Last updated: February 19, 2026. Built from Iowa Professional Licensing and PSI Iowa candidate bulletin references.
Iowa Exam Prep: Fast Answer
If your goal is to pass quickly, use this framework:
- Exam format: 120 total questions
- Split: 80 national + 40 Iowa state
- Time: 2 hours national + 1 hour state
- Passing: 70% on each section (56/80 national, 28/40 state)
- Testing options: in-person and remote online proctored
Step 1: Know the Iowa Licensing Path
Iowa's sales licensing path is not just "take exam and done."
- Complete the 60-hour Principles and Practices course.
- Meet exam eligibility and schedule with PSI.
- Pass both exam portions.
- Complete the three required 12-hour Iowa courses (Buying, Listing, Professionalism/Ethics).
- Complete application/background/insurance requirements and file through Iowa Professional Licensing.
Step 2: Study in the Right Order
Most people lose time by random-topic studying. Use this order:
- National contracts + agency + finance foundation
- National math and transaction mechanics
- Iowa law and licensing rules
- Timed mixed sets (national + state)
- Final weak-area repair
This sequence gives better score lift than memorizing Iowa law first.
30-Day Iowa Study Plan
Days 1-7
- Build national foundation (ownership, agency, contracts, finance basics)
- 30-40 questions/day
Days 8-14
- National heavy topics (financing, valuation, transfer, calculations, disclosures)
- 40-60 questions/day
Days 15-20
- Iowa-specific rules (licensing workflow, trust handling, disclosure timing, state rules)
- 30-50 Iowa-focused questions/day
Days 21-26
- Timed section drills
- National set target: 80 questions in 120 minutes
- State set target: 40 questions in 60 minutes
Days 27-30
- Two full simulations and targeted remediation
- Fix only high-miss topics, not everything
Question Targets That Actually Work
| Phase | Question Target |
|---|---|
| Foundation weeks | 250-350 total |
| Mixed/timed phase | 250-350 total |
| Final 4 days | 150-250 total |
| Total prep range | 650-950 questions |
Weak-Area Remediation Loop
Use this 4-step loop every time you score low in a domain:
- Label misses by reason (concept gap, law detail, math error, reading error).
- Re-study only that micro-topic for 20-30 minutes.
- Re-test 15-20 targeted questions.
- Add one-line rule to your final review sheet.
If you skip labeling error types, you will repeat the same mistakes.
Pass Benchmarks Before Booking
| Metric | Safer Benchmark |
|---|---|
| National timed sets | 78-82% |
| Iowa timed sets | 80-85% |
| Last two full mocks | 80%+ overall and section-level pass |
Day-Before Checklist
- Confirm your PSI appointment and ID requirements.
- Run one short mixed warm-up set (not a full cram day).
- Review only your error log and formula/rule sheet.
- Sleep on time and keep test-day routine stable.
Common Iowa Pitfalls
- Studying national only and under-prepping Iowa law.
- Ignoring section-level pass requirement (must pass both portions).
- Waiting too late to start post-exam licensing items.
- Doing only untimed practice.
- Not tracking error types.