ARArkansas

Real estate exam prep

At a glance

The exam, in numbers.

Questions: 110 multiple-choice (80 national + 30 state)
Time: 240 minutes (4 hours)
Passing score: 70% on EACH section (56/80 national AND 21/30 state), scored independently
Pre-license education: 60 hours, AREC-approved
License type: Real Estate Salesperson (entry-level; brokers take a separate exam)
Administered by: Pearson VUE on behalf of AREC
Format: computer-based testing at Pearson VUE centers across Arkansas
Result: issued at the testing center; pass/fail per section with numeric score per section
Exam fee: $75 per attempt, paid to PSI at scheduling
Retake wait: none; reschedule with PSI as soon as a slot is available
Score validity: a passed section stays valid for 6 months while you retake the other
Sponsorship: an AREC-licensed broker (Principal Broker) must employ the salesperson before the license issues

Arkansas real estate exam: format, score, what to expect in 2026

Arkansas's residential property disclosure framework operates under a more exemption-heavy structure than most state disclosure regimes. The Arkansas Real Estate Commission requires sellers to deliver a Property Disclosure form for most residential transfers, but the statutory exemptions are broad enough that practicing licensees often field questions about whether a specific transfer falls within or outside the disclosure requirement. Estate transfers, trustee-administered transfers, transfers between co-owners, transfers under court orders, and several other categories sit outside the disclosure regime, and the licensee's role in identifying which exemption applies in a given transaction is testable on the state exam. Combined with a 30-item state portion (smaller than the typical 40), each Arkansas-specific exam question carries proportionally more weight per item than candidates studying from generic 40-item-state-portion materials may anticipate.

The exam is administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Arkansas Real Estate Commission (AREC). The format is 110 multiple-choice questions over 240 minutes, scored as 80 national + 30 state. The passing standard is 70% on each section, scored independently (you need 56 correct of 80 national items AND 21 correct of 30 state items).

This guide walks through the AREC content outline, how to study for the exemption-heavy disclosure regime and the small state portion, and what exam day looks like at a Pearson VUE center.

Written by

Chris Reese

May 9, 2026

§ 01 What's tested

Arkansas runs the exam in two scored sections, with the national portion (80 items) covering general real estate principles and the state portion (30 items) covering Arkansas-specific licensing law and regulations. The state portion is anchored on Arkansas Code Annotated Title 17 Chapter 42 and the AREC Rules and Regulations.

National portion (80 scored items)

The national portion follows the Pearson VUE national real estate outline. Topic areas: real property characteristics, ownership and title, value and appraisal, contracts and agency, real estate practice, disclosures and environmental issues, financing and settlement, and math. Arkansas candidates should know the state operates under a title-theory model with deeds of trust commonly used as the security instrument, and the Arkansas Property Disclosure form layers on top of national disclosure content with state-specific exemption rules.

State portion (30 scored items)

The state portion is anchored on Ark. Code Title 17 Chapter 42 and AREC's Rules and Regulations. The major topic areas:

License Law and AREC. Title 17 Chapter 42, AREC's structure and powers, the Salesperson / Broker / Principal Broker tier framework, license issuance and renewal, continuing education requirements, and the standards for license suspension and revocation.
Agency in Arkansas. Arkansas recognizes single agency, dual agency (with informed written consent), and limited consensual dual agency. The Agency Disclosure must be presented to a buyer or seller at the first practical opportunity. The exam tests the disclosure timing and the duties owed under each relationship.
Arkansas Property Disclosure Act. AREC requires the seller to deliver a Property Disclosure form for most residential transfers. Statutory exemptions include estate transfers, trustee-administered transfers, transfers between co-owners, court-ordered transfers, and other categories. The exam tests scenarios where the licensee has to identify whether the exemption applies.
Trust accounts under AREC supervision. Arkansas's trust account rules require the Principal Broker to maintain a separate trust account at an Arkansas-chartered or federally chartered insured institution, with specific deposit-timing requirements under AREC's Rules.
Arkansas fair housing. Federal Fair Housing layered with the Arkansas Fair Housing Act (Ark. Code Title 16 Chapter 123).

Standout state-specific content

Two Arkansas content areas almost always confuse candidates who studied from generic national materials:

The exemption-heavy Property Disclosure Act framework. Arkansas's exemption list is broader than many states', and the licensee's role in identifying which transfer falls within or outside the disclosure regime is testable in scenario form. Candidates who studied a generic "Disclosure required" mental model from out-of-state materials miss the Arkansas-specific exemption questions.
The 30-item state portion's per-item weight. 30 items at 70% means 21 correct is the threshold, and any 9 missed items risks the section. Skimming any single Arkansas-specific topic costs proportionally more than in 40-item state portions.

§ 03 How to study

Arkansas's 60-hour pre-license course covers the national and state outlines, but the exam tests applied judgment in scenario questions that pull from Title 17 Chapter 42, the Property Disclosure Act exemption rules, and the trust account compliance requirements simultaneously.

What works in Arkansas is volume on practice questions tied to both the national and state outlines, with extra reps on the Property Disclosure Act exemption scenarios, the Agency Disclosure timing, and the trust account mechanics. Most who pass have worked through somewhere in the low thousands of practice questions before sitting.

Passd's Arkansas question bank is organized by both national and state content areas, with per-area accuracy tracked so you know whether your weak spot is Property Disclosure exemptions, agency disclosure, trust accounts, or finance before booking the exam. Your Passd Score updates as you answer and gives a single read on whether the test is in reach yet. Tier details are on the pricing page.

A few specific things help in Arkansas:

Memorize the Property Disclosure Act exemption list. AREC publishes the exemptions. Knowing which transfers are exempt versus required is testable in scenario form.
Read the Agency Disclosure form. AREC publishes it. The first-practical-opportunity timing rule is testable.
Plan for 4 hours of focused work. The Arkansas exam is on the longer side relative to its 110-question count, which gives generous pacing if used wisely.

§ 04 What to expect on exam day

The Arkansas salesperson exam is administered at Pearson VUE testing centers across Arkansas (Little Rock, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, and additional locations). You schedule directly through Pearson VUE after AREC has approved your pre-license course completion and authorized you to test.

On exam day:

Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment. Late arrivals can be turned away.
Bring two forms of valid signature identification, one of them government-issued with photo (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID). Names must match the AREC application.
Personal items go in a locker. Phones, smart watches, study materials, food, and bound notes stay outside the testing room.
Calculators are permitted with restrictions: silent, battery-operated, non-printing, and without an alphabetic keypad.
The exam is closed-book.

Results print at the testing center after the exam, showing pass or fail per section plus your numeric score on each. Candidates who pass move into the licensure phase: AREC application, Principal Broker employment confirmation, fingerprint and background check, and the license fee. Candidates who fail one section can retake just that section, paying the per-section fee.

§ 05 Common mistakes

Arkansas candidates who fail the exam tend to fail in a handful of specific ways:

Missing Property Disclosure exemptions. AREC's exemption-heavy disclosure framework is testable in detail. Candidates who studied a generic disclosure model miss the Arkansas-specific exemption scenarios.
Underestimating the small state portion's per-item weight. 30 items at 70% leaves narrow margin. Skimming any topic loses recoverable points fast.
Missing the Agency Disclosure timing. The form must be presented at the first practical opportunity. Late delivery is testable misconduct.
Confusing dual agency with limited consensual dual agency. Arkansas recognizes both, with different consent rules. The exam tests the distinctions.
Skipping the Arkansas Fair Housing Act overlay. State-level protections layer on the federal Fair Housing Act with Arkansas-specific enforcement mechanisms.
Showing up without an unexpired ID or with a name mismatch. Pearson VUE turns candidates away for ID problems.

§ 02 Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the Arkansas real estate salesperson exam?

110 multiple-choice questions: 80 on the national portion and 30 on the Arkansas state portion.

How is the exam scored?

70% required on EACH section, scored independently. You need 56 correct of 80 national items AND 21 correct of 30 state items.

How long is the exam?

240 minutes (4 hours) total.

Where do I take the exam?

At a Pearson VUE testing center in Arkansas (Little Rock, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, and additional locations).

What pre-license education do I need before the exam?

60 hours of AREC-approved coursework, completed at an approved school before submitting the salesperson application.

Why does Arkansas have so many disclosure exemptions?

The Arkansas Property Disclosure Act exempts categories of transfers (estate, trustee-administered, court-ordered, between co-owners, and others) where the legislature determined that a seller's affirmative disclosure obligation isn't appropriate. The licensee's role is to identify which exemption applies in a given transaction.

Can I retake just the section I failed?

Yes. Pearson VUE allows retakes of the failed section only, with a per-section fee.

What's the difference between the salesperson exam and the broker exam in Arkansas?

The salesperson exam is the entry-level credential, with a 60-hour pre-license requirement and the 110-question / 80+30 split. The Arkansas broker exam requires additional pre-license education and prior salesperson experience, plus a separate exam covering brokerage operations, supervisory responsibilities, and trust account compliance at depth. Most candidates pursuing the broker license have already practiced as a salesperson for the AREC-required minimum experience period.

Does Arkansas allow online proctoring for the exam?

Pearson VUE's online proctored option is offered in some PSI/Pearson VUE jurisdictions but availability for the Arkansas salesperson exam should be confirmed with Pearson VUE at scheduling time. The traditional in-person testing center option is the primary delivery mode, with major Arkansas centers in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, and Jonesboro.

How long is my passing score valid for licensure in Arkansas?

AREC publishes a specific window for filing the salesperson application after a passing score, typically running from the exam date. Confirm the current window with AREC before delaying the application; rules can shift, and a passing score that expires before the application is filed means retaking the exam.

How much is the Arkansas exam fee?

$75 per attempt, paid to PSI when you schedule. Each retake is the same amount.

How long must I wait between retakes?

There's no statutory waiting period in Arkansas. You can reschedule with PSI as soon as a slot is available.

Ready to see how prepared you are?

The Passd diagnostic is 20 questions across every major topic, and shows your Arkansas-specific Passd Score plus which AREC content areas need work. Free, no credit card.

Start the Arkansas diagnostic