How hard is the Nebraska real estate exam?

The Nebraska real estate exam is moderately challenging with approximately a 53% first-time pass rate. The exam requires a 75% passing score on both the national (80 questions) and state (50 questions) portions. Key factors that make it challenging include Nebraska-specific rules like the 72-hour trust fund deposit requirement and NREC disciplinary procedures.

How many questions are on the Nebraska real estate exam?

The Nebraska real estate exam has 130 scored questions total: 80 questions on the national portion and 50 questions on the state-specific portion. Additionally, there are 5-10 pretest questions that do not affect your score. You have 4 hours (240 minutes) to complete both sections.

What is the passing score for the Nebraska real estate exam?

You must score at least 75% on each portion of the Nebraska real estate exam. This means you need to correctly answer at least 60 out of 80 questions on the national portion and 38 out of 50 questions on the state portion. If you pass one section but fail the other, you can retain credit for the passed section for up to 6 months or 3 subsequent attempts.

How much does it cost to get a Nebraska real estate license?

The total cost is approximately $500-$700, including: pre-license education courses ($200-$400), exam fee ($150), license issuance fee ($80), background check fee ($40-$60), and optional Realtor association membership. Retakes cost an additional $150 per attempt.

What are Nebraska real estate continuing education requirements?

Nebraska requires 18 hours of continuing education every 2 years for license renewal. This includes at least 6 hours in designated "R" courses covering topics like ethics, agency, fair housing, and contracts. If you provide property management services, an additional 3 hours in property management is required. CE must be completed by November 30 before the December 31 renewal deadline.

What is the 72-hour rule in Nebraska real estate?

The 72-hour rule requires Nebraska real estate licensees to deposit all earnest money and other trust funds into a designated trust or escrow account within 72 hours of receipt. This rule helps protect client funds and is a frequently tested topic on the state portion of the exam.

FREE Nebraska Real Estate Exam Guide 2026 | NREC License & Practice Test

Nebraska Real Estate License Overview

Nebraska offers excellent opportunities for real estate professionals, with growing markets in Omaha and Lincoln driving demand for licensed agents. The Nebraska Real Estate Commission (NREC) regulates all real estate licensing in the state, ensuring professional standards and consumer protection.

Whether you're looking to work in the thriving Omaha metropolitan area or serve buyers and sellers in Nebraska's smaller communities, obtaining your real estate license is the first step toward a rewarding career.

Nebraska Real Estate Exam Quick Facts

Feature	Details
Exam Administrator	Pearson VUE for NREC
Total Questions	130 scored (80 national + 50 state)
Pretest Questions	5-10 unscored questions
Time Limit	240 minutes (4 hours total)
Passing Score	75% on each portion
Exam Fee	$150 per attempt
Results	Immediate score report
Retake Policy	May retain passing section for 6 months or 3 attempts

Requirements Before Taking the Exam

Education Requirements

Requirement	Details
Age	19 years or older
Pre-License Education	66 hours (2 courses) - Note: Increases to 96 hours January 1, 2026
High School Diploma	Required (or GED equivalent)
Criminal History	Background check approval required
Course Validity	Must pass exam before approval expires

Pre-License Course Content (66 Hours)

The required pre-license education covers:

Real Estate Principles (30 hours)
- Property rights and ownership
- Contracts and legal concepts
- Valuation and market analysis
Real Estate Practice (36 hours)
- Nebraska-specific laws and regulations
- Agency relationships
- Brokerage operations

Application Process

Complete 66 hours of NREC-approved pre-license education
Submit application to Nebraska Real Estate Commission
Complete criminal history background check
Receive NREC approval to take examination
Schedule exam directly with Pearson VUE
Pass both exam portions within required timeframe

Nebraska Exam Format

The Nebraska real estate exam consists of two portions that test both national real estate principles and Nebraska-specific laws and regulations.

Content Breakdown

Section	Questions	Time	Passing Score
National Portion	80 scored + 5 pretest	150 minutes	75% (60/80)
State Portion	50 scored + 5-10 pretest	90 minutes	75% (38/50)
Total	130+ questions	240 minutes	75% each section

National Portion Topics

Topic	Questions	Key Areas
Real Property Characteristics	9	Legal descriptions, property types, land characteristics
Forms of Ownership & Title	8	Ownership types, title transfer, recording
Property Value & Appraisal	11	Valuation approaches, CMA, market analysis
Real Estate Contracts & Agency	16	Contract elements, agency relationships, duties
Real Estate Practice	14	Brokerage operations, listing procedures
Property Disclosures	8	Environmental issues, required disclosures
Financing & Settlement	7	Mortgages, closing procedures, RESPA
Real Estate Math	7	Commission, prorations, area calculations

Nebraska State Portion Topics

Topic	Questions	Key Areas
NREC Powers & Duties	5-6	Commission authority, investigations, disciplinary actions
Licensing Requirements	7-8	License types, exemptions, reciprocity
Activities of Licensees	25-30	Advertising, broker supervision, trust accounts
Funds Handling	5-6	72-hour rule, escrow requirements
Additional Topics	5	Fair housing, subdivided land, equitable interest

Nebraska-Specific Topics

NREC Authority and Disciplinary Actions

The Nebraska Real Estate Commission has broad authority to:

Power	Details
Issue Licenses	Approve applications, set requirements
Investigate Complaints	Authority to investigate licensee conduct
Hold Hearings	Administrative proceedings for violations
Disciplinary Actions	Suspend, revoke, or deny licenses
Set Education Standards	Approve schools and courses

Trust Account Requirements (72-Hour Rule)

Nebraska has specific requirements for handling client funds:

All earnest money deposits must be deposited within 72 hours of receipt
Funds must be placed in a separate trust/escrow account
Broker must maintain accurate records of all trust funds
Interest-bearing accounts require written client consent
Commingling of funds is strictly prohibited

Nebraska Advertising Rules

Key advertising requirements include:

All advertising must include the brokerage name as registered with NREC
Individual agent advertising must also identify the employing broker
Blind ads (without brokerage identification) are prohibited
Internet advertising must comply with same rules as print advertising
Social media posts related to real estate require broker identification

Nebraska Fair Housing Law

Nebraska enforces both federal and state fair housing protections:

Protected Class	Federal	Nebraska State
Race	Yes	Yes
Color	Yes	Yes
Religion	Yes	Yes
National Origin	Yes	Yes
Sex	Yes	Yes
Familial Status	Yes	Yes
Disability	Yes	Yes
Ancestry	No	Yes

Nebraska Exam Pass Rate

The Nebraska real estate exam has a pass rate of approximately 53% on the first attempt. Nearly half of all test-takers must retake the exam.

Factor	Impact
Separate sections	Must pass both national and state portions
Higher passing score	75% required (vs 70% in some states)
Nebraska-specific content	Unique trust account and licensing rules
Math requirements	Significant calculation questions

Study Strategy

Recommended Study Time

Approach	Hours	Timeline
Intensive	50-60	2-3 weeks
Standard	60-80	3-4 weeks
Part-time	80-100	5-6 weeks

After completing the 66-hour pre-license course.

Study Priority by Weight

National Portion (80 questions)
- Contracts and agency relationships (highest weight)
- Real estate practice and operations
- Property valuation methods
- Math calculations
State Portion (50 questions)
- NREC licensing requirements
- Trust account handling (72-hour rule)
- Advertising compliance
- Disciplinary procedures

Key Math Formulas

Commission Calculations:

$\text{Commission} = \text{Sales Price} \times \text{Rate}$

$\text{Agent Share} = \text{Commission} \times \text{Split \%}$

Prorations (Nebraska uses 365-day year):

$\text{Daily Rate} = \frac{\text{Annual Amount}}{365}$

$\text{Proration} = \text{Daily Rate} \times \text{Days}$

Property Tax:

$\text{Tax} = \text{Assessed Value} \times \text{Mill Levy}$

Note: 1 mill = $1 per $1,000 of assessed value

Loan-to-Value:

$\text{LTV} = \frac{\text{Loan Amount}}{\text{Property Value}}$

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Ignoring Nebraska-Specific Rules

Many candidates focus too heavily on national content and underestimate state-specific material:

72-hour trust fund deposit rule
NREC disciplinary procedures
Nebraska advertising requirements
State fair housing additions

2. Poor Time Management

130+ questions in 240 minutes = ~1.8 minutes per question
Don't spend excessive time on difficult questions
Flag challenging questions and return later
Use all remaining time to review answers

3. Underestimating Math Questions

Math questions appear on both portions. Practice daily:

Commission splits and calculations
Prorations (taxes, rent, interest)
Area calculations (square footage, acreage)
Loan calculations (LTV, interest)

4. Confusing License Types

Know the differences between Nebraska license categories:

Salesperson: Works under supervising broker
Broker: Can operate independently, supervise others
Associate Broker: Broker working under another broker

Exam Day Tips

Before the Exam

Get adequate rest the night before
Eat a balanced meal before testing
Arrive 30 minutes early at the testing center
Bring two forms of ID (one government-issued with photo)

During the Exam

Read each question completely before answering
Watch for qualifier words: "EXCEPT," "NOT," "ALWAYS," "NEVER"
Show all math work on provided scratch paper
Trust your first instinct unless you find clear error
Use all available time to review flagged questions

What to Bring

Two forms of valid identification (one with photo and signature)
Authorization confirmation from Pearson VUE
Nothing else - personal items stored in locker

After Passing the Exam

Immediate Steps

Receive score report immediately after exam completion
Complete licensing process within 30 days of passing notification
Find employing broker - required to activate license
Submit License Issuance Form signed by both you and your broker
Pay issuance fee - $80 for salesperson license

Post-License Requirements

Effective January 1, 2026, Nebraska implements new post-license education requirements.

Requirement	Timeline
First renewal	December 31 of next even-numbered year
CE requirement	18 hours every 2 years
Designated courses	6 hours minimum in "R" designated courses
Property management	3 additional hours if providing PM services

Continuing Education Breakdown

Category	Hours	Details
Designated "R" Courses	6 hours	Ethics, agency, fair housing, contracts
Elective Courses	6 hours	NREC-approved topics
Training Hours	Up to 6 hours	May substitute for CE activities
Total Required	18 hours	Every 2-year renewal period

License Renewal

Item	Details
Renewal deadline	December 31 of even-numbered years
CE completion deadline	November 30 (before renewal)
Salesperson renewal fee	$140
Broker renewal fee	$180
Late fee	$25 per month past deadline
License lapse	Must retake exam if not renewed by June 30

Nebraska Real Estate Career Outlook

Salary Expectations

Experience	Annual Income
First year	$30,000-$45,000
2-5 years	$45,000-$70,000
5+ years	$70,000-$100,000+
Top producers	$150,000+

Hot Nebraska Markets (2026)

Omaha Metro - Largest market, corporate headquarters, diverse inventory
Lincoln - State capital, university town, steady growth
Grand Island - Regional hub, affordable housing
Bellevue - Military community, Offutt AFB
Papillion/La Vista - Suburban growth, family market
Kearney - I-80 corridor, regional commerce

Resources

Nebraska Real Estate Commission (NREC) - Official licensing information
Pearson VUE Nebraska - Exam scheduling and candidate handbook
Nebraska Realtors Association - Industry resources
OpenExamPrep - Free study materials and practice questions

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