Who is Required to have a Real Estate License in North Carolina? In general, any person or business entity who transacts real estate brokerage business for compensation as an agent for another must first obtain a real estate license issued by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission. The Real Estate Commission, an independent government agency of the State of North Carolina, is responsible for licensing and regulating all real estate brokers in this state. Operating as a real estate broker in North Carolina without the proper license is a criminal offense. For more information concerning North Carolina real estate licenses and the laws and rules governing real estate brokerage practice in North Carolina, visit the Commission’s website at www.ncrec.gov.