- The AZ-RES is two separate exams: General (80 scored questions, 150 minutes) and State (60 scored questions, 90 minutes).
- General covers Domains 1-8; State covers Domains 9-19, effective January 1, 2026 under the revised outline.
- Domain 4 (Real Estate Contracts and Agency) carries the heaviest General weight at 16 scored questions.
- Domain 16 (Contracts) is the heaviest State domain at 8 scored questions.
How the AZ-RES Exam Is Structured
Before diving into content areas, it helps to understand how the Arizona Department of Real Estate and Pearson VUE split the salesperson exam into two distinct, separately scored tests. The General exam contains 80 scored questions plus 5 unscored pretest items, with 150 minutes to complete it. The State exam contains 60 scored questions plus 5 unscored pretest items, with 90 minutes allotted. Both must be passed at 75% or higher - there's no averaging between them.
These 19 domains are split cleanly between the two exams: Domains 1 through 8 belong to General, and Domains 9 through 19 belong to State. The General outline took effect April 1, 2025, while the State outline is effective January 1, 2026, aligning with ADRE's launch of the revised salesperson exam on January 2, 2026. If you're new to the licensing process entirely, the What Is AZ-RES? overview and the AZ-RES Requirements 2026 guide fill in the eligibility background this article assumes.
General Exam: Domains 1-8
The General exam tests broad, transferable real estate knowledge - the kind that would apply in almost any U.S. jurisdiction - before the State exam narrows in on Arizona-specific law. Here's how the 80 scored questions break down across the eight domains.
Domain 1: Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, and Property Use (11 questions)
Covers the physical and legal nature of real property - fixtures vs. personal property, metes and bounds, government survey, and lot-block descriptions, plus zoning and land use classifications.
- Distinguishing real vs. personal property in transaction scenarios
- Reading and interpreting legal descriptions
- Understanding easements, encroachments, and use restrictions
Domain 2: Forms of Ownership, Transfer, and Recording of Title (9 questions)
Focuses on how title is held (sole ownership, joint tenancy, community property) and how it moves - deeds, escrow, and the recording system that gives transfers legal effect.
- Deed types and their guarantees
- Chain of title and constructive notice through recording
- Transfer methods including intestate succession
Domain 3: Property Value and Appraisal (11 questions)
Covers the three approaches to value, the appraisal process, and the economic and physical factors that drive market value.
- Sales comparison, cost, and income approaches
- Highest and best use analysis
- Depreciation and obsolescence concepts
Domain 4: Real Estate Contracts and Agency (16 questions)
The single heaviest domain on the entire exam. Expect deep coverage of contract elements, listing and buyer agreements, and the fundamentals of agency relationships and fiduciary duties.
- Essential elements of a valid contract
- Offer, acceptance, and counteroffer mechanics
- Types of agency and duties owed to clients vs. customers
Domain 5: Real Estate Practice (10 questions)
Day-to-day transaction workflow - listing procedures, showing property, and closing coordination from a general practice standpoint.
- Listing agreement types and terms
- Marketing and showing obligations
- Coordinating inspections and closing timelines
Domain 6: Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues (9 questions)
Material fact disclosure obligations and environmental hazards that affect marketability and liability.
- Seller property disclosure requirements
- Lead-based paint and other hazard disclosures
- Environmental contamination and its transaction impact
Domain 7: Financing and Settlement (7 questions)
Loan types, the financing process, and how settlement/closing statements are prepared and reconciled.
- Conventional, FHA, and VA loan basics
- Loan-to-value and qualification concepts
- Settlement statement line items and prorations
Domain 8: Real Estate Math Calculations (7 questions)
Applied math - commissions, prorations, area/measurement, and financing calculations. This is where the permitted calculator becomes essential.
- Commission splits and net-to-seller math
- Property tax and insurance prorations
- Area, volume, and percentage-based problems
State Exam: Domains 9-19
The State exam shifts entirely to Arizona-specific statutes, ADRE rules, and licensee obligations. This is the section most affected by the January 2026 outline revision, so candidates studying older materials should be especially careful. If you're unsure whether your prep materials reflect the current outline, cross-check against the AZ-RES Cheat Sheet 2026 before test day.
Domain 9: Arizona Real Estate Regulatory Framework (5 questions)
ADRE's structure, licensing authority, and how the Arizona Real Estate Commissioner enforces statutes and rules.
- ADRE's role and disciplinary authority
- License categories and supervision requirements
Domain 10: Arizona Consumer Protection Laws (5 questions)
Statutes designed to shield buyers and sellers from misrepresentation, fraud, and unfair practices in Arizona transactions.
- Fair housing protections under state law
- Anti-fraud and misrepresentation statutes
Domain 11: Advertising (5 questions)
ADRE's rules on how licensees may advertise listings, themselves, and their brokerage.
- Required broker identification in ads
- Prohibited or misleading advertising practices
Domain 12: Arizona Agency (6 questions)
Arizona-specific agency law layered on top of the general agency concepts from Domain 4, including disclosed dual agency rules unique to the state.
- Arizona's agency disclosure requirements
- Limited representation and designated agency nuances
Domain 13: Licensee Duties and Obligations (6 questions)
Statutory duties every Arizona salesperson owes to clients, customers, and the broker of record.
- Supervision and broker accountability structure
- Recordkeeping and trust fund handling duties
Domain 14: Licensee Competencies and Duties (6 questions)
Professional competency standards and continuing obligations expected of an active Arizona licensee.
- Scope of practice boundaries
- Continuing education and license renewal obligations
Domain 15: Reasonable Skill and Care (6 questions)
The negligence standard applied to licensee conduct - what "reasonable" performance looks like in real transactions.
- Standard of care in representation
- Liability exposure for negligent omissions
Domain 16: Contracts (8 questions)
The heaviest domain on the State exam, covering Arizona-specific contract forms and enforcement - including the purchase contract used statewide.
- Arizona Association of REALTORS® contract terms
- Contingencies, addenda, and remedies for breach under Arizona law
Domain 17: Critical Business Services for a Real Estate Transaction (5 questions)
Title, escrow, and other third-party services that support Arizona closings and the licensee's role in coordinating them.
- Title company and escrow agent roles
- Home warranty and inspection service coordination
Domain 18: Ownership and Encumbrances (5 questions)
Arizona-specific treatment of liens, community property, and other encumbrances affecting marketable title.
- Community property with right of survivorship
- Mechanic's liens and judgment liens in Arizona
Domain 19: Foreclosure/Short Sale/Deed In-Lieu Process (3 questions)
The smallest domain by question count, but still tested - Arizona's trustee sale/foreclosure process and alternatives to foreclosure.
- Trustee sale timeline and notice requirements
- Short sale and deed-in-lieu procedural differences
General vs. State: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | General Exam | State Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Scored Questions | 80 | 60 |
| Unscored Pretest Questions | 5 | 5 |
| Time Allowed | 150 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Domains Covered | Domains 1-8 | Domains 9-19 |
| Outline Effective Date | April 1, 2025 | January 1, 2026 |
| Fee (if scheduled separately) | $70 | $60 |
| Passing Score | 75% | 75% |
Full pricing scenarios, including the $75 back-to-back combo option, are broken down further in the AZ-RES Certification Cost 2026 breakdown. For the exact numeric threshold each exam requires, see the AZ-RES Passing Score 2026 guide.
Using Domain Weighting to Plan Your Study Time
Because ADRE publishes exact scored-question counts per domain, you can allocate study time proportionally instead of guessing. Domain 4 (16 questions) and Domain 16 (8 questions) alone account for a disproportionate share of your combined score - together they represent roughly 15% of all scored questions across both exams. Domain 19, by contrast, is only 3 questions and shouldn't consume equal study time.
General Foundations
- Domain 1: legal descriptions and property characteristics
- Domain 2: title transfer and recording
- Domain 3: appraisal approaches
Heaviest General Domains
- Domain 4: contracts and agency fundamentals (highest weight)
- Domain 5: practice workflow
- Domain 8: math drills with your permitted calculator
Remaining General + State Regulatory
- Domains 6-7: disclosures, environmental, financing
- Domains 9-11: ADRE framework, consumer protection, advertising
Arizona-Specific Depth
- Domains 12-16: agency, duties, competencies, care standard, contracts
- Domains 17-19: business services, encumbrances, foreclosure
Key Takeaway
Weight your review time to match scored-question counts: Domains 4 and 16 deserve more hours than Domain 19, which contributes only 3 questions to your final score.
For a fuller methodology on pacing, practice testing frequency, and how to sequence review across your full prelicensing timeline, see the AZ-RES Study Guide 2026. If you want a candid read on where most candidates lose points, How Hard Is the AZ-RES Exam? walks through the difficulty profile of both exam halves.
Scheduling, Fees, and Retake Rules
Before you can schedule either exam, you must complete an approved 90-hour salesperson prelicensing course and pass its school final. From there, exams are booked through Pearson VUE at Arizona test centers only - there is no remote or online-proctored option for the AZ-RES.
- Combo scheduling: Booking General and State back-to-back costs $75 total.
- Separate scheduling: General alone costs $70; State alone costs $60.
- Retakes: Charged at the applicable exam fee, with a mandatory 24-hour wait after any attempt before rebooking.
- Playback review: After a second or later failure, you may schedule one 30-minute exam playback within 14 days and before your next attempt.
Licensure itself requires more than passing exams - applicants must be at least 18, complete a 6-hour Arizona Contract Writing course within two years of applying, hold a valid Level 1 Non-IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card, provide proof of legal presence, and apply within one year of passing. The AZ-RES Requirements 2026 guide covers each of these in detail, and AZ-RES Exam Dates 2026 explains scheduling windows and deadlines around the January 2026 outline changes.
Why These Domains Matter for Your Career
Every one of these 19 domains maps to something you'll actually do as a licensed Arizona salesperson: writing contracts (Domain 16), disclosing material facts (Domain 6), calculating commissions and prorations (Domain 8), and coordinating with title and escrow (Domain 17). Brokerages hiring newly licensed agents expect fluency in exactly this material from day one - it's not abstract exam trivia. If you're weighing whether the licensing investment pays off, the Is the AZ-RES Certification Worth It? analysis and the AZ-RES Salary Guide 2026 put the exam requirements in context against real earning potential. Once licensed, the AZ-RES Jobs overview outlines where new salespersons typically start.
Whichever domain feels weakest right now, reinforce it with realistic, domain-tagged practice questions rather than passive review. Running full-length simulations on our AZ