How To Get Licensed In New Jersey | Step-by-Step Guide

Sep 1 / Desireé L. Burgos
Thinking About Becoming a Real Estate Agent in New Jersey?


If you’ve ever wondered how to get a New Jersey Real Estate license and break into real estate, you’re not alone. Every year, thousands of aspiring agents across New Jersey take the leap into this rewarding industry. But here’s the truth: getting licensed isn’t just about passing a test — it’s about starting your business with clarity, confidence, and a game plan.

Preparedness is often the path less traveled in this business and the reality can feel very different from what you see on the shows. It’s not just open houses, designer shoes, luxury cars, and sold signs. It’s systems, strategy, grit — an unrelenting willingness to learn and build something that lasts.

That’s the element that separates the faux from the pros.

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This guide will cut through the chaos and show you, step by step, how to not only earn your license but start your business with power moves like a boss.

📋 Step 1:
Meet the Basic Requirements
(Before You Dream Bigger) 

Before you can even think about showing homes or cashing commission checks, you’ve got to meet New Jersey’s basic qualifications:

  • Be at least 18 years old

  • Hold a high school diploma or GED

  • Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident

  • Have a clean criminal history for the past 5 years (especially no fraud, theft, or violent crimes — these can stop your application cold)


👉 Quick note: fingerprinting and the official background check happen after you pass the state exam, but don’t wait until then to find out if you have a problem. Transparency is your power move.

If you check these boxes, you’re ready to move forward — and most people never even get this far because they stay stuck in the “thinking about it” phase. You’re already ahead.

👋🏾Hey…Future Real Estate Agent 

Want to go deeper? The Hey…Future Real Estate Agent book offers study strategies, mindset shifts, and insider advice to help you move through each stage of preparing for your real estate license like a pro!

📋Step 2:
Complete the 75 Hour
Pre-Licensing Course
(Where the Foundation Is Built)

This is where your foundation begins. Every aspiring agent must complete a New Jersey 75-hour pre-licensing course through a state-approved school. On paper, it might sound like just another requirement. In reality, it’s the first line of separation between simply chasing a license and intentionally preparing to build a business fueled with excellence.

The course covers:

  • Principles of Real Estate

  • Real Estate Finance (mortgages, FHA, VA, foreclosures)

  • Valuation & Appraisal

  • Contracts

  • Agency relationships

  • Ethics & Fair Housing

  • New Jersey Real Estate Law

  • Brokerage Practices & Licensing Requirements

  • Property Rights in New Jersey


⚠️ Most schools require you to pass a school exam before they consider the course complete. This is separate from the state exam.

💡 Truth be told: Too many people walk into this course just trying to “get it over with.” That’s the rookie mindset. The pros treat it as their foundation — because if you build shaky here, it shows up later in lost deals and compliance issues.

👋🏾Hey…Future Real Estate Agent 

Looking for a New Jersey Real Estate Licensing Course? We have multiple pathways to get to your power moves in order with online live real estate instructed courses that give you the opportunity to connect and ask questions in the moment.

Need more flexibility? We have self-paced options to fit your schedule, then join one of our live-online study groups to ensure you are ready to go before your plunge into your state exam!

📋Step 3:
Pass the NJ Real Estate Exam (Show What You Know)

After completing your pre-licensing course, it’s time to take the NJ real estate exam. It’s designed to test not only what you memorized but how well you comprehend and apply real estate principles.

Here’s what to expect:

  • Two parts: National (80 questions) + NJ State (50 questions)

  • A handful of unscored “pretest” questions (treat every question like it counts)

  • 4-hour time limit

  • 70% or higher to pass

💡 Real talk: Numerous people show up thinking this exam is about memorization. It’s not. It’s about understanding the material backwards and forwards so you don't get tripped up no matter how the question is asked.

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📚 Need strategies?
Check out Chapters  4-5 in Hey…Future Real Estate Agent book and get practice questions and map out your full study preparation plan in the Hey...Future Real Estate Agent Pro Planner. 

📋Step 4:
Complete Your Fingerprinting & Background Check

📋Step 5:
Apply for Your License with a Sponsoring/Affiliate Broker

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Once you’ve passed the exam, you are not licensed yet. You’ll need to complete fingerprinting and a background check through IdentoGO.

  • Fee: $67.50 (as of 2025)

  • Looks back 5 years, focusing on fraud, theft, or violence

  • Safeguard for consumer trust in the industry

💡 Don’t view 👀at this as red tape — see it as protecting the integrity of the business you’re building.


In New Jersey, you can’t activate your license on your own. You must affiliate with a sponsoring broker.

Your broker is more than a requirement — they’re your launchpad. Don’t let flashy commission splits fool you.

What really matters⬇️

  • Training & mentorship opportunities

  • Business-building tools (CRM, website, marketing)

  • Culture that aligns with your values


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📖 For more guidance, check out Chapter 7 in the Hey…Future Real Estate Agent book, and the broker worksheets in the Hey…Future Real Estate Agent Pro Planner.

📋Step 6: Submit Your
License Application & Fees
(The Official Green Light)

🚦You’re almost there!

After aligning with a broker, submit your application through the NJ Real Estate Commission (usually handled by your broker).

  • Application Fee: $160 (as of 2025)

  • Brokerage-specific onboarding fees may apply

  • Once processed, you officially hold your New Jersey real estate license

🎉 And that’s not just paperwork — it’s your official green light.

💵 Cost Breakdown of Getting Licensed in NJ

🔄 License Renewals & Continuing Education

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Think of these as investments in your business:

  • Pre-Licensing Course: $350–$650

  • Textbook/Materials: $45–$75

  • PSI Exam Fee: $45 per attempt

  • Fingerprinting: $67.50

  • License Application Fee: $160

  • Brokerage Onboarding/E&O Fees: Vary

➡️ Total Startup Investment: $675–$1,500+

💡 Be sure to pad your budget so you have room for immediate future expenses if you need it for items like marketing, board dues and MLS fees which vary depending our your brokerage rules and offerings.



Every agent must renew their New Jersey real estate license every 2 years (odd-numbered years).

  • Renewal Fee: $100

  • CE Requirement: 12 credits (6 Core + 6 Elective)
    Core must include 2 Ethics, 1 Agency, 1 Fair Housing/NJLAD




💡 Renewal isn’t just compliance. It’s proof you’re committed to excellence year after year.

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📖 For more guidance, check out Chapter 7 in the Hey…Future Real Estate Agent book, and the broker worksheets in the Hey…Future Real Estate Agent Pro Planner.

📋Step 6:
Submit Your
License Application & Fees
(The Official Green Light)

🚦You’re almost there!

After aligning with a broker, submit your application through the NJ Real Estate Commission (usually handled by your broker).

  • Application Fee: $160 (as of 2025)

  • Brokerage-specific onboarding fees may apply

  • Once processed, you officially hold your New Jersey real estate license

🎉 And that’s not just paperwork — it’s your official green light.


      Your Next
⚡️Power Move...

Getting your New Jersey Real Estate license is bigger than passing a test — it’s the first phase of building your business.

So here’s your next power move:

✨ Real estate isn’t just a license or career — it’s a ⚡️power move. Your pathway to power moves and elevation into excellence starts with your next step.

Frequently asked questions

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

On average, 2–6 months depending on the length of your course and how quickly you move through the other requirements. Preparation is key.

Can I take the pre-licensing course online?

Yes. New Jersey allows both live online classes (via Zoom or similar) and approved self-paced, on-demand courses. Choose the option that best fits your schedule and learning style.

What if I fail the NJ real estate exam?

PSI allows retakes, $45 each attempt.

How often do I renew my license?

Every 2 years on odd-numbered years.

What are CE requirements?

CE is continuing education. The requirements include 12 credits (6 Core, 6 Elective).

Is real estate full-time or part-time?

Either. Success depends on good systems, execution, consistency and follow-up.

Is my NJ license valid in other states?

New Jersey does not have reciprocity with other states. However, if you are seeking licensure in multiple states, check each state's requirement. Some may wave all of a portion of the exam.

Behind the Blog?

At Power Moves Insider, you’ll hear directly from Desireé L. Burgos — multi-state Broker-Owner, licensed real estate instructor, President & CEO of Burgos Realty Academy and global best-selling author of Hey…Future Real Estate Agent and the Hey Future Real Estate Agent Pro Planner

Her voice, real estate expertise, and well-rounded perspective as a business leader, wife, and mother anchor this publication. From time to time, we’ll also feature insights from trusted experts and thought leaders across real estate, marketing, finance/investing, and technology.

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