Can I obtain my North Carolina license if I’m not a U.S. citizen?
Yes, applicants may be a non-citizen national or a qualified alien under federal law, or an individual with a lawful presence in the U.S., who is authorized to work in the U.S. in the real estate brokerage field.
If you hold a U.S. Permanent Resident Card, also referred to as a “green card,” then you are a qualified alien. Most other aliens will need a U.S. immigration visa and/or an Employment Authorization Document from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service that permits work in the real estate brokerage field.
Related FAQs
As of March 1, 2012, anyone holding a real estate license in another state, may apply for a real estate license in North Carolina regardless of their place of residence, and will not have to take the 75-hour pre-licensing coursework, nor will they need to complete the national section of the state license exam.
If you hold an active real estate license from another state and have now moved to North Carolina, you may be able to waive the 75-hour pre-license coursework and the national portion of the real estate license exam. You would still need to take the North Carolina state-specific portion of the state license exam.
The equivalent license to a real estate salesperson license in most other states is a provisional broker license in North Carolina. Entry-level real estate licensees are considered provisional brokers.
Yes, if you are a resident from another state, you may still apply for a North Carolina provisional broker license, as long as you hold a real estate license in your state of residency. However, the firm and principal broker where you hold your license will need to be licensed in North Carolina.
Yes, non-resident applicants should file an irrevocable consent allowing for suits and actions that may be taken against them to occur in the proper court within the state of North Carolina.
Yes, applicants may be a non-citizen national or a qualified alien under federal law, or an individual with a lawful presence in the U.S., who is authorized to work in the U.S. in the real estate brokerage field. If you hold a U.S. Permanent Resident Card, also known as a “green card,” then you are a qualified alien.