Verified, not estimated. Every figure below is drawn from the official exam structure we maintain — question counts, passing standard and topic weighting. Practice questions are grounded in the source law with statute citations. We omit any figure we can't verify rather than guess at it.
Total questions
120
40 state + 80 national
Passing score
70
each portion
Exam time
180 min
≈ 3 hr, one sitting
Administered by
PSI Services Real Estate
Format
Closed-book
Ohio State Portion
40 questions
State Governance of the Real Estate Profession4 Q · 10%
General Powers and Structure of Governing BodiesAudit of RecordsInvestigations, Hearings and AppealsViolations and Penalties (Education Sanctions/Reprimands)Recovery Fund
Licensing Requirements6 Q · 15%
Activities Requiring a LicenseLicense Renewal and MaintenanceChange in License Status (military, retired, inactive)Post License Education and Continuing Education
License Law and Rules of the Ohio Real Estate Commission16 Q · 40%
Advertising/Use of Business Name/Misrepresentation/Team AdvertisingBroker/Salesperson Employment or Independent Contractor AgreementCommissions and fees paid through broker only/Agent compensationDocument Handling and Record Keeping (Includes Contracts and Listings)Handling of Monies/Considerations (Items of Value)Trust or Special AccountsTypes of Listings and RulesOffers, Counteroffers, Acceptance (including electronic documents)Ohio Broker Lien LawInducementsAncillary Trustee (Procedure if Broker Dies)Property Management (Includes Leases)+3 more
Brokerage Relationships (Agency Law)14 Q · 35%
Creating Agency and Agency Contracts/Types of Agency RelationshipsLicensee Duties and Obligations to Clients and Customers, Licensee Liabilities, Waiver of DutiesTermination of AgencyConfidentialityDisclosure of Agency Relationships and Listing InformationDisclosures Required when Dealing with Own PropertiesUnauthorized Practice of LawFalse Representations of Licensee Status or ExpertiseCanon of Ethics
National Portion
80 questions
Property Ownership8 Q · 10%
Real vs personal propertyLand characteristics and legal descriptions (metes & bounds, lot & block, government survey)Measuring structures and land measurementEncumbrances: liens, easements, encroachments, subsurface/air/water rightsTypes of ownership: severalty, tenants in common, joint tenancy, common-interest, trusts, business entities, life estate
Land Use Controls4 Q · 5%
Government rights in land: taxes, special assessments, eminent domain, escheatGovernment controls on land use: zoning, building codes, environmental regulationsPrivate controls: deed conditions, CC&Rs, HOA/condo bylaws
Loan terminology: points, LTV, PMI, PITI, underwriting criteriaMortgage clauses, promissory notes, deeds of trustLoan types: conventional, amortized, ARM, FHA, VA, USDA, owner financing, reverse mortgage, HELOC, construction, bridgeLending legislation: RESPA, Truth in Lending (Reg Z), TRID, Equal Credit Opportunity ActSecondary mortgage market: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae
Contracts15 Q · 19%
General contract law: valid elements, Statute of Frauds, offer and acceptanceContract enforceability: void, voidable, unenforceable contractsBilateral vs unilateral contracts, option contractsElectronic signatures and digital transactionsRights, obligations, and breach remediesPurchase agreements: addenda, amendments, contingenciesLease contracts: types of leases, lease-purchase agreementsMultiple offers and counteroffers
Agency10 Q · 13%
Agency vs non-agency relationshipsListing contracts: exclusive right-to-sell, exclusive agency, open listing, net listingBuyer brokerage and buyer representation agreementsTransaction brokers and facilitatorsPower of attorney, termination of agencyFiduciary duties: obedience, loyalty, disclosure, confidentiality, accounting, reasonable care (OLD CAR)Duties to customers and non-clientsAgency disclosure requirements and conflict of interest
Property Disclosures6 Q · 7%
Property condition disclosures: seller disclosure requirements, inspections, surveysRed flags and material defectsEnvironmental disclosures: lead-based paint, asbestos, radon, mold, underground storage tanksGovernment disclosures: flood zones, wetlands, endangered speciesMaterial facts and duty to disclose
Property Management2 Q · 3%
Tenant procurement and qualificationFair housing compliance in property management and ADAMarket analysis for establishing rentsLandlord/tenant rights and obligations
Transfer of Title5 Q · 6%
Types of deeds: general warranty, special warranty, quitclaim, bargain and saleTitle insurance: owners vs lenders policies, title searches, title problemsClosing process: recordation, settlement statements, warrantiesSpecial processes: foreclosure, short sale, deed in lieu, probate
Practice of Real Estate10 Q · 12%
Federal Fair Housing Act: protected classes, prohibited conduct, exemptionsAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirementsAntitrust laws: price fixing, group boycotts, market allocation, tie-in agreementsDo-Not-Call Registry and telemarketing rulesSocial media and internet advertising regulationsHandling earnest money and trust fundsDue diligence and fiduciary responsibilitiesIndependent contractor vs employee status
Real Estate Calculations6 Q · 7%
Seller net proceeds calculationsBuyer funds required at closingProrations: taxes, insurance, rent, HOA duesTransfer tax and recording fee calculationsPITI (Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance) calculationsCommission calculations and splitsEquity, capitalization rate, and LTV calculationsDiscount points and origination feesArea and volume conversions (sq ft, acres)
Key Distinctions
Joint TenancyvsTenancy in Common
Joint tenancy includes the right of survivorship so a deceased owner's interest passes automatically to surviving co-owners, while tenancy in common has no survivorship right and each owner's interest passes to their heirs; tenancy in common also allows unequal ownership shares.
Easement AppurtenantvsEasement in Gross
An easement appurtenant benefits a specific parcel of land (dominant estate) and runs with the land, while an easement in gross benefits a specific person or entity (such as a utility company) and has no dominant estate.
General Warranty DeedvsSpecial Warranty Deed
A general warranty deed warrants title against all defects throughout the entire chain of title, while a special warranty deed only warrants against defects that arose during the grantor's period of ownership.
Owner's Title Insurance PolicyvsLender's Title Insurance Policy
An owner's policy protects the buyer's equity interest up to the purchase price, while a lender's (mortgagee) policy protects the lender's security interest only up to the outstanding loan balance and terminates when the loan is paid off.
Bilateral ContractvsUnilateral Contract
A bilateral contract involves mutual promises from both parties (promise for a promise), while a unilateral contract involves a promise from one party that can only be accepted through actual performance by the other party.
Exclusive Agency ListingvsExclusive Right to Sell Listing
Under an exclusive agency listing the seller retains the right to sell the property themselves without paying a commission, while under an exclusive right to sell the broker earns a commission regardless of who procures the buyer.
Ohio Chapter 4735, Section 4735.01(V)
ClientvsCustomer
A client has a fiduciary (agency) relationship with the broker and is owed full fiduciary duties (loyalty, obedience, disclosure, confidentiality, accounting, and reasonable care), while a customer is owed only honesty, fair dealing, and disclosure of material facts.
Promissory NotevsDeed of Trust
A promissory note is the borrower's written promise to repay the debt (evidence of the debt), while a deed of trust is the security instrument that gives the lender a lien on the property as collateral for that debt.
A CMA is an opinion-of-value tool prepared by a real estate agent, while a formal appraisal must be performed by a licensed or certified appraiser following USPAP standards and is required for most federally related loans.
A fixed-rate mortgage maintains the same interest rate for the life of the loan, while an ARM has an interest rate that can fluctuate during the loan term based on market conditions.
AddendumvsAmendment
An addendum adds terms or conditions to a contract before it is fully executed (signed by all parties), while an amendment modifies an already-signed contract after execution.
A nonexclusive agency agreement (ORC 4735.01(JJ)) allows the client to simultaneously obtain services from other brokers or brokerage firms, while an exclusive agency agreement grants one broker the sole right to represent the client, though the seller may still sell on their own without paying commission.
Ohio Chapter 4735, Section 4735.01(JJ)
Key Terms
Ohio Real Estate Commission — Disciplinary Sanctions ORC 4735.051(I)
Per ORC 4735.051(I), the Commission may revoke a license, suspend a license, impose fines up to $2,500 per violation, issue a public reprimand, or require additional continuing education; revocation is the most severe sanction.
Ohio Real Estate Recovery Fund — Maximum Liability ORC 4735.12(D)
Per ORC 4735.12(D), the fund's liability shall not exceed $40,000 for any one licensee, distributed proportionally among all valid claimants if multiple claims exist.
Per ORC 4735.09(J), newly licensed Ohio salespersons must complete 20 hours of post-license instruction within twelve months of the date their license is issued or the license is automatically suspended.
Ohio License Renewal Period OAC 1301:5-1-22(A)(B)
Per OAC 1301:5-1-22(A)(B), Ohio real estate salesperson licenses must be renewed every three years.
Ohio Inactive License Status ORC 4735.01(M)
Per ORC 4735.01(M), an inactive license is held by the division, renewed as required, and not associated with a broker, allowing a salesperson to pause practice while preserving the license.
Ohio Military License — License on Deposit ORC 4735.13(G)(1)
Per ORC 4735.13(G)(1), a salesperson entering the armed forces may place their license on deposit with the Ohio Real Estate Commission and is not required to renew it until the renewal date following discharge.
Ohio Commission Investigation Statute of Limitations ORC 4735.32(A)(1)
Per ORC 4735.32(A)(1), the Ohio Real Estate Commission or Superintendent must commence any investigation within three years of the date of an alleged violation or it is barred.
Per ORC 4735.01(I)(1)(d), an attorney at law is exempt from real estate licensing requirements only when acting in the performance of their legal duties, not when operating a real estate brokerage as a primary business.
Special Assessment
A one-time charge levied against specific properties that directly benefit from a public improvement (such as new sidewalks, street paving, or sewer installation), distinct from ongoing general property taxes.
Easement in Gross
An easement that benefits a specific person or entity (e.g., a utility company) rather than a parcel of land, and therefore has no dominant estate.
Remainderman
The party designated to receive title to property upon the termination of a life estate when the remainder passes to a third party rather than reverting to the original grantor.
Right of Survivorship
A feature of joint tenancy whereby a deceased joint tenant's interest automatically passes to the surviving joint tenants rather than to the deceased's heirs.
Independent Contractor (Real Estate)
Per IRC Section 3508, a salesperson qualifies as an independent contractor if they hold a current real estate license, are paid based on production rather than hours worked, and have a written agreement with their broker stating they will not be treated as an employee for tax purposes.
Net Listing
A listing arrangement in which the broker keeps any sale proceeds above the seller's specified net price as commission; illegal or prohibited in most states because it creates a conflict of interest.
Price Fixing
An antitrust violation in which competing brokerages agree to charge the same commission rate rather than allowing market competition to determine pricing.
Formulas to Know
Seller's Net ProceedsSale Price − (Commission + Closing Costs + Mortgage Payoff) = Net Proceeds
Commission AmountSale Price × Commission Rate % = Total Commission
