- AR-RE-S is the Arkansas Real Estate Commission's licensing exam, delivered via Pearson VUE.
- The exam has two portions: 80 scored national questions and 30 scored Arkansas-law questions.
- You need a scaled score of 70 on each portion separately, not a combined average.
- Domain 11 (Statutory Requirements Governing Licensee Activities) is worth 46.67% of the law portion alone.
What AR-RE-S Actually Is
AR-RE-S stands for the Arkansas Real Estate Salesperson Exam, the licensing test administered on behalf of the Arkansas Real Estate Commission (AREC) through Pearson Professional Assessments (Pearson VUE) testing centers. It is the gate you must pass before AREC will issue you an active real estate salesperson license in Arkansas. It is not a voluntary professional certification you add to a resume for prestige - it is the mandatory state exam every aspiring Arkansas agent has to clear.
If you're just starting to research this credential, it helps to read a plain-language breakdown of what AR-RE-S is and how the acronym is used across the licensing process, or check what the AR-RE-S name means in the context of Arkansas real estate law specifically.
Exam Structure and Format
The AR-RE-S is a four-hour, closed-book, computer-based multiple-choice exam delivered at Pearson VUE test centers. In total, candidates see 125 delivered questions, split into two portions:
- National/general portion: 80 scored questions plus 5 unscored pretest questions (85 total)
- Arkansas-law portion: 30 scored questions plus 10 unscored pretest questions (40 total)
You won't know which questions are the unscored pretest items, so every question deserves the same level of attention. The exam outlines that define what's tested were updated on different timelines: the national outline took effect April 1, 2025, and the Arkansas-law outline took effect December 1, 2025, with the current handbook version dated June 2026. Always confirm you're studying against the current outline before you schedule.
Key Takeaway
Because the two portions are scored separately, weakness in Arkansas-law content can sink you even if you're strong on national concepts - and vice versa. Study both halves seriously.
The 13 Domains Explained
AR-RE-S content is organized into 13 domains split across the two portions. Domains 1-8 belong to the national/general portion; Domains 9-13 belong to the Arkansas-law portion. Percentages are calculated from the scored-item counts within each portion, not from the full 125-question total.
National/General Portion (Domains 1-8)
Domain 1: Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, and Property Use (13.75%)
Covers land descriptions, property types, and how physical characteristics affect use and value.
- Metes-and-bounds and other legal description methods
Domain 4: Real Estate Contracts and Agency (20%)
The single largest national domain - contract elements, listing agreements, offers, and agency relationships.
- Expect heavy scenario-based questions here
Domain 8: Real Estate Math Calculations (8.75%)
Prorations, commissions, loan-to-value ratios, and area/measurement problems.
- Practice calculator-free math since the exam is closed-book
Domains 2 (Forms of Ownership, Transfer, and Recording of Title), 3 (Property Value and Appraisal), 5 (Real Estate Practice), 6 (Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues), and 7 (Financing and Settlement) round out the national portion, each carrying meaningful but smaller weight.
Arkansas-Law Portion (Domains 9-13)
Domain 11: Statutory Requirements Governing the Activities of Licensees (46.67%)
By far the largest domain on the entire exam. Nearly half of the Arkansas-law portion tests your knowledge of the statutes that govern day-to-day licensee conduct.
- Prioritize this domain above all others in your final review weeks
Domain 13: Agency Relationships and Disclosures (26.67%)
Arkansas-specific agency disclosure rules and how they differ from generic national agency concepts covered in Domain 4.
- Know exactly when and how disclosures must be made under Arkansas law
Domains 9 (Duties and Powers of the Real Estate Commission), 10 (Licensing Requirements), and 12 (Other Statutory Requirements) each carry smaller single-digit-to-low-double-digit weights, but they're still testable and shouldn't be skipped.
For a full breakdown of every domain with subtopic lists, see the AR-RE-S Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 13 Content Areas. If you want a condensed reference for last-minute review, the AR-RE-S Cheat Sheet 2026 summarizes must-know facts by domain.
| Portion | Scored Questions | Unscored Pretest | Domains | Passing Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National/General | 80 | 5 | 1-8 | Scaled score of 70 |
| Arkansas-Law | 30 | 10 | 9-13 | Scaled score of 70 |
Who Can Sit for the Exam
Before you can even schedule the AR-RE-S, AREC requires you to meet several prerequisites:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Complete 60 approved classroom hours, including a minimum of 30 hours in basic principles
- Submit state and federal background-check materials
- Receive formal AREC authorization to test
None of this happens automatically - you apply, complete coursework through an approved provider, and wait for AREC to clear you before Pearson VUE will let you book a seat. A detailed walkthrough of every step is available in AR-RE-S Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Registration, Fees, and Scheduling
There is no membership tier or subscription model tied to AR-RE-S - you simply pay per attempt. The fee structure is straightforward:
- $75 when you schedule both the national and Arkansas-law components together
- $75 per component if you schedule them separately
That means testing both portions in one sitting doesn't cost more than testing them separately - but if you fail one portion, you'll pay again just for that portion on retake. A full cost breakdown, including what to budget for coursework and materials on top of the exam fee, is covered in AR-RE-S Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. For scheduling windows and how far in advance to book a Pearson VUE seat, see AR-RE-S Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Scoring and Retesting Rules
Each portion is scored on its own scale, and you need a scaled score of 70 on the national portion AND a scaled score of 70 on the Arkansas-law portion - there's no averaging between the two. Pass one and fail the other, and you only need to retest the failed portion.
This retention window is one of the most overlooked mechanics of the exam. Candidates sometimes pass the national portion, delay scheduling the Arkansas-law portion, and end up losing their progress entirely. Plan your two sittings close together. For the exact scoring mechanics and how the scaled score is calculated from raw answers, see AR-RE-S Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
After You Pass
Passing both portions isn't the finish line - it starts a clock. AREC requires:
- Initial licensing materials submitted within 90 days after passing
- 18 post-license education hours completed within six months of licensure
- Annual license renewal, with 7 CE hours required for active renewal in 2026
Missing the 90-day licensing deadline or the six-month post-license education deadline can create real complications, so mark both dates the moment you get your passing results.
Who Hires AR-RE-S Holders
Passing the AR-RE-S is the credential Arkansas brokerages check before they'll bring you on as a salesperson. Residential brokerages, commercial firms, and independent broker teams across the state all require an active AREC license as a condition of affiliation - it's not optional or supplemental. Once licensed, you're legally permitted to represent buyers and sellers, negotiate contracts, and collect commission under a sponsoring broker.
If you're weighing whether the time and cost of licensing pays off compared to other paths into real estate work, Is the AR-RE-S Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 lays out the tradeoffs. For a look at what roles typically open up once you're licensed, see AR-RE-S Jobs, and for earnings context, AR-RE-S Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis walks through how compensation structures typically work for newly licensed agents.
How to Prepare Without Wasting Time
Because Domain 11 alone accounts for nearly half the Arkansas-law portion's scored questions, your study time should not be split evenly across all 13 domains. A more efficient approach front-loads the heaviest domains first, then circles back for spaced review closer to your test date.
National Portion: Heavy Domains
- Domain 4 (Contracts and Agency, 20%)
- Domain 1 and Domain 3 (13.75% each)
National Portion: Remaining Domains
- Domains 2, 5, 6, 7, 8
- Drill math problems (Domain 8) by hand since the exam is closed-book
Arkansas-Law Portion: Domain 11 Deep Dive
- Spend the majority of these two weeks solely on Domain 11 statutes
- Cross-reference with Domain 13 agency disclosure rules
Arkansas-Law Portion: Domains 9, 10, 12
- Commission duties, licensing requirements, other statutory items
Full Review and Timed Practice
- Simulate the four-hour closed-book format under real time pressure
For a structured week-by-week plan with recommended resources, read the AR-RE-S Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you want an honest assessment of how challenging candidates find each portion, How Hard Is the AR-RE-S Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 covers common trouble spots, and AR-RE-S Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows discusses available pass-rate information. You can also work through realistic questions on our practice test platform to get comfortable with the multiple-choice format before test day, and revisit the main practice hub as you rotate through domains.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's administered as two separately scored portions - national/general and Arkansas-law - though they can be scheduled together in one appointment or booked separately.
Your passing score on that portion is retained for six months, giving you time to retest the other portion without repeating the one you already passed.
Domain 11 (Statutory Requirements Governing the Activities of Licensees) carries 46.67% of the Arkansas-law portion, making it the single highest-value domain to master.
It's $75 when both components are scheduled together, or $75 per component if scheduled separately - there's no membership fee involved.
Yes. AREC requires 60 approved classroom hours, including at least 30 hours in basic principles, plus background-check clearance and AREC authorization before you can schedule with Pearson VUE.