Free cheat sheet · All states
Retake Rules & Exam-Day Checklist (All States)
Exactly what happens after a failed attempt — portion retakes, deadlines, the rules state by state — plus the exam-day checklist that avoids a wasted trip.
Failing a portion is common — about 4 in 10 first attempts miss. What separates candidates who recover quickly is knowing the retake machinery cold before they rebook.
This guide covers every state we serve — the retake rules and the exam-day logistics that trip people up.
The universal rules
- In most states the exam has two independently scored portions — national and state. Pass one, keep it; you only re-sit the portion you failed. (Florida is the exception: one combined exam, retaken whole.)
- You pay the exam fee again for each retake attempt, and you rebook through your state's testing vendor — Pearson VUE in most states, PSI in Washington.
- Your passing results have a validity window — don't let a passed portion expire while you delay the other.
Texas specifics
- Pass standard: 56 of 80 national, 28 of 40 state (70% each).
- After failing the SAME portion three times, TREC requires 30 hours of additional qualifying education per failed portion before you can test again.
- Your license application stays open for one year — all exam attempts must fit inside it.
What else is in this cheat sheet
- Pennsylvania specifics
- North Carolina specifics
- Nevada specifics
- Washington specifics
- Florida specifics
- Before you rebook
- Exam-day checklist
Common questions
Is this cheat sheet really free?
Yes. Enter an email and the full sheet unlocks — there's no card, no trial, and no charge later. The email is how we send the occasional practice tip; unsubscribe whenever.
Can I print it?
It's laid out to print cleanly on standard paper once unlocked, so you can keep it beside you while you study rather than reading it on a screen.
Will memorising this pass the exam?
No, and we'd rather say so. A cheat sheet consolidates what you already half-know and exposes what you don't. Passing comes from working real questions until the reasoning is automatic — the sheet is a companion to that, not a substitute.
Are these facts verified?
They're written from each state's published statutes, commission rules and the testing vendor's content outline. Rules do change; where something is time-sensitive we say so, and you should confirm anything decisive with your state commission.
Use it, don't just read it
Work through free practice questions on the same topics, drill the exam vocabulary, check where you stand, or browse the other cheat sheets.