t worry! We’re here to help. We’ve curated a list of the best real estate schools in NC to suit your unique needs. Whether it’s online or in person, we made sure to examine all the options so that you can make your choice with confidence.
6 Best Real Estate Schools in North Carolina for 2023
| Our Top Picks | Pricing From | Promo Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall: Trav Talks Real Estate | $465 | |
| Best for Class Options: Superior School of Real Estate | $549 | |
| Best for Online: Aceable Agent | $479 | Click our Aceable Agent link - Save 25% |
| Best for Career Resources: Kaplan | $449 | KAPRE5 - 5% off |
| Best for Self-paced Courses: The CE Shop | $715 | TheClose35 - 35% off |
| Best for Instructor Support: Carolina School of Real Estate | $455 |
(North Carolina prelicensing package prices as of August 2023)
North Carolina Real Estate Governing Board:
North Carolina Real Estate Commission
Prelicensing Requirements:
75 Hours
Post-licensing Requirements:
90 Hours Within the First 18 Months
Continuing Education Requirements:
8 Hours Every 12 Months
Before you read through our article, you may want to learn more about North Carolina’s real estate licensing terms first. And if you want to know the types of classes you’ll need to take throughout your real estate career, you can jump into the helpful info section. But if you’re ready to choose your school, let’s dive into our top picks.
How to Get a North Carolina Real Estate License in 5 Easy Steps
Best Overall Real Estate School in NC: Trav Talks Real Estate
Trav Talks Real Estate offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Continuing education
- Post-licensing
Formerly Pan School of Real Estate, Trav Talks is a results-driven local North Carolina school owned and operated by Travis Everette. With almost 20 years of experience in real estate, Travis believes that learning should both be informative and fun. This approach has led Trav Talks to be one of the best real estate schools in the state in terms of pass rate.
Trav Talks Real Estate Pricing
You’ll only find one prelicensing package for aspiring NC brokers at Trav Talks. All of their courses are administered online via Zoom, so you can take classes wherever you are in the state.
- Prelicensing – Online ($465): You’ll get your 75-hour prelicensing course, exam prep, a textbook, and access to Trav Talks’ online learning management system with worksheets and more than 1,000 practice questions. You may choose your preferred schedule based on these options: weekday mornings or evenings, or full day weekends over a two-month period.
(North Carolina prelicensing package price as of August 2023)
Best Feature
One of the things we love about Trav Talks is that students get so many features from their package. At $465, a student will get to experience online classes with a live instructor. The school’s pricing is transparent—no additional fees for books and exam prep materials—and the fact that they have the highest pass rate of any institution on this list suggests they include everything students need to get their licenses.
Room to Improve
We’d love it if Trav Talks could offer more package options with self-paced courses for students who prefer to learn on their own.
Bottom Line
With an 84% overall pass rate in North Carolina, it’s obvious that Trav Talks Real Estate’s teaching methods are nothing but reliable.
Best Real Estate School in NC for Class Options: Superior School of Real Estate
Superior School of Real Estate offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Post-licensing
- Continuing education
Though Superior School of Real Estate is now an affiliate school of Colibri Real Estate, it has been providing real estate education since 2005. Their most significant advantage is the variety of class types they offer. They provide in-person, online self-paced, and virtual live stream classes.
Since they were early adopters of the online learning model, their setup is efficient and easy to use. Their content is well-organized, and they offer a variety of instruction methods to meet different learning styles.
Superior Real Estate School Pricing
Superior Real Estate School offers its prelicensing course in three formats: online, live stream, and in-person, all at the same price.
- Online Package ($549): This package is formatted as a read-only course, so you’ll have access to your textbook and quizzes throughout, plus free online virtual proctoring for your exam.
- Live Stream Package ($549): This package has options for scheduled virtual classes during the week or evenings, and includes your textbook.
- In-person Classroom Package ($549): Classes are held in-person on weekends, weekdays, and weeknights in Charlotte, Cornelius, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem.
(North Carolina prelicensing package prices as of August 2023)
Best Feature
Superior School of Real Estate offers its in-person course in four NC locations, making it accessible for students who want the classroom experience. With 11 expert instructors on their roster, there’s bound to be a class that speaks to you.
Room to Improve
Superior School of Real Estate’s online self-paced course is in a read-only format. That means you won’t get videos or audio lectures to accompany the textbook you’ll need to work through. For a more interactive self-paced experience, consider The CE Shop’s prelicensing packages.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a school with a variety of course format options, give Superior Real Estate School a try.
Best Real Estate School in NC for Online: Aceable Agent
Aceable Agent offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
Aceable Agent is another popular online real estate school that offers a variety of real estate programs across the country. They only offer prelicensing courses in North Carolina, but what they lack in class offerings they make up for in design and extra features.
Aceable Agent’s online platform is easy to use and works seamlessly across all of your mobile devices so you can stop and start learning wherever you are. Plus, their content is expertly crafted and thoroughly organized so you can get through your course as efficiently as possible.
Aceable Agent Pricing
Aceable Agent offers three online self-paced prelicensing packages in North Carolina.
- Basic ($479): Enjoy your prelicensing course, Lite Exam Prep with 1,000 practice questions, instructor support via email, and a course on how to find the right sponsoring broker.
- Deluxe ($629): This package includes all the features of the previous package as well as a real estate e-book and Deluxe Exam Prep, including 1,660 practice questions, flashcards, and 75 video lessons.
- Premium ($779): You’ll get all the perks of Deluxe, plus one-on-one tutoring, access to a webinar archive with hundreds of hours of videos, access to a live webinar five times a week, and live Q&A sessions for more interactive support.
(North Carolina prelicensing package prices as of August 2023)
Exclusive offer for readers of The Close. Click on any Aceable Agent link and SAVE 5% at checkout.
Best Feature
We can’t get enough of Aceable Agent’s many options for student support to help you get through the material and address any challenges. They’re the only online real estate school on our list that offers private tutoring, and the access to live webinars and Q&A sessions offers some of the perks of a classroom setting from home.
Room to Improve
We’re disappointed that students can’t continue learning with Aceable Agent after they finish their prelicensing course. Currently, Aceable Agent only offers post-licensing and continuing education in three states.
Bottom Line
Aceable Agent is a great choice for online self-study for mobile users and anyone looking for extra support to work through the course material.
Can You Be a Part-time Real Estate Agent? (+ Free Guide & Videos)
Best Real Estate School in NC for Career Resources: Kaplan
Kaplan offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Post-licensing
- Continuing education
Kaplan and its parent company have been leading education and test prep for more than 80 years in the U.S. They are serious about quality courses and learning resources. Kaplan’s highest praise goes to its instructors, who are real estate experts and educators with decades of experience.
Kaplan may not have the flashiest online layout, but they provide thorough instruction and comprehensive support. Their exam prep is top notch too, with both self-paced and live exam prep options and pretest review sessions.
Kaplan Pricing
Kaplan separates its packages into self-paced and live online packages, and every package increases in price by $100.
- North Carolina 75-hour Broker Prelicensing Course ($449): This online self-paced option includes your course, exam prep, textbook, access to a live interactive study group, weekly live webinars, and free virtual exam proctoring.
- North Carolina 75-hour Broker Prelicensing Live Online Course ($549): This package includes everything from the above package, but features scheduled live stream classes.
- Career Launcher Package ($649): You’ll get access to all the features of the first package, plus Kaplan’s Real Estate Accelerator Online Video Course to help launch your career with webinars, an eight-hour boot camp, and even eight weeks of personal coaching.
- Career Launcher Live Online Package ($749): This plan follows the above package format but you access classes in a scheduled live stream format.
(North Carolina prelicensing package prices as of August 2023)
Readers of The Close can SAVE 5% on any Kaplan prelicensing course in North Carolina. Use promo code KAPRE5 at checkout. Click here to get started.
Best Feature
Kaplan’s best feature is definitely its Career Launcher packages. Most schools only teach you what you need to pass the exam. While they are Kaplan’s most expensive options, the magnitude of extra features will surely help you start building your business.
Room to Improve
Kaplan may not be for you if you gravitate toward sleek, state-of-the-art online platforms. Kaplan’s interface isn’t anything exciting, but its material is organized in an easy-to-use way, and the content is thoroughly and expertly designed.
Bottom Line
Kaplan is for you if you’re looking for a reputable school that will help you hone your practical skills in the real estate business.
Best Real Estate School in NC for Self-paced Courses: The CE Shop
The CE Shop offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Post-licensing
- Continuing education
The CE Shop is an excellent option for self-paced, online real estate learning. They boast a high student satisfaction rate, meaning almost all its students gave The CE Shop a 5-star review and would recommend it to others.
Try The CE Shop’s FREE 5-DAY TRIAL!
The CE Shop is the only school on our list that lets you test drive their courses and features before you buy. Visit their website today!
The CE Shop Pricing
The CE Shop has four prelicensing packages for prospective North Carolina brokers.
- Career Essentials ($715): This loaded package comes with your prelicensing course, exam prep, pass guarantee, webinars, business e-books, flashcards, real estate glossary, and a study schedule.
- Career Builder ($795): This includes everything in Career Essentials plus business-building courses specifically designed to help new agents.
- Career Accelerator ($1,079): Aside from everything in the Career Builder package, the Career Accelerator package includes your post-licensing course and a North Carolina real estate textbook.
(North Carolina prelicensing package prices as of August 2023)
Readers of The Close can SAVE 35% on any prelicensing course from The CE Shop. Use promo code TheClose35 at checkout.
Best Feature
The best feature in The CE Shop’s packages is all the little extras. Most of the time, you’ll only get items like exam prep and pass guarantee in top-tier packages, so this makes The CE Shop’s Career Essentials package a total steal.
Room to Improve
Unfortunately, The CE Shop’s package pricing is a little steep. Luckily, their offerings go on sale often, so it’s worth it to keep checking out their site. If you’re on a budget, check out Kaplan’s packages.
Bottom Line
Choose The CE Shop if you want to cover all your bases and get extra features to help you ace the license exam and begin your career.
Best Real Estate School in NC for Instructor Support: Carolina School of Real Estate
Carolina School of Real Estate offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Post-licensing
- Continuing education
Carolina School of Real Estate is the place to go for in-person classroom instruction. Their focus is simple: thorough instruction in an interactive classroom setting. That way, you get the opportunity to ask questions in the moment on topics you need help with.
Their instructors are experts with more than 60 years of combined experience in real estate. Courses run at one of their three Winston-Salem locations or their Greensboro location.
Carolina Real Estate School Pricing
Carolina Real Estate School offers a scheduled course option in person or online via Zoom.
- Zoom or In-person ($455): Whether you join the class in-person or via Zoom, you’ll have access to the scheduled classes for your course and a textbook.
(North Carolina prelicensing package prices as of August 2023)
Best Feature
Carolina Real Estate School is an excellent choice if online learning isn’t for you and you prefer a classroom setting. Sign up if you are at your best with a scheduled class and instructors you can talk to. Naturally, it will be easier to reach out to your instructors as you’ll have a regular interaction with them. In-person courses usually cost more than online self-paced programs, but Carolina Real Estate stays competitive and affordable.
Room to Improve
Though you’ll be getting quality instruction in person, you won’t be leaving with a pile of career resources. This course is meant to get you through the material with a solid understanding, but you won’t have access to features like coaching, e-books, or career courses.
Bottom Line
If you’re most comfortable in a classroom learning from an in-person instructor, Carolina Real Estate School is for you. You’ll get the benefit of being able to ask questions in real time with an instructor who can tailor the content to class needs.
How We Selected the Best Real Estate Schools in NC
To ensure that our readers land on one of the best schools in NC, our team at The Close used a weighted rubric where we scored schools according to the following criteria:
Read more about our methodology here.
North Carolina Real Estate Licensing Terms
Every state uses its own real estate terminology, which can get a little confusing. While other states may use the term salesperson or agent, the state of North Carolina refers to newly licensed real estate professionals as provisional brokers.
More specifically, there are three types of real estate professionals in North Carolina: provisional brokers, full brokers, and brokers-in-charge.
When you first get licensed in North Carolina, your license is under provisional status. That means that you must work under the supervision of a broker-in-charge. To remove the provisional status and get full broker status in NC, you’ll need to complete a 90-hour post-licensing course.
North Carolina Real Estate Schools: Helpful Info
Your real estate career in North Carolina begins with a 75-hour prelicensing course, which you’ll need to complete in order to take your real estate license exam. You can choose any school on the state’s list of approved providers, but be sure to check out our favorites.
All the schools on our list provide prelicensing packages, but some include other educational offerings you’ll need later on. Read on to learn about the types of programs North Carolina real estate schools offer to agents throughout their career.
Prelicensing Courses
Your 75-hour prelicensing course covers everything you need to know to pass the North Carolina real estate license exam. Once you’ve completed all 75 hours, the North Carolina Real Estate Commission requires you to take a proctored final exam, which is separate from the state’s license exam. Often, you’ll be able to take this course exam from the comfort of home with the use of a virtual online proctor.
Exam Preparation
Your prelicensing course should give you a solid understanding of the real estate concepts that will be on your state licensing test. But if you want to prepare a little more, you may need an exam prep package.
Some schools offer study aids for purchase a la carte and others include them as part of prelicensing course packages. They usually include practice tests as well as tools like flashcards, a study schedule, or videos that highlight core concepts. We like The CE Shop’s Exam Prep Edge because it assesses the areas you still need to review based on past performance and adapts your study program accordingly.
Post-licensing
Once you receive your North Carolina real estate license, you’ll officially be a provisional broker. Within your first 18 months, you’ll need to complete three post-licensing courses. The courses are 30 hours each, so you’ll be looking at post-licensing requirements of 90 hours total. Most of the schools on our list have you covered here too. Some even offer post-licensing courses as part of the prelicensing package.
Continuing Education
As a broker, it is your responsibility to satisfy the state’s continuing education requirements every year in order to renew your license to active status. North Carolina requires brokers to complete eight hours of continuing education per annual license period, which includes four hours of the General Update course and a four-hour elective course.
North Carolina Real Estate Schools FAQs
Though you have all the details on our top picks of North Carolina real estate schools, you may still have questions. Check out the answers to our most frequently asked questions, and don’t forget to comment below—we’d love to hear from you!
Do I have to take the prelicensing course to get my real estate license in North Carolina?
If you have a degree in real estate, you can skip the 75-hour prelicensing course. In order to qualify, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree or higher in real estate, brokerage, real estate finance, real estate development, or law. Your degree must be from an accredited college or university.
How long does it take to get my North Carolina real estate license?
If you are a qualified applicant with your prelicensing course completed, the process to apply and receive your real estate license can be as little as 10 days. The overall time from start to finish will vary depending on how long you take to complete your prelicensing course and whether you pass the licensure exam on your first try.
Can I get my North Carolina real estate license online?
You can complete almost all of the licensing steps online as long as you choose an online real estate school for your prelicensing course. You will have to complete a proctored exam when you’re done with your prelicensing course, but you can do that at home or at a location of your choice. Likewise, applying for the license and background check can also be completed online. However, you must take the license exam at a PSI testing location.
How many Realtors are there in North Carolina?
According to the National Association of Realtors’ data, there are 54,108 Realtors in North Carolina. This is a very slight decrease from the previous month, and a 1.5% decrease from this time last year.
How much do real estate agents make in North Carolina?
It all depends on the number of deals and the commission splits, but according to The Close’s salary information database, the average real estate agent in North Carolina makes $67,288 each year.
What’s the average home price in North Carolina?
According to Zillow, home values in North Carolina rose almost 3% over the past year, reaching $320,096. Prices in big metro areas, like Raleigh, are higher, averaging $432,223.
Real Estate Broker vs. Agent: A Head-to-Head Analysis
Bringing It All Together
We wish you the best in your real estate career and hope you can choose your North Carolina real estate school with more confidence after reading our top picks. Have advice, thoughts, or questions? Leave us a comment below!
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