Nebraska Real Estate Exam Overview
Key Takeaways
- As of January 1, 2026, Nebraska requires 96 hours of pre-license education (90 hours of courses plus a 6-hour ethics/professional-practice course, Course 0003)
- The salesperson exam has 130 scored questions: 80 national and 50 Nebraska-specific, delivered by Pearson VUE
- Passing score is 75% on each portion (60/80 national, 38/50 state) - higher than the 70% most states require
- Nebraska requires applicants to be at least 19 years old, not the typical 18
- New licensees must complete 12 hours of post-license education (Course 7000) within 180 days or the license goes inactive
Welcome to OpenExamPrep's FREE Nebraska Real Estate exam prep guide. This resource covers the Nebraska-specific regulations, licensing steps, and state real estate laws you must know to pass the state portion of the licensing exam and begin practicing in Nebraska.
Important 2026 Changes
Effective January 1, 2026, the Nebraska Real Estate Commission (NREC) increased pre-license education from 66 hours to 96 hours. The new requirement is 90 hours of approved coursework plus a separate 6-hour professional-practice/ethics course (Course 0003).
| Requirement | Before 2026 | Effective January 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-license hours | 66 hours | 96 hours |
| Structure | 60 hours (2 courses) + 6-hour ethics | 90 hours of coursework + 6-hour ethics (Course 0003) |
| Who is affected | New applicants | All new applicants on/after Jan 1, 2026 |
Two other 2026 changes matter for new agents: NREC raised several licensing fees effective January 1, 2026, and a completed Course 7000 (post-license) is now valid for only four years - if your completion is older than four years when you finally activate, you must retake it within 180 days.
About the Nebraska Real Estate Exam
The Nebraska real estate salesperson examination is administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of NREC. (Pearson VUE publishes the official Nebraska Real Estate Licensure Candidate Handbook; do not confuse it with PSI, which Nebraska does not use for this exam.) The exam tests:
- National real estate principles and practices
- The Nebraska Real Estate License Act and NREC rules (Title 299)
- Agency relationships and required disclosures in Nebraska
- Contract law and the Seller Property Condition Disclosure Statement
- Trust account handling and license-law violations
Exam Structure
| Exam Component | National Portion | State Portion |
|---|---|---|
| Testing provider | Pearson VUE | Pearson VUE |
| Scored questions | 80 | 50 |
| Time limit | 150 minutes (2.5 hours) | 90 minutes (1.5 hours) |
| Passing score | 75% (60 correct) | 75% (38 correct) |
| Format | Four-option multiple choice | Four-option multiple choice |
| Combined seat time | About 4 hours for both portions | Included |
Why 75% matters: Nebraska's 75% bar is higher than the 70% used by most states. On the state portion you can miss only 12 of 50 questions. Treat every Nebraska-specific rule in this guide as testable, and aim for consistent practice scores of 85%+ before you sit.
The Nebraska Real Estate Commission (NREC)
The Nebraska Real Estate Commission is the regulatory body overseeing every real estate licensee in the state. NREC's office is in Lincoln, and the Commission generally meets monthly to act on licensing, education, and disciplinary matters. NREC's core responsibilities are:
- Licensing salespersons and brokers and approving education providers
- Setting and enforcing education standards (pre-license, post-license, and CE)
- Investigating complaints and auditing broker trust accounts
- Imposing discipline - reprimand, fine, probation, suspension, or revocation
- Registering subdivisions, timeshares, membership campgrounds, and retirement communities
Joe Gehrki has served as Director of NREC since January 1, 2025. The Commission itself has seven members (covered in detail in Chapter 1).
NREC Contact Information
| Resource | Details |
|---|---|
| Website | nrec.nebraska.gov |
| Office | 301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 94667, Lincoln, NE 68509-4667 |
| Phone | (402) 471-2004 |
Licensing Path at a Glance
Nebraska's salesperson licensing process has a logical order; missing a step (especially the background check or the post-license course) stalls your license.
- Meet basic requirements - be at least 19, hold a high school diploma/GED (or homeschool completion), and be legally present in the U.S.
- Complete 96 hours of pre-license education from an NREC-approved school (90 hours of coursework plus 6-hour Course 0003).
- Submit a criminal background check using fingerprints (FBI and state history).
- Apply to NREC and pay the application fee ($175 effective 2026).
- Pass both exam portions at 75% through Pearson VUE (exam fee $150).
- Affiliate with a designated broker, who activates the license; you cannot practice unaffiliated.
- Complete 12 hours of post-license education (Course 7000) within 180 days of licensure, or the license becomes inactive.
Fee Snapshot (Effective January 1, 2026)
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Salesperson application fee | $175 |
| Original salesperson license fee | $90 |
| Examination fee (per attempt) | $150 |
| Salesperson biennial renewal fee | $180 |
| Late renewal penalty | $25 per month (Dec 1 through June 30) |
Verify before you pay: NREC adjusted fees effective January 1, 2026. The figures above reflect the 2026 schedule; always confirm current amounts on nrec.nebraska.gov before submitting your application.
Continuing Education and Renewal Preview
Nebraska licenses run on a two-year cycle, expiring in December, with a renewal deadline of December 1 (the 2026-2027 renewal period was due December 1, 2025). To renew you must complete 18 hours of continuing education, including at least 6 hours of designated subject matter ("R" courses) and 12 hours of approved coursework. Chapter 1 covers renewal, late penalties, and license status in depth.
How to Use This Guide
| Chapter | Focus | Why it is tested |
|---|---|---|
| 1. NREC & Licensing | Commission structure, license requirements, renewal/CE | The single largest cluster of state questions |
| 2. Agency & Disclosure | Single/limited/dual/designated agency, disclosure timing, agent duties | Nebraska's agency model differs from many states |
| 3. Contracts & Disclosures | Statute of Frauds, earnest money, Seller Property Condition Disclosure | Tests numeric deadlines and statute-specific rules |
| 4. Trust Accounts & Violations | Trust account handling, commingling, discipline | High-stakes broker-supervision and audit rules |
Exam-Day Logistics
- Bring two forms of ID; the primary must be a government-issued photo ID, and the names must match your registration.
- Arrive at the Pearson VUE center early; late arrivals may forfeit the appointment and fee.
- Budget roughly 1.8 minutes per question (150 min for 80 national, 90 min for 50 state).
- Flag-and-return: answer every question (no penalty for guessing) and revisit flagged items.
Strategy: Because the state portion is shorter (50 questions, 90 minutes) but graded at the same 75% bar, small mistakes hurt more. Drill the Nebraska-specific numbers - 19 years, 96 hours, 75%, 180 days, 18 CE hours, 72-hour earnest-money deposit, 5-year records, one-year disclosure action - until they are automatic.
As of January 1, 2026, how many total hours of pre-license education does Nebraska require for a salesperson license?
Which company delivers the Nebraska real estate salesperson licensing exam?
What is the minimum age requirement for a Nebraska real estate license?
What is the passing score required for each portion of the Nebraska real estate exam?
Within how many days of licensure must a new Nebraska salesperson complete post-license education?
How many scored questions are on the Nebraska state portion of the salesperson exam?