The best online real estate schools in North Carolina (NC) offer courses that satisfy state licensing requirements for real estate professionals, like broker prelicensing, exam prep, and continuing education coursework. Additionally, to support new and experienced licensees, these schools should provide course flexibility, interactive learning, and instructor support. My colleagues and I identified the top six NC real estate schools based on these features, plus pricing, learning formats, and customer reviews.
- Best for self-paced packages and study tools: Colibri Real Estate
- Best for expert local instructors: The Go School
- Best for livestream courses with flexible scheduling: Carolina School of Real Estate
- Best for career support: Kaplan
- Best for affordable prelicensing: Sea Coast Real Estate Academy
- Best for interactive, self-paced education: The CE Shop
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Best NC Real Estate Schools Online at a Glance
School | Education Provided & Starting Price | Learning Formats | Pass Guarantee | Customer Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Prelicensing: $529 Post-licensing: $269 CE: $74 Exam prep: $115 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat |
 | Prelicensing: $399 Post-licensing: $199 CE: $54 Exam prep: $49 |
| ✕ | Phone and email |
 | Prelicensing: $75 Post-licensing: $225 CE: $55 Exam prep: $49 |
| ✕ | Phone and email |
 | Prelicensing: $449 Post-licensing: $165 CE: $69 Exam prep: $99 |
| ✕ | Phone, email, and live chat |
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 | Prelicensing: $150 Post-licensing: $225 CE: $55 Exam prep: $0 to $25 |
| ✕ | Phone and email |
 | Prelicensing: $715 Post-licensing: $249 CE: $55 Exam prep: $79 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat |
Choosing the right online real estate courses is the first step in a successful real estate career. Start by taking our quiz to see which school is your best fit:
Which online real estate school provider is right for you?
Things you need to know before enrolling for your North Carolina real estate license education: Along with education requirements, there are additional steps to completing your real estate licensure. Check out our Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Real Estate Agent in North Carolina to help you get started.
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Colibri Real Estate: Best Self-paced Packages & Study Tools
Pros
- Comprehensive career services
- Variety of course format options
- Interactive study groups
Cons
- Course access only up to six months
- Extra cost for study materials
- More expensive course options than other schools
Our Expert Opinion on Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate offers online NC real estate courses for every stage of your career in partnership with Superior School of Real Estate. Multiple course formats exist, such as self-paced, on-demand video, and livestream, so agents can tailor their learning to their needs. My team and I name it the best real estate school in NC for its free career services, which include access to academic advisers, coaching, career night, and exam prep. However, we believe Colibri could improve by offering more than six months of course access.
Exam Prep Plus dashboard
- Accreditations: Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO), International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC), and North Carolina Real Estate Commission (NCREC)
- Refund/cancellation policy: Before the start of the course, students can receive a full refund. For online classes, students can request a refund within 30 calendar days of beginning the course. For live and classroom courses, students who miss a class will not receive a refund. Fees for textbooks are non-refundable.
- Professional development opportunities: Periodic free live stream career days and broker expos where students can interact with and learn various topics from local brokerage firms.
- Study tools: The real estate license NC online packages provide options for additional study tools like coaching videos, printable guides, practice exams, and a real estate exam prep course through CompuCram.
Colibri Real Estate has a customer review rating of 4.15 out of 5, with many students positively rating the online courses’ convenience and ease of use. One student said the instructors explained complex concepts in a way that was easy to understand and broke down each topic to ensure that everyone in the class was on the same page.
On the other hand, some students reported that the course platform had technical issues, which slowed course progress and resulted in frustration. One student says that the course materials have multiple typos and are outdated. If you want a course that students say has a less glitchy platform, consider the CE Shop.
Colibri’s NC real estate license course prices depend on your chosen course format. Self-paced online courses to get your real estate license range in price, depending on which package option you choose, and all live courses are the same price regardless of whether they are live streamed or in-person. Broker post-licensing education options are the same price each, with various 30-hour package options. Continuing education is available as individual classes, with both mandatory and elective topics available.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $529 to 949 |
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Post-licensing | $269 |
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Continued Education* | $74 |
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Exam Prep | $115 to $219 |
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*Offered through a partnership with McKissock Learning
Visit Colibri Real Estate – Use Promo Code: FSB30 for 30% off
The Go School of Real Estate: Best for Expert Local Instructors
Pros
- Livestream and self-study real estate online classes in NC
- Direct access to local instructors
- Interactive classes
Cons
- Missed classes cannot be repeated
- May only cancel enrollment up to 48 hours before the course start date
- No pass guarantee
Our Expert Opinion on The Go School of Real Estate
The Go School of Real Estate has three physical locations (Cary, Raleigh, and Charlotte) that offer live online real estate classes in NC to become a real estate agent, renew your real estate license, prepare for the exam, and complete post-licensing. I recommend The Go School as one of the best NC schools because all courses are taught by educators with decades of experience who deliver an engaging and up-to-date real estate curriculum. One way it could improve is by offering make-up classes so students can catch up on classes they miss.
Online real estate bookstore (Source: Go School)
- Accreditation: NCREC
- Refund/cancellation policy: If you’ve registered for an online NC real estate course, you can get a refund minus a $75 cancellation fee if you cancel up to 48 hours before the course starts. Otherwise, there are no refunds for missed classes or courses.
- Real Estate Bookstore: E-books covering different real estate topics in different states are available on The Go School’s online bookstore via RE Campus.
- Student portal: Upon registration, you can immediately log in to your student portal to access your prelicensing education, study materials, and practice exams.
The Go School has an excellent review rating of 4.9 out of 5. Students say the classes have a very relaxed atmosphere, and the support and communication are exceptional. They also appreciate the flexible options, and many reviewers specifically name their instructor and their strengths, like their ability to communicate clearly and make the courses fun.
It’s difficult to find negative reviews for The Go School. However, one student reported that they needed to study outside of class to keep up with the material and didn’t hear back from the school leadership as quickly as they wanted. If you’d prefer one of the NC real estate schools that offers self-paced materials, check out Colibri Real Estate or The CE Shop.
Pricing at the Go School of Real Estate includes course packages offering prelicensing, post-licensing, continuing education, and exam preparations with all the required credit hours. Each program has various options from which to choose with corresponding rates.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $399 to 450 |
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Post-licensing | $199 to $225 |
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Continued Education | $55 to $90 |
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Exam Prep | $49 |
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Visit The Go School of Real Estate
Carolina School of Real Estate: Best for Livestream Courses With Flexible Scheduling
Pros
- Course format variety
- Scheduling flexibility
- Direct access to local instructors
Cons
- Course packages don't include multiple study materials
- No interactive study groups
- No pass guarantee
Our Expert Opinion on Carolina School of Real Estate
Carolina School of Real Estate has seven locations in North Carolina (Charlotte, Greensboro, and five in Winston-Salem) and provides in-person and livestream classes to earn and renew your real estate license. One of my favorite features is that it offers some of the most flexible online real estate courses in NC, with classes on weekends, weekdays, and evenings to accommodate busy schedules, as well as self-paced learning that is accessible for six months. However, we think it could be improved by adding interactive study groups so students can work with peers.
Professional development course topics (Source: Carolina School of Real Estate)
- Accreditation: NCREC
- Refund/cancellation policy: Registration requires a $100 non-refundable deposit. This deposit can be withdrawn up to two days before the class start date, but there are no refunds after the start date.
- Additional study aids and learning materials: If you need more preparation for the state licensing exam, purchase prelicensing e-books, flashcards, and real estate math and exam guides.
- Blog resources: Blog posts are written by licensed agents to help you understand the licensing requirements and the challenges faced by a real estate agent in North Carolina.
Carolina School of Real Estate has an impressive 5-star rating. Students rave about the helpful instructors and the learning materials that assisted them in passing the NC real estate exam on the first try. They say instructors keep the lessons engaging as they share their real estate experiences. One student says the instructor takes time to ensure they understand the current licensing requirements and the reasons behind them.
While no negative reviews are found at the time of writing, the school’s live course packages don’t include multiple study tools. Plus, refunds must be requested at least two days before the classes. For courses with a pass guarantee and 30-day money-back guarantee, check out courses from other NC real estate schools like The CE Shop.
This school provides the same price for its North Carolina prelicensing courses, regardless of the livestream or in-person format. All three required post-licensing courses are priced individually, or you can purchase them together for a slight discount. Continuing education courses are priced individually, or you can purchase a yearly membership to access all of the state’s CE course topics. The exam prep course is offered through ExamSmart and provides a real estate practice exam with support.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $75 to $455 |
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Post-licensing | $225 or $650 total |
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Continued Education | $55 to 199 |
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Exam Prep | $49 |
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*Offered through a partnership with ExamSmart
Visit Carolina School of Real Estate
Kaplan: Best for Career Support
Pros
- Interactive study groups
- Multiple exam prep packages
- Real Estate Launcher and Real Estate Accelerator
Cons
- No mobile app
- No refund guarantee
- More expensive course packages
Our Expert Opinion on Kaplan
Out of all the NC real estate schools, Kaplan offers the largest number of North Carolina real estate classes online for every stage of your real estate career. It also provides multiple course formats, including livestream, self-study, on-demand videos, hybrid livestream, and self-study classes to support different learning styles.
We recommend Kaplan for its career support options offered in the prelicensing and post-licensing packages and professional development. The Career Launcher and Real Estate Accelerator packages cover the required education and equip you with the skills and business knowledge you need to start a successful business. An area where it needs improvement is to provide students with a mobile app to study on the go.
Live webinar (Source: Kaplan)
- Accreditations: ARELLO, IDECC, NCREC
- Refund/cancellation policy: Refunds are issued within 30 days of enrollment so long as the course is not completed.
- Real Estate Accelerator: This is a professional development course that can be purchased individually or within a North Carolina post-licensing package. It helps students lay a solid foundation for a successful real estate business, including how to write a business plan, marketing plan, budget, and cash flow forecast.
- Career Launcher: A prelicensing course package that provides all required hours of education, exam prep study tools, one-on-one tutoring, and an interactive study group.
- Exam prep options: Programs are included in some prelicensing packages or tools, and a video course can be purchased individually.
Kaplan has a great review rating of 4.6 out of 5 from former students. Students praise its adaptive learning technology for helping them focus where they need improvement most. Many students appreciate the instructors’ knowledge and responsiveness and the comprehensive course materials that are easy to understand. Students also appreciate the flexible scheduling and convenience of online courses.
A few unhappy students say the course platform can be buggy and sometimes doesn’t auto-save their answers. Some report that the platform is hard to navigate, and others suggest that the course materials could be more engaging and accessible support could use improvement. If you’d prefer an NC real estate school that doesn’t rely as heavily on technology, check out Carolina School of Real Estate or Go School.
Kaplan offers a variety of real estate classes online for NC brokers, and the pricing structure is by package. Multiple prelicensing, post-licensing, and exam prep packages have varying prices. Continuing education courses can be purchased individually or in a package option with additional support.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $449 to $749 |
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Post-licensing | $165 to $799 |
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Continued Education | $69 to $133 |
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Exam Prep | $99 to $169 |
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Sea Coast Real Estate Academy: Best for Affordable Prelicensing Education
Pros
- Class format variety
- Free exam prep review sessions
- Direct instructor access
Cons
- No refunds after the student completes the first scheduled class
- No pass guarantee
- Self-paced courses only accessible for 180 days
Our Expert Opinion on Sea Coast Real Estate Academy
My team and I found Sea Coast Real Estate Academy (SCREA) to be the best online real estate school in NC for aspiring brokers who need an affordable way to complete their prelicensing education. In addition to its affordable prices, Sea Coast offers multiple discount options for military members and repeat students. It also provides flexible course options, with self-paced courses, livestream courses, and on-demand videos. Courses include interactive exercises, videos, quizzes, and a practice exam. However, SCREA could be improved by adding live chat or a pass guarantee.
Video library (Source: Sea Coast Real Estate Academy)
- Accreditation: NCREC
- Refund/cancellation policy: No refund after the first class, but after that class, for a fee, students have six months from the start of their original course to re-enroll.
- Video library: Offers free real estate classes for NC brokers on topics like real estate math, finances, vocabulary, test-taking strategies, and North Carolina-specific real estate content.
- Online Broker Cram Classes: Live online class to help aspiring NC real estate brokers study for the exam and pass on the first try. Plus, the class is free for prelicensing students within 90 days.
SCREA is one of only a few NC real estate schools with a perfect rating of 5 out of 5. Several students state that the teachers are excellent, informative, and make everything enjoyable. One student reported that they would continue to attend this school for all their real estate education since it made passing the exam easy with the instructors’ topic knowledge and understanding.
Although there aren’t any negative reviews for SCREA at the time of this writing, it only offers a self-paced course option through Superior Schools, just like Colibri Real Estate. It also doesn’t provide an app to make it easy to join classes or study materials on the go. For a more complete self-paced program, consider The CE Shop.
Sea Coast Real Estate Academy offers prelicensing and post-licensing course packages with varying schedules. The prices for live courses are the same, but the self-paced prelicensing course comes at a higher price. Continuing education classes are priced individually, and exam prep is free for students.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $150 to $467.53 |
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Post-licensing | $225 |
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Continued Education | $55 |
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Exam Prep | $0 or $25 |
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Visit Sea Coast Real Estate Academy
The CE Shop: Best for Interactive, Self-paced Education
Pros
- Scenario-based learning
- Pass guarantee
- 96% student satisfaction rate
Cons
- Pricing is higher than the other providers
- No livestream courses
- No mobile app
Our Expert Opinion on The CE Shop
The CE Shop is arguably the best NC real estate school online for aspiring and current agents who want an engaging but self-paced education. It offers prelicensing, post-licensing, continuing education, and exam prep courses on its proprietary LEAP platform. The platform includes scenario-based learning, quizzes, practice exams, and video, audio, and text-based content. However, I believe The CE Shop could improve by adding a mobile app option and livestream classes for students who need a live classroom.
A question in the free online assessment. (Source: The CE Shop)
- Accreditations: ARELLO and NCREC
- Refund/cancellation policy: Students can get a full refund within 30 days of purchase if unsatisfied. The course cannot be more than 50% completed.
- Exam Prep Edge: An intuitive online study platform that includes initial assessment, individual lessons by topic, unlimited practice exams, and interactive dashboards. Any package with Exam Prep Edge offers a pass guarantee.
- Study tools: Prelicensing packages include business e-books, career resources, real estate flashcards, a glossary, and a math handbook
The CE Shop has a 4.05 out of 5 rating because of its easy-to-navigate platform and scheduling flexibility. Most students express that the content is engaging and easy to follow, helping them complete their required education in just a few weeks. Some students also speak highly of responsive customer service, available seven days a week.
In less favorable reviews, one student says the technical issues slow his learning. A few students also complained about the courses’ expiration dates. If you’d prefer a real estate school without a deadline to complete the material on your own, consider the live courses from the Carolina School of Real Estate, The Go School, and Sea Coast Real Estate Academy.
The CE Shop offers individual courses and packages with tiered pricing for every level of education. Students can select packages based on the resources they need. In addition, the CE Shop frequently offers discounted prices on all courses.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $715 to $1,079 |
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Post-licensing | $249 to $609 |
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Continued Education | $55 to $75 |
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Exam Prep | $79 to $135 |
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How We Evaluated the Top Real Estate Schools in North Carolina
The best online real estate schools in NC provide features to ensure students receive the best online educational experience and understanding of real estate practices and principles. Our evaluation of the top schools included learning methods, overall student satisfaction based on customer reviews, instructor access, refund policies, and course pricing.
After examining numerous NC real estate schools, we determined Colibri Real Estate as the best North Carolina online real estate school. Its comprehensive and interactive course offerings, exceptional customer support, and user-friendly learning platform were some of the top features that contributed to the school receiving an overall rating of 4.97 out of 5.
We used the following criteria to evaluate the best online real estate school in NC:
25% of Overall Score
Consists of various formatting and learning styles for each course to meet the specific needs of the agent as well as ease of course accessibility.
20% of Overall Score
Pricing is based on the cost and availability of pre- and post-licensing, continuing education courses, and exam prep for each online institution.
15% of Overall Score
The availability of each level of education for different stages of licensure. This would include pre- and post-licensing, continuing education courses, broker prelicensing, and exam prep.
15% of Overall Score
Extending services past licensure such as coaching and training and career assistance. Also, whether the provider offers pass or refund guarantees for its courses.
10% of Overall Score
Based on customer feedback for each program, with particular attention given to reviews of the product and popularity of the provider, to certify the course meets user satisfaction.
10% of Overall Score
Expertise in the field and firsthand experience with the providers allow us to evaluate the standout features, value for the money, and ease of use for each school.
5% of Overall Score
We looked into the convenience and attainability of customer service for technical support and instructor assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
According to the North Carolina Real Estate Commission, the overall pass rate for the NC real estate exam is 63%. However, some schools, like Go Real Estate (68%) and Carolina School of Real Estate (69%), have higher overall pass rates. The exam is designed to be challenging, but the right NC real estate courses can help you pass with confidence.
The North Carolina Real Estate Commission’s (NCREC) education requirement is 75 hours of prelicensing education, 90 hours of post-licensing education, and eight hours of continuing education. How quickly students can complete this course depends on whether their course is live or self-study and at which pace they can work and retain the information. More important than speed, however, is comprehending and retaining the information.
There are many North Carolina real estate classes online, and the right choice depends on each individual’s learning style, schedule, budget, and needs for study tools. We found that Colibri Real Estate is the best overall choice for online courses with study tools. However, students who want in-person courses or more extensive career choices may prefer schools like Carolina School of Real Estate, Kaplan, or Go School.
Bottom Line
When you’re looking for the best online real estate school in NC, these six choices offer top-notch education and features. Based on our research, we determined that Colibri Real Estate is the top overall choice for NC real estate schools because of its self-paced package options, ease of use, and extensive study tools and support.
