Arizona Real Estate Salesperson (AZ-RES) Format & Logistics: What to Expect on Test Day
In short
Since January 2026 Arizona's salesperson exam is two separately booked papers. The General exam is 85 questions in 150 minutes; the Arizona State exam is 65 questions in 90 minutes. Both are multiple choice at a Pearson VUE center in Arizona. Arrive 30 minutes early with photo ID; you need 75% on each paper to pass.
The format at a glance
Arizona's salesperson exam became two exams on 1 January 2026: Arizona Sales General, covering the national material, and Arizona Sales State, covering Arizona law and practice. You book them separately, pay for them separately, and get a score report for each.
| General exam | State exam | |
|---|---|---|
| Scored questions | 80 | 60 |
| Unscored pretest questions | 5 | 5 |
| Total on screen | 85 | 65 |
| Time allotted | 150 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Fee | $70 | $60 |
| Passing score | 75% | 75% |
That works out to about 106 seconds per question on the General paper and 83 on the State paper. Neither is tight for multiple choice, and both papers end automatically when the clock runs out.
Every question is multiple choice. Each paper also carries five pretest items, which Pearson uses to trial questions for future exams. They look exactly like the real thing, they aren't identified, and they don't count toward your score. Answer all of them — you have no way of telling which is which.
You may bring a calculator if it is silent, hand-held, nonprinting and has no letter keys. Two conversions are not supplied and you're expected to know them cold: 43,560 square feet per acre, and 5,280 feet per mile. Any question needing a proration will tell you what basis to use. It will say whether the year is 360 or 365 days, and whether the day of closing belongs to the buyer or the seller.
What each paper tests
Math is a real slice of the General paper — 7 of the 80 scored questions, roughly one in eleven.
| General exam area | Questions |
|---|---|
| Real Estate Contracts and Agency | 16 |
| Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, and Property Use | 11 |
| Property Value and Appraisal | 11 |
| Real Estate Practice | 10 |
| Forms of Ownership, Transfer, and Recording of Title | 9 |
| Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues | 9 |
| Financing and Settlement | 7 |
| Real Estate Math Calculations | 7 |
The State paper spreads its questions more evenly. Every area is worth roughly the same, so broad coverage beats picking favorites.
| Arizona State exam area | Questions |
|---|---|
| Contracts | 8 |
| Arizona Agency | 6 |
| Licensee Duties and Obligations | 6 |
| Licensee Competencies and Duties | 6 |
| Reasonable Skill and Care | 6 |
| Arizona Real Estate Regulatory Framework | 5 |
| Arizona Consumer Protection Laws | 5 |
| Advertising | 5 |
| Critical Business Services for a Real Estate Transaction | 5 |
| Ownership and Encumbrances | 5 |
| Foreclosure / Short Sale / Deed in-Lieu Process | 3 |
What test day looks like
Booking
You book online at Pearson VUE or by phone, at least 24 hours ahead. Walk-ins don't exist for this exam. To move or cancel, you have to call at least 48 hours before your appointment or you forfeit the whole fee.
Scheduling the two papers back to back gets you a 130 booked separately. Spacing them out costs more and buys you time between them. Either is fine; decide before you book, because the discount is applied at scheduling.
On the day
Arrive 30 minutes early →
check in with the test administrator →
show ID and get photographed for the score report →
store everything in a locker →
sign the Candidate Rules Agreement →
take the optional computer tutorial →
start.
The tutorial runs off the clock; your time starts the moment you look at the first question.
What to bring
Valid, unexpired photo ID with a signature. Pearson doesn't recognize grace periods — a license that expired yesterday is an expired license, even if your state gives you 30 days to renew it. If the signature on your primary ID is embedded in a chip or hard to read, bring a second ID that shows one.
Nothing else goes into the testing room. Phones, watches, wallets, bags, coats, notes, pens, and paper all stay in the locker, and the administrator supplies whatever you're allowed to write on. You can take an unscheduled break by raising your hand, but the exam clock keeps running and you can't leave the floor or the building.
Your score
You leave with your score report in hand. It gives a percent score from 0 to 100 and a breakdown by content area. Pearson notes that those area percentages shouldn't be averaged to reconstruct your overall score, since the areas hold different numbers of questions. The report links you to the license application, or to reexamination information if you missed.
If you fail
You wait 24 hours before rebooking, and the retake costs the same as the first attempt. After a second or later failure you can book a one-time, 30-minute exam playback to see the questions you got wrong. It has to happen within 14 days of the failed attempt and before you sit that exam again, so book it straight away if you want it.
Two deadlines are worth writing down now. You must apply for the license within one year of passing, and you'll need a Level 1 Non-IVP Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card plus a six-hour Arizona Contract Writing Course before that application goes in.
Common questions
How many questions are on the Arizona Real Estate Salesperson exam? Two exams, booked separately since 1 January 2026. General: 80 scored plus 5 pretest, 85 on screen. State: 60 scored plus 5 pretest, 65 on screen.
How long do I get? 150 minutes for the General exam, 90 minutes for the State exam.
What is the passing score? 75% of the scored questions on each paper, scored independently.
What does it cost? 60 for State, or $75 for both when you schedule them back to back. Each retake costs the same as the initial exam.
Where is the exam administered? At Pearson VUE authorized test centers in Arizona. Book at least 24 hours ahead and arrive 30 minutes early.
Are calculators allowed? Yes — silent, hand-held, nonprinting, no A–Z keypad. Bring one; 7 of the 80 General questions are math.
What if I fail? Wait 24 hours, rebook, and pay the same fee. From the second failure onward you can also book a single 30-minute exam playback within 14 days.
Knowing the format is the easy half. Only Ever's study guides and practice questions for this exam are free, including the AI-generated question sets other providers charge for. Try the free practice questions and find out how the clock feels.