How to Get a Real Estate License in New Jersey

In order to kickstart your real estate career in New Jersey, it’s essential to obtain a New Jersey Real Estate License. However, despite the fact that the application process is mainly completed online nowadays, many applicants can still find it quite confusing and complicated.

For this reason, this How to Get a Real Estate License in New Jersey article will break down the main steps involved in the licensing process, covering everything from educational requirements to exam preparation and having your fingerprints taken.

New Jersey Real Estate License

In order to get your New Jersey real estate license and start working in the real estate industry, there are several key steps you’ll need to complete, including:

1. Ensuring You Meet the Licensing Eligibility Requirements
2. Completing the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education
3. Passing the New Jersey Real Estate Exam
4. Passing a Background Check
5. Finding a Sponsoring Broker
6. Submitting a License Application

In the sections below, we’ve explored each of these steps in more detail.

Step 1: Meet the New Jersey Real Estate License Requirements

Before continuing ahead with your application for a New Jersey real estate license, you’ll first need to confirm that you’re actually eligible for it by ensuring you meet the following prerequisites under N.J.S.A. 45:15-9:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must have graduated from high school (or equivalent)
• Provide proof to the Commission’s satisfaction that you possess good moral character

Be aware that you’ll be automatically ineligible for a license if you’ve been convicted of any of the following crimes (as well as any others of a similarly serious nature) in the five years immediately preceding your application:

• Burglary
• Forgery
• Robbery
• Theft offense (except shoplifting)
• Fraud

Note: New Jersey doesn’t offer reciprocity to license-holders from any other state — this means all applicants will be required to go through this entire process regardless of whether they were previously licensed or not.

Step 2: Complete the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education

In addition to the general requirements outlined above, there are certain educational prerequisites you’ll be expected to meet in order to be able to apply for a New Jersey real estate license.

In particular, you’ll be expected to complete 75 hours of pre-licensing education from an academic institution that’s been licensed by the Commission. According to N.J.S.A. 45:15-10, at least three hours of this total time must be spent on the subject of “ethics and ethical conduct in the profession of a real estate agent”.

As long as you abide by the above requirements, you can choose any pre-licensing education course, regardless of whether it’s composed of distance learning or in-class instruction.

Once you finish your prelicensing education, you’ll only have a year from the date of course completion to pass the licensing exam and submit a completed application to the New Jersey Real Estate Commission (REC).

Step 3: Pass the New Jersey Real Estate Exam

With this out of the way, the next step you’ll need to complete is to pass the New Jersey real estate exam. This four-hour exam, which is administered by PSI, is made up of 110 questions divided across two sections.

After successfully satisfying the requirements of your pre-licensing education, the course provider will contact PSI to update them electronically of your eligibility to sit the licensing exam.

In order to schedule your real estate exam, you’ll need to head over to the PSI website and make an online reservation. If this is your first time using the platform, you’ll be required to create an account, after which you’ll be shown step-by-step instructions on how to complete the reservation.

Bear in mind that you’ll be required to pay a $38 examination fee in order to make this reservation, though this fee remains the same regardless of how many retakes you may need (if any). In order to pass this exam, you’ll be required to obtain an overall score of at least 70%.

Step 4: Passing a Background Check

Under New Jersey law, the next step you’ll be required to complete as part of the application process is to submit your fingerprints and pass a background check.

To start this process, you’ll need to fill out and submit a Salesperson (Referral) – Universal Form. Following the completion of this form, you’ll have to schedule an appointment with IDEMIA — the Live Scan fingerprint vendor in New Jersey.

At this appointment, you’ll deliver your completed Universal Form and photo ID, submit your fingerprints and also provide written consent for you to be subject to a criminal history record check alongside a fee of $66.05.

After this, these details will be used by IDEMIA to check the FBI’s criminal history records and provide the New Jersey Real Estate Commission with a summary report. After thoroughly reviewing this report to confirm that you are indeed eligible for this role, the Commission should shortly contact you with a decision.

Note: Due to how long this step can take, the Commission recommends that you schedule your fingerprinting appointment as soon as possible after passing the New Jersey licensing exam.

Step 5: Find a Sponsoring Broker

The final step you’ll need to take before you can submit an application for your real estate license is to find a sponsoring broker. These are licensed real estate professionals who supervise and mentor you, ensuring you comply with essential legal and ethical standards.

While it’s a legal requirement for new real estate licensees to work under a sponsoring real estate broker or real estate business in New Jersey, it’s important you don’t treat this as just a rule you need to follow. This is because these real estate brokers provide essential training, support, and access to valuable networks that will help you to learn the industry, avoid pitfalls, and grow your business effectively.

Step 6: Submit a License Application

After passing the state real estate exam and satisfying all other licensing requirements, you’ll be ready to move onto submitting your license application. The quickest and easiest way to do this is electronically through the Real Estate Licensing Services online platform.

However, if you prefer, you can also submit your application to the New Jersey Real Estate Commission by mail using the paper Salesperson or Broker-Salesperson Application Form.

Regardless of how you decide to file, you’ll be required to pay a $160 filing fee as well as all of the following documentation:

• Original passing score report (must be signed and dated by a licensed broker)
• Completed Sagem-Morpho Universal Form (plus Sagem-Morpho receipt)
• Certified cashier’s/business account check for filing fee (if submitting by mail)

Note: All materials must be submitted all at once as the Commission does not accept partial submissions.

Step 7: Application Review

If you’ve managed to get this far, congratulations! With your application submitted and all the other licensing requirements satisfied, it will take the New Jersey Real Estate Commission between two and three weeks to process a licensing application (longer if you submitted via mail).

Be sure to take some time to celebrate your accomplishment. You’ve put in a lot of work and effort and deserve a celebration!

Note: If you’re not sure what’s happening with your license and it’s been longer than expected, you can reach out directly to the New Jersey Real Estate Commission by phone or email.

New Jersey Real Estate License Renewal

In order to keep your license valid and continue working as a real estate sales agent, you’ll need to renew your license every two years by June 30.

According to N.J.A.C. 11:5-12.4, you’ll also be required to complete 12 hours of continuing education (CE) by April 30 of each renewal period. This total CE time must be broken down as follows:

• Ethics (2 hours)
• Fair Housing & New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (1 hour)
• Core Topics (3 hours)
• Elective or Core Topics (6 hours)

Be aware that if you initially obtained your license in the first year of a renewal cycle, you’ll still be required to complete the CE requirements by the deadline. However, you won’t need to do this for the current renewal period if your license was instead granted in the second year of a renewal period.

We always encourage our readers to think of the post licensing course they take as an investment in their future career — higher quality, more reliable course content is a central part of ensuring you continue to grow professionally.

New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance

Mailing Address: 

New Jersey Real Estate Commission
PO Box 328
Trenton, NJ 08625-0328

Physical Address:
20 W State St
Trenton, NJ 08608

Phone: (609) 292-7272

Fax: (609) 292-0944

Email: relic@dobi.nj.gov

Website: https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/