Arizona Real Estate Exam: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re looking to start a real estate career as an agent in Arizona, you first need to know that it’ll require a lot of hard work and intense training to break into the field. Next, you need to know that the financial and career-wise rewards are boundless if you put in the required effort. 

The first step to becoming a real estate agent in Arizona is sitting for the real estate exam. Passing this exam qualifies you for a real estate license, allowing you to practice legally within the state. To pass this exam, you must learn everything you can and prepare thoroughly.  In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Arizona real estate exam and then some. Here’s a list of what you can expect to gain as you read on:  

• How to schedule the Arizona real estate licensing exam 
• The requirements to register for the exam
• The cost of the exam
• Where you can take the exam 
• What is covered on the exam 
• The difficulty level of the exam 
• Best tips on how to study for the exam 

How to Schedule the Arizona Real Estate Licensing Exam

To schedule the Arizona real estate exam, all aspiring candidates must first meet the following requirements: 

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must complete 90 hours of online or “in-classroom” Real Estate Salesperson pre-licensing education at an approved real estate school in Arizona, with proof.
• You must have an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) issued AZ Fingerprint Clearance Card.
• You must fill out a Disciplinary Action Disclosure Documentation and make a background disclosure in case of any criminal convictions. People currently convicted or have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor offense may not be considered for a license. 
• You must have completed a Contract Writing Course of 6 hours, with a Certificate.

After meeting all the requirements above, you can schedule your exam by visiting the Pearson VUE website. If you’re a first-time user, you must create an account. You’ll be required to provide your Salesperson Education Certificate and two forms of signature identification, one of which has to be a government-issued ID with a photo. 

The Arizona real estate exam fee costs $75. However, candidates must pay an additional fee called the Real Estate Recovery Fund. This brings the total payment to $135, which can be paid via debit cards, credit cards, or vouchers. 

Where Do You Take the Arizona Real Estate License Exam?

Candidates for the Arizona real estate licensing exam are to take their exams at any of the designated Pearson VUE testing centers in the state. These locations are as follows:

• Flagstaff
• Holbrook
• Kingman
• Lake Havasu City
• Phoenix
• Show Low
• Tucson
• Yuma
• Luke Air Force Base
• Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
• Fort Huachuca.

Can You Take the Exam Online?

No, the Arizona real estate exam cannot be taken online. All candidates must present themselves at any designated testing centers, where they will be supervised for the exam duration. Therefore, when applying for the exam, choosing a testing center in any of the aforementioned locations nearest to you is advisable.

What to Bring on the Day of Your Exam

Candidates are expected to bring the following items along on the day of their Arizona real estate exams:

• Two forms of identification. The primary ID must be government-issued and contain the candidate’s photo and signature, and the secondary ID must contain a valid signature. Examples of acceptable IDs include: 
• Government-issued driver’s license
• U.S. Department of State Driver’s License
• U.S. Learner’s Permit
• National/State/Country Identification Card 
• Passport
• Passport card 
• Green card, 
• U.S. social security card
• Debit or credit card
• Pre-licensing education certificate
• Basic (non-scientific) calculator

What is on the Arizona Real Estate Exam?

The Arizona real estate exam is a single exam that consists of the following topics:

• Real Estate Statutes – 18 Questions
• Commissioner’s Rules – 14 Questions
• Agency Relationships & Managerial Duties – 13 Questions
• Contracts And Contract Law – 10 Questions
• Property Interests, Estates & Tenancies – 11 Questions
• Government Rights In Real Property – 5 Questions
• Income Tax Aspects Of Real Estate – 2 Questions
• Arizona Water Law – 6 Questions
• Environmental Law – 6 Questions
• Land Descriptions – 5 Questions
• Land Development – 3 Questions
• Encumbrances – 4 Questions
• Acquisitions/Transfer Of Title – 7 Questions
• Escrow And Settlement – 4 Questions
• Xv. Fair Housing & Ada – 4 Questions
• Leases & Leasehold Estates – 8 Questions
• Arizona Residential Landlord Tenant Act – 6 Questions
• Property Management – 7 Questions
• Property Insurance & Warranties – 2 Questions
• Appraisal – 4 Questions
• Primary & Secondary Markets/Financing Concepts – 5 Questions
• Residential & Commercial Financing – 5 Questions
• Financing Documents – 4 Questions
• Deed Of Trust Foreclosure – 6 Questions
• Disclosure & Consumer Protection – 7 Questions
• Math Calculations – 12 Questions
• Cooperative Nature Of Real Estate – 2 Questions

Will There Be Math on the Exam?

Yes, there will be math on the Arizona real estate licensing exam. These math questions will be related to basic math concepts such as Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratios, down payment/amount to be financed, discount points, property tax calculations, seller’s proceeds of sale, commission splits, and prorations. 

Typically, these math problems could be challenging and time-consuming to answer. Therefore, it is best to save these questions for later while addressing others unless the answers are obvious. This allows you to answer more questions and maximize your allotted time. 

Candidates may use the following information in making mathematical calculations on the real estate examinations unless otherwise stated in the text of the question:

• 43,560 square feet/acre
• 5,280 feet/mile
• Round off calculations (where applicable)

Is the Arizona Real Estate Exam Hard?

The Arizona real estate exam is considerably, but not extremely hard. Upon follow-up after the exam, most of the candidates did not consider the exam to be easy. However, no matter how difficult it might be, you can greatly improve your chances of passing it by putting serious effort into your exam preparation, both during and after the pre-licensing education.  

How Many Questions Are on the Arizona Real Estate Exam?

The Arizona real estate salesperson exam has a total of 180 questions. Candidates are given 300 minutes (5 hours) to complete the exam.

Note that there will be 15 pre-test questions specific to the practice of Real Estate in Arizona. These questions are developed by Pearson VUE to collect statistical information on the exam and develop future examinations. The questions will not be identified or scored, but candidates will have to answer them within the allocated examination time. 

The passing score for this exam is 75%, implying that you need to get 75% of the questions correctly to pass. However, due to the varying difficulty of each exam, Pearson VUE adopts a statistical procedure known as equating to correct the differences in difficulty in each content area of the exam. 

What is the Passing Rate for the Real Estate Exam in Arizona?

The passing rate for the real estate exam in Arizona hovers between 60% and 75% for first-time takers. This implies that if 1,000 candidates sit for the exam yearly, between 600 and 750 will pass the exam. 

It is important to note that passing rates vary yearly and may be influenced by factors such as exam difficulty level, exam content, and a candidate’s preparation level. Therefore, to give yourself a better chance of passing, you must prepare for the exam thoroughly. 

How Many Times Can You Take the Real Estate Exam?

There is no limit on how many times you can retake the real estate exam in Arizona. This means that you can take it as many times as you need to get a passing score within one year before the date of your license application. You are required to wait 24 hours after a previous test before scheduling another one. Each attempt to take the exam will cost you $75.

If you happen to fail the exam twice, Arizona will grant you a one-time opportunity for an exam review. This gives you 30 minutes to review all the questions you answered incorrectly in the previous exam. You must schedule this one-time exam review within 14 days of failing the exam that you wish to review, and it must occur before scheduling another exam. 

How to Pass the Arizona Real Estate Exam

To pass the Arizona real estate licensing exam, candidates must thoroughly study and understand real estate principles, laws, and regulations. While this knowledge is primarily attained during pre-licensing education, there are other means of learning, such as regular practice with real estate practice questions. 

If you have your Arizona real estate exam coming up soon, here are four effective study tools that you can adopt in your preparation to increase your chances of passing: 

Create a Study Schedule 

It is important to create a study schedule to balance your study sessions with other daily activities when getting ready for an exam. Study schedules help you achieve optimal time management during exam preparation, ensuring that every single minute of your time is spent effectively.  

When drafting your study schedule, you should consider important factors such as: 

• Your current commitments
• Your learning style
• How much ground you have to cover for the exam
• How much time you have to prepare for the exam 

To create a healthy study schedule for your Arizona real estate exam, keep the following in mind:

• Set your study time to periods of the day when you are less busy or distracted, such as early in the morning and late at night. We recommend studying for a little bit every night or at least every other night
• Create a scale of preference to rank the real estate topics you need to cover in order of difficulty and priority
• Input frequent breaks into your study schedule to prevent fatigue 

Use Acronyms and Mnemonic Devices

Acronyms and mnemonic devices are memory aids that break down complex information into smaller and simpler chunks that are easier for the brain to process and remember. Acronyms work by forming a word with the first letters of each word in a phrase, thereby making the phrase easier to remember. For example, a good acronym in real estate is REIT, which stands for Real Estate Investment Trust. 

Mnemonic devices work by associating information with something that can be easily related. A good mnemonic device detailing a property's four essential characteristics to have value would be “Don’t Utter Silly Things.”

• Don’t for Demand
• Utter for Utility
• Silly for Scarcity
• Things for Transferability

Join a Study Group 

Another effective strategy to implement when studying for your Arizona real estate exam is to join a study group. Doing this will improve your learning process and experience and greatly increase your chances of success. Here are some of the benefits of joining a study group:

• It provides you with people to be accountable to about your studying, helping you to be more intentional 
• It can boost your motivation, born out of healthy competition 
• Promotes deeper understanding and retention of material, thanks to active discussions and sharing of resources and ideas between you and other group members

Get Guided Help

Due to the mandatory 90-hour pre-licensing education, studying for the Arizona real estate exam may be challenging without any external help. It is, therefore, advisable to hire assistance from a government-approved real estate school in Arizona. Ideally, the better the education provider you choose, the greater your chances of performing well on the exam. 

Our real estate school has real estate professionals with years of experience that qualify them to tutor and guide you through the complexities of studying for the exam. We provide the following helpful materials at a very affordable price when you enroll in our exam prep course:

• 1,500 Arizona real estate exam practice questions
• Customizable practice state exams
• Vocabulary flashcards
• Video explanations
• E-book study guide

Final Thoughts on the Real Estate Exam in Arizona

The Arizona real estate exam is important in becoming a licensed real estate professional. Passing this exam requires careful preparation and a solid understanding of real estate concepts and practices. To increase your chances of succeeding on this exam, follow the tips above and enroll in a reputable real estate school.