Becoming a New Hampshire real estate broker is a strong step forward in your career. Not only does this advanced license look great on a resume, it also allows you to work independently, open real estate brokerage firms, and manage other agents within these firms.

Getting the New Hampshire Real Estate Broker License is a fairly simple process, but it does require you to complete five steps, and have a few prerequisites before applying or taking the broker’s exam.

This guide covers all of these requirements in a simple, easy to understand way that will make it easier for you throughout this process.

New Hampshire Real Estate Agent vs Real Estate Broker

New Hampshire offers two different types of real estate license: Sales and Broker.

A sales agent’s license is the initial license that real estate agents get in order to sell real estate.

A broker’s license is an advanced license that allows the license holder to operate at a higher level within real estate businesses in New Hampshire.

People often confuse sales agents and brokers. A simple way to look at the difference is that holders of the sales agent’s license are called real estate agents, while holders of the broker’s license are called real estate brokers.

New Hampshire Real Estate Broker License Requirements

First, to be eligible for a real estate broker’s license, you must meet the prerequisites to become a real estate broker in New Hampshire.

These prerequisites are:

• Being employed by an active principal broker for a year or having 2,000 part-time hours as a licensed salesperson in the state within five years of the application. You can also show proof of equivalence.
• Submitting evidence of at least six real estate transactions.

How to Become a Real Estate Broker in New Hampshire

Once you meet all the requirements listed above, you can follow these five steps to easily help you get your real estate broker license in New Hampshire.

Step 1: Complete a New Hampshire Broker Pre-Licensing Course

The first step to getting your real estate broker license in New Hampshire is to take 60 classroom hours of qualifying real estate courses.

These real estate courses mostly cover the fundamentals of working in real estate and must be completed within six months of your broker’s license application. This requirement is divided into two sections: your classwork and your experience.

You will need to take 60 hours of approved coursework to be able to seek your broker’s license. There is an education requirement, so remember that you may need to show proof of courses such as:

• Accounting
• Real Estate Law
• Appraisal
• Real Estate Investment

Additionally, the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission will accept real estate continuing education (CE) courses completed within the last 24 months toward the 60 hours required. You may also be able to show that you attended a qualified college or university to obtain a degree in real estate.

New Hampshire offers reciprocity, so if you want to work in New Hampshire but already have your license, you should fill out the examination registration form and include your letter of Good Standing with it to be considered.

After completing the courses, you must also pass the final broker course exam. The minimum passing grade is 70%. The final pre-license exam is to be supervised by a proctor, whether on-site or online. This is not the same as the state broker exam.

Step 2: Submit a New Hampshire Broker License Application

Once you meet the broker pre-licensing education requirements and pass the course exam, you can now apply for your license.

To submit your broker license application, you must mail your application to the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission. The application fee is $110. You need to submit the form to:

New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
Attn: Real Estate Licensing
7 Eagle Square
Concord, NH 03301

You will need to have your principal broker and character witnesses sign the document and include all vital documents, such as your evidence of good reputation and proof of completion of your 60-hour course in real estate.

Step 3: Get a Background Check

After submitting your license application, you need to submit to a background check. To do this, you will go to the New Hampshire Department of Safety’s website and click on “Request Online NH Criminal Conviction Check.”

The cost of this background check is $25.

If you need to have your criminal conviction check as well as your fingerprints, you will need to click on “Schedule a New Appointment” for fingerprinting on the same website. The cost is $48.25. These are the full guidelines for real estate salespersons and brokers.

Step 4: Pass the New Hampshire Real Estate Broker Exam

After completing the steps above, you must take the real estate broker licensing exam via PSI Exams.

The fee for the broker exam is $170. The exam is given Monday through Friday with alternating Saturdays.

The examination for New Hampshire is computer-based. You must take the exam within six months of your pre-licensing course.

The test requires a sponsor. Once you have one, you will need to study for the national and state sections of the test. In total, you have 240 minutes to take the exam, 150 for the national portion and 90 for the state portion.

For more information on the exam, PSI provides a Candidate Handbook containing the New Hampshire Real Estate Broker Exam content outline.

Taking an exam prep course provides you helpful tools and materials, such as quizzes and specific state-only practice exams, to increase your chances of passing your broker license exam the first time.

Step 5: Application Review 

You need to submit your passing exam score with your real estate license application. You should know your exam results as soon as you’re finished since it’s a computer-graded test. You will receive a printed score report when you leave.

If you don’t pass, you’ll get a diagnostic report, so you can see if you need to take the national portion, state portion or both again. You can retake the exam as long as you pay the same exam fee. You are limited to eight attempts within six months.

Congratulations!

Now that you’ve successfully passed the broker licensing exam and obtained your license, there are a few things you need to do to keep your broker license active and updated.

New Hampshire Real Estate Broker License Renewal and CE

In New Hampshire, you must renew your real estate broker license every two years. You will need to attend accredited CE courses that are made up of at least three hours of core education and 12 hours of electives.

The cost to renew your license is $110.

NHOPLC – New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification

Mailing Address:

New Hampshire Real Estate Commission
7 Eagle Square
Concord, NH 03301-2412

Phone: (603) 271-0240

Email: Ann.M.Smethurst@oplc.nh.gov

Website: https://www.oplc.nh.gov/real-estate-commission/