2026 Real Estate License Exam Guide — All 50 States
Compare exam requirements, costs, and pass rates for every U.S. state. Download free PDF study guides and start preparing today.
50 State Comparison Table
Click any column header to sort. Download the free PDF guide for your state.
| Alabama | — | 120 | 70% | 56% | $73 | — |
| Alaska | — | 120 | 75% | 62% | $115 | — |
| Arizona | — | 140 | 75% | 52% | $130 | — |
| Arkansas | — | 110 | 70% | 58% | $75 | — |
| California | 45 | 150 | 70% | 51% | $100 | |
| Colorado | — | 154 | 75% | 56% | $49 | — |
| Connecticut | — | 115 | 70% | 54% | $59 | — |
| Delaware | — | 120 | 70% | 55% | $88 | — |
| Florida | 14 | 100 | 75% | 47% | $36.75 | |
| Georgia | 36 | 152 | 75% | 50% | $175 | — |
| Hawaii | — | 130 | 70% | 48% | $61 | — |
| Idaho | — | 120 | 70% | 58% | $83 | — |
| Illinois | — | 140 | 70% | 55% | $58 | — |
| Indiana | — | 145 | 75% | 57% | $55 | — |
| Iowa | — | 120 | 70% | 60% | $95 | — |
| Kansas | — | 110 | 70% | 59% | $140 | — |
| Kentucky | — | 130 | 75% | 55% | $100 | — |
| Louisiana | — | 135 | 70% | 52% | $81 | — |
| Maine | — | 120 | 75% | 58% | $88 | — |
| Maryland | — | 110 | 70% | 53% | $44 | — |
| Massachusetts | — | 120 | 70% | 54% | $56 | — |
| Michigan | — | 115 | 70% | 53% | $79 | |
| Minnesota | — | 130 | 75% | 56% | $68 | — |
| Mississippi | — | 120 | 70% | 54% | $75 | — |
| Missouri | — | 140 | 70% | 55% | $52 | — |
| Montana | — | 120 | 75% | 60% | $95 | — |
| Nebraska | — | 130 | 75% | 57% | $150 | — |
| Nevada | — | 120 | 75% | 53% | $100 | — |
| New Hampshire | — | 120 | 70% | 55% | $66 | — |
| New Jersey | — | 110 | 70% | 48% | $38 | — |
| New Mexico | — | 130 | 75% | 56% | $95 | — |
| New York | 22.5 | — | — | 63% | — | — |
| North Carolina | — | 140 | 75% | 56% | $63 | — |
| North Dakota | — | 140 | 70% | 62% | $134 | — |
| Ohio | — | 120 | 70% | 54% | $66 | — |
| Oklahoma | — | 120 | 70% | 57% | $75 | — |
| Oregon | — | 130 | 75% | 55% | $75 | — |
| Pennsylvania | — | 120 | 75% | 52% | $101 | — |
| Rhode Island | — | 130 | 70% | 54% | $103 | — |
| South Carolina | — | 120 | 70% | 55% | $63 | — |
| South Dakota | — | 152 | 75% | 60% | $105 | — |
| Tennessee | — | 120 | 70% | 58% | $63 | — |
| Texas | — | 125 | 70% | 58% | $43 | |
| Utah | — | 130 | 70% | 54% | $69 | — |
| Vermont | — | 100 | 70% | 58% | $110 | — |
| Virginia | — | 120 | 70% | 55% | $60 | — |
| Washington | — | 130 | 70% | 57% | $210 | — |
| West Virginia | — | 130 | 70% | 56% | $118 | — |
| Wisconsin | 18 | 140 | 75% | 55% | $65 | — |
| Wyoming | — | 120 | 75% | 61% | $160 | — |
— means the figure has not yet been checked against that state's current candidate handbook; the state page links to the authority instead.
Data reflects salesperson license requirements. CE Hours = Continuing Education hours per renewal cycle. Pass rates are approximate first-attempt averages.
Exam Guides by Region
Browse states grouped by region. Each card links to the full state guide and a free PDF download.
Northeast
115 questions · 54% pass rate
120 questions · 55% pass rate
120 questions · 58% pass rate
110 questions · 53% pass rate
120 questions · 54% pass rate
120 questions · 55% pass rate
110 questions · 48% pass rate
63% pass rate · format per DOS
120 questions · 52% pass rate
130 questions · 54% pass rate
100 questions · 58% pass rate
Southeast
120 questions · 56% pass rate
110 questions · 58% pass rate
100 questions · 47% pass rate
152 questions · 50% pass rate
130 questions · 55% pass rate
135 questions · 52% pass rate
120 questions · 54% pass rate
140 questions · 56% pass rate
120 questions · 55% pass rate
120 questions · 58% pass rate
120 questions · 55% pass rate
130 questions · 56% pass rate
Midwest
140 questions · 55% pass rate
145 questions · 57% pass rate
120 questions · 60% pass rate
110 questions · 59% pass rate
115 questions · 53% pass rate
130 questions · 56% pass rate
140 questions · 55% pass rate
130 questions · 57% pass rate
140 questions · 62% pass rate
120 questions · 54% pass rate
152 questions · 60% pass rate
140 questions · 55% pass rate
Southwest
140 questions · 52% pass rate
130 questions · 56% pass rate
120 questions · 57% pass rate
125 questions · 58% pass rate
West
120 questions · 62% pass rate
150 questions · 51% pass rate
154 questions · 56% pass rate
130 questions · 48% pass rate
120 questions · 58% pass rate
120 questions · 60% pass rate
120 questions · 53% pass rate
130 questions · 55% pass rate
130 questions · 54% pass rate
130 questions · 57% pass rate
120 questions · 61% pass rate
What Is the Real Estate Licensing Exam?
The real estate licensing exam is the final step before you can legally practice as an agent or broker in the United States. Every state requires passing this standardized test, which covers property law, finance, contracts, agency relationships, and state-specific regulations.
National Portion
Covers uniform principles across all states — property ownership types, contract law, financing instruments, fair housing regulations, and valuation methods. This section typically accounts for 60-80 questions.
State-Specific Portion
Tests your knowledge of local statutes, licensing requirements, agency disclosure rules, and regulations unique to your jurisdiction. Some states combine both into a single exam; others score them independently.
Core Exam Topics
Property Ownership & Land Use
Fee simple, tenancy types, legal descriptions, zoning
Contracts & Agency
Listing agreements, fiduciary duties, disclosures
Financing & Valuation
Mortgage types, appraisal methods, settlement
Federal & State Law
Fair Housing, ADA, RESPA/TILA, license law
Real Estate Math
Prorations, commissions, LTV, property tax
Exam Format & Passing Scores
100–150
Multiple-choice questions
2–4 hrs
Time limit
70–75%
Typical passing score
You receive your score immediately after testing. Most states allow retakes after a 24-48 hour waiting period. A few states set the bar at 60% or as high as 80% for certain license types.
Study Tips for Success
The national average first-attempt pass rate is 50-60%. EstatePass students achieve a 94% pass rate with these strategies:
Complete pre-license education first
Most states require 40-180 hours before you can sit for the exam. These courses cover every topic.
Practice with realistic questions
Answer 500+ questions that mirror the real exam. Focus on areas where you score below 70%.
Take timed mock exams
Simulate test-day conditions — full question count, timed, no notes. Builds stamina and reduces anxiety.
Use spaced repetition
Real estate exams are terminology-heavy. Flashcards with spaced repetition help retain hundreds of key terms.
Study state-specific laws
The state portion trips up many candidates. Read your state's license law and recent legislative updates.
Cost Overview
Many brokerages reimburse a portion of these costs once you affiliate with them. Use the comparison table above to find your state's specific requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the real estate exam?
What is the pass rate for the real estate exam?
How much does it cost to get a real estate license?
Is the real estate exam hard?
What score do you need to pass the real estate exam?
Can you take the real estate exam online?
How long does it take to get a real estate license?
What happens if you fail the real estate exam?
Explore More
Start Practicing Free
Join 10,000+ students who passed their real estate exam with EstatePass. 31,000+ practice questions across all 50 states.