Educational Resources: Take Arkansas Real Estate Sample Tests, Application Steps and Tips

With a median price for housing of $80,104 up to $363,855 and a median gross rent of $846, many individuals and families are finding Arkansas a fine location to purchase property and settle in. This means more opportunities for real estate agents to find success in this field.

Real Estate Exam Insight

After completing the pre-licensing education, you can then register to take the mandatory Arkansas real estate exam. This computer-based exam is administered by Pearson VUE.¹

How do you schedule the exam?

Well, upon submitting all required information for the application AREC will then mail your Certificate of Examination Eligibility within 1 to 2 weeks of application processing. This certificate allows you to contact Pearson VUE to schedule the licensing exam.

You have 3 years from the date you receive your Exam Eligibility Certificate to pass the exam before needing to retake pre-licensing courses.

Candidates can schedule the exam date online through the Pearson VUE website or by calling 1-888-288-6217 after which they will receive a copy of the Candidate Fact Sheet with additional information.^1,2

When booking your test time, you’ll need to create an account and pay the $75 exam fee directly to Pearson VUE using a credit card, debit card, electronic check, or voucher.

Exam Fees:

• The exam fee is $75 per attempt

Exam Format:

• National Section (80 questions): This section covers general real estate concepts
• State Section (30 questions): This section tests applicants’ knowledge of Arkansas real estate laws

Time Limit: You have a total of 240 minutes (4 hours) to complete the entire exam

Passing Scores:

You must score at least 70% on each section to pass.

• National: Candidates must answer 56 of 80 questions correctly
• State: Candidates must answer 21 of 30 questions correctly

First-time pass rates for the Arkansas real estate exam average around 50 to 60%.

Exam Day:

On exam day, bring the following items to the Pearson VUE test center:

• Two valid forms of current ID (one government-issued with photo and signature)
• Your pre-licensing education completion certificate
• Your Exam Eligibility Certificate from AREC

You will not be allowed to take the test and will consequently lose your $75 if you lack any required documentation.

Major Content Areas Tested

• General Knowledge

This section covers universal real estate concepts including:

• Real property characteristics, legal descriptions, and property use (9 items)
• Forms of ownership, transfer, and recording of title (8 items)
• Property value and appraisal (11 items)
• Real estate contracts and agency (16 items)
• Real estate practice (14 items)
• Property disclosures and environmental issues (8 items)
• Financing and settlement (7 items)
• Real estate math calculations (7 items)

Sample Question:

Which of the following is an example of an encumbrance on a property?

A. A mortgage lien
B. A lease agreement
C. A restrictive covenant
D. All of the above

The correct answer is D. All of the above.

Lifted from Free Arkansas Real Estate Practice Exam Questions (November 2023) 30+³

• Arkansas State Specific

This section covers Arkansas licensing laws and regulations.

• Duties and powers of the real estate commission (4 items)
• Licensing requirements (2 items)
• Statutory requirements governing the activities of licensees (14 items)
• Other statutory requirements (2 items)
• Agency relationships and disclosures (8 items)

Sample Question:

What is the maximum amount of commission that the Arkansas Real Estate Commission can charge for each real estate transaction in the state?

A. $10
B. $20
C. $30
D. None of the above

The correct answer is D.

Lifted from Free Arkansas Real Estate Practice Exam Questions (November 2023) 30+³

Results are provided immediately after testing. If you fail, you will get a diagnostic report showing your strengths and weaknesses to guide your study before retaking the exam.

You can reschedule a failed exam after 24 hours.

If you only fail one section, you have unlimited retries on just that section within 6 months. However, frequent exam failure signals a weak understanding of the content.

Slow down and strengthen your knowledge before reattempting.

Be sure to study your pre-licensing materials, sample exams, and state laws to score well. Schedule testing only once you consistently score 70% or higher on practice exams.

The Pearson VUE Arkansas Real Estate Candidate Handbook can guide your practice and provide more information on the exam.²

How To Apply for an Arkansas Real Estate Commission License in 5 Steps

Unlike other states that require passing the exam first, in Arkansas you must submit your license application to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission (AREC) before taking the exam.

To apply for an Arkansas real estate license:

1. Complete and submit the Application for Real Estate License Examination and Criminal Background Check (CBC) Identity Verification Form to the AREC.^4,5 Include the application fee, and state and FBI background check fees totaling $86.25.
2. Wait 5-10 business days for the AREC to process your application and background checks. You will receive an Exam Eligibility Certificate in the mail.
3. Schedule and pass the Arkansas real estate licensing exam through Pearson VUE within 1 year. Bring your Exam Eligibility Certificate from the AREC to the test center.
4. Within 90 days after passing the exam, submit your Exam Score Report from Pearson VUE, $50 licensing fee, $25 Arkansas Real Estate Recovery Fund fee, and sign a Post-Licensing Notice to the AREC. Failing to meet the 90-day deadline voids your exam results and you’ll have to retake the full exam and repay fees.
5. Take 18 hours of AREC-approved post-licensing education within 6 months of receiving your license.⁶ Find a sponsoring broker to activate your license.

The 18 hours of post-licensing education reinforces what you learned in pre-licensing courses. Post-licensing education focuses on practical concepts like contracts, brokerage procedures, and agency relationships.

You can take post-licensing courses from any AREC-approved provider. Some pre-licensing packages include post-licensing tuition.

Expect to pay $100 to $300 depending on where you take the classes.

Arkansas requires new real estate agents to work under a sponsoring broker. The sponsoring broker must also complete the License Activation Form once you affiliate with them.

To start practicing real estate, submit the broker-signed License Activation Form and $75 activation fee. This gets your license switched from “inactive” to “active” status.

Now you can legally represent buyers and sellers in real estate transactions as an Arkansas real estate salesperson!

Financial Requirements for Arkansas Real Estate Commission Membership

Becoming a licensed real estate agent in Arkansas requires paying various licensing fees and costs. Typical expenses include:

• $200 to $425 for Pre-licensing course tuition
• $25 to $150 for Exam prep materials (optional)
• $75 for the State exam fee
• Less than $50 Fingerprinting fee
• $36.25 Background check fees
• $86.25 Application fee

In total, expect to invest around $500 to $740 to cover the costs of getting your Arkansas real estate license.

After obtaining your license, you’ll also need to pay costs like:

• $200 to $275 for Post-licensing education courses
• $80 for the annual license renewal fee
• Over $600 per year in realtor® Association dues if you opt to join

It is important to note that all the fees and dues paid to the AREC are non-refundable. That said, Arkansas Realty Commission offers fee waivers and discounts to aspiring agent applicants who; receive government assistance like Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF; become recently unemployed, or have low income below 200% of federal poverty guidelines.⁷

Military members, veterans, and their spouses may also qualify for waived licensing fees or expedited application processing. Contact the AREC for details on financial help.

Membership Application for the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) (Non-Compulsory)

All Arkansas real estate agents have the liberty to join the ARA and National Association of Realtors® (NAR).⁸

To become a NAR member:

• Find and join a local chapter near you
• Take the NAR Code of Ethics training
• Submit a membership application with ARA and NAR dues

Here are some top benefits of membership:

• Ability to use the term “realtor®” to identify as a NAR member
• Networking, training, and advocacy through the Arkansas Realtors® Association (ARA) chapters⁹
• Access to the multiple listing service (MLS) to list properties
• Industry news and resources
• Discounts on tools, insurance, and services

First-year membership dues are around $750 locally and $150 nationally. Renewal dues run $500+ annually.

Weigh the costs against the invaluable advantages of joining your local, state, and national realtor® associations.

What’s the Duration of the Real Estate Application Procedure?

The time it takes to become a licensed real estate agent in Arkansas varies depending on how quickly you complete the required steps. Here is the typical timeline:

• Two to 8 weeks: Finish pre-licensing education courses. Taking online classes online accelerates this step.
• One to 2 weeks: Schedule your licensing exam date with Pearson VUE after getting AREC approval.
• One to 4 weeks: For the AREC to process your license application, background checks, and exam results.
• Two to 4 weeks: To interview brokers and find one to sponsor your license.

You can expedite the process by taking your pre-licensing completely online, scheduling your exam immediately, and interviewing potential brokerages while waiting on exam results.

In total, expect the licensing process to take 4 to 6 months from start to finish. However, by working diligently, you could obtain your Arkansas real estate license in as little as 6-8 weeks.

The key is avoiding delays by satisfying requirements efficiently. For example, you can do your pre-licensing education and line up broker interviews at the same time.

This parallel effort helps you activate your license the day it’s approved rather than leaving it idle.