- The CT-RE-B exam has 120 questions worth 125 points across 180 minutes, split into general and state portions.
- Contracts (19%) and Connecticut Laws Governing the Activities of Licensees (26.67%) are the two heaviest domains overall.
- Each portion - general and state - requires a separate 75% score to pass.
- Domains 12-16 draw from Connecticut-specific statutes, not national real estate theory.
How the CT-RE-B Exam Is Structured
The Connecticut Real Estate Broker Exam (CT-RE-B) is a closed-book, computer-delivered test administered by PSI on behalf of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection and the Connecticut Real Estate Commission. Candidates sit for 120 total questions worth 125 points, delivered in two distinct portions within a 180-minute window. PSI may also insert 5-10 unscored experimental questions that look identical to scored items, so there's no way to identify or skip them strategically.
The general portion contains 75 questions worth 80 points and covers Domains 1-11 - the national-style broker knowledge areas. The state portion contains 45 questions worth 40 points and covers Domains 12-16 - Connecticut-specific law and practice. Some national broker items are worth up to two points each, which is why raw question counts and point totals don't align one-to-one. Critically, each portion is scored independently, and you must hit 75% on both the general and state sections to pass - a strong general score cannot offset a weak state score, or vice versa. For a full breakdown of exactly how the 75% threshold is calculated on each portion, see the CT-RE-B Passing Score 2026 guide.
General Portion: Domains 1-11
These eleven domains make up the 75-question, 80-point general portion. They mirror the broker-level knowledge expected on national real estate licensing frameworks, but Connecticut candidates should still expect Connecticut market context woven into scenario questions.
Domain 1: Property Ownership (10%)
Covers estates in land, forms of ownership, and the legal bundle of rights attached to real property.
- Fee simple, life estates, and concurrent ownership structures
- Distinctions between real and personal property
Domain 2: Land Use Controls (5%)
Zoning, subdivision regulation, and government restrictions on how property can be developed or used.
- Zoning classifications and variances
- Environmental and building code overlays
Domain 3: Valuation (8%)
Appraisal approaches and the factors that influence market value opinions brokers must be able to interpret.
- Sales comparison, cost, and income approaches
- Factors that affect value beyond comparable sales
Domain 4: Financing (9%)
Mortgage instruments, loan types, and the financing process from application through closing.
- Conventional vs. government-backed loan structures
- Loan-to-value ratios and underwriting basics
Domain 5: Contracts (19%)
The single largest general-portion domain, covering listing agreements, purchase contracts, and contract law fundamentals brokers apply daily.
- Elements of a valid contract and breach remedies
- Listing agreement types and buyer representation agreements
Domain 6: Agency (13%)
Fiduciary duties, agency relationships, and disclosure obligations between brokers, agents, and clients.
- Types of agency relationships and dual agency rules
- Fiduciary duties owed to clients vs. customers
Domain 7: Property Disclosures (7%)
Required seller and broker disclosures related to property condition and material defects.
- Material fact disclosure obligations
- Environmental hazard disclosure requirements
Domain 8: Property Management (5%)
Landlord-tenant relationships and the broker's role in managing rental property on behalf of owners.
- Lease types and management agreement terms
- Owner and tenant responsibilities
Domain 9: Transfer of Title (6%)
How ownership legally passes from one party to another, including deeds and closing mechanics.
- Deed types and title transfer requirements
- Recording and closing procedures
Domain 10: Practice of Real Estate (12%)
Day-to-day broker operations, professional standards, and business practice rules that apply across transactions.
- Advertising and marketing compliance
- Trust account and recordkeeping standards
Domain 11: Real Estate Calculations (6%)
Applied math used in commission splits, prorations, and financing scenarios.
- Commission and net-to-seller calculations
- Proration and amortization math
Connecticut State Portion: Domains 12-16
The state portion is where CT-RE-B candidates most often lose points, because these five domains test statutes and regulations specific to Connecticut rather than general real estate theory. State percentages are calculated from PSI's official item counts within the 45-question state portion, not from the exam total.
Domain 12: Connecticut Real Estate Licensing Requirements (15.56%)
Covers the licensing pathway itself - education hours, experience documentation, and the requirements a candidate had to meet just to sit for this exam.
- Salesperson-to-broker transition requirements
- Education hour breakdowns by course category
Domain 13: Connecticut Laws Governing the Activities of Licensees (26.67%)
The largest domain on the entire exam. It governs how licensees must conduct business day to day under Connecticut statute.
- Recordkeeping and escrow account rules under Connecticut law
- Disciplinary grounds and license suspension triggers
Domain 14: Connecticut Real Estate Agency (22.22%)
Connecticut's specific agency disclosure statutes and how they differ in application from the general-portion agency concepts in Domain 6.
- Connecticut agency disclosure form requirements
- Dual and designated agency under state statute
Domain 15: Connecticut-Specific Real Estate Laws (17.78%)
Fair housing, consumer protection, and other Connecticut statutory provisions that layer on top of federal requirements.
- Connecticut fair housing protections
- State-specific consumer protection statutes
Domain 16: Brokers Exam Only (17.78%)
Content unique to the broker-level exam and not tested on the salesperson exam, reflecting supervisory and business-ownership responsibilities.
- Broker supervisory duties over affiliated licensees
- Brokerage business structure and office requirements
Key Takeaway
Domains 12-16 together decide your entire state-portion score. Because Domain 13 alone accounts for over a quarter of that portion, it deserves more raw study hours than any single general-portion domain except Contracts.
Domain Weight Comparison Table
Seeing all 16 domains side by side makes it easier to allocate study time proportionally instead of spreading effort evenly across topics that carry very different point values.
| Domain | Portion | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Domain 5: Contracts | General | 19% |
| Domain 6: Agency | General | 13% |
| Domain 10: Practice of Real Estate | General | 12% |
| Domain 1: Property Ownership | General | 10% |
| Domain 4: Financing | General | 9% |
| Domain 3: Valuation | General | 8% |
| Domain 7: Property Disclosures | General | 7% |
| Domain 9: Transfer of Title | General | 6% |
| Domain 11: Real Estate Calculations | General | 6% |
| Domain 2: Land Use Controls | General | 5% |
| Domain 8: Property Management | General | 5% |
| Domain 13: CT Laws Governing Licensee Activities | State | 26.67% |
| Domain 14: Connecticut Real Estate Agency | State | 22.22% |
| Domain 15: Connecticut-Specific Real Estate Laws | State | 17.78% |
| Domain 16: Brokers Exam Only | State | 17.78% |
| Domain 12: CT Licensing Requirements | State | 15.56% |
Scheduling Your Prep Around Domain Weight
Rather than studying all 16 domains in the order they're listed in the bulletin, allocate calendar time proportional to point value. A candidate with roughly six weeks before test day might structure prep like this:
Highest-Weight General Domains
- Contracts (19%) and Agency (13%) - the two heaviest general-portion domains
- Practice of Real Estate (12%) fundamentals
Remaining General Domains
- Property Ownership, Financing, Valuation, Disclosures
- Transfer of Title, Calculations, Land Use, Property Management
State Portion Priority Domains
- Connecticut Laws Governing the Activities of Licensees (26.67%)
- Connecticut Real Estate Agency (22.22%)
Remaining State Domains + Full Review
- Connecticut-Specific Real Estate Laws, Brokers Exam Only, Licensing Requirements
- Timed practice sessions mirroring the 180-minute format
This weighting approach - reviewing heavier domains first, then circling back with spaced repetition closer to test day - is covered in more depth in the CT-RE-B Study Guide 2026, which maps out a full first-attempt strategy. If you're still deciding how demanding this exam actually is relative to your current knowledge base, the How Hard Is the CT-RE-B Exam? guide walks through the difficulty factors domain by domain.
Registration, Fees, and Eligibility Mechanics
Before you can sit for the CT-RE-B exam, Connecticut requires that you already hold an active Connecticut salesperson license for at least three years, with documentation of 1,500 hours and at least four transactions completed in the immediately preceding three years. On the education side, candidates must complete 60 hours of Real Estate Principles and Practices, 15 hours of Brokerage Principles and Practices, 15 hours of Legal Compliance, and either 30 elective hours or the alternative path of 20 documented transactions.
Once eligible, the first exam attempt costs $59, with retakes priced at $51. The state license application fee is $120, and broker license activation runs $1,150. Licenses expire on November 30 of even-numbered years and require 12 hours of continuing education per two-year renewal cycle. For the complete prerequisite checklist and documentation requirements, see the CT-RE-B Requirements 2026 guide, and for a full breakdown of every fee involved from application through activation, see the CT-RE-B Certification Cost 2026 guide.
Who Hires Connecticut Brokers
Passing the CT-RE-B exam and activating a broker license opens paths beyond standard salesperson work - supervising affiliated agents, opening an independent brokerage, or taking on managing broker roles at existing firms. Because Domain 16 (Brokers Exam Only) and Domain 13 (Connecticut Laws Governing the Activities of Licensees) both test supervisory and compliance responsibilities so heavily, hiring firms expect broker candidates to already understand office management, trust accounting oversight, and licensee supervision before they walk in the door. If you're weighing whether the credential translates into stronger job prospects or compensation, the CT-RE-B Salary Guide 2026 and Is the CT-RE-B Certification Worth It? analysis both cover that ground in detail.
Reviewing all 16 domains side by side is also the fastest way to confirm you're not missing a category entirely. Once you've mapped the content, running full-length timed sets on our CT-RE-B practice test platform is the best way to see which domains still need work before test day. A condensed version of every domain and rule referenced here is also available in the CT-RE-B Cheat Sheet 2026 for last-minute review.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 16 total domains: 11 general-portion domains (Domains 1-11) and 5 Connecticut state-portion domains (Domains 12-16).
Connecticut Laws Governing the Activities of Licensees (Domain 13) is the largest single domain, worth 26.67% of the state portion. Contracts (Domain 5) is the largest general-portion domain at 19%.
Yes. Each portion requires a 75% score independently - a high score on one portion does not offset a low score on the other.
They test different material rather than being inherently harder - state domains focus on Connecticut-specific statutes and licensee obligations, which candidates often find less familiar than general real estate theory.
It's a closed-book, computer-delivered exam administered by PSI, taken either at a test center or through remote proctoring, with 120 questions across 180 minutes.