Iowa Real Estate Practice Exam

Iowa salesperson candidates take a national section and an Iowa state section during one computer-based appointment administered by PSI. The national portion includes 80 scored multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes. The Iowa state portion includes 40 scored multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes. PSI schedules both sections in one 180-minute appointment. You must achieve at least 70% on the national section and at least 70% on the state section to pass. PSI may include five to ten unscored experimental questions that do not count toward your score but do count against your time. Results display on screen when you finish, and PSI emails a diagnostic score report by examination type if you fail either section.

PSI publishes separate national and Iowa state content outlines in the Candidate Information Bulletin. Treat them as separate study plans even though both sections share one appointment.

• National section (80 scored items): property ownership, land use, valuation, financing, contracts, agency, fair housing, practice of real estate, and real estate math per PSI's salesperson national outline.
• Iowa Code Chapter 543B and Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 193E: licensing requirements, license maintenance, and disciplinary actions.
• Trust accounts, contracts, and agency relationships (contracts and agency carry the heaviest state item counts for salesperson candidates).
• Property disclosure requirements, unlicensed assistant rules, and broker responsibilities on the 40-item state block.
• Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965, transfer taxes, property taxes, and fair housing statutes in the state content outline.
• Property management basics and real estate education rules tested on the Iowa state portion.

IREC licenses salespersons after education, examination, background review, and application approval. Confirm current forms and fees on the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing website before you apply because rules and fee tables can change.

• Be at least 18 years old before IREC issues your salesperson license (you may sit for the exam before turning 18).
• Complete a 60-hour IREC-approved salesperson pre-license course within 12 months before taking the exam; bring the original paper completion certificate to the PSI test center every time you test.
• Pass the PSI salesperson exam with at least 70% on the 80-question national section and at least 70% on the 40-question Iowa state section independently.
• Complete a national criminal history background check (valid 210 calendar days) and obtain errors and omissions insurance before licensure.
• Apply through the My Iowa PLB portal no later than the last business day of the sixth month following your qualifying exam date, with a sponsoring broker certification on your application.
• Pay separate PSI and IREC fees: PSI lists a $95 salesperson examination fee per attempt, and the Candidate Information Bulletin lists a $125 salesperson license fee (confirm both before paying). Also complete 36 additional live-instruction hours (Buying Practices, Listing Practices, and Developing Professionalism and Ethical Practices) within 12 months before application.

If you do not pass, PSI requires a new registration form and the $95 examination fee for each retake. You cannot schedule a re-examination on the same day you tested, but PSI's bulletin example shows retesting as soon as the next available day. PSI does not publish an attempt cap in the Candidate Information Bulletin. Because each section uses a 70% threshold scored independently, a strong national score cannot offset a failing state score. Weight timed practice toward Iowa Code 543B, IREC trust account rules, and Iowa disclosure statutes for the 40-item state block, then review national finance, contracts, and fair housing for the 80-item national block. When you want interactive reps today, use Casa Academy's free practice tool with the Florida demo disclosure visible on every launch.