5 Best Online Real Estate Schools in North Carolina for 2023 (Updated!)

Aceable’s course is the best online option for aspiring brokers in North Carolina. If you want an online real estate course that’s interactive and holds your attention the whole way through, then this is probably the best school for you. Because of their best-in-class test prep (featuring 1,660+ practice questions), it’s also the course that gives you the best odds of passing the real estate exam on your first attempt.

If you’re just looking at price, it is on the higher end, but after taking their pass rates and engaging format into consideration, I’ve deemed it the best course for preparing new brokers for success in North Carolina. There is also big sale going on right now, which is an added perk.

Aceable has three packages to choose from, and while the cheapest one will get work – I’d recommend taking a look at the Deluxe or Premium package. It may be slightly more money upfront, but you’ll feel way more confident walking into the exam if you have access to the test prep ahead of time.

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Convenience: 4.6 out 5. I was really pleased with the overall format of the course. The knowledge checks were great throughout to test how well I was absorbing the information, and I enjoyed the games and infographics throughout. The format seemed a lot more entertaining than other online providers, and it was great to help pass the time. With 75 hours of coursework to complete, I was worried it would feel like a chore to log in, but the multimedia learning experience was a breath of fresh air I wasn’t expecting.

The sections were also broken up in a way that made sense, plus there were natural places to stop throughout. That made it a lot easier to digest the material, especially compared to other top online North Carolina schools like The CE Shop or Fastpass. Aceable is by far one of the most enjoyable courses to sit through, and none of the others even compare.

Pass Rate: 5.0 out 5. Aceable has an industry-leading pass rate of 85% for North Carolina students, which is really high compared to many other schools that are in the ~55% range. Their impressive pass rates are most likely attributed to their PrepAgent exam prep. If you get the Deluxe or Premium package, it comes with digital flashcards to help you study as well as a huge book of practice exam questions. Students can also get access ebook to print off and take along with them to help cram right before the test.

Course Duration: 4.4 out of 5. Although the North Carolina real estate course only takes 75 classroom hours to complete, some people like to take their time moving through the lessons. While you can do that to an extent, you do have a hard cutoff at 180 days. While Aceable does have extension options for other states, the North Carolina Real Estate Commission does not allow extensions.

Support:4.8 out of 5. Aceable’s customer support team is pretty great. They have a live chat feature, which many other schools don’t offer. This makes it really convenient to reach out with questions, whether it be technical issues, or questions about the content itself.

They are also very quick to respond via email. I had trouble accessing my account and was able to send over a screenshot of my purchase, and they fixed my course and granted me access within a matter of minutes. The other plus is that Aceable’s support team is all based in the US, so you won’t ever have to worry about language barriers.

Refund Policy: 4.7 out of 5. I wasn’t looking for a refund, but I’ll spell out how it works in case you change your mind. Aceable offers a 30-day refund policy, as long as you haven’t completed the course yet. This isn’t unheard of, and other schools like The CE Shop and Fastpass offer something similar.

The biggest perk of Aceable, however, is their Ace or Don’t Pay Guarantee. If you don’t pass the test on your first try, they’ll give you your money back. It was a big relief knowing that I wouldn’t lose that money altogether, even if I didn’t pass the test.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Overall, I would highly recommend taking Aceable’s North Carolina pre-licensing course. For those just starting out, I’d suggest taking a look at the Deluxe package. The extra perks like the videos & audio lessons make it a great value. The last thing you want is to have to take the North Carolina real estate exam twice, so you might as well go in with the best option in the market to really prepare you, if your budget allows it.

Fastpass Learning’s course is the best bang for your buck in North Carolina. If you have a busy schedule, and feel comfortable navigating the course material on your own, then this is the perfect course for you. Fastpass makes it easy to work through each lesson at your own pace using a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

As far as price is concerned, it’s one of the cheapest courses available. And because of their easy-to-use mobile app, and intuitive study platform, I’ve rated it the quickest online real estate course in North Carolina.

There is only one option to choose from, which means less guesswork on your end, and an easy enrollment process to help you jump straight into getting your North Carolina broker’s license.

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Convenience: 4.6 out 5. The best thing about Fastpass is the backend navigation. I appreciate that the layout is broken out into smaller sections, making it really easy to digest the course material.

Unlike other online North Carolina real estate schools, you can flip through the content in whatever order you want. That’s a big plus when you start studying for the exam, because you skip ahead or go back if you need a quick refresher.

The test prep is also a game changer! It comes with unlimited practice tests that are formatted exactly like the North Carolina state exam, so that you can prepare to the best of your ability. In fact, the test prep is so popular that many students choose to sign up for the a la carte option after completing their course from another provider. There’s no competition when it comes to Fastpass’ test prep, it’s the best in the state bar-none.

Pass Rate: 4.6 out 5. Fastpass is amongst the highest state exam pass rates in North Carolina for students. 79% of their students go on to pass the real estate exam on their first try thanks to the “exam simulator”. The courses are also run by an industry-leading real estate pro who is available to answer any and all of your questions. Marc Pare helped to write the test questions, and has been working in the real estate industry for over 20 years. One of the biggest perks of Fastpass is his passion to his student’s success in and out of the classroom.

Course Duration: 4.7 out of 5. If you have a tight deadline, and are looking to get your North Carolina real estate license quickly, then Fastpass is your best bet. They specialize in expediting the process for you, by providing a checklist right after you enroll that will help you finish the course in as little as two weeks. That is significantly shorter than other online providers like The CE Shop or Superior who average a 4-6 week duration time.

Support: 4.4 out of 5. Fastpass Learning’s customer support team isn’t the best or the worst – they are pretty middle of the road. They do have a phone number that you can call at any time, but they don’t always respond immediately. I called on a Friday afternoon, for example, and didn’t get a response until Monday morning.

They also have a support email you can reach out to, as well as a form you can fill out online. I found those were both better options than the phone line simply because they can give you an automated response with frequently asked questions to see if there is something that can be solved that way. All in all, there are definitely more responsive teams out there, but it was decent for the low price point.

Refund Policy: 4.9 out of 5. I didn’t need to get a refund, but I’ve reviewed it here for those who are curious. Fastpass offers a 30-day money back guarantee as long as you haven’t finished the course.

There is also a course reactivation policy that is helpful if you get busy at any point. The state mandates that the course expires after six months, but if the course has hit the 180-day limit, students may choose to re-enroll and restart the course for $149. That is way cheaper than having to buy the course over again, which is the only option as schools like The CE Shop and Aceable.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Overall, I really recommend Fastpass Learning’s North Carolina broker course, especially if you’re low on funds and need to get your license ASAP. They are active on all social media platforms, which creates a great community for aspiring brokers. If nothing else, I’d suggest signing up for their exam prep package. The state exam simulator, and flashcards make it a great add on, even if you don’t do the whole course through Fastpass.

Superior School of Real Estate is different than many other real estate providers. It’s the most popular choice for aspiring North Carolina real estate brokers, helping thousands to launch successful careers. If you are a fan of in-person learning, and thrive in a classroom setting, then this is the course for you.

When it comes to price – it’s actually on the cheaper side. Most in-person real estate courses charge premium prices, but Superior’s classes are comparable which is pretty impressive. That, coupled with their unique livestream capabilities make it the best in-person course in North Carolina.

They also have experienced instructors and provide an “agent starter kit”, making it easy to begin networking before you even have your real estate license.

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Convenience: 4.5 out 5. The best thing about Superior is the mix of formats students can choose from. You can sign up for the livestream option to take scheduled classes with a live instructor from the comfort and safety of your home. You can also do 100% of your courses online at your own pace, on your own time. However, the most popular option is in-person, where you take courses at one of Superior’s 5 locations in a traditional classroom with instructors and peers.

No matter which format you choose, you get access to Superior’s top-notch instructors. They have 10 full-time instructors on campus at all times, which is more than any other real estate school in the state.

The other added benefit of taking classes with Superior – the connections and networking opportunities they provide. Superior has built relationships with several of the top local brokerages in North Carolina looking for up-and-coming real estate brokers to hire. The career nights and fairs they have on campus allow you to meet with these brokerages before getting your license, setting you up for an immediate transition.

Pass Rate: 4 out 5. Superior doesn’t have the highest pass rates in North Carolina, but they do have more students than any other real estate school in the state. About 63% of their students go on to pass the real estate exam on their first try, which is still above the state average. They are also able to accommodate different learning styles, and provide 1:1 instructor support to help you really retain the information at hand.

Course Duration: 4.4 out of 5. North Carolina’s real estate broker’s course is only 75 hours, but it can be a big undertaking for many students with a busy schedule. You do have to follow a strict 6-month plan – that’s why it’s important to find a course that works with your learning style. The North Carolina Real Estate Commission doesn’t allow students to access the course after 6 months, so there are no extensions.

If you are really looking for an in-person course, Superior is by far the best choice out there, but you are at the mercy of someone else’s schedule. If you get behind and know that your course is getting ready to expire, you might be better off choosing another provider like Aceable or The CE Shop where you can knock out 3-4 hours of coursework in a single session.

Support:4.8 out of 5. Superior’s customer support team is extremely professional, and ready to help. Whenever I had a question about a glitch in the scheduling system, they responded immediately and manually scheduled my next class for me. You can fill out a form online that gets sent to the support team immediately, or you can call their support line during regular business hours Monday-Friday.

They have 5 different campuses scattered around North Carolina, so there is usually a campus nearby which is extremely convenient if you want to attend study sessions, or career nights. All of their staff members are currently licensed brokers as well, so they are familiar with the licensing process. Plus, you don’t have to worry about any language barriers.

Refund Policy: 4.3 out of 5. I wasn’t looking for a refund, but many students want to know what their return options are before signing up for a course. Superior will give you a full refund at no charge, which is a pretty generous policy. To get your money back, you do have to return the textbooks in their original condition, and give written notice. This can be done at any time as long as you have not started the course yet.

Once your course has begun, you have 7 days to withdraw if you want to receive a refund. There is a $200 fee that will be deducted once your course starts, plus taxes. This isn’t unheard of, but online options like The CE Shop and Fastpass offer a full refund in the first 30 days as long as the course is not complete. It’s something to consider if you think you might need some time to decide if real estate is the right path for you.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Taking everything into account, I would highly recommend Superior’s North Carolina real estate course if you are looking for an in-person option with experienced instructors. For aspiring brokers, I’d suggest looking at the livestream package. You can take virtual courses without having to worry about a commute, but also have the added benefits of attending events on the campus closest to you. They have 5 locations (Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Cornelius), so you can also switch it up and attend in-person if you have the time.

Fortune Academy sets itself apart from other real estate providers by offering the most sought-after mix of courses for aspiring North Carolina real estate brokers. If you are unsure which delivery method might be right for you, then this is the course I’d go with.

Fortune features experienced instructors, affordable pricing compared to premium alternatives, and real estate experts that are available to answer any industry related questions 24/7.

When it comes to price – it’s definitely more expensive than others on our list, but is still cheaper than many other schools of it’s kind. Most schools that offer livestream capabilities, in-person classes, and a fully remote online option charge more, but Fortune is actually priced fairly. That, coupled with their unique delivery methods make it the most flexible real estate course in North Carolina.

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Convenience: 4.5 out 5. Fortune Academy offers students a versatile learning experience with a range of formats to choose from, including livestream classes with live instructors for remote learning, self-paced online courses, and the highly favored in-person option where students attend classes at one of Fortunes’s locations, providing a traditional classroom environment for interaction with instructors and peers. And after listening to student feedback, they’ve even added a new interactive online course (gives students the best of both worlds!).

They are also one of the only real estate schools in North Carolina that offers flexible scheduling options. Classes are available during the day, at night, and on weekends, so you can choose from a variety of schedules that fit your convenience.

The other great thing about taking classes through Fortune Academy. is their up-to-date content and platform.

Pass Rate: 4 out 5. Fortune has really impressive pass rates in North Carolina. Their courses have worked for thousands of students over the past 20 years, and they recognize that transparency is the best way to prove their success. That’s why the school is constantly polling students to make sure that what they are teaching the right curriculum for students to not only pass the broker exam, but also to succeed in their new career.

Course Duration: 4.4 out of 5. While North Carolina’s real estate broker’s course is only 75 hours, it can still pose a significant challenge for busy students, as it requires strict adherence to a 6-month timeline without the option for extensions; therefore, it’s crucial to find a course that accommodates your learning style. If flexibility is your priority, Fortune stands out as the top choice, but if you anticipate falling behind and facing an imminent course expiration, alternatives like Aceable or The CE Shop might be more suitable, as they allow you to complete 3-4 hours of coursework in a single session. If you choose the interactive courses, livestreaming option, or in-person classes with Fortune you are at the mercy of others. It’s something to keep in mind if you don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to your coursework.

Support:4.8 out of 5. Fortune’s customer support team is really great! They are available 24/7, and can be reached in a number of different ways. They have an advisor you can reach on the phone who can quickly pull up your profile if you need help with billing or technical issues.

However, I particularly enjoyed the live chat feature where I could easily message someone from the school with a question. I heard back in a matter of seconds, and was able to resume my studying without any stress or headaches.

Refund Policy: 4.3 out of 5. Fortune Academy offers a generous refund policy, allowing students to receive a full refund at no charge if they return the textbooks in their original condition and provide written notice before starting the course. Once the course has commenced, there is a 7-day window to withdraw and receive a refund, with a $200 fee and taxes deducted. While this policy is not uncommon, online alternatives such as The CE Shop and Fastpass provide a longer 30-day refund period as long as the course is not completed, which may be beneficial for those who require more time to determine if real estate is the right career path for them.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Taking everything into account, I would highly recommend Fortune’s North Carolina real estate course if you are looking for an in-person or livestream option with experienced instructors. For aspiring brokers, I’d suggest looking at the livestream package. You can take virtual courses without having to worry about a commute, but also have the added benefits of attending events on the campus closest to you.

The CE Shop is hands down one of my favorite online course providers in North Carolina. It’s easy to work through the material at your own pace, and it did hold my attention. I’m also not the only one who was impressed – because 95% of CE Shop students gave it a 5-star review, or recommended the North Carolina course to a friend.

As far as price goes, it’s on the higher end. In fact, it’s one of the most expensive online real estate courses in North Carolina, but I think in this case you get what you pay for. Their flexibility is unmatched, and they have some of the highest pass rates in the state. That’s why The CE Shop definitely makes my list as the best overall real estate course in North Carolina.

Unlike other online providers, there are several packages to choose from. While the cheapest package can get the job done – I’d recommend signing up for the “Premium” package because of the added perks. It comes with the Exam Prep Edge which is an additional $135 value. It’s well worth the extra money up front if it gives you peace of mind walking into the real estate exam at the end of your course.

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Convenience: 4.7 out 5. The biggest differentiating factor: CE Shop’s user interface! The online learning platform was custom-designed to be straightforward and easy-to-use. I was able to pull up the course on my tablet and phone, making it easy to access the material on the go.

The dashboard is also a big help when studying for the test. You can see all of the sections in order, and I was able to flip through as a refresher. The other major plus of The CE Shop’s interface is the percentage calculator that updates as you go. You can always log in to see how far along you are in the course and which sections you still have to go through, which makes it really easy to manage your time.

Some states are known to be more text-heavy, but the North Carolina course was a pleasant surprise as it was very interactive. I was impressed with the amount of videos, animations, charts, and even quizzes throughout. It made the content easy to absorb, and held my interest for the entire 75 hours.

Pass Rate: 4.5 out 5. Texas, Colorado, and North Carolina have some of the lowest pass rates in the country. That being said, The CE Shop has a 78% pass rate amongst North Carolina students, which is among the elite pass rate schools in North Carolina. Many other schools are in the ~55% range. Of the thousands of students who have taken the North Carolina course, 75% go on to pass the exam on their first try. An additional 3% attempt a second run at the exam and pass on their second try. This is important to note, because you want to choose a school that can present the material in a way that you’ll remember it.

Course Duration: 4.8 out of 5. North Carolina’s real estate course is 75-hours, so it’s pretty middle of the road – it’s not the longest or the shortest course. However, if you do decide to go with The CE Shop there are no extension options available. The North Carolina Real Estate Commission has strict rules about how long students can access the course, so your course will expire 6 months after purchase. Other states allow 60 or 90-day extensions, but North Carolina does not. But honestly, don’t let it stress you out – most people finish in 4-5 weeks. If you decide to treat it like a 40-hour work week, you can even knock it out in as little as two weeks so you can move on with your new real estate career.

Support: 4.6 out of 5. The CE Shop’s customer support team makes it quick and easy to get in touch with an actual person. If I had a question or needed assistance, I liked that there were a number of ways to get a response. I enjoy the convenience of the live chat feature, because it’s easy to screen share and troubleshoot the problem in real time. That being said, you can also reach out via phone or email 7 days a week.

The only issue I came across was the lack of instructor access. The technical support team can take care of 85% of your issues, but if you have a question about the content itself there is not really anyone to contact. However, they do promise to get in touch with instructors for you and will reach back out to you via email within 48 hours.

Refund Policy: 4.7 out of 5. The CE Shop offers a pretty standard, but generous refund policy. I didn’t need a refund, but I decided to review it because it’s one of the most frequently asked questions. As long as you haven’t finished more than 50% of the course, you can get a full refund within the first 30-days. This is pretty common, and other schools like Aceable and Fastpass Learning offer something similar.

The unique thing that put The CE Shop’s course in a league of its own in North Carolina is the 5-day free trial offer they just rolled out. It allows you to sign up, test drive the course, and cancel with absolutely no penalty. It was a huge relief knowing that I could click through the course to make sure it was the right fit before having to buying it.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: All in all, I would highly recommend The CE Shop’s North Carolina pre-licensing course. For those looking to start a career in real estate, I’d suggest signing up for the Premium package. The added benefits like the instructor-led webinars on exam topics, and business building courses make it an excellent value that is sure to help you succeed long after the course is over.

We’ve built the most affordable way for you to get your Real Estate License. All you have to do is attend at least 1 interview with one of our recruiters after passing the state exam & before joining another brokerage, and we’ll reimburse you for the entire cost of The CE Shop course that you purchase from us.

That’s right – we’ll reimburse you whether you choose to join our team or not (but we hope you do!).  About 50% of our tuition reimbursement graduates choose to work for our team after interviewing with us.  The other 50% of our tuition reimbursement students that choose to join another brokerage still get their course costs fully reimbursed.

Why are we the only real estate company that reimburses your course costs even if you don’t join our brokerage?  There are a few key reasons that we’ve decided to set our program this way:

1.   Our 50% join rate is way higher than the industry average for recruiting, and we really want agents to be excited when they join us, which only works if they love what we have to offer.  Most brokerages only want experienced agents, but we specialize in helping new agents build their real estate careers from the ground up.  We have hundreds of agent training courses that range from helping you build out your social media presence to learning the ins and outs of commercial real estate; we have mentors dedicated to new agents to help them through their first sales; we even have a dedicated coach to help with mindset and motivation; and more.  So we don’t need to force new agents to join our team to save a few bucks.
2.   If you choose to join another team, we also hope you change your mind someday and come back to join us.  Many agents reach out to us months or years after trying another brokerage first, and this gives us a chance to keep the door open for the 50% of new agents who don’t join us immediately.  If we can’t be the right brokerage for you right now, then we still hope to be the right brokerage for you some day in the future.
3.   Too many real estate organizations fail to live up to their promises.  We’re not perfect, but we really try to follow-through on every promise we make, including our tuition reimbursement promise.

At the end of the day, we’re betting on you becoming a great agent, and if we can make obtaining your real estate license more affordable, then hopefully you’ll return the favor and join us after graduation or come back to us any time you’re ready for a new brokerage.  It’s that simple, and we’re happy to invest in you.

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How does the reimbursement work?

Email us (support@agentadvice.com) once you receive confirmation from the state that you’ve passed the state exam, and one of our recruiters will reach out to you to get to know you and share any and every thing you’ll want to know to decide if our brokerage is the right fit for you.

We’ll schedule the interview at a time that works for you.  All you have to do is attend the interview and provide a little feedback to our support team, and our support team will reimburse your credit card for the amount that you’ve paid us within 2 business days.  All in, it’s about an hour commitment between the interview and feedback.  No other strings attached.

Tip:  If you’ve already started a different course at your own expense, or prefer to pick your own school at your own expense, we’d still love to interview you.  Just reach back out when you’re licensed, and we can connect you with our hiring team, however, we’re unable to reimburse your course costs at this time unless you purchase the course directly from us. 

AgentAdvice.com is not the provider of any courses, and all state certifications, ongoing support questions, etc. will be provided by and fulfilled directly through the school. 

Think you have what it takes to be a successful real estate agent?

“When I interview people who have just passed their real estate course, I’m looking for agents that meet a couple of characteristics. If you have these characteristics, it will determine who is successful and who is not in real estate.

It’s not an easy industry. If it was easy, we’d all be rich. First, I’m looking for agents that have a vision for what they want to be, people who want more than what they have. Now, I’m not talking about money, motivated people necessarily. If money motivates you that’s fine, but in most cases, money’s not the motivator.

I am looking for agents that are in touch with their motivations to grow. Is it having a house for your family? Is it providing an education for your children? Is it providing security for your future retirement? It doesn’t matter, I’m looking for agents that have a vision, and are passionate about taking care of present and future concerns, whatever they are. So that’s number one: ambition.

Number two is looking for people that have a little bit of courage. This business requires courage. In my experience, having now been in conversations with well over a thousand agents over the last 18 months, and recruited more than a hundred, there’s one characteristic successful agents have. They don’t shrink from a challenge. They don’t, they still take action even if they don’t know all of the answers to all of the questions. They know that if they get faced with a question that they don’t really answer to, they know they can find the answer.

I’m looking for people that are ambitious, are courageous, and then finally are ready to grow. I want to help give people the opportunity to be the best version of themselves.

Usually, it’s not easy, and many times there are tears, and sweat, and frustration involved, but you go through that because you are so ambitious and in love with the future you’re trying to create. That passion for your future, it gives you courage to press through the hard times. So if you’re ambitious, courageous, and you’re ready to grow, and you think being in a conversation with a guy like me might be helpful to your future then let’s get you the tuition reimbursement you deserve!”

Agent Advice Success Stories: 

Terrica C.
New Keller Williams Agent & Tuition Reimbursement Recipient

“I always wanted to become a real estate agent, and finally decided to take the next step. Getting started with my course was easy. Agent Advice just sent me a link, and I did the whole thing online. I finished the class, now I just need to get scheduled for the state test. I would definitely recommend Agent Advice to anyone looking to get their license, especially if they’re wanting to do it for free.”

Rachel K.
New Real Estate Agent & Tuition Reimbursement Recipient

“I was moving from Tennessee to Florida, so I was considering a career change. I always thought real estate might be something I’d be good at, so I connected with someone at Agent Advice and decided to take the course. It was easy to follow and understand, and the course I chose kept me interested. It didn’t take long for me to finish the class and I passed my state exam on the first try! I then reached out again to Agent Advice and set up an interview with a tuition reimbursement sponsor, and got my money back that same day. All in all, it was really simple and easy.”

Marcus W.
New Real Estate Agent & Tuition Reimbursement Recipient

“The entire process was seamless, and the communication from the very beginning was great. When I first came across Agent Advice I had lots of questions, but I was able to get in touch with someone right away who helped explain the process from start to finish. Once I completed the course and set up an interview with a brokerage, they stopped the payments immediately. I also enjoyed the subscription payment option that Agent Advice has. It gave me the flexibility and motivated me to finish the course quickly. I’m still deciding on which brokerage is the right fit for me, but I enjoyed getting to interview with someone so that I could ask questions about what the day-to-day would look like at that company.”