How long does it take to get a real estate license in New Jersey?

Typically 6 to 14 weeks. The 75-hour course is the long pole — about 2–3 weeks full-time or 8–10 weeks in evening/weekend formats. After passing the PSI exam, the fingerprinting through IdentoGO usually clears in days, but remember your broker has to package and submit your entire application; how fast you're licensed partly depends on how quickly your brokerage moves the paperwork.

How much does a New Jersey real estate license cost?

Expect $575 to $975 all-in: $300–$700 for the 75-hour course, $45 for the PSI exam, about $66 for IdentoGO fingerprinting, and a $160 license fee that covers the 2-year license. One quirk: because every NJ license expires June 30 of odd-numbered years, you pay the same $160 whether you're licensed at the start of a cycle or partway through it.

What score do I need to pass the New Jersey real estate exam?

70%. The PSI exam has 110 multiple-choice questions — 80 national and 30 New Jersey-specific — with a generous 4-hour time limit. At $45 a retake it's one of the cheaper exams to re-attempt, but you're on a clock: you must pass within 1 year of finishing your 75-hour course or the coursework expires and you'd have to retake it.

Do I need a broker before I can get my New Jersey license?

Yes — and more than in most states. In New Jersey, you can't even submit your own license application: your sponsoring broker completes your PSI score report, packages your application, and submits everything with the $160 fee through the NJREC online portal. There's no inactive or unsponsored initial license. Practically, interview brokerages while you're still in your 75-hour course.

Can I get a New Jersey real estate license with a felony or criminal record?

It depends on the offense and timing. New Jersey law bars licensure for roughly 5 years after conviction (or release from prison) for crimes like forgery, burglary, robbery, embezzlement, theft, and similar offenses involving dishonesty. Everything is verified through the mandatory IdentoGO fingerprint check, and the Commission reviews other convictions case by case — disclose everything, because an omission is treated as fraud on the application.

What happens if I don't apply within a year of passing the NJ exam?

Your exam result expires and you're back to square one — New Jersey gives you 1 year from passing the PSI exam for your broker to submit your complete application. Combined with the other deadline (1 year from course completion to pass the exam), the whole pipeline has a shelf life. If you're not sure you'll join a brokerage soon, hold off on the exam rather than let a passing score die on the shelf.

New Jersey · NJ

How to get your New Jersey real estate license

Everything you need to earn a New Jersey salesperson license — from eligibility to your first sponsoring broker.

Requirements last verified July 8, 2026 by Matt Cochrell, licensed broker.

Quick answer · Verified July 8, 2026

How to get a New Jersey real estate license

Hours required: 75 hrs
Total cost: $575 – $975
Typical timeline: 6–14 weeks
Minimum age: 18+

Step 1

Confirm you're eligible for a New Jersey real estate license

You must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED to apply for a New Jersey real estate license. A criminal background check is required — most non-violent offenses are reviewed case-by-case.

Step 2

Complete 75 hours of pre-licensing education

Note: 75 hours at a licensed New Jersey real estate school. You must also have a high school diploma or equivalent — one of the few states with an explicit education prerequisite. Two deadlines matter: you have 1 year from course completion to pass the exam, and 1 year from passing the exam to submit your license application (via your broker).

Confirm eligibility: 18 or older with a high school diploma or equivalency
Complete the 75-hour salesperson pre-licensure course at a school licensed by the NJ Real Estate Commission
Pass the school's final exam; the school electronically submits your exam eligibility to PSI
Schedule and pass the PSI state licensing exam within 1 year of completing the course

Step 3

Pass the New Jersey real estate exam

New Jersey uses PSI to administer the licensing exam. You'll need a passing score of 70%. The exam fee is $45. Expect roughly 100 national questions and 40–50 state-specific questions. Format: 110 multiple-choice questions (80 national, 30 New Jersey state-specific), 4-hour time limit, computer-based at PSI test centers in and around New Jersey.

Step 4

Apply for your New Jersey license

Pass the PSI exam and get your score report signed and dated by your employing broker
Complete the fingerprint-based criminal background check through IdentoGO (about $66; use the NJ Universal Fingerprint Form with the real estate applicant codes)
Join a brokerage — in New Jersey your license can ONLY be issued through a sponsoring broker; there is no unsponsored or inactive initial issuance
Your broker submits the complete license application and $160 fee through the NJREC Online Licensing Services portal — partial submissions are rejected, everything goes in together
Submit within 1 year of passing the exam or your exam result expires and you start over
License issues to you at your broker's office; the initial license runs to the end of the current 2-year cycle (June 30 of odd-numbered years)

Step 5

Find a sponsoring broker

Your New Jersey license stays inactive until a licensed broker sponsors you. Interview at least 2–3 brokerages, compare commission splits, training, and lead sources, and pick the one that fits your career goals — not just the highest split.

New Jersey real estate license cost breakdown

Here's a realistic estimate of everything you'll pay to earn your license. Course price is the largest variable — state fees are fixed.

Cost breakdown
Item	Amount
Pre-licensing education (75 hours)	$300 – $700
PSI exam fee	$45 per attempt
Fingerprinting (IdentoGO)	~$66
License fee (2-year license, submitted by broker)	$160
Estimated total	$575 – $975

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Frequently asked questions

Renewal: 2-year cycle — all NJ licenses expire June 30 of odd-numbered years regardless of when issued. Requires 12 hours of continuing education per cycle, at least 6 of which must be in core topics (including ethics and fair housing), with CE due by April 30 before the June 30 renewal to avoid late fees. No post-licensing course requirement..

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