Nebraska Real Estate Practice Test (Free)
The Nebraska real estate salesperson exam has 130 questions and a 4 hours limit. Below are the exact numbers the NE exam uses, and a free practice test to see where you stand.
The Nebraska exam at a glance
- License
- Real Estate Salesperson
- Administered by
- Pearson VUE, under contract with the Nebraska Real Estate Commission
- Total questions
- 130 (80 national and 50 Nebraska-specific)
- Time limit
- 4 hours
- Passing score
- The salesperson exam is two separately scored portions taken in one sitting. You must score at least 75% on the national/general portion (80 scored items; 60 correct) and at least 75% on the Nebraska state law portion (50 scored items; 38 correct). A passing national score cannot offset a failing state law score. Pearson VUE reports numeric scores only to failing candidates; a candidate scoring 75% or above is told only PASS.
- How it is taken
- In person at Pearson VUE test centers, including centers in Nebraska and, for service members, select Pearson VUE test centers on military installations. No remote online proctoring and no walk-in exams. Report to the test center at least 30 minutes before your appointment. Test center locations include centers across the United States, Canada, and US territories.
- If you fail
- A salesperson who passes one portion but fails the other may retake only the failed portion and keeps credit for the passed portion for three (3) subsequent attempts or six (6) months, or until the license application expires, whichever comes first. If both portions are not passed within that window the candidate must sit the full exam again and the retention clock restarts. Brokers must retake the entire exam after any failure. Every retake requires a new $150 examination fee paid to the Nebraska Real Estate Commission and a new authorization from the Commission before the candidate can book with Pearson VUE; reservations for a reexamination cannot be made at the test center. The handbook states no specific waiting period before a retake, only that the Commission must reauthorize the candidate.
What Nebraska requires before you can sit the exam
- Minimum age
- 19+
- Pre-license education
- 96 hours
- 30-hour course in Real Estate Principles and Practices, required by Neb. Rev. Stat. section 81-885.13(2).
- 30-hour course in Nebraska Real Estate License Law, required by Neb. Rev. Stat. section 81-885.13(2) and Title 299 NAC, ch. 7, section 004.09 (effective January 1, 2026).
- One additional 30-hour Commission-approved pre-license course, required by Neb. Rev. Stat. section 81-885.13(2).
- 6-hour Professional Practice and Standards course, Course 0003, required by Neb. Rev. Stat. section 81-885.13(5).
- Exam / application fee
- $150
- License term
- 2 years
- Background check
- Fingerprints and a criminal history check are required.
Free Nebraska practice questions
10 questions written for the Nebraska exam, drawn from 12 in the ApexAgent bank. The correct answer and the reasoning are under each one.
1. Which Nebraska statute is cited as the Nebraska Real Estate License Act?
- A. Sections 81-885 to 81-885.56, Nebraska Revised Statutes ✓
- B. Sections 76-2401 to 76-2430, Nebraska Revised Statutes
- C. Section 81-885.13 only
- D. Sections 44-101 et seq., Nebraska Revised Statutes
Why: Section 81-885, Neb. Rev. Stat., states that sections 81-885 to 81-885.56 shall be known and may be cited as the Nebraska Real Estate License Act. Sections 76-2401 to 76-2430 are the separate brokerage relationships statutes, referenced in section 81-885.24(16).
2. What is the minimum age at which Nebraska will issue a real estate salesperson license?
- A. 16
- B. 18
- C. 19 ✓
- D. 21
Why: Section 81-885.13(1)(a), Neb. Rev. Stat., provides that no broker's or salesperson's license shall be issued to any person who has not attained the age of nineteen years. Nebraska's age floor is higher than the 18 used by many states.
3. Who serves as chairperson of the Nebraska State Real Estate Commission?
- A. The Governor
- B. A broker member elected by the commission
- C. The Secretary of State ✓
- D. The commission director
Why: Section 81-885.07(1)(a), Neb. Rev. Stat., creates the State Real Estate Commission and states that it consists of the Secretary of State, who shall be chairperson, and six members appointed by the Governor. This structure differs from states whose commissions are chaired by a member elected from among the appointees.
4. How many members make up the Nebraska State Real Estate Commission?
- A. Five
- B. Six
- C. Seven ✓
- D. Nine
Why: Section 81-885.07(1)(a), Neb. Rev. Stat., provides for the Secretary of State as chairperson plus six members appointed by the Governor, for seven members in total. Three appointed members must be active licensed brokers with at least five years in the business, one from each congressional district.
5. A member of the Nebraska State Real Estate Commission appointed by the Governor serves a term of how many years?
- A. Two
- B. Four
- C. Six ✓
- D. Eight
Why: Section 81-885.07(2), Neb. Rev. Stat., states that at the expiration of a term the Governor shall appoint a successor for a term of six years, and that an appointed member is limited to one six-year term in addition to any partial term served.
6. Effective January 1, 2026, how many total hours of approved pre-license education must a Nebraska real estate salesperson applicant complete?
- A. 60 hours
- B. 66 hours
- C. 90 hours
- D. 96 hours ✓
Why: Section 81-885.13(2), Neb. Rev. Stat., requires three approved courses totaling not less than ninety class hours, and section 81-885.13(5) adds six class hours of professional practice and standards (Course 0003), for 96 hours in total. The Commission's Pre-License Education Requirements page confirms the 96-hour figure effective January 1, 2026.
7. Within how many days after passing the Nebraska real estate examination must an applicant complete all requirements necessary for the issuance of a license?
- A. 15 days
- B. 30 days ✓
- C. 60 days
- D. 90 days
Why: Section 81-885.13(6), Neb. Rev. Stat., states that within thirty days after passing the examination the applicant shall complete all requirements necessary for the issuance of a license. The Commission's salesperson checklist repeats that the license must be issued within 30 days of the passing grade or the examination must be retaken.
8. Under Nebraska law, a newly licensed salesperson must complete twelve hours of approved class study in a required course (Course 7000) within how many days after license issuance?
- A. 30 days
- B. 90 days
- C. 180 days ✓
- D. 365 days
Why: Section 81-885.13(9)(a), Neb. Rev. Stat., requires all licensees to furnish evidence of completion of twelve hours of commission-approved class study within one hundred eighty days after license issuance. Under section 81-885.13(9)(b), failing to submit that evidence places the license on inactive status until it is received.
9. In each two-year period, how many hours of approved continuing education must a Nebraska real estate licensee complete, in addition to the broker-approved training hours?
- A. 6 hours
- B. 12 hours ✓
- C. 18 hours
- D. 24 hours
Why: Section 81-885.51, Neb. Rev. Stat., provides that in each two-year period every licensee shall complete twelve hours of approved continuing education activities and six hours of broker-approved training. The twelve CE hours are separate from the six training hours, so the combined two-year total is eighteen.
10. In a cooperative sale between brokers, unless all parties with an interest in the funds agree otherwise in writing, within what time must the selling broker deposit the earnest money into the broker's real estate trust account?
- A. Within 24 hours of receiving the check
- B. Within 72 hours or before the end of the next banking day after written acceptance of the offer ✓
- C. Within five business days of written acceptance
- D. Not until the transaction closes
Why: Title 299 Nebraska Administrative Code, ch. 3, section 007 provides that the selling broker shall deposit the earnest money in the broker's real estate trust account within 72 hours or before the end of the next banking day after an offer is accepted in writing, and then forthwith transfer it to the listing broker. The trust account requirement itself comes from section 81-885.21, Neb. Rev. Stat.
Want more Nebraska-specific questions? Practice the full Nebraska state-law set.
Frequently asked questions
- What score do you need to pass the Nebraska real estate exam?
- You must score at least 75% on each of the two portions. The national/general portion has 80 scored questions, so you need 60 correct, and the Nebraska state law portion has 50 scored questions, so you need 38 correct. The two portions are scored separately, and a strong national result cannot make up for a failing Nebraska law result. Pearson VUE gives a numeric score only to candidates who fail; anyone at 75% or above is simply told PASS. This is set by Neb. Rev. Stat. section 81-885.13(6) and the Pearson VUE Nebraska Real Estate Candidate Handbook #092800 (April 2025).
- Does Nebraska split the real estate exam into a national part and a state part?
- Yes. The Nebraska salesperson and broker exams are both two part tests taken in one Pearson VUE appointment: a national/general portion of 80 scored items with 2.5 hours allowed, and a Nebraska state law portion of 50 scored items with 1.5 hours allowed, for about 4 hours of total testing time. You must pass both parts at 75% each. The handbook also states the exam may include 5 to 10 unscored pretest items that are not counted toward your score. Candidates must be approved by the Nebraska Real Estate Commission and receive an Authorization to Test before they can book, and exams cannot be scheduled by walk in.
- How much does it cost to get a Nebraska real estate salesperson license?
- The Commission charges a $175 license application fee and a $150 examination fee, both paid to the Nebraska Real Estate Commission with the application rather than to Pearson VUE. The original salesperson license fee is $90, and it covers the calendar year in which you are licensed because an initial Nebraska license always expires on December 31 of that year. Each retake costs another $150 and requires reauthorization by the Commission. The fingerprint based criminal background check is run through the Nebraska State Patrol and its fee is paid separately. Fees are non-refundable.
- How many hours of pre-license education does Nebraska require?
- 96 hours, effective January 1, 2026. The total is 90 clock hours in three Commission-approved courses (30 hours Real Estate Principles and Practices, 30 hours Nebraska Real Estate License Law, and one additional 30-hour approved pre-license course) plus the 6-hour Professional Practice and Standards course, Course 0003. Applicants who were not scheduled to sit before January 1, 2026, or whose earlier application expired, must complete the full 96 hours. This is required by Neb. Rev. Stat. section 81-885.13(2) and (5) and confirmed on the Commission's Pre-License Education Requirements page.
- Can you retake just one part of the Nebraska real estate exam?
- Salespersons can. If you pass one portion and fail the other, you may retake only the portion you failed, and you keep credit for the passed portion for three subsequent attempts or six months, or until your one year application expires, whichever comes first. If you do not pass both portions within that window you must take the full exam again and the retention period restarts. Each retake requires a new $150 examination fee paid to the Commission and a fresh authorization before booking with Pearson VUE. Broker candidates must retake the entire examination after any failure. Source: Pearson VUE Nebraska Real Estate Candidate Handbook #092800 (April 2025).
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- Pearson VUE, Nebraska Real Estate License Examinations Candidate Handbook #092800 (April 2025): salesperson and broker exam each has a national portion of 80 scored items in 2.5 hours and a Nebraska state portion of 50 scored items in 1.5 hours, total 4 hours; 5 to 10 pretest items; passing score 75% on each portion; numeric scores reported only to failing candidates; report 30 minutes early; application valid 12 months; a salesperson who fails one portion may retake only that portion for three subsequent attempts or six months; brokers retake the entire exam; exam fee is paid to the NREC, not to Pearson VUE; exam material is not available for review (verified 2026-10-03)
- Nebraska Real Estate Commission, Resident Real Estate Salesperson Information and Checklist (updated June 2026): at least 19 years old; high school diploma or equivalent; 96 hours total (90 clock hours in three approved pre-license courses plus 6-hour Course 0003 Professional Practice Standards); exam score of 75%; current criminal history report; license must be issued within 30 days of passing the exam; application and background report valid for one year; license expires December 31 of the year issued; Course 7000 due within 180 days of being licensed (verified 2026-10-03)
- Nebraska Real Estate Commission, Fee Schedule: license application fee $175.00; license examination fee (per exam) $150.00; examination retake fee $150.00; salesperson original license fee (current year only) $90.00; salesperson renewal fee (2 year) $180.00; transfer fee $50.00; late renewal penalty $25.00 per month (verified 2026-10-03)
- Nebraska Real Estate Commission, Pre-License Education Requirements: salesperson education is 96 hours total, being 90 clock hours in three approved pre-license courses (Real Estate Principles and Practices, Nebraska Real Estate License Law, and one additional approved course) plus 6 clock hours in Professional Practice and Standards (Course 0003); broker track adds 60 clock hours and two years of experience (verified 2026-10-03)
- Nebraska Real Estate Commission, License Renewal: initial Nebraska real estate licenses are issued for a calendar year and expire December 31 of the year issued; subsequent renewals are for a 2-year period; renewal is due on or before November 30; late renewals accrue $25 per month beginning December 1 and the late option closes June 30 of the ensuing year; proof of errors and omissions insurance is required to renew on active status (verified 2026-10-03)
- Nebraska Revised Statute 81-885.13 (Nebraska Real Estate License Act): license not issued to anyone under age 19 (sub. 1(a)); salesperson must complete three approved courses totaling not less than ninety class hours (sub. 2); broker adds sixty class hours and two years of active experience (sub. 3); six class hours of professional practice and standards (sub. 5); within thirty days after passing the examination the applicant must complete all requirements for issuance (sub. 6); fingerprinting and FBI criminal history check through the Nebraska State Patrol (sub. 7); twelve hours of approved course study within 180 days after license issuance, valid four years (sub. 9) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Nebraska Revised Statute 81-885.07: creates the State Real Estate Commission consisting of the Secretary of State, who is chairperson, and six members appointed by the Governor; three appointed members are active licensed brokers (one from each congressional district, five years in the business); the remaining at-large members are one public representative, one licensed salesperson with three years of experience, and one active licensed broker with five years of experience; six-year terms; four members constitute a quorum (verified 2026-10-03)
- Nebraska Revised Statute 81-885.14: application, examination, and reexamination fees are set by the commission within statutory caps; after the original license, renewal is due on or before November 30 of each renewal year and each renewal is for a two-year period; failure to remit cancels the license on December 31; late renewal penalty capped at $25 per month (verified 2026-10-03)
- Nebraska Revised Statute 81-885.51: in each two-year period every licensee must complete twelve hours of approved continuing education activities and six hours of broker-approved training (verified 2026-10-03)
- Nebraska Revised Statute 81-885.21: each broker must maintain a separate real estate trust account for down payments, earnest money deposits, and other trust funds; the commission must be notified of the bank and account name; the commission may examine the account; interest from an interest-bearing trust account may accrue only to qualifying nonprofit housing organizations in Nebraska (verified 2026-10-03)
- Nebraska Revised Statute 81-885.24: unfair trade practices for which the commission may censure, suspend, revoke, or fine a licensee, including failing to account for and remit money belonging to others (sub. 3), commingling a principal's money with the licensee's own (sub. 4), failing to maintain and deposit trust funds in a separate trust account (sub. 5), taking undisclosed compensation (sub. 6), acting for more than one party without knowledge of all parties (sub. 23), failing to deliver a completed copy of a purchase agreement (sub. 20), and offering or entering into a right-to-list home sale agreement (sub. 37) (verified 2026-10-03)
- 299 Nebraska Administrative Code, ch. 3, section 007 (Real Estate Commission rules, Records and Trust Accounts): in a cooperative sale between brokers, unless all parties with an interest in the funds agree otherwise in writing, the selling broker must deposit the earnest money into the broker's real estate trust account within 72 hours or before the end of the next banking day after an offer is accepted in writing, and then forthwith transfer the deposit to the listing broker by a check drawn on the selling broker's trust account (verified 2026-10-03)
- Nebraska Revised Statute 81-885 (Nebraska Real Estate License Act, as amended): sections 81-885 to 81-885.56 are known and cited as the Nebraska Real Estate License Act; 81-885.01 defines broker, associate broker, salesperson, designated broker, and team; 81-885.02 requires a license to act as a broker, associate broker, or salesperson (verified 2026-10-03)
- Exam details are checked against the Nebraska Real Estate Commission (NREC), an agency chaired by the Secretary of State, State of Nebraska and its testing vendor. Always confirm current requirements with the board before your exam.