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6 Best Online Real Estate Schools in North Carolina

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…

Written By

Kaylee Strozyk

Jan 2, 2024

15 minute read

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

Best NC Real Estate Schools Online at a Glance
Which online real estate school provider is right for you?
Colibri Real Estate: Best Self-paced Packages & Study Tools
The Go School of Real Estate: Best for Expert Local Instructors
Carolina School of Real Estate: Best for Livestream Courses With Flexible Scheduling
Kaplan: Best for Career Support
Sea Coast Real Estate Academy: Best for Affordable Prelicensing Education
The CE Shop: Best for Interactive, Self-paced Education
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Bottom Line

Best NC Real Estate Schools Online at a Glance

Education Provided & Starting Price	Learning Formats	Pass Guarantee	Customer Support
Prelicensing: $529Post-licensing: $269CE: $74Exam prep: $115	Self-paced On-demand video Livestream	✓	Phone, email, and live chat
Visit Colibri Real Estate - Use Promo Code: FSB30 for 30% off
Prelicensing: $399Post-licensing: $199CE: $54Exam prep: $49	Self-paced On-demand video Livestream	✕	Phone and email
Visit The Go School of Real Estate
Prelicensing: $75Post-licensing: $225CE: $55Exam prep: $49	Self-paced On-demand video Livestream	✕	Phone and email
Visit Carolina School of Real Estate
Prelicensing: $449Post-licensing: $165CE: $69Exam prep: $99	Self-paced On-demand video Livestream Hybrid	✕	Phone, email, and live chat
Visit Kaplan - Use Promo Code: Kapre5 for 5% off
Prelicensing: $150Post-licensing: $225CE: $55Exam prep: $0 to $25	Self-paced On-demand video Livestream	✕	Phone and email
Visit Sea Coast Real Estate Academy
Prelicensing: $715Post-licensing: $249CE: $55Exam prep: $79	Self-paced On-demand video	✓	Phone, email, and live chat
Visit The CE Shop - Use Promo Code: FSB30 for 30% off

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?

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

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	Real estate study guides Career support 75-hour licensing course Livestreamed and in-person course options
Post-licensing	$269	Online exam proctoring Videos and quizzes in the self-study course Free downloadable PDFs available in their Resources section
Continued Education*	$74	Individual courses Mandatory and elective course topics
Exam Prep	$115 to $219	Simulated exams Real estate flashcards Audio review guides Readiness assessment to track progress Instructor Q&A

*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

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.

Go School of Real Estate bookstore choices.

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	Livestream and online self-study Books purchased separately 75 to 85 hours of instruction Interactive classes
Post-licensing	$199 to $225	Livestream via Zoom E-book and hard copies available for purchase Individual classes and 30-hour packages available Weekday, weekend, and evening course options
Continued Education	$55 to $90	Livestream and self-study options Broker-in-charge and general update options Individual classes available
Exam Prep	$49	15-lesson math prep On-demand video Over 40 classes Practice quizzes, tips, and bonus materials

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

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.

Carolina School of Real Estate free professional development courses.

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	Individual cram classes Livestream or self-paced Buffini & Company coaching videos New Agent Starter Kit
Post-licensing	$225 or $650 total	Individual post-licensing courses A “buy three and save” package Courses via Zoom E-books included
Continued Education	$55 to 199	Individual CE livestream classes Individual self-paced classes Self-paced CE Plus membership through partnership with Superior Schools
Exam Prep	$49	400 questions with rationales for answers Free 20 questions trial Exam simulations

*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

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	Includes textbook Livestream and self-paced formats Includes livestream exam prep Interactive study groups included
Post-licensing	$165 to $799	Livestream or self-paced 30-hour and 90-hour options Exam proctoring included
Continued Education	$69 to $133	Livestream, hybrid, and self-study options Required and elective courses available Four and eight credit CE units to choose from
Exam Prep	$99 to $169	Drills and a practice Qbank Livestream or online video Pre- and post-course diagnostic practice exams Workbooks included

Visit Kaplan

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

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.

Sea Coast Real Estate Academy exam prep and free professional development courses.

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	Livestream or self-paced Textbook or e-book Exam review Additional course materials
Post-licensing	$225	$25 discount for returning students Free course e-book included Military discount
Continued Education	$55	Individual classes
Exam Prep	$0 or $25	Free 90-day access to national and state Qbanks Free exam prep videos on their YouTube channel Paid four-hour broker license exam review via Zoom

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

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	Business e-books Career resources Downloadable resources Exam Prep Edge with digital flashcards
Post-licensing	$249 to $609	Choice of three separate 30-hour courses or one 90-hour program
Continued Education	$55 to $75	Livestream and self-study Individual classes Four-hour customizable packages
Exam Prep	$79 to $135	National, state, and combination packages Unlimited practice exams Interactive course dashboards Readiness assessment

Visit The CE Shop

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:

Methodology weights

Learning Style/Course Features 25%

Pricing 20%

Education Provided 15%

Additional Features 15%

Customer Reviews 10%

Expert Score 10%

Help & Support 5%

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.

Kaylee Strozyk

Kaylee has been working in the real estate industry for the last ten years as a real estate investor and marketer. She has collaborated with agents, brokers, and real estate software companies on large projects, including marketing.

6 Best Online Real Estate Schools in North Carolina

Best NC Real Estate Schools Online at a Glance

Which online real estate school provider is right for you?

Colibri Real Estate: Best Self-paced Packages & Study Tools

The Go School of Real Estate: Best for Expert Local Instructors

Carolina School of Real Estate: Best for Livestream Courses With Flexible Scheduling

Kaplan: Best for Career Support

Sea Coast Real Estate Academy: Best for Affordable Prelicensing Education

The CE Shop: Best for Interactive, Self-paced Education

How We Evaluated the Top Real Estate Schools in North Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many people pass the NC real estate exam the first time?

How quickly can you become a real estate agent in NC?

Which online real estate school is the best in NC?

Bottom Line

Kaylee Strozyk

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