How to Become a Real Estate Agent in New Jersey (2026 Guide)
Considering getting a real estate license in New Jersey?
The licensing process may seem a little overwhelming at first, but we are here to walk you through it, step by step. If you decide to become a real estate agent in New Jersey, you’ll have almost unlimited earning potential and the opportunity to build your very own business.
We’ll cover:
Process to Get a New Jersey Real Estate License
The New Jersey real estate commission (NJREC) is under the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (NJDOBI) and they have some basic requirements you have to meet in order to secure your real estate license and become a real estate agent in New Jersey:
To be eligible to become a licensed salesperson in New Jersey, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a US Social Security number
- Be a US citizen, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien under federal law
- Have a high school dipolma or equivalent
- Successfully complete a 75-hour salesperson prelicensing course approved by NJREC
- Pass the course final exam
- Pass the State Licensing Exam with a score of at least 75%.
- Select a real estate brokerage
Overall the process for becoming a real estate agent in New Jersey is fairly simple. It’s also an incredible opportunity to build a lifelong business of your very own.
Understand How Long it Takes to Get a Real Estate License
The time it takes to get your license will vary from person to person. New Jersey has relatively simple steps to follow. The most time-consuming part of the process will be completing the 75 hours of pre-licensing education. Here is what an average timeline looks like in the state of New Jersey:
- 2 to 10 weeks to complete your 75 hour pre-licensing course
- 1 to 2 weeks to get your national and state exam scheduled
- 1 to 3 weeks for NJREC to process your license application
- 1 to 4 weeks to interview and select a real estate brokerage
While this timeline may seem a little daunting, there are a few ways to expedite things. First, taking an online course is the way to go. Instead of attending scheduled in-person classes a few times each week, , you can learn online at your own pace. We would also recommend interviewing brokerages while you are waiting for the New Jersey DOBI to process your application, so you are ready to hang your license with a broker as soon as the application is approved. All in all, it’s definitely possible to become a real estate agent in New Jersey in six (6) weeks or less.
Finding the Best Real Estate Schools
To get your New Jersey real estate license and become a real estate agent, you’ll have to attend a school that’s approved by the NJDOBI. There are quite a few approved real estate schools throughout the state. Most are online, others in person, and a few do a combination of the two. Please note that some of the school links below are affiliate links. If you enroll through one of these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Here are a few of the most popular:
- Colibri Real Estate – online with great exam prep options
- Kaplan Real Estate Education – online with instructor support
- Absolute Real Estate School – Live Online (Zoom style) + on-demand training
- Garden State Real Estate School – classroom or Zoom
- New Jersey Real Estate Institute (great exam prep course)
- PrepAgent (mobile exam prep tool)
When shopping for the best online real estate schools in New Jersey, make sure that they offer additional support for exam prep and sample exams for practice. Some offer weekend cram courses or exam prep kits to ensure sure that you pass the real estate salesperson exam on the first try.
How Select a Real Estate Broker
In New Jersey, you must affiliate with a real estate brokerage in order to activate your real estate license. This is often referred to as the “sponsoring broker.” Picking the right brokerage to work with can be critical to your success as a newly licensed agent.
We would recommend shopping for the best broker once you’ve completed the pre-licensing course and are waiting to take your course or state exam. There are a few ways to do this:
- Ask around. Find out which brokerages your friends and family have worked with in the past and see what they liked most about them. Don’t hesitate to reach out to local agents in your area to see what they like most about their broker.
- Google + Facebook. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to 3 to 5 companies, do some research online. There are always dozens if not hundreds of YouTube testimonials and feedback from real estate agents. You’ll also find several real estate Facebook groups where people share their experiences at their current brokerage.
- Schedule interviews. We highly recommend meeting (in person, phone or a zoom) with two or three brokerages, because the benefits and commission splits can be dramatically different from one firm to the next.
When researching and meeting with different brokerages, keep in mind that many are independently owned franchises. So one Berkshire Hathaway or RE/MAX office could be completely different from another that’s just 10 minutes away. The culture, training, support team, and sometimes even the fees and commission splits can vary from franchise to franchise.
PRO TIP: Don’t be afraid to ask the brokerage LOTS of questions. Remember that you are interviewing them (not the other way around) to see if they are a good fit for your new business.
Cost to Get A Real Estate License in New Jersey
There are several fees involved when working to become a real estate agent in New Jersey:
| Licensing Expense | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| 75-Hour Pre-Licensing Course | $250–$500 |
| New Jersey Real Estate Exam | $45 |
| Background Check and Fingerprinting | $66.05 |
| Salesperson License Application | $160 |
| Exam Prep Courses or Materials (optional) | $25–$150 |
Total Cost to Get Licensed: Approximately $521–$771
The estimated total includes the required expenses listed above but does not include optional exam preparation. With optional exam prep, budget approximately $546–$921.
After completing the pre-licensing course, candidates have one year to pass the state examination, complete fingerprinting, and submit their license application. The New Jersey Real Estate Commission recommends completing the fingerprinting process as soon as possible after passing the examination.
More Costs to Expect as a Brand-New REALTOR®
Getting your New Jersey real estate license is only the beginning. New agents are essentially opening a small business, which means there may be additional association, MLS, lockbox, brokerage, and marketing expenses to consider.
| New Agent Expense | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Continuing Education – 12 Hours | $75–$200 |
| Salesperson License Renewal | $100 every two years |
| Local, State and National REALTOR® Dues | Approximately $500–$600 annually |
| Multiple Listing Service | Approximately $175–$300 annually |
| Supra eKey | Approximately $155–$270 annually |
| MLS or eKey Activation Fees | Approximately $50 each |
| Business Cards and Signage | Varies |
| Marketing and Advertising | Varies |
| Brokerage Joining Fee | $0–$500 |
| Monthly Brokerage Fee | $0–$350 per month |
New Jersey salespersons generally must complete 12 hours of approved continuing education during each two-year licensing cycle. At least six credits must cover core topics. You can review the current requirements through the New Jersey Real Estate Commission.
Association and MLS expenses depend on where the agent works. Here are a few current examples:
| New Jersey Membership Example | 2026 Cost |
|---|---|
| Mid Jersey Association of REALTORS® | $511 annual dues |
| Greater Bergen REALTORS® – Local Dues | $215 annually |
| New Jersey REALTORS® Portion | $145 annually |
| NAR Dues and Assessment | $201 annually |
| Garden State MLS | $175 annually, plus $50 activation |
| New Jersey MLS | $250 annually |
| NJMLS Supra eKey | $13.03 monthly, plus $50 activation |
| Mid Jersey Supra eKey | $22.30 monthly, plus $50 activation |
Association dues are often prorated for new members joining during the year. MLS and lockbox access may also depend on the agent’s brokerage and primary service area.
Estimated First-Year Cost to Become a New Jersey Real Estate Agent: Approximately $1,500–$2,600+
This estimate includes licensing, one REALTOR® association membership, MLS access, an electronic lockbox key, possible activation fees, and brokerage start-up costs. It does not include ongoing monthly brokerage fees, marketing, business supplies, or recurring technology expenses.
Learn more about some other surprising costs when you become a real estate agent in New Jersey:
Becoming a NJ Real Estate Agent: Commonly Asked Questions
Yes, you can complete all 75 hours online through an NJREC-approved provider. The New Jersey Real Estate Commission (NJREC) mandates a 75-hour pre-licensing curriculum covering real estate law, contracts, agency relationships, financing, and state regulations. State-approved providers offer both self-paced online modules and live-stream virtual webinars. Once you pass your school’s proctored final exam, your completion certificate is valid for exactly 1 year to pass the state licensing exam and submit your application.
The New Jersey real estate license exam consists of 110 total questions (80 National and 30 NJ State questions) with a 4-hour time limit. You must score at least 70% overall to pass. The state portion heavily tests local legal nuances, such as:
The Three-Day Attorney Review Clause: Mandatory contract language on licensee-prepared contracts allowing buyers and sellers 3 business days to have an attorney review the agreement.
NJ Law Against Discrimination (LAD): State fair housing protections that expand significantly beyond federal protected classes.
New Jersey Real Estate Guaranty Fund & Licensing Rules: Regulations regarding escrow accounts, disclosure timing, and commission rules.
It’s not uncommon for people not to pass the exam on the first try. If you fail the exam, you must wait 24 hours before scheduling your next attempt. You have an unlimited number of opportunities to take the state exam within a one-year period. The cost is $45 for each attempt.
The New Jersey salesperson exam consists of 110 questions. All are multiple-choice, and you’ll have 4 hours to complete the exam.
You have to answer at least 77 of the 110 questions correctly to receive a minimum passing score of 70%.
Complete your fingerprinting right after passing your PSI state licensing exam. New Jersey uses IdentoGO for Live Scan digital fingerprinting.
You must complete the state’s Universal Form and book an appointment with IdentoGO.
Keep the receipt and stamped Universal Form; your sponsoring broker must attach both to your final license application package.
Because your course completion, exam scores, and background check must all be submitted to the NJREC within 12 months of finishing your 75-hour course, getting fingerprinted immediately after passing the exam prevents administrative delays.
To become a real estate broker in NJ, you must have a minimum of three years of active licensed real estate experience, and that sales experience must be obtained in New Jersey. You’ll also need to complete a 90-hour real estate broker course, as well as two 30-hour courses on Agency/Ethics and Office Management and related topics. That’s a total of 150 hours of real estate broker courses.
After completing all three courses, you’ll need to submit the school certificate and an Experience Report with your NJ Broker Applicant form. If approved, you will be invited to sit for the state broker’s exam.
According to ZipRecruiter, as of August 2026, the average US annual pay for real estate agents is $85,793. The average annual earnings for a real estate agent in New Jersey is approximately $84,000. Trenton, Atlantic City, and Clifton are the highest paying cities in New Jersey for real estate agents.
No matter where you are located in the Garden State, you’ll have almost unlimited earning potential if you are dedicated, work hard, and treat it like a business.
Other Articles + Resources You Might Like:
- What Expenses to Expect as a Real Estate Agent
- 20 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Brokerage
- What You Can Do BEFORE You’re Officially Licensed (free guide)
- Should New Agents Join a Real Estate Team
- New Jersey Real Estate Commission (NJREC)
- More advice for new real estate agents
Kerry Lucasse and the Building Better Agents team talk with hundreds of newly licensed real estate agents each year. Most have no idea how challenging the first year or two can be and how much you need to learn to be successful. This business is not as easy as it looks on TV! Real estate can be a rewarding and profitable business if you are a self-starter who is 110% committed to being successful and you have the support of a great mentor and brokerage.
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