Idaho
Real Estate
Candidate Handbook
July 2024
Exam
Reservations
page 4
Quick
Reference
inside front
cover
Table of
Contents
page iii
Exam Day:
What to Bring
page 7
Test Center
Locations
back cover
#091300 | 07/2024
QUICK REFERENCE
RESERVATIONS
Before making an exam reservation
Candidates should thoroughly review this handbook, which contains
examination content outlines and important information regarding
eligibility and the examination and licensing application process.
Making an exam reservation
Candidates may make a reservation by either visiting
www.pearsonvue.com or calling Pearson VUE.
Candidates should make a reservation online at least twenty-four (24)
hours before the desired examination date. Walk-in examinations
are not available. Use your full legal name.
SCHEDULES & FEES
Test centers
A list of test centers appears on the back cover of this handbook.
Candidates should contact Pearson VUE to conrm specic locations
and schedules.
Exam fees
The examination fee must be paid at the time of reservation by credit
card, debit card, or voucher. Payment will not be accepted at
the test center. Examination fees are non-refundable and non-
transferable except as detailed in the Change/Cancel Policy.
EXAM DAY
What to bring to the exam
Candidates should bring to the examination the conrmation number
they received when they made the examination reservation, proper
identication, and other materials listed in What to Bring (page 7).
Exam procedures
Candidates should report to the test center at least thirty (30) minutes
before the examination begins. Each candidate will have four (4) hours
to complete the examination, and will leave the test center with an
ocial score report in hand.
FINGERPRINTS
Idaho requires all license candidates to submit ngerprints for a
background check.
STATE LICENSING
INFORMATION
Candidates should contact the
Idaho Real Estate Commission
with questions about obtaining or
maintaining a license after passing
the examination.
For the application forms
directory, see the inside back
cover.
Idaho Real Estate Commission
11341 W Chinden Blvd.
Building 4
Boise, ID 83714
Phone
(208) 334-3285
Web
dopl.idaho.gov
EXAMINATION INFORMATION
Candidates may contact Pearson
VUE with questions about this
handbook or about an upcoming
examination.
Pearson VUE/Idaho Real Estate
5601 Green Valley Dr.
Bloomington, MN 55437
Phone
(877) 540-5833
Email
pearsonvuecustomerservice@
pearson.com
Web
www.pearsonvue.com
Copyright © 2024 Pearson Education, Inc. or its aliate(s). All Rights Reserved.
Idaho Real Estate iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 2
Contact Information ......................................................................................................................................2
Licensure Process ..........................................................................................................................................2
Idaho Real Estate Licensing Requirements ................................................................................................2
Practice Tests – National/General Portion Only ......................................................................................... 3
RESERVATIONS ...............................................................................................................................4
Making a Reservation ....................................................................................................................................4
Exam Fees .......................................................................................................................................................4
Change/Cancel Policy ....................................................................................................................................4
Absence/Lateness Policy ............................................................................................................................... 5
Weather Delays and Cancellations ..............................................................................................................5
Accommodations ...........................................................................................................................................5
Non-Saturday Reservations .......................................................................................................................... 6
Fingerprint Reservations ............................................................................................................................... 6
EXAM DAY .......................................................................................................................................7
What to Bring .................................................................................................................................................7
Exam Procedures ...........................................................................................................................................8
Score Reporting..............................................................................................................................................8
Retaking the Exam .........................................................................................................................................8
Review of Exams ............................................................................................................................................8
Score Explanation ..........................................................................................................................................9
Duplicate Score Reports ...............................................................................................................................9
Test Center Policies .....................................................................................................................................10
PREPARING FOR THE EXAM .........................................................................................................11
Exam Content ...............................................................................................................................................11
Math Calculations ........................................................................................................................................11
CONTENT OUTLINES ............................................................................................ OUTLINES 01-12
IDAHO REAL ESTATE LICENSING FORMS DIRECTORY...............................................................13
Fingerprints ..................................................................................................................................................13
Salesperson License ....................................................................................................................................13
Associate Broker License ............................................................................................................................13
Designated Broker License .........................................................................................................................13
GENERAL INFORMATION .............................................................................................................14
Pearson VUE Holiday Schedule ..................................................................................................................14
Idaho Real Estate 1
OVERVIEW
The candidate handbook is a useful tool in preparing for an examination.
It is highly recommended that the Idaho Real Estate Candidate Handbook be reviewed, with special attention
given to the content outlines, before taking the examination.
Individuals who wish to obtain a real estate license must:
1. Complete prelicensing education requirements.
Before applying for a license, candidates must complete all prelicensing education requirements.
2. Make an exam reservation and pay the examination fee.
Make a reservation (online or by phone) with Pearson VUE for the examination. (See page 4.) Use your full
legal name. Be sure to select the correct license type when making your ngerprint reservations to
avoid delays in receiving your results.
3. Make a fingerprint reservation and pay the fingerprint fee.
Make a reservation online at https://home.pearsonvue.com/id/realestate.
4. Go to the test center.
Go to the test center on the day of the examination, bringing along all required materials. (See page 7.)
5. Pass both portions of the exam and complete the fingerprinting process.
6. Verify fingerprint approval through the Idaho Real Estate
Commission online services. No notice will be sent.
7. Apply for a license.
After passing the examination and after ngerprints have been approved, candidates must submit their
application forms and fees to the Idaho Real Estate Commission in accordance with Idaho license law and
policies.
2 Idaho Real Estate
INTRODUCTION
CONTACT INFORMATION
Candidates may contact Pearson VUE with questions about this handbook or an examination.
Pearson VUE/Idaho Real Estate
5601 Green Valley Dr., Bloomington, MN 55437
Live Chat is available to address your support inquiries and is the quickest way to reach a customer service
agent. It’s available from 8:00 AM through 5:00 PM Central Time, Monday through Friday, subject to change
during locally designated holidays.
Please visit www.pearsonvue.com/id/realestate/contact for further information.
Candidates may contact the Idaho Real Estate Commission with questions about obtaining or maintaining a
license.
Idaho Real Estate Commission
11341 W Chinden Blvd., Building 4
Boise, ID 83714
Phone: (208) 334-3285 Website: dopl.idaho.gov
LICENSURE PROCESS
Licensure is the process by which an agency of state government or other jurisdiction grants permission to
individuals to engage in the practice of, and prohibits all others from legally practicing, a particular profession,
vocation, or occupation. By ensuring a minimum level of competence, the licensure process protects the general
public. The state regulatory agency is responsible for establishing the acceptable level of safe practice and for
determining whether an individual meets that standard.
The State of Idaho has retained the services of Pearson VUE to develop and administer its real estate examina-
tion program. Pearson VUE is a leading provider of assessment services to regulatory agencies and national
associations.
IDAHO REAL ESTATE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
The Idaho Real Estate Commission has established the requirements for a salesperson or broker license.
Applicants should read this candidate handbook and any other information provided by the Idaho Real Estate
Commission before applying for any licensing examination. A list of license application forms is included on the
inside back cover of this handbook.
Idaho Real Estate 3
PRACTICE TESTS – NATIONAL/GENERAL PORTION ONLY
General-portion practice tests are offered exclusively online at www.pearsonvue.com, giving candidates even
more opportunity to succeed on real estate examinations. The general-portion practice tests will not only help
prepare candidates for the types of questions they will see on the general portion of the licensure examination
but also familiarize them with taking computer-based examinations.
Pearson VUE offers a practice test for real estate that contains questions developed by subject matter experts
using concepts found in the general portion of the licensure examination. The test closely reflects the format of
the general portion of the licensure examination, can be scored instantly, and provides immediate feedback to
help candidates identify correct and incorrect answers. Candidates can purchase general-portion practice tests
anytime by visiting www.pearsonvue.com/practicetests/realestate.
4 Idaho Real Estate
RESERVATIONS
MAKING A RESERVATION
Walk-in examinations are not available. Online reservations are the most efficient way for candidates to
schedule their examination. Candidates must go to www.pearsonvue.com/id/realestate/ to make an online
reservation for an examination. First-time users are required to create an account. The candidate will need to
fill in all required fields, which are preceded by an asterisk (*), on the online form in order to create an ID and
be assigned a password. Step-by-step instructions will lead the candidate through the rest of the examination
reservation process.
Candidates must make an online reservation at least twenty-four (24) hours before the desired examination
date. Candidates who wish to make a phone reservation at (877) 540-5833 must do so at least twenty-four (24)
hours before the desired examination date (unless an electronic check is used for payment, as detailed below).
Before making a reservation, candidates should have the following:
• Full legal name, address, Social Security number, daytime telephone number, and date of birth
• The name of the examination
• The preferred examination date and test center location (a list appears on the back cover of this hand-
book)
Candidates are responsible for knowing which examination they need to take.
The reservation will be made based on the next available examination date.
EXAM FEES
The exam fee is $80. Payment will not be accepted at the test center. Examination fees are non-refundable
and non-transferable except as detailed in the Change/Cancel Policy.
Vouchers
Vouchers offer another convenient way to pay for tests. Vouchers can be purchased online at
www.pearsonvue.com/vouchers/pricelist by credit card either singly or in volume. To redeem a voucher as
payment when scheduling a test, simply indicate voucher as the payment method and provide the voucher
number. All vouchers are pre-paid. Vouchers are non-refundable and non-returnable.
Vouchers expire twelve (12) months from the date they are issued. Voucher expiration dates cannot be extend-
ed. The exam must be taken by the expiration date printed on the voucher.
CHANGE/CANCEL POLICY
Candidates should call (877) 540-5833 at least forty-eight (48) hours before the examination to change or can-
cel a reservation. Candidates who change or cancel a reservation with proper notice may either transfer their
fees to a new reservation or request a refund. Candidates who change or cancel their reservations without
proper notice will forfeit the examination fee. Refunds for credit/debit cards are immediate, while refunds
for electronic checks and vouchers will be processed in two to three (2-3) weeks.
Candidates are individually liable for the full amount of the examination fee once a reservation has been made,
whether paid individually or by a third party.
Idaho Real Estate 5
ABSENCE/LATENESS POLICY
Candidates who are late or absent from an exam may call Pearson VUE within 14 days of the exam date to
request an excused absence for the following reasons:
• Illness of the candidate or of the candidate’s immediate family member
• Death in their immediate family
• Disabling traffic accident
• Court appearance or jury duty
• Military duty
• Weather emergency
A case number will be assigned and instructions provided for emailing supporting documentation. Candidates
absent from or late to an exam who have not changed or canceled the reservation according to the
Change/Cancel Policy will not be admitted to the exam and will forfeit the exam fee.
WEATHER DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS
If severe weather or a natural disaster makes the Pearson VUE test center inaccessible or unsafe, the exami-
nation may be delayed or canceled. Pearson VUE will notify and reschedule candidates in the case of severe
weather.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Pearson VUE complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended. The purpose of
accommodations is to provide candidates with full access to the test. Accommodations are not a guarantee of
improved performance or test completion. Pearson VUE provides reasonable and appropriate accommodations
to individuals with documented disabilities who demonstrate a need for accommodations.
Test accommodations may include things such as:
• A separate testing room
• Extra testing time
• A Reader or Recorder, for individuals with mobility or vision impairments and cannot read or write on
their own
Test accommodations are individualized and considered on a case-by-case basis. All candidates who are
requesting accommodations because of a disability must provide appropriate documentation of their condition
and how it is expected to affect their ability to take the test under standard conditions. This may include:
• Supporting documentation from the professional who diagnosed the condition, including the credentials
that qualify the professional to make this diagnosis
• A description of past accommodations the candidate has received
The steps to follow when requesting test accommodations vary, depending on your test program sponsor. To
begin, go to http://pearsonvue.com/accommodations, and then select your test program sponsor from the
alphabetized list. Candidates who have additional questions concerning test accommodations may contact the
ADA Coordinator at [email protected].
6 Idaho Real Estate
NON-SATURDAY RESERVATIONS
Candidates who for religious reasons cannot take an examination offered only on Saturdays may request a
non-Saturday examination date. Such a request must be put in writing on official stationery by the candidate’s
religious advisor and faxed to (610) 617-9397 or mailed to:
Pearson VUE Special Accommodations / 5715 W. Old Shakopee Rd., Bloomington, MN 55437
Non-Saturday examinations are available only on a prearranged basis.
PLEASE NOTE
Fingerprint results are valid for six (6) months only.
FINGERPRINT RESERVATIONS
For fingerprint processes, go to https://home.pearsonvue.com/id/realestate, or call the Pearson VUE reserva-
tion line.
Do not send fingerprint cards or the required fee to the Idaho Real Estate Commission.
Idaho Real Estate 7
EXAM DAY
WHAT TO BRING
Required Materials
All candidates are required to bring identification that is deemed acceptable, listed under Acceptable Forms of
Candidate Identification, to the test center on the day of examination.
REQUIRED ITEMS
Candidates who do not present the required items will be denied admission to the examination,
will be considered absent, and will forfeit the examination fee.
Candidates requesting to waive the general (national) portion of the examination must obtain a waiver letter
from the Idaho Real Estate Commission before making an appointment to take the exam. So that the waiver can
be applied to the Candidate’s Account, candidates must create an online account with Pearson VUE for Idaho
Real Estate prior to making the exam appointment. Candidates are not required to bring the waiver letter to the
test center. Waivers cannot be issued retroactively.
Acceptable Forms of Candidate Identication
Candidate must present two (2) forms of current signature identification. The name on the identification must
exactly match the name on the registration. The primary identification must be government-issued and photo-
bearing with a signature, and the secondary identification must contain a valid signature. Identification must
be in English.
Primary ID (with photograph and signature, not expired)
• Government-issued Driver’s license
• U.S. Dept. of State Driver’s license
• U.S. learner’s permit (plastic card only with photo and signature)
• National/State/Country Identification Card
• Passport
• Passport cards
• Military ID
• Military ID for spouses and dependents
• Alien Registration Card (Green Card, Permanent Resident Visa)
Secondary ID (with signature, not expired)
• U.S. Social Security card
• Debit/(ATM) or Credit card
• Any form of ID on the Primary ID list
If the ID presented has an embedded signature that is not visible (microchip), or is difficult or impossible to
read, the candidate must present another form of identification from the Primary ID or Secondary ID list that
contains a visible signature.
Pearson VUE does not recognize grace periods. For example, if a candidate’s driver’s license expired yesterday
and the state allows a 30-day grace period for renewing the ID, the ID is considered to be expired.
8 Idaho Real Estate
EXAM PROCEDURES
Candidates should report to the test center thirty (30) minutes before the examination and check in with the
test center administrator. (Candidates should allow themselves sufficient time to find the test center.) The can-
didate’s identification and other documentation will be reviewed and they will be photographed for the score
report.
Candidates are required to review and sign a Candidate Rules Agreement form. If the Candidate Rules
Agreement is not followed and/or cheating or tampering with the examination is suspected, the incident will be
reported as such and the appropriate action will be taken. The examination fee will not be refunded, the exam
may be determined invalid, and/or the state may take further action such as prohibiting candidates from retak-
ing the examination or denying licensure.
Candidates will have an opportunity to take a tutorial on the computer on which the examination will be admin-
istered. The time spent on this tutorial will not reduce the examination time. The examination administrators
will answer questions, but candidates should be aware that the administrators are not familiar with the content
of the examinations or with the state’s licensing requirements. Examination administrators have been instruct-
ed not to advise candidates on requirements for licensure.
Candidates may begin the examination once they are familiar with the computer. The examination begins the
moment a candidate looks at the first examination question. Candidates will be given four (4) hours to complete
the examination. The examination will end automatically after the examination time has expired, and candi-
dates will leave the test center with their official scores in hand.
SCORE REPORTING
When candidates complete the examination, they will receive a score report marked “pass” or “fail.”
Candidates who fail the examination will receive a score report that includes a numeric score and diagnostic
information relating to the general portion of the examination, as well as information about reexamination.
RETAKING THE EXAM
The examination is divided into two sections: general (national) and state law. Candidates who pass one section
of the exam and fail the other need to retake only the section they failed, as long as they pass the failed section
within one (1) year of the date of the passed section. The exam fee is required each time a candidate tests. A
candidate must pass both sections of the exam and submit a completed application for licensure within one
(1) year of the date of the first passed exam section. Otherwise, the candidate must retake both sections of the
exam.
Example: A candidate who takes the examination January 15, 2019, and passes the state section but not the gen-
eral section needs to retake and pass only the general section, but must do so on or before January 14, 2020.
If the candidate does not pass the general section and submit his license application on or before January 14,
2020, he/she would be required to retake the entire examination.
There is no limit to how many times a candidate may retake the examination. Reservations for reexamina-
tion cannot be made at the test center, and candidates must wait twenty-four (24) hours before making
one. The examination fee must be paid each time a candidate takes an exam, even if the candidate is
retaking only one section.
REVIEW OF EXAMS
For security reasons, examination material is not available to candidates for review.
Idaho Real Estate 9
SCORE EXPLANATION
Scaled Score
There are multiple versions, known as forms, of each of the real estate licensing examinations. While all of these
forms are developed from the content outlines printed in this handbook, the levels of difficulty of the forms
may vary slightly because different questions appear on different forms. Since it would be unfair to require a
candidate taking a slightly more difficult form to answer as many questions correctly (in order to pass) as a per-
son taking an easier form, a statistical procedure known as equating is used to correct for differences in form
difficulty.
The passing score of an examination was set by the Idaho Real Estate Commission (in conjunction with
Pearson VUE) after a comprehensive study was completed for each examination. The examination score is
reported as a scaled score on a scale of 0-100. It should not be interpreted as the percentage or number of
questions answered correctly on the examination. The passing point is reported as a score of 70 for the sales-
person examination and 75 for the broker examination. With a passing score of 70 or 75, any score below 70
or 75 indicates how close the candidate came to passing, rather than the actual number or percentage of ques-
tions the candidates answered correctly.
DUPLICATE SCORE REPORTS
For score reports prior to September 15, 2022, please contact Pearson VUE Customer Service to request.
October 15, 2022 and forward, duplicate score reports can be viewed from your account.
10 Idaho Real Estate
TEST CENTER POLICIES
The following policies are observed at each test center. Candidates who violate any of these policies will
not be permitted to nish the examination and will be dismissed from the test center, forfeiting the
examination fee.
• No personal items are allowed in the testing room. Personal items include but are not limited to: cel-
lular phones, hand-held computers or other electronic devices, pagers, watches, wallets, purses, firearms
or other weapons, hats, bags, coats, books, and/or notes, pens, or pencils.
• Personal calculators are NOT permitted, but an online calculator is available as part of the exam.
• Candidates must store all personal items in a secure area as indicated by the administrator, or return
items to their vehicle. All electronic devices must be turned off before storing them in a locker. The test
center is not responsible for lost, stolen, or misplaced personal items.
• Studying is not allowed in the test center. Visitors, children, family, or friends are not allowed in the test
center.
• Dictionaries, books, papers (including scratch paper), and reference materials are not permitted in the
examination room, and candidates are strongly urged not to bring such materials to the test center.
Upon entering and being seated in the testing room, the test administrator will provide the candidate
with materials to make notes or calculations and any other items specified by the exam sponsor. The
candidate may not write on these items before the exam begins or remove these items from the
testing room.
• Eating, drinking, chewing gum, smoking, and/or making noise that creates a disturbance for other candi-
dates is prohibited during the exam.
• To request a break, the candidate must raise his/her hand to get the administrator’s attention. The exam
clock will not stop while the candidate is taking a break.
• Candidates must leave the testing room for all breaks. However, candidates are not permitted to leave
the floor or building for any reason during this time, unless directed by the administrator. If a can-
didate is discovered to have left the floor or building, he/she will not be permitted to proceed with the
examination and will forfeit the exam fees.
• While taking a break, candidates are permitted to access personal items that are being stored during
the exam only if necessary— for example, personal medication that must be taken at a specific time.
However, a candidate must receive permission from the administrator prior to accessing personal
items that have been stored. Candidates are not allowed access to other items, including, but not lim-
ited to, cellular phones, exam notes, and study guides.
• Any candidate discovered causing a disturbance of any kind or engaging in any kind of misconduct—giv-
ing or receiving help; using notes, books, or other aids; taking part in an act of impersonation; or remov-
ing examination materials or notes from the examination room—will be summarily dismissed from the
examination and will be reported to the state licensing agency. Decisions regarding disciplinary measures
are the responsibility of the state licensing agency.
Idaho Real Estate 11
PREPARING FOR THE EXAM
PRETEST QUESTIONS
Many of the examinations will contain “pretest” questions. Responses to pretest questions do not affect
a candidate’s score. Pretest questions are mixed in with the scored questions and are not identified.
These questions are used to gather statistical information for future exam development.
The number of pretest questions is listed in the content outline heading of each examination for which they
are available. If a number is not present, then there are no pretest questions for that particular examination.
EXAM CONTENT
The content of the general (national) portion of the examination is based upon information obtained from a
job analysis performed by Pearson VUE. Responses from real estate professionals were analyzed to determine
the nature and scope of tasks they perform, and the knowledge and skills needed to perform them. This infor-
mation is the basis upon which examination questions are written, ensuring that the examination reflects the
actual practice of real estate. Questions in the general portion are also reviewed and approved by nationally
recognized real estate professionals.
The state law portion of the examination has been developed to reflect the laws, regulations, and practice of
real estate in Idaho, and it has been reviewed and approved by real estate professionals and the Idaho Real
Estate Commission.
MATH CALCULATIONS
The information below is NOT available at the test center and should be memorized.
Candidates may use the following information in making mathematical calculations on the general section of 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) to the nearest whole number
The information below, if needed, will be contained within the test itself:
If a question requires the calculation of prorated amounts, the question will specify: a) whether the calculation should
be made on the basis of 360 or 365 days a year; and b) whether the day of closing belongs to the buyer or seller
NOTE
The entire question pool for both the general and state law portions of the examinations, each form of the
examination, and any materials used to administer the examination are copyrighted by and are the property of
Pearson VUE. Any distribution of examination material or other reproduction is strictly prohibited and punishable
by law.
#091306 | 07/2024
IDAHO
Real Estate State Content Outlines
Content Outline for Idaho Laws, Rules, and
Regulations Examinations
REAL ESTATE
National/General Content Outlines
Content Outline for Salespersons and Brokers Examinations:
Eective June 2020
Content Outline for Salespersons Examinations:
Eective January 2025 or later
Content Outline for Brokers Examinations:
Eective January 2025 or later
Outlines 01 General Exam Content Outline for Salespersons and Brokers 2020
I. REAL PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS,
LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS, AND PROPERTY USE
(SALES 9; BROKER 9)
A. Real property vs. personal property
1. Fixtures, trade xtures, emblements
2. Attachment, severance, and bill of sale
B. Characteristics of real property
1. Economic characteristics
2. Physical characteristics
C. Legal descriptions
1. Methods used to describe real property
2. Survey
D. Public and private land use controls –
encumbrances
1. Public controls – governmental powers
a. Police power, eminent domain, taxation, escheat
b. Zoning ordinances
2. Private controls, restrictions, and encroachments
a. Covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs),
HOAs
b. Easements
c. Licenses and encroachments
II. FORMS OF OWNERSHIP, TRANSFER, AND
RECORDING OF TITLE (SALES 8; BROKER 8)
A. Ownership, estates, rights, and interests
1. Forms of ownership
2. Freehold estate
a. Fee simple absolute
b. Fee simple defeasible, determinable, and condition
subsequent
c. Life estate
d. Bundle of rights
3. Leasehold estates and types of leases
a. Estate for years and from period to period
(periodic estate)
b. Estate at will and estate at suerance
c. Gross, net, and percentage leases
4. Liens and lien priority
5. Surface and sub-surface rights
B. Deed, title, transfer of title, and recording of title
1. Elements of a valid deed
2. Types of deeds
3. Title transfer
a. Voluntary alienation
b. Involuntary alienation
4. Recording the title
a. Constructive and actual notice
b. Title abstract and chain of title
c. Marketable title and cloud on title
d. Attorney title opinion, quiet title lawsuit, and title
insurance
III. PROPERTY VALUE AND APPRAISAL
(SALES 11; BROKER 10)
A. Concept of value
1. Market value vs. market price
2. Characteristics of value
3. Principles of value
B. Appraisal process
1. Purpose and steps to an appraisal
2. Federal oversight of the appraisal process
C. Methods of estimating value and Broker Price
Opinions (BPO)
1. Sales comparison approach (market data)
2. Cost approach
a. Improvements and depreciation
b. Physical deterioration, functional, and economic
obsolescence
c. Reproduction or replacement costs
3. Income approach
4. Gross rent and gross income multipliers
5. Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)
6. Broker Price Opinion (BPO)
7. Assessed value and tax implications
IV. REAL ESTATE CONTRACTS AND AGENCY
(SALES 16; BROKER 17)
A. Types of contracts
1. Express vs. implied
General Exam Content Outline
for Salespersons and Brokers
Effective: June 01
st
, 2020
The general portion of the real estate exam is made up of eighty (80) scored items, which are distributed as noted in the
following content outline. The general examination also contains five (5) pretest items that are not counted toward the
score. These items are used to gather statistics on performance and to help assess appropriateness for use on future
examinations. Because pretest items look exactly like items that are scored, candidates should answer all the items on the
examination.
General Exam Content Outline for Salespersons and Brokers 2020 Outlines 02
2. Unilateral vs. bilateral
B. Required elements of a valid contract
C. Contract performance
1. Executed vs. executory
2. Valid vs. void
3. Voidable vs. unenforceable
4. Breach of contract, rescission, and termination
5. Liquidated, punitive, or compensatory damages
6. Statute of Frauds
7. Time is of the essence
D. Sales contract
1. Oer and counteroer
2. Earnest money and liquidated damages
3. Equitable title
4. Contingencies
5. Disputes and breach of contract
6. Option contract and installment sales contract
E. Types of agency and licensee-client relationships
F. Creation and termination of agency
G. Licensee obligations to parties of a transaction
V. REAL ESTATE PRACTICE (SALES 14; BROKER 13)
A. Responsibilities of broker
1. Practicing within scope of expertise
2. Unauthorized practice of law
B. Brokerage agreements between the broker and
principal (seller, buyer, landlord, or tenant)
1. Seller representation – Types of listing agreements
a. Exclusive right-to-sell and exclusive agency listing
b. Non-exclusive or open listing
c. Net listing (conict of interest)
d. Multiple listing service (MLS)
2. Buyer representation
3. Property management agreement
a. Accounting for funds
b. Property maintenance
c. Leasing property
d. Collecting rents and security deposits
4. Termination of agreements
5. Services, fees, and compensation
C. Fair Housing
1. Equal opportunity in housing
2. Protected classes
3. Fair housing laws
4. Illegal practices, enforcement, and penalties
5. Prohibited advertising
6. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
7. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
D. Risk management
1. Supervision
2. Compliance with federal regulations; including Privacy
and Do Not Contact
3. Vicarious liability
4. Antitrust laws
5. Fraud and misrepresentation
6. Types of insurance
a. Errors and Omissions
b. General Liability
VI. PROPERTY DISCLOSURES AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES (SALES 8; BROKER 8)
A. Property conditions and environmental issues
1. Hazardous substances
a. Lead-based paint
b. Asbestos, radon, and mold
c. Groundwater contamination and underground
storage tanks
d. Waste disposal sites and brownelds
e. Flood plains, ood zones, and ood insurance
2. Clean Air and Water Acts
3. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
a. Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
b. Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act
(SARA)
c. Environmental site assessments (including Phase I
and II studies) and impact statements
d. Wetlands protection
B. Disclosure obligations and liability
VII. FINANCING AND SETTLEMENT (SALES 7; BROKER 7)
A. Financing concepts and components
1. Methods of nancing
a. Mortgage nancing – conventional and non-
conventional loans
b. Seller nancing – land contract/contract for deed
2. Lien theory vs. title theory and deed of trust
3. Sources of nancing (primary and secondary mortgage
markets, and seller nancing)
4. Types of loans and loan programs
5. Mortgage clauses
B. Lender Requirements
1. FHA requirements
2. VA requirements
3. Buyer qualication and Loan to Value (LTV)
4. Hazard and ood insurance
5. Private mortgage insurance (PMI) and mortgage
insurance premium (MIP)
C. Federal Financing Regulations and Regulatory
Bodies
1. Truth-in-Lending and Regulation Z
2. TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures (TRID)
a. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Outlines 03 General Exam Content Outline for Salespersons and Brokers 2020
b. Loan Estimate (LE)
c. Closing Disclosure (CD)
3. Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)
a. Referrals
b. Rebates
4. Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)
5. Mortgage fraud and predatory lending
D. Settlement and closing the transaction
VIII. REAL ESTATE MATH CALCULATIONS
(SALES 7; BROKER 8)
A. Property area calculations
1. Square footage
2. Acreage total
B. Property valuation
1. Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)
2. Net Operating Income (NOI)
3. Capitalization rate
4. Gross rent multiplier- Broker Only
5. Gross income multiplier- Broker Only
6. Equity in property
7. Establishing a listing price
8. Assessed value and property taxes
C. Commission/compensation
D. Loan nancing costs
1. Interest
2. Loan to Value (LTV)
3. Fees
4. Amortization, discount points, and prepayment
penalties
E. Settlement and closing costs
1. Purchase price and down payment
2. Monthly mortgage calculations- principal, interest,
taxes, and insurance (PITI)
3. Net to the seller
4. Cost to the buyer
5. Prorated items
6. Debits and credits
7. Transfer tax and recording fee
F. Investment
1. Return on investment
2. Appreciation
3. Depreciation
4. Tax implications on investment
G. Property management calculations
1. Property management and budget calculations
2. Tenancy and rental calculations
Real Estate
General/National Resources
• Mastering Real Estate Principles, Gerald R.
Cortesi, 7th Edition, Dearborn
• Modern Real Estate Practice, Fillmore W. Galaty,
Wellington J. Allaway, Robert C. Kyle, etc., 20th
edition, Dearborn
• Principles of Real Estate Practice, Stephen
Mettling, 6th Edition, Performance Programs
Company
• Property Management, Robert C. Kyle, 10th
Edition, Dearborn
• Real Estate Finance, J. Keith Baker and John P
Wiedemer, 10th Edition, OnCourse Learning
Publishing
• Real Estate Fundamentals, Wade E. Gaddy, 10th
Edition Dearborn
• Real Estate Law, Charles J. Jacobus, 3rd Edition,
OnCourse Learning Publishing
• Real Estate Law, Elliot Klayman, 10th Edition,
Dearborn
• The Language of Real Estate, John W. Reilly, 8th
Edition, Dearborn
Pearson VUE does not endorse any particular
prelicensing provider or study materials.
National/General Exam Content Outline for Salespersons 2025 Outlines 04
National/General Exam Content Outline
for Salespersons
Effective: January 2025 or later. Please check back here for implementation dates.
The national/general portion of the real estate exam is made up of eighty (80) scored items, which are distributed as
noted in the following content outline. Each section contains an overall item count and subtotals from each subsection.
For example, if a major topic area has three (3) subtopics and ten (10) items, the subtopics will contain the number of
items necessary to bring the total to ten (10) items.
In addition to building our real estate national/general exams to content specifications, Pearson VUE also builds our
general exams to cognitive level specifications. These cognitive level specifications confirm that candidates have a
comprehensive understanding of real estate general knowledge and federal regulation topics. They measure whether
candidates have the knowledge, but more importantly, the skills and abilities to protect the public from day one as
a real estate licensee. Every test item is classified into one of three categories: knowledge, application, or analysis. A
knowledge item requires candidates to recall specific facts or definitions. An application item requires candidates to use
their knowledge and apply it to a situation. An analysis item requires candidates to use their knowledge and examine
a fact pattern in order to draw a conclusion or make a decision. Cognitive level breakdowns are included after the item
count for major topic areas. For example, if a major topic area has ten (10) items, the cognitive level item counts will
total to ten (10) items.
The national/general examination also contains five (5) pretest items that are not counted toward the score. These
items are used to gather statistics on performance and to help assess appropriateness for use on future examinations.
Because pretest items look exactly like items that are scored, candidates should answer all the items on the
examination.
I. REAL PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS, LEGAL
DESCRIPTIONS, AND PROPERTY USE (SALES11;
6KNOWLEDGE, 3APPLICATION, 2ANALYSIS)
A. Real property vs. personal property (3items)
1. Fixtures, trade fixtures, emblements
2. Attachment, severance, and bill of sale
B. Characteristics of real property (2items)
1. Economic characteristics
a. Scarcity
b. Modification / Improvement
c. Permanence of Investment / Fixity
d. Area Preference / Situs
2. Physical characteristics
a. Immobility
b. Indestructibility
c. Non-homogeneity / Uniqueness
C. Legal descriptions (2items)
1. Methods used to describe real property
2. Survey
D. Public and private land use controls –
encumbrances (2items)
1. Public controls – governmental powers
a. Police power, eminent domain,
taxation, escheat
b. Zoning ordinances
2. Private controls, restrictions,
and encroachments
a. Covenants, conditions, and restrictions
(CC&Rs), HOAs
b. Easements
c. Licenses and encroachments
II. FORMS OF OWNERSHIP, TRANSFER, AND
RECORDING OF TITLE (SALES9; 5KNOWLEDGE,
2APPLICATION, 2ANALYSIS)
A. Ownership, estates, rights, and interests
(5items)
1. Forms of ownership
2. Freehold estate
a. Fee simple absolute
b. Fee simple defeasible, determinable, and
condition subsequent
c. Life estate
d. Bundle of rights
3. Leasehold estates and types of leases
a. Estate for years and from period to period
(periodic estate)
b. Estate at will and estate at sufferance
c. Gross, net, percentage leases, etc.
4. Liens and lien priority
5. Air, surface and sub-surface rights
Outlines 05 National/General Exam Content Outline for Salespersons 2025
B. Deed, title, transfer of title, and recording of
title (4items)
1. Elements of a valid deed
2. Types of deeds
3. Title transfer
a. Voluntary alienation
b. Involuntary alienation
4. Recording the title
a. Constructive and actual notice
b. Title abstract and chain of title
c. Marketable title and cloud on title
d. Attorney title opinion, quiet title lawsuit, and
title insurance
III. PROPERTY VALUE AND APPRAISAL (SALES11;
6KNOWLEDGE, 3APPLICATION, 2ANALYSIS)
A. Concept of value (4 items)
1. Market value vs. market price
2. Characteristics of value
3. Principles of value
B. Appraisal process (2 items)
1. Purpose and steps to an appraisal
2. Federal oversight of the appraisal process
C. Methods of estimating value and Broker Price
Opinions (BPO) (5 items)
1. Sales comparison approach (market data)
2. Cost approach
a. Improvements and depreciation
b. Physical deterioration, functional, and
economic obsolescence
c. Reproduction or replacement costs
3. Income approach
4. Gross rent and gross income multipliers
5. Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)
6. Broker Price Opinion (BPO)
7. Assessed value and tax implications
IV. REAL ESTATE CONTRACTS AND AGENCY (SALES16;
7KNOWLEDGE, 6APPLICATION, 3ANALYSIS)
A. Types of contracts (1item)
1. Express vs. implied
2. Unilateral vs. bilateral
B. Required elements of a valid contract (3items)
1. Voluntary
2. Agreement / Promise
3. Legally competent parties
4. Lawful consideration
5. Legal act / Purpose
C. Contract performance (3items)
1. Executed vs. executory
2. Valid vs. void
3. Voidable vs. unenforceable
4. Breach of contract, rescission, and termination
5. Liquidated, punitive, or compensatory damages
6. Statute of Frauds
7. Electronic contracts and digital signatures
8. Time is of the essence
D. Sales contract (2items)
1. Offer and counteroffer
2. Earnest money and liquidated damages
3. Equitable title
4. Contingencies
5. Disputes and breach of contract
6. Option contract and installment sales contract
E. Types of agency and licensee-client
relationships (2items)
F. Creation and termination of agency (2items)
G. Licensee obligations to parties of a transaction
(3items)
V. REAL ESTATE PRACTICE (SALES10; 5KNOWLEDGE,
3APPLICATION, 2ANALYSIS)
A. Responsibilities of broker (2items)
1. Practicing within scope of expertise
2. Unauthorized practice of law
B. Brokerage agreements between the broker
and principal (seller, buyer, landlord, or
tenant) (3items)
1. Seller representation – Types of listing
agreements
a. Exclusive right-to-sell and exclusive
agency listing
b. Non-exclusive or open listing
c. Net listing (conflict of interest)
d. Multiple listing service (MLS)
2. Buyer representation
3. Property management agreement
a. Accounting for funds
b. Property maintenance
c. Leasing property
d. Collecting rents and security deposits
4. Termination of agreements
5. Services, fees, and compensation
C. Fair Housing (3items)
1. Equal opportunity in housing
2. Protected classes
3. Fair housing laws
4. Illegal practices, enforcement, and penalties
5. Prohibited advertising
6. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
7. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
D. Risk management (2items)
1. Supervision
2. Compliance with federal regulations; including
Privacy and Do Not Contact
3. Vicarious liability
4. Antitrust laws
National/General Exam Content Outline for Salespersons 2025 Outlines 06
5. Fraud and misrepresentation
6. Types of insurance
a. Errors and Omissions
b. General Liability
VI. PROPERTY DISCLOSURES AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES (SALES9; 5KNOWLEDGE, 3APPLICATION,
1ANALYSIS)
A. Property conditions and environmental issues
(5items)
1. Hazardous substances
a. Lead-based paint
b. Asbestos, radon, and mold
c. Groundwater contamination and
underground storage tanks
d. Waste disposal sites and brownfields
e. Flood plains, flood zones, and flood insurance
2. Clean Air and Water Acts
3. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
a. Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
b. Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization
Act (SARA)
c. Environmental site assessments (including
Phase I and II studies) and impact statements
d. Wetlands protection
B. Environmental and property disclosure
obligations and liability (4items)
VII. FINANCING AND SETTLEMENT (SALES7;
4KNOWLEDGE, 2APPLICATION, 1ANALYSIS)
A. Financing concepts and components (2items)
1. Methods of financing
a. Mortgage financing – conventional and
non-conventional loans
b. Seller financing – land contract/contract
for deed
2. Lien theory vs. title theory and deed of trust
3. Sources of financing (primary and secondary
mortgage markets, and seller financing)
4. Types of loans and loan programs
5. Mortgage clauses
B. Lender Requirements (1item)
1. FHA requirements
2. VA requirements
3. USDA Loan requirements and rural
development financing
4. Conventional requirements
5. Buyer qualification and Loan to Value (LTV)
6. Hazard and flood insurance
7. Private mortgage insurance (PMI) and mortgage
insurance premium (MIP)
C. Federal Financing Regulations and Regulatory
Bodies (2items)
1. Truth-in-Lending and Regulation Z
2. TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures (TRID)
a. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
b. Loan Estimate (LE)
c. Closing Disclosure (CD)
3. Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)
a. Referrals
b. Rebates
4. Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA
5. Mortgage fraud and predatory lending
D. Settlement and closing the transaction
(2items)
VIII. REAL ESTATE MATH CALCULATIONS (SALES7;
4APPLICATION, 3ANALYSIS)
A. Property area calculations (1item)
1. Square footage
2. Acreage total
B. Property valuation (1item)
1. Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)
2. Net Operating Income (NOI)
3. Capitalization rate
4. Equity in property
5. Establishing a listing price
6. Assessed value and property taxes
C. Commission/compensation (1item)
D. Loan financing costs (1item)
1. Interest
2. Loan to Value (LTV)
3. Fees
4. Amortization, discount points, and
prepayment penalties
E. Settlement and closing costs (1item)
1. Purchase price and down payment
2. Monthly mortgage calculations- principal,
interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI)
3. Net to the seller
4. Cost to the buyer
5. Prorated items
6. Debits and credits
7. Transfer tax and recording fee
F. Investment (1item)
1. Return on investment
2. Appreciation
3. Depreciation
4. Tax implications on investment
G. Property management calculations (1item)
1. Property management and budget calculations
2. Tenancy and rental calculations
Outlines 07 National/General Exam Content Outline for Salespersons 2025
Notes on Math Calculations
The following information is NOT available at the test
center and SHOULD be memorized:
y 43,560 square feet/acre
y 5,280 feet/mile
If a question requires the calculation of prorated
amounts, the question will specify:
y whether the calculation should be made on the
basis of 360 or 365 days a year; and/or
y whether the day of closing belongs to the buyer
or the seller for purposes of prorations
Where applicable, round o calculations using
standard rounding rules.
Real Estate General/National
Resources
y Mastering Real Estate Principles, Gerald R.
Cortesi, Dearborn
y Modern Real Estate Practice, Fillmore W. Galaty,
Wellington J. Allaway, Robert C. Kyle, etc.,
Dearborn
y Principles of Real Estate Practice, Stephen
Mettling, Performance Programs Company
y Property Management, Robert C. Kyle, Dearborn
y Real Estate Finance, J. Keith Baker and John P.
Wiedemer, OnCourse Learning Publishing
y Real Estate Fundamentals, Wade E. Gaddy,
Dearborn
y Real Estate Law, Charles J. Jacobus, OnCourse
Learning Publishing
y Real Estate Principal, Charles J. Jacobus,
OnCourse Learning Publishing
y Real Estate Law, Elliot Klayman, Dearborn
y The Language of Real Estate, John E. Reilly,
Dearborn
Please refer to the publishers for
the most recent editions.
Pearson VUE does not endorse any particular
pre-licensing provider or study materials.
Please note the content on the exam reects the
real estate industry as a whole and may not reect
any ongoing litigation or settlements.
National/General Exam Content Outline for Brokers 2025 Outlines 8
National/General Exam Content Outline
for Brokers
Effective: January 2025 or later. Please check back here for implementation dates.
The national/general portion of the real estate exam is made up of eighty (80) scored items, which are distributed as
noted in the following content outline. Each section contains an overall item count and subtotals from each subsection.
For example, if a major topic area has three (3) subtopics and ten (10) items, the subtopics will contain the number of
items necessary to bring the total to ten (10) items.
In addition to building our real estate national/general exams to content specifications, Pearson VUE also builds our
general exams to cognitive level specifications. These cognitive level specifications confirm that candidates have a
comprehensive understanding of real estate general knowledge and federal regulation topics. They measure whether
candidates have the knowledge, but more importantly, the skills and abilities to protect the public from day one as
a real estate licensee. Every test item is classified into one of three categories: knowledge, application, or analysis. A
knowledge item requires candidates to recall specific facts or definitions. An application item requires candidates
to use their knowledge and apply it to a situation. An analysis item requires candidates to use their knowledge and
examine a fact pattern in order to draw a conclusion or make a decision. Cognitive level breakdowns are included
after the item count for major topic areas. For example, if a major topic area has ten (10) items, the cognitive level item
counts will total to ten (10) items.
The national/general examination also contains five (5) pretest items that are not counted toward the score. These
items are used to gather statistics on performance and to help assess appropriateness for use on future examinations.
Because pretest items look exactly like items that are scored, candidates should answer all the items on the
examination.
I. REAL PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS, LEGAL
DESCRIPTIONS, AND PROPERTY USE (BROKER 10;
2 KNOWLEDGE, 5 APPLICATION, 3 ANALYSIS)
A. Real property vs. personal property (3 Items)
1. Fixtures, trade fixtures, emblements
2. Attachment, severance, and bill of sale
B. Characteristics of real property (2 Items)
1. Economic characteristics
a. Scarcity
b. Modification / Improvement
c. Permanence of Investment / Fixity
d. Area Preference / Situs
2. Physical characteristics
a. Immobility
b. Indestructibility
c. Non-homogeneity / Uniqueness
C. Legal descriptions (2 Items)
1. Methods used to describe real property
2. Survey
D. Public and private land use controls –
encumbrances (3 Items)
1. Public controls – governmental powers
a. Police power, eminent domain,
taxation, escheat
b. Zoning ordinances
2. Private controls, restrictions,
and encroachments
a. Covenants, conditions, and restrictions
(CC&Rs), HOAs
b. Easements
c. Licenses and encroachments
II. FORMS OF OWNERSHIP, TRANSFER, AND
RECORDING OF TITLE (BROKER 8; 2 KNOWLEDGE,
3 APPLICATION, 3 ANALYSIS)
A. Ownership, estates, rights, and interests
(4 Items)
1. Forms of ownership
2. Freehold estate
a. Fee simple absolute
b. Fee simple defeasible, determinable, and
condition subsequent
c. Life estate
d. Bundle of rights
3. Leasehold estates and types of leases
a. Estate for years and from period to period
(periodic estate)
b. Estate at will and estate at sufferance
c. Gross, net, percentage leases, and etc.
4. Liens and lien priority
5. Air surface and sub-surface rights
Outlines 9 National/General Exam Content Outline for Brokers 2025
B. Deed, title, transfer of title, and recording
of title (4 Items)
1. Elements of a valid deed
2. Types of deeds
3. Title transfer
a. Voluntary alienation
b. Involuntary alienation
4. Recording the title
a. Constructive and actual notice
b. Title abstract and chain of title
c. Marketable title and cloud on title
d. Attorney title opinion, quiet title lawsuit, and
title insurance
III. PROPERTY VALUE AND APPRAISAL (BROKER 10;
2KNOWLEDGE, 4 APPLICATION, 4 ANALYSIS)
A. Concept of value (3 Items)
1. Market value vs. market price
2. Characteristics of value
3. Principles of value
B. Appraisal process (3 Items)
1. Purpose and steps to an appraisal
2. Federal oversight of the appraisal process
C. Methods of estimating value and Broker Price
Opinions (BPO) (4 Items)
1. Sales comparison approach (market data)
2. Cost approach
a. Improvements and depreciation
b. Physical deterioration, functional, and
economic obsolescence
c. Reproduction or replacement costs
3. Income approach
4. Gross rent and gross income multipliers
5. Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)
6. Broker Price Opinion (BPO)
7. Assessed value and tax implications
IV. REAL ESTATE CONTRACTS AND AGENCY (BROKER
15; 3 KNOWLEDGE, 6 APPLICATION, 6ANALYSIS)
A. Types of contracts (2 Items)
1. Express vs. implied
2. Unilateral vs. bilateral
B. Required elements of a valid contract (3 Items)
1. Voluntary
2. Agreement / Promise
3. Legally competent parties
4. Lawful consideration
5. Legal act / Purpose
C. Contract performance (2 Items)
1. Executed vs. executory
2. Valid vs. void
3. Voidable vs. unenforceable
4. Breach of contract, rescission, and termination
5. Liquidated, punitive, or compensatory damages
6. Electronic contracts and digital signatures
7. Statute of Frauds
8. Time is of the essence
D. Sales contract (2 Items)
1. Offer and counteroffer
2. Earnest money and liquidated damages
3. Equitable title
4. Contingencies
5. Disputes and breach of contract
6. Option contract and installment sales contract
E. Types of agency and licensee-client
relationships (2 Items)
F. Creation and termination of agency (2 Items)
G. Licensee obligations to parties of a transaction
(2 Items)
V. REAL ESTATE PRACTICE (BROKER 12;
5KNOWLEDGE, 5 APPLICATION, 2 ANALYSIS)
A. Responsibilities of broker (3 Items)
1. Practicing within scope of expertise
2. Unauthorized practice of law
B. Brokerage agreements between the broker
and principal (seller, buyer, landlord, or
tenant) (3 Items)
1. Seller representation – Types of listing
agreements
a. Exclusive right-to-sell and exclusive
agency listing
b. Non-exclusive or open listing
c. Net listing (conflict of interest)
d. Multiple listing service (MLS)
2. Buyer representation
3. Property management agreement
a. Accounting for funds
b. Property maintenance
c. Leasing property
d. Collecting rents and security deposits
4. Termination of agreements
5. Services, fees, and compensation
C. Fair Housing (3 Items)
1. Equal opportunity in housing
2. Protected classes
3. Fair housing laws
4. Illegal practices, enforcement, and penalties
5. Prohibited advertising
6. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
7. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
D. Risk management (3 Items)
1. Supervision
2. Compliance with federal regulations; including
Privacy and Do Not Contact
3. Vicarious liability
4. Antitrust laws
National/General Exam Content Outline for Brokers 2025 Outlines 10
5. Fraud and misrepresentation
6. Types of insurance
a. Errors and Omissions
b. General Liability
VI. PROPERTY DISCLOSURES AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES (BROKER 9; 4 KNOWLEDGE,
3APPLICATION, 2 ANALYSIS)
A. Property conditions and environmental issues
(5 Items)
1. Hazardous substances
a. Lead-based paint
b. Asbestos, radon, and mold
c. Groundwater contamination and
underground storage tanks
d. Waste disposal sites and brownfields
e. Flood plains, flood zones, and flood insurance
2. Clean Air and Water Acts
3. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
a. Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
b. Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization
Act (SARA)
c. Environmental site assessments (including
Phase I and II studies) and impact statements
d. Wetlands protection
B. Environmental and property disclosure
obligations and liability (4 Items)
VII. FINANCING AND SETTLEMENT (BROKER 8;
3KNOWLEDGE, 3 APPLICATION, 2 ANALYSIS)
A. Financing concepts and components (2 Items)
1. Methods of financing
a. Mortgage financing – conventional and
non-conventional loans
b. Seller financing – land contract/contract
for deed
2. Lien theory vs. title theory and deed of trust
3. Sources of financing (primary and secondary
mortgage markets, and seller financing)
4. Types of loans and loan programs
5. Mortgage clauses
B. Lender Requirements (2 Items)
1. FHA requirements
2. VA requirements
3. USDA loan requirements and rural
development financing
4. Conventional requirements
5. Buyer qualification and Loan to Value (LTV)
6. Hazard and flood insurance
7. Private mortgage insurance (PMI) and mortgage
insurance premium (MIP)
C. Federal Financing Regulations and
Regulatory Bodies (2 Items)
1. Truth-in-Lending and Regulation Z
2. TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures (TRID)
a. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
b. Loan Estimate (LE)
c. Closing Disclosure (CD)
3. Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)
a. Referrals
b. Rebates
4. Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA
5. Mortgage fraud and predatory lending
D. Settlement and closing the transaction
(2 Items)
VIII. REAL ESTATE MATH CALCULATIONS (BROKER 8;
3APPLICATION, 5 ANALYSIS)
A. Property area calculations (1 Item)
1. Square footage
2. Acreage total
B. Property valuation (2 Items)
1. Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)
2. Net Operating Income (NOI)
3. Capitalization rate
4. Gross rent multiplier
5. Gross income multiplier
6. Equity in property
7. Establishing a listing price
8. Assessed value and property taxes
C. Commission/compensation (1 Item)
D. Loan financing costs (1 Item)
1. Interest
2. Loan to Value (LTV)
3. Fees
4. Amortization, discount points, and
prepayment penalties
E. Settlement and closing costs (1 item)
1. Purchase price and down payment
2. Monthly mortgage calculations- principal,
interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI)
3. Net to the seller
4. Cost to the buyer
5. Prorated items
6. Debits and credits
7. Transfer tax and recording fee
F. Investment (1 Item)
1. Return on investment
2. Appreciation
3. Depreciation
4. Tax implications on investment
G. Property management calculations (1 Item)
1. Property management and budget calculations
2. Tenancy and rental calculations
Outlines 11 National/General Exam Content Outline for Brokers 2025
Notes on Math Calculations
The following information is NOT available at the test
center and SHOULD be memorized:
y 43,560 square feet/acre
y 5,280 feet/mile
If a question requires the calculation of prorated
amounts, the question will specify:
y whether the calculation should be made on the
basis of 360 or 365 days a year; and/or
y whether the day of closing belongs to the buyer
or seller for the purposes of prorations.
Where applicable, round o calculations using
standard rounding rules.
Real Estate
General/National Resources
y Mastering Real Estate Principles, Gerald R.
Cortesi, Dearborn
y Modern Real Estate Practice, Fillmore W. Galaty,
Wellington J. Allaway, Robert C. Kyle, etc.,
Dearborn
y Principles of Real Estate Practice, Stephen
Mettling, Performance Programs Company
y Property Management, Robert C. Kyle, Dearborn
y Real Estate Finance, J. Keith Baker and John P
Wiedemer, OnCourse Learning Publishing
y Real Estate Fundamentals, Wade E. Gaddy,
Dearborn
y Real Estate Law, Charles J. Jacobus, OnCourse
Learning Publishing
y Real Estate Law, Elliot Klayman, Dearborn
y The Language of Real Estate, John W. Reilly,
Dearborn
Please refer to the publishers for
the most recent editions.
Pearson VUE does not endorse any particular
pre-licensing provider or study materials.
Please note the content on the exam reects the
real estate industry as a whole and may not reect
any ongoing litigation or settlements.
Idaho State Exam Content Outline for Salesperson and Broker Examinations Outlines 12
Idaho State Exam Content Outline
for Salesperson and Broker Examinations
Effective: July 15
th
, 2017
The state-specific examination is made up of forty (40) scored items for salesperson candidates and fifty (50) scored
items for broker candidates. The salesperson and broker examinations also contain five to ten (5-10) pretest items. The
pretest items are not identified and will not affect a candidate’s score in any way.
The following examination content outline is applicable to both real estate salespersons and real estate brokers.
I. DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE REAL ESTATE
COMMISSION (SALESPERSON 5%, BROKERS 4%)
A. General Powers
B. Investigations, audits, hearings, appeals
C. Sanctions
1. Fines
2. License suspension and revocation
II. LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
(SALESPERSON 10%, BROKER 4%)
A. Activities requiring a license
B. Eligibility for licensing
C. License renewal
D. Change in license/status
E. Education
III. LICENSE LAW AND RULES OF THE
IDAHO REAL ESTATE COMMISSION
(SALESPERSON 40%, BROKER 30%)
A. Advertising/Use of business name
B. Broker-salesperson relationship
C. Sales Commissions and fees
D. Document handling and record keeping
E. Handling of monies/Consideration (items of value)
F. Trust accounts
G. Offers, counteroffers, acceptance
H. Office operations and business practices
I. Prohibited conduct
IV. BROKERAGE REPRESENTATION (AGENCY LAW)
(SALESPERSON 25%, BROKER 20%)
A. Agency contracts
B. Types
C. Obligations to parties
D. Termination of agency
E. Limits of confidentiality
F. Disclosing agency relationships
V. CALCULATIONS AND CLOSING COSTS
(SALESPERSON 5%, BROKER 10%)
VI. IDAHO PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
(SALESPERSON 15%, BROKER 12%)
A. Financing
B. Trust deeds, notes, mortgages, contract for deed
C. Foreclosure
D. Ownership/Possession and Community Property
E. Real estate valuation
1. Property taxes/assessed value
2. Homeowner’s exemption
F. Recording
G. Mobile homes/manufactured housing
H. Water rights
I. Land use controls; zoning, subdivision
VII. BROKERAGE MANAGEMENT (BROKER ONLY 20%)
A. Broker Supervision
B. Requirements to maintain a Brokerage License
C. Brokerage Operations
Real Estate
State/Idaho Resources
y Idaho Real Estate Law and Rules, Idaho Real
Estate Commission
y Idaho Real Estate Handbook, Buyers, Chuck A.,
Professional Marketing Concepts, LLC.
y Business Conduct and Oce Operations (BCOO)
course through Idaho Real Estate Commission
approved education providers (for broker only)
Pearson VUE does not endorse any particular
pre-licensing provider or study materials.
IDAHO REAL ESTATE
LICENSING FORMS DIRECTORY
FINGERPRINTS
All license applicants must submit fingerprints and get fingerprint approval PRIOR TO submitting a license
application.
• Fingerprint Instructions — irec.idaho.gov/forms/ree011.pdf
SALESPERSON LICENSE
• Application plus all required attachments —irec.idaho.gov/forms/ree040.pdf
• If you plan to purchase the Commission’s group E&O Insurance: www.risceo.com
• If you have independent E&O coverage: irec.idaho.gov/forms/ree141.pdf
ASSOCIATE BROKER LICENSE
• Application plus all required attachments — irec.idaho.gov/forms/ree041.pdf
• If you plan to purchase the Commission’s group E&O Insurance: www.risceo.com
• If you have independent E&O coverage: irec.idaho.gov/forms/ree141.pdf
DESIGNATED BROKER LICENSE
• Application plus all required attachments — irec.idaho.gov/forms/ree041.pdf
• Trust Account Notification Form — irec.idaho.gov/forms/ree088.pdf
• Company Application with all required attachments - choose one of the following:
Sole Proprietorship — irec.idaho.gov/forms/ree150.pdf
Corporation — irec.idaho.gov/forms/ree058.pdf
Limited Liability Company — irec.idaho.gov/forms/ree147.pdf
Limited Liability Partnership — irec.idaho.gov/forms/ree116.pdf
Limited Partnership — irec.idaho.gov/forms/ree148.pdf
Partnership — irec.idaho.gov/forms/ree149.pdf
NOTE: All business entities other than Sole Proprietorship must carry separate Firm E&O insurance.
• If you plan to purchase the Commission’s group E&O Insurance: www.risceo.com
• If you have independent E&O coverage: irec.idaho.gov/forms/ree141.pdf
If you plan to register an assumed business name (d/b/a) or authority for your out-of-state entity to do busi-
ness in Idaho, please contact the Idaho Secretary of State for forms and instructions at www.sos.idaho.gov. If
applicable, the Idaho Real Estate Commission requires file-stamped copies of these documents.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Candidates may test at any of our US test centers.
TEST CENTERS
LOCATION* SCHEDULE*
Boise, ID 3-4 days a week
Coeur d’Alene, ID Tuesday and the 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month
Nampa, ID** 4 days per week
Nampa, ID** 1-2 days per week
Pocatello, ID Monday, Wednesday (evenings only), and one Saturday per month
Twin Falls, ID 2-3 days a week
Las Vegas, NV Tuesday through Saturday
Reno, NV 2 days per week
Draper, UT Tuesday through Saturday
Spokane, WA Wednesday through Saturday
Ogden, UT 2-3 days a week
*Locations and schedules are subject to change.
**Fingerprinting is not available at this location.
EXAMINATION INFORMATION
EXAMINATION TIME ALLOTTED FEE*
Salesperson 4 hours $80
General 150 minutes
State 90 Minutes
Broker 4 hours $80
General 150 minutes
State 90 Minutes
* The cost for each retake is the same as the initial exam.
Candidates should have the following information available when scheduling an examination:
• Legal name, address, Social Security number, daytime telephone number, and date of birth
• The name of the examination(s)
• The preferred examination date and test center location (a list appears above)
• A failing score report (if retaking the examination)
PEARSON VUE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
No exams on the following holidays or holiday weekends:
New Year’s Day Memorial Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving
