- AK-REB stands for the Alaska Real Estate Broker Exam, administered through Pearson VUE for the Alaska Real Estate Commission.
- The exam has 150-155 questions (140 scored) covering 80 National/General and 60 Alaska law items across 15 domains.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 75 out of 100 on each part - not 75% of questions correct.
- Failing either the national or Alaska law portion means retaking the entire exam, not just the failed half.
What Does AK-REB Mean?
AK-REB stands for the Alaska Real Estate Broker Exam, the state-level licensing test that the Alaska Real Estate Commission requires before someone can practice as a broker or associate broker in Alaska. It's a computer-based, proctored exam delivered at authorized test centers through Pearson VUE, and it exists specifically to confirm that a candidate understands both general real estate principles and the Alaska-specific statutes and rules that govern brokerage activity in the state.
The acronym gets confused with other credentials that share the same letters in different industries, so it's worth being precise here: on this site, and in this article, AK-REB refers only to the Alaska broker licensing exam. If you're researching this credential for the first time, our overview of what is AK-REB and the deeper explainer on AK-REB meaning both walk through the same definition from different angles.
What the AK-REB Exam Actually Covers
The exam is built around 15 domains, and understanding how they're grouped matters more than most candidates realize. The first eight domains make up the National/General portion (80 scored questions), while the remaining seven make up the Alaska law portion (60 scored questions). This split isn't cosmetic - it determines how the exam is scored and retaken, which we'll cover shortly.
National/General Domains (Domains 1-8, 80 scored items)
These questions test universal real estate concepts you'd need to know in any U.S. jurisdiction.
- Domain 1: Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, and Property Use - 10 items
- Domain 2: Forms of Ownership, Transfer, and Recording of Title - 8 items
- Domain 3: Property Value and Appraisal - 10 items
- Domain 4: Real Estate Contracts and Agency - 15 items
- Domain 5: Real Estate Practice - 12 items
- Domain 6: Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues - 9 items
- Domain 7: Financing and Settlement - 8 items
- Domain 8: Real Estate Math Calculations - 8 items
Alaska Law Domains (Domains 9-15, 60 scored items)
These questions are unique to Alaska and cannot be studied from a generic national prep book.
- Domain 9: Powers of the Alaska Real Estate Commission - 6 items
- Domain 10: Licensing - 6 items
- Domain 11: Licensee Duties and Disclosures to the Public - 9-11 items
- Domain 12: Requirements Governing the Activities of Licensees - 9 items
- Domain 13: Personal Services Agreements - 4-6 items
- Domain 14: Property Management - 9 items
- Domain 15: Broker Only - 15 items
Notice that Domain 15 (Broker Only) carries the heaviest weighting in the Alaska law section at 15 items - logical, since this exam is specifically for broker and associate broker licensure, not entry-level salespersons. Domain 4 (Real Estate Contracts and Agency) is the heaviest weight on the national side at 15 items. If you only have time to deeply master two domains, these are the two with outsized point value.
The National/General outline used for this exam has been effective since April 1, 2025, while the Alaska law outline has been in effect since September 14, 2023. If your study materials predate those dates, verify they've been updated - outdated outlines are a common reason candidates get blindsided by unfamiliar question phrasing. For a full breakdown of every domain with study priorities, see the AK-REB Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 15 Content Areas.
Exam Format, Timing, and Test-Day Rules
The AK-REB exam gives candidates 4 hours to answer 150-155 total questions. Of those, 140 are scored (80 national, 60 Alaska law) and 10-15 are unidentified pretest items mixed in without indication of which questions count. This means every question should be treated as if it counts, since you can't tell the scored items apart from the pretest ones.
- Delivery method: Computer-based, administered at a Pearson VUE test center (not remote or online-proctored).
- Time allowed: 4 hours total for both sections combined.
- Reference materials: Not permitted at any point during the exam.
- Calculators: A silent, handheld, nonprinting calculator without an alphabetic keypad is allowed. Financial calculators are specifically prohibited.
One structural detail trips up more candidates than the content itself: passing one section and failing the other requires retaking the entire exam - both the national and Alaska law portions - not just the section you failed. This changes how you should allocate study time; there's no benefit to "banking" a passed section, so both halves need to be exam-ready on the same day. Our detailed guide on AK-REB Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass goes deeper into how this full-retake rule should shape your prep schedule.
Eligibility, Registration, and Fees
Before you can sit for the AK-REB, the Alaska Real Estate Commission requires you to meet several prerequisites:
- Be at least 22 years old.
- Complete 30 classroom hours of approved broker training within the 18 months immediately before applying.
- Document 36 months of active and continuous real estate licensee experience within the preceding 60 months.
The exam itself costs $115 and is scheduled through Pearson VUE. After passing, you don't automatically hold a license - you must submit a complete application within six months of your passing exam, carry errors-and-omissions insurance, and satisfy one of two structural requirements depending on the license type you're pursuing: brokers must register an office, while associate brokers must affiliate with an already-licensed broker.
These requirements are non-negotiable gatekeepers, so it's worth confirming your eligibility timeline well before you schedule a test date. The full breakdown of documentation, deadlines, and edge cases is covered in AK-REB Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify, and scheduling logistics are covered in AK-REB Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Key Takeaway
Map your 36-month experience window and 18-month training window against your intended test date early - both are hard cutoffs, and missing either one delays your entire application, regardless of how you perform on the exam.
Who Needs the AK-REB and Why
The AK-REB is required specifically for anyone seeking to become a licensed broker or associate broker in Alaska - it is not the entry-level salesperson exam. That distinction matters because the experience prerequisite (36 months of active licensee work) assumes candidates are already working real estate professionals moving up from a salesperson role, not newcomers to the industry.
Typical candidates include:
- Licensed Alaska real estate salespeople who have accumulated the required active experience and want to open or manage their own office.
- Experienced agents seeking associate broker status to affiliate under a broker with more autonomy and higher compensation structures.
- Property managers whose expanding responsibilities require broker-level licensure (relevant to the heavily weighted Domain 14: Property Management).
Because the credential sits at a career inflection point rather than an entry point, the exam assumes a working knowledge of day-to-day practice and focuses testing energy on the legal, fiduciary, and administrative responsibilities that come with broker-level authority - hence the heavy weighting on Domain 4 (Contracts and Agency), Domain 11 (Licensee Duties and Disclosures), and Domain 15 (Broker Only). If you're weighing whether the investment of time and the $115 fee is worthwhile for your career stage, see Is the AK-REB Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026.
How Scoring Works
This is one of the most misunderstood parts of the AK-REB, so it's worth stating plainly: the passing score is 75 on a 0-100 scaled score - not 75% of questions answered correctly. Scaled scoring adjusts for the fact that different exam forms include different pretest items and slightly different difficulty distributions, so a raw percentage of correct answers doesn't map directly onto the reported score.
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total questions delivered | 150-155 |
| Scored questions | 140 (80 national + 60 Alaska law) |
| Unscored pretest items | 10-15, unidentified |
| Passing score | 75 on a 0-100 scaled score |
| Time allowed | 4 hours |
| Exam fee | $115 |
Because pretest items are mixed in without a label, you can't strategically skip questions you assume are unscored - every item deserves full attention. For a granular look at how the scaled score is calculated and what it means for your study targets, read AK-REB Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and How Hard Is the AK-REB Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Building a Domain-Based Study Plan
Rather than studying generically, allocate your prep time in proportion to each domain's question weight. Since Domain 4 (15 items) and Domain 15 (15 items) carry the most points, they deserve the most repetition - but don't neglect lower-weighted domains like Domain 13 (Personal Services Agreements, 4-6 items) simply because they're smaller, since every scored item matters toward the same 75-point threshold.
National/General Foundations
- Work through Domains 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 - property characteristics, ownership/title, appraisal, disclosures, and financing
- Practice legal description problems and title transfer scenarios
Heaviest National Weight
- Concentrate on Domain 4 (Contracts and Agency) and Domain 5 (Real Estate Practice) - the two largest national domains
- Drill Domain 8 math calculations using only a basic silent calculator, since financial calculators aren't allowed on test day
Alaska Law Core
- Study Domains 9, 10, 12, and 14 - Commission powers, licensing rules, licensee conduct requirements, and property management
- Cross-reference the September 2023 Alaska law outline to confirm current statute references
Broker-Specific Content
- Master Domain 15 (Broker Only) - the single heaviest Alaska law domain at 15 items
- Review Domain 11 (Licensee Duties and Disclosures, 9-11 items) and Domain 13 (Personal Services Agreements)
Full-Length Review
- Take timed practice exams that mirror the 150-155 question, 4-hour format
- Since failing either section means retaking both, confirm readiness across all 15 domains before scheduling
For a structured, week-by-week breakdown built specifically around these domain weights, see the AK-REB Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. And when you're ready to test your recall against realistic questions, our practice test platform mirrors the national/Alaska-law split so you can gauge readiness before paying the $115 exam fee.
After You Pass: Licensing and Renewal
Passing the AK-REB is not the finish line - it's a checkpoint with its own deadline. You have six months after passing to submit a complete license application, along with proof of errors-and-omissions insurance. Brokers must register an office at this stage; associate brokers must formally affiliate with a licensed broker.
Once licensed, Alaska real estate licenses expire on January 31 of even-numbered years. Renewal requires 20 continuing-education hours, split between 8 designated/core hours and 12 elective hours. Building this into your calendar early avoids a last-minute scramble near the expiration date.
For a full accounting of every fee involved - exam cost, application costs, insurance, and continuing education - see AK-REB Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. And if you're mapping out how this credential affects your earning potential or job prospects, the AK-REB Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis and AK-REB Jobs pages go into more detail on career outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
AK-REB stands for the Alaska Real Estate Broker Exam, the licensing test administered by the Alaska Real Estate Commission through Pearson VUE for broker and associate broker candidates.
No. The AK-REB is specifically for broker and associate broker licensure, which requires 36 months of active, continuous licensee experience within the preceding 60 months - it assumes you're already a working real estate professional.
The exam delivers 150-155 total questions (140 scored, plus 10-15 unidentified pretest items) and is scored on a 0-100 scaled basis. A score of 75 is required to pass - this is not the same as answering 75% of questions correctly.
You must retake the entire exam - both the National/General and Alaska law sections - even if you passed one part. There is no partial credit carried forward between attempts.
You may use a silent, handheld, nonprinting calculator without an alphabetic keypad. Financial calculators are explicitly prohibited, and no reference materials of any kind are allowed.