The Arkansas real estate salesperson exam is administered by Pearson VUE and regulated by the Arkansas Real Estate Commission (AREC). It has 110 scored items plus 15 unscored pretest items: 80 General scored items plus 5 unscored General pretest items, and 30 Arkansas State scored items plus 10 unscored State pretest items. The combined examination has a 4-hour (240-minute) time limit.

Step 1: Complete the 60-Hour Pre-License Requirement

Arkansas requires 60 classroom hours of AREC-approved pre-license education, including 30 hours in basic real estate principles. Your coursework will cover:

Real estate principles and practices

Arkansas real estate law

Agency relationships and contracts

Real estate math and finance

Before exam eligibility is issued, AREC must receive the required education documentation and required state and federal criminal background-check materials with your application. AREC then issues authorization to test; after that authorization, you register for the examination through Pearson VUE.

Arkansas residents should wait for AREC authorization before fingerprints are taken. The federal background check uses digital fingerprints.

Step 2: Know the Exam Format

General Portion: 80 scored items plus 5 unscored General pretest items

Arkansas State Portion: 30 scored items plus 10 unscored State pretest items

Total: 110 scored items plus 15 unscored pretest items

Time Limit: 4 hours (240 minutes)

Passing Score: Scaled score of 70 on each portion

Exam Fee: $75 when both salesperson components are reserved together for the same appointment; $75 per component when reserved separately

Administered By: Pearson VUE

You must pass both portions independently. If you pass one portion and fail the other, you may retake only the failed portion within six months. If both portions are not passed within six months, you must retake the entire examination. You must wait 24 hours before making a reexamination reservation.

Step 3: Master the National Content Areas

The national portion (80 scored items) covers topics tested in every state:

Property Ownership and Land Use Controls

Forms of Ownership and Transfer of Title

Property Valuation and Appraisal

Financing and Settlement

Agency Relationships and Fiduciary Duties

Contracts and Purchase Agreements

Fair Housing and Civil Rights

Real Estate Math (calculations appear throughout multiple sections)

Step 4: Focus on Arkansas-Specific Content

The Arkansas State portion has 30 scored items plus 10 unscored State pretest items. Source-backed Arkansas topics include:

AREC authority, licensing requirements, and broker responsibilities

Agency relationships, required disclosures, and dual-agency consent

Handling of funds, trust accounts, and disbursement of trust funds

Investigations, hearings, sanctions, and the Recovery Fund

Advertising and other statutory requirements governing licensee activities

Step 5: Build Your Study Plan

Week 1: National Content

Study property ownership, financing, valuation, and real estate math. Complete at least 150 practice questions covering these national topics.

Week 2: Agency, Contracts, and Fair Housing

Focus on agency relationships, contract law, purchase agreements, and fair housing. These topics are heavily weighted on the national portion.

Week 3: Arkansas State Law

Dedicate this week to Arkansas-specific content including AREC authority and licensing, agency disclosures, trust accounts and funds handling, advertising, and disciplinary powers.

Week 4: Practice Exams and Review

Take 3-4 full-length timed practice exams under realistic conditions. Review every wrong answer and focus on weak areas.

Step 6: Study Strategies That Work

Use practice questions from day one. Active recall — testing yourself on material — is the most effective study technique. Do not spend all your time reading; spend most of your time answering questions. Focus on weak areas. Track your performance by topic and spend extra time on areas where you fall below the scaled passing standard. It is tempting to study topics you already know well, but that wastes time. Learn the math. Real estate math questions follow predictable patterns: commissions, prorations, loan-to-value ratios, area calculations, and capitalization rates. Practice at least 10 math problems every day. Study the Candidate Handbook. Pearson VUE publishes the Candidate Handbook for the Arkansas exam. It explains the tested content and exam procedures, so use it as your study roadmap.

Step 7: Exam Day Preparation

After receiving AREC authorization to test, schedule your exam through the Pearson VUE Arkansas Real Estate page. Locations and schedules can change, so use Pearson VUE's current testing-center information when choosing a site.

What to bring:

Two forms of current, unexpired signature identification; the primary ID must be government-issued and photo-bearing

Name on IDs must match your exam registration exactly

What to expect:

Arrive 30 minutes early

The test center provides materials for notes or calculations; personal scratch paper and other prohibited materials are not permitted

Leave the test center with your official score report

After passing, submit the required application materials and fees to AREC within 90 days. For active salesperson practice, affiliate with a sponsoring executive/principal broker.

Start your Arkansas exam prep today with Click2CE — practice questions mapped to the AREC Candidate Handbook, AI Tutor, and a money-back pass guarantee.

How to Pass the Arkansas Real Estate Exam in 2026