6 Best Online Real Estate Schools in North Carolina
Gina is a licensed real estate salesperson, experienced trainer, and former high school educator of 1,000+ learners. She writes for Fit Small Business with a focus on real estate content.
This article is part of a larger series on How to Become a Real Estate Agent.
The best online real estate schools in North Carolina offer flexible, affordable options so you can get the 75 hours of prelicensing courses you need to become a real estate broker in NC. They also provide exam prep tools to ensure you pass the licensing exam, courses covering the 90 post-licensing hours required in your first year, and four hours of continuing education after that. To find the best NC real estate school for your budget and learning needs, here are the top six options in the Tar Heel state.
- The North Carolina Real Estate School: NC real estate school with the most affordable and comprehensive live courses
- Kaplan: Top school for current and future real estate brokers who want live online classes with extensive resources
- Real Estate Express: Best initial exam prep tools with a pass guarantee among real estate schools in North Carolina
- Aceable Agent: Best NC real estate school for initial prelicensing classes and individual one-on-one tutoring
- Sea Coast Real Estate Academy: North Carolina real estate school with the highest customer satisfaction rating
- The CE Shop: Best North Carolina real estate school for interactive, self-paced education
School | Education Provided and Starting Price | Learning Formats | Pass Guarantee | Customer Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Prelicensing: $380 Post-licensing: $199 CE: $50 |
| ✕ | Phone and email |
 | Prelicensing: $449 Post-licensing: $165 CE: $69 Exam prep: $69 |
| ✕ | Phone, email, and live chat |
 | CE: $34.95 Exam prep: $99 |
| ✕ | Phone, email, and live chat |
 | Prelicensing: $475 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat |
 | Prelicensing: $399 Post-licensing: $180 CE: $55 Exam prep: $49 |
| ✕ | Phone and email |
 | Prelicensing: $715 Post-licensing: $235 CE: $49 Exam prep: $75 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat |
x
School | Education Provided and Starting Price | Learning Formats | Pass Guarantee | Customer Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelicensing: $380 Post-licensing: $199 CE: $50 |
| ✕ | Phone and email |
| Prelicensing: $449 Post-licensing: $165 CE: $69 Exam prep: $69 |
| ✕ | Phone, email, and live chat |
Visit Kaplan - Use Promo Code: Kapre5 for 5% off | ||||
| CE: $34.95 Exam prep: $99 |
| ✕ | Phone, email, and live chat |
Visit Real Estate Express - Use Promo Code: FSB25 for 25% off | ||||
| Prelicensing: $475 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat |
Visit Aceable Agent - 25% off no promo code required | ||||
| Prelicensing: $399 Post-licensing: $180 CE: $55 Exam prep: $49 |
| ✕ | Phone and email |
| Prelicensing: $715 Post-licensing: $235 CE: $49 Exam prep: $75 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat |
Visit The CE Shop - Use Promo Code: FSB30 for 30% off | ||||
Things you need to know before enrolling in one of the best North Carolina real estate schools: Along with education requirements, there are additional steps to completing your real estate licensure in NC. Our step-by-step guide on how to become a real estate agent in North Carolina explains how to get started.
The North Carolina Real Estate School: Most Affordable Live Courses
The North Carolina Real Estate School
What We Like
- Most affordable NC real estate school
- Various course formats
- Live classes taught by an instructor
What's Missing
- Limited exam prep course
- Only 6 months of course access
Additional Features
- Many schedule options for live online classes
- Three prelicensing course packages with additional resources like intensive training, a question bank, and coaching
- Range of professional development topics
- Free professional development courses
- Customer review rating of 3.5 out of 5
- Accredited by NCREC (North Carolina Real Estate Commission)
As a local school, The North Carolina Real Estate School is a great choice for aspiring and current real estate agents who want to learn from an experienced local real estate instructor. Two real estate instructors offer courses on nights and weekends to help you best fit the course into your schedule.
As the most affordable real estate course on our list, this online real estate school in NC is an ideal choice for those who want to pay an extremely fair price and still receive a comprehensive education. The livestream classes emulate an in-person classroom experience and allow you to interact with the instructor and your fellow students. They also provide post-licensing and continuing education to help you maintain a valid license and renew it.
The North Carolina Real Estate School Reviews
There are a limited number of reviews for The North Carolina Real Estate School. However, many previous students love the school and instructors and stated that they easily passed the exam on the first try. Other reviews noted that the classes could have been more dynamic or engaging. If you’re looking for engaging classes, try Kaplan for its live online course.
The North Carolina Real Estate School Pricing
As a local provider, the North Carolina Real Estate School only provides prebundled packages, unlike other national providers that have tiered course packages.
- Prelicensing: $380
- Post-licensing: $199
- Continued Education: $50
Visit The NC Real Estate School
Kaplan: Best Live Online Courses
Kaplan
What We Like
- Four prelicensing package options
- Various course formats
- Additional resources and trainings included
What's Missing
- Expensive
- No continuing education courses
- Only 6 months of course access
Additional Features
- Prelicensing packages are offered live online or self-paced online
- All prelicensing packages include exam prep
- Upper-level prelicensing packages include interactive study groups, boot camp trainings, marketing plan development, and personal coaching
- Exam prep offered live online, on-demand, or self-paced online
- Great customer review rating of 4.3 out of 5
- Accredited by NCREC, ARELLO*, and IDECC**
*ARELLO stands for Association of Real Estate License Law Officials
**IDECC stands for International Distance Education Certification Center
Kaplan, one of the most well-known online real estate schools, offers a large variety of tools and resources in addition to high-quality education. With any of the four prelicensing packages, you’ll receive a video course, real estate textbook, exam prep course and review, and an interactive study group. In addition, a standout feature that Kaplan offers is two prelicensing packages that contain live online education specifically tailored for those who seek a live learning environment from the comfort of their home.
Career Launcher packages include boot camp training, marketing plan development, income plan development, a six-month subscription to customer relationship management (CRM) software, and eight weeks of personal coaching. This is very beneficial for real estate agents who are new to the industry and want to get their careers off to a fast start.
Kaplan Reviews
Although Kaplan is one of the most expensive course providers, the live and self-paced courses come with so many additional tools and resources that students rave about. A few unhappy Kaplan reviews noted that the application has technical problems that interrupted their learning. As an alternative, The CE Shop also offers online courses, but with minimal complaints regarding functionality.
Kaplan Pricing
As a national provider, Kaplan’s North Carolina online course selection offers tiered options that allow students to choose classes based on format preferences, specific learning needs, and additional features.
Prelicensing: Starting at $449
All courses include 75 hours of courses, workbooks, exam prep and materials, and an interactive study group. Higher-tiered packages include extra features for career advancement. Choose from OnDemand (on-demand video), Home Study, or Live Online learning packages, which are further differentiated by the addition of extra features, such as textbooks, development courses, coaching, and more, for each price option:
- Online Broker Prelicensing Package: $449 for self-paced, online instruction
- Live Online Broker Prelicensing Package: $549 for livestream online instruction
- Online Broker Career Launcher Package: $649 for self-paced, online instruction
- Live Online Broker Career Launcher Package: $749 for livestream online instruction
Post-licensing: Starting at $165
- Online packages: $165, $429, $629
- Live online packages: $259, $599, $799
Continued Education: Starting at $69
- Available for agents/brokers or brokers-in-charge
- Prices range from $69 to $133 based on credit hours
- Classes available in self-paced, live online, on-demand, and hybrid formats
Exam Prep: Starting at $69
- Prices range from $69 to $149 based on format
- Classes available in self-paced, on-demand, and live online formats
Real Estate Express: Best Exam Prep Course
Real Estate Express
What We Like
- Affordable price
- Custom practice exams
- Pass or don’t pay guarantee
What's Missing
- No prelicensing
- No continuing education
- Limited course formats
Additional Features
- Digital flashcards
- Ten progress exams
- Customer review rating of 4.3 out of 5
- Accredited by NCREC, ARELLO (Association of Real Estate License Law Officials), and IDECC (International Distance Education Certification Center)
Real Estate Express is a widely known online real estate school in NC that offers Exam Prep Master, a comprehensive exam prep course. It is a great tool for those who want to schedule their real estate exam with complete confidence. For only $99, Exam Prep Master includes multiple customizable tools to familiarize you with the exam format as well as North Carolina-specific exam questions.
Although Real Estate Express does not offer prelicensing education in NC, they offer continuing education through partner McKissock Learning. There are courses on investing, advertising, social media, and more. Pick and choose from individual courses that are of interest and relate directly to your real estate business.
Real Estate Express Reviews
There are hundreds of online Real Estate Express reviews from students who say that the courses are easy to use and enabled them to pass the license exam. Still, some reviews state that customer service and instructors are difficult to contact, unlike reviews from The North Carolina Real Estate School, which offers prelicensing and continuing education directly through their own platform.
Real Estate Express Pricing
Although Real Estate Express has limited course options in North Carolina, its extensive exam preparation course and continued education offered through McKissock are offered at affordable prices.
Continued Education: Starting at $34.95
- Individual courses available from $34.95 to $99 based on credit hours and are offered through its partner company, McKissock Learning
Exam Prep: $99
Aceable Agent: Best for Prelicensing Classes With 1:1 Tutoring
Aceable Agent
What We Like
- Private tutoring
- Multimedia learning experience
- Exam prep included with prelicensing
What's Missing
- No post-licensing or continuing education courses
- Higher cost
Additional Features
- Refund within 30 days of purchase
- Mobile app available
- Downloadable portable document file (PDF) materials format
- Student concierge team
- Pass the exam in 3 attempts or get your money back
- Customer review rating of 4.9 out of 5
- Accredited by NCREC
The North Carolina prelicensing education provided by Aceable Agent is convenient for aspiring agents who are seeking an all-in-one solution that includes education hours and exam preparation. Although they do not offer post-licensing classes, Aceable’s prelicensing courses include a lot of unique elements like private tutoring, video and audio lessons, and live webinars.
Even though their courses are primarily self-paced, the multimedia learning experience add-ons give the courses an interactive feel that keeps students engaged and encourages retention. These include interactive games, infographics, and videos. Uniquely, with the highest-tiered package, Aceable Agent provides one-on-one tutoring to help students reach their full potential while taking the classes and starting their real estate careers.
Aceable Agent Reviews
Many outstanding Aceable Agent reviews praise the school for the ease of use with courses, the interactive elements, and the comprehensive practice exams. A few students complained of technical difficulties that required them to complete a review for Aceable, and others didn’t find it as engaging as they thought it would be. For those searching for livestream engagement, consider Kaplan or Sea Coast Real Estate Academy.
Aceable Agent Pricing
Aceable lets students choose from tiered course packages to decide the learning style and features that will best suit their educational needs.
Prelicensing: Starting at $475
All packages include 75 hours of prelicensing courses, light exam prep, instructor support, and a multimedia learning experience.
- The Essentials – Basic: $475 (includes above only)
- Ace the Exam – Deluxe: $575 includes everything from The Essentials package plus video and audio lessons, flashcards, deluxe exam prep, and e-book
- Ultimate Interactive – Premium: $675 includes everything from the Ace the Exam package plus one-on-one tutoring, live webinars, access to webinar archive, and live Q&A sessions
Sea Coast Real Estate Academy: Highest Customer Reviews
Sea Coast Real Estate Academy
What We Like
- Wide variety of scheduling options
- 12 different instructors
- Extremely high customer reviews
What's Missing
- No continuing education courses
- Live courses don’t include exam prep
- No coaching or additional resources offered
Additional Features
- 12 real estate instructors
- Video library for common real estate questions
- Locations in Fayetteville, Jacksonville, Hampstead, Wilmington, and Southport
- Perfect customer review rating of 5 out of 5
- Accredited by NCREC
Sea Coast Real Estate Academy is the only school to receive a 5/5 customer review rating. With five physical locations around North Carolina, 12 different real estate instructors, and a wide range of available course schedules, it’s a great choice for those who want to take pre- or post-licensing courses from an instructor. There is also a self-paced online option that includes interactive exercises, videos, quizzes, and a practice exam.
In addition to prelicensing education, Sea Coast Real Estate Academy offers post-licensing, continuing education for brokers and brokers-in-charge, and exam prep. These courses allow you to pick individual courses to fulfill your education requirements but also appeal to your particular real estate interests while renewing your license.
Sea Coast Real Estate Academy Reviews
In Sea Coast Real Estate Academy reviews, students say they loved the instruction and felt well-prepared for the exam and the start of their career. For those seeking solely online classes for post-licensing, The North Carolina Real Estate School could be a better option.
Sea Coast Real Estate Academy Pricing
Prelicensing: Starting at $399
- 75-hour Prelicensing Course: $399
- Professional Track: $450 and includes exam preparation
Post-licensing: Starting at $180
- Individual courses: $180 each
- Full 90-hour post-licensing package: $480
Continued Education for $55
- Individual courses: $55 each
- Available for brokers/agents and brokers-in-charge
Exam Prep: Starting at $49
- Real Estate Drill and Practice Bank: $49
- Complete Real Estate Drill and Practice Bank: $99
Visit Sea Coast Real Estate Academy
The CE Shop: Best Self-paced Online Course
The CE Shop
What We Like
- Four prelicensing course options
- Three exam prep course options
- Pass guarantee
What's Missing
- Expensive courses
- No live classes
Additional Features
- All prelicensing courses include business e-books, digital flashcards, real estate glossary, and instructor-led webinars
- Free initial exam prep assessment
- Exam prep courses include state-specific content
- National pass rate of 91%
- Excellent customer review rating of 4.1 out of 5
- Accredited by NCREC and ARELLO
The CE Shop is a real estate school that specializes in online, self-paced education. Although there is no livestream option, users can rely on on-demand video and engaging, interactive activities to retain information while moving through the courses at their own speed. There are four North Carolina prelicensing packages and three exam prep packages, plus a standard continuing education package to renew your real estate license.
The Value and Premium packages include business building courses on top of a pass guarantee, so you can set yourself up for a successful real estate career getting your NC real estate license. The features and course content from the CE Shop make it a great choice for any aspiring North Carolina real estate broker. In addition, exam prep courses include unlimited practice exams and study lessons divided by topic.
The CE Shop Reviews
The CE Shop has thousands of 5-star reviews online from previous students, although some note that it is difficult to get an extension on the course after 12 months. If you’re looking for a more guided approach to finish your classes on time, check out Sea Coast Real Estate Academy.
The CE Shop Pricing
As a national provider, The CE Shop offers tiered packages as well as individual courses tailored to your educational needs.
Prelicensing: Starting at $715
All prelicensing packages include the 75 required hours of North Carolina prelicensing education as well as business e-books, career resources, downloadable resources, digital flashcards, real estate glossary, study schedules, and instructor-led webinars.
- Standard: $715 includes the above only
- Value: $755 includes everything in the Basic package plus exam prep and pass guarantee
- Premium: $1,079 includes everything in the packages above plus 90 hours of post-licensing classes
Post-licensing: Starting at $235
- 30-hour bundles: $235 each
- Full 90-hour Post-licensing Package: $579
Continued Education: Starting at $49
- Available for brokers/agents and brokers-in-charge
- Individual courses: $49 each
- General update course: $69
Exam Prep: Starting at $75
- National Portion: $75
- State Portion: $75
- National and State Portion Combo: $125
How We Evaluated the Best North Carolina Real Estate Schools
Becoming a real estate agent in North Carolina is a relatively standard process, but it requires extensive education into the real estate process and legalities. In order to earn and maintain a real estate license, you’ll need to stay up to date with your education by attending an accredited real estate school that fits your schedule, budget, and learning style.
After examining many real estate schools in NC, The North Carolina Real Estate School showed itself to be the best overall. It is one of the few NC real estate course providers that offers a comprehensive education for current and aspiring real estate brokers at an affordable price. Plus, you can choose between live instruction from an expert or a self-paced course.
Visit the North Carolina Real Estate School
Here are the additional criteria we used to evaluate each online school:
30%
Pricing
25%
Course Features
20%
Customer Reviews
15%
Expert Score
10%
Help & Support
30% 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.
25% of Overall Score
Consist 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
Based on customer feedback for each program, with particular attention given to reviews of the product and popularity of the school, to certify the course meets user satisfaction.
15% of Overall Score
Expertise in the field and firsthand experience allow us to evaluate the standout features, value for the money, and ease of use for each school.
10% of Overall Score
We looked into the convenience and attainability of customer service support for technical support and instructor assistance.
*Percentages of overall score