Do NJ real estate schools have to itemize book and supply fees?

Yes. Extra fees for supplies, materials or books must be itemized before payment, and tuition must be stated separately ([N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(n)](https://www.nj.gov/dobi/proposed/aa260120njac11_5.pdf)).

Who owns the textbook after I pay for it?

Under 11:5-2.2(n), those itemized materials become the **student's property upon payment**.

Does the Commission publish a required textbook title?

No. The rule regulates fee disclosure and ownership, not a statewide book brand or ISBN list.

Are materials fees the same as tuition for refund purposes?

Not automatically. Tuition and fees belong in the student contract, which must state the unearned-tuition return policy ([11:5-2.2(o)](https://www.nj.gov/dobi/proposed/aa260120njac11_5.pdf)). Ask how the school treats already-purchased materials if you withdraw.

Can owning the book replace classroom attendance?

No. Completion still requires a passing grade and at least 80% attendance of required class session hours ([N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(s)](https://www.nj.gov/dobi/proposed/aa260120njac11_5.pdf)).

Textbooks and Study Materials for the NJ 75-Hour Course

The short answer: New Jersey pre-licensing schools must state tuition separately from any extra fees for supplies, materials or books. Those extra fees must be itemized before you pay, and the items become the student's property upon payment (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(n), as amended by R.2026 d.020; see also Cornell LII text of 11:5-2.2). The rule does not name a required publisher or a statewide book list—it regulates how schools charge for and transfer materials.

For the course itself, start with the NJ 75-hour real estate course. For a neutral school-shopping checklist, see 10 questions before choosing a NJ real estate school.

What exactly does N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(n) require?

The amended school rule says:

Tuition must be specified separately from fees for supplies, materials or books needed to complete a course
Those fees must be itemized by the school prior to the payment
On payment, such items become the property of the student

That means a school should not bury a mandatory workbook inside an unexplained "course fee," and once you have paid for a listed book or packet, it is yours—not a loaner the school can reclaim as a condition of finishing.

How do materials fees relate to the student contract?

Tuition and fees must appear in a student contract that expressly states the school's policy on returning unearned tuition when a student is dismissed, withdraws or faces hardship (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(o)). Materials that already became your property under (n) are a different issue from unearned tuition under (o). Ask the school, in writing, how refunds treat unused books versus unused classroom hours. Broader refund questions are covered in real estate course refund policy NJ where that guide applies.

What study materials do students typically need—without naming brands?

Commission rules do not publish a shopping list. In practice, most salesperson candidates use some mix of:

The school's assigned textbook or digital equivalent for the 75-hour outline
A statute/rule companion or printed handouts for New Jersey-specific topics
Math worksheets aligned to the PSI calculations topics
Practice quizzes and a school final (final-exam time counts toward course hours under the education rules)
The current PSI Candidate Information Bulletin content outline as a free official checklist

Topic timing inside the 75 hours is mapped on NJ real estate course hours by topic. Turning the PSI outline into a study tracker is covered on the PSI content-outline study checklist.

What questions should you ask before you pay for books?

Ask	Why it matters
Can I see the itemized materials list before any payment?	Required by 11:5-2.2(n)
Which items are required versus optional?	Optional study aids should not be forced into "tuition"
Are materials digital, print or both—and do I keep access after the course?	Ownership under (n) should be clear for downloads too
Is the edition current for the latest PSI outline?	Outline topics drive the state exam (PSI bulletin)
What happens to materials fees if I withdraw?	Contract policy under 11:5-2.2(o)

Schools also may not guarantee you will pass the state exam or tie tuition to a promise of employment with a particular broker (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(v) and 2.2(x)6—see the school-questions listicle for the shopping angle).

How do attendance and the school final interact with materials?

Completion still requires a passing grade and attendance of at least 80% of the required class session hours, with the school issuing a Course Completion Certificate (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(s), (t)). Owning the textbook does not replace attendance. If you miss class time, read missing classes and the 80% rule.

How do materials relate to the PSI exam (and what they are not)?

Course materials support the 75-hour outline; the state exam is a separate PSI product with its own content outline (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin). A good textbook helps you learn agency, contracts and NJ rules, but it does not replace:

Working the free official outline as a checklist (PSI content-outline study checklist)
Timed practice that matches the 110-question / 4-hour format (practice exams guide)
Knowing school-final vs state-exam differences (school final vs state exam)

Commission rules also bar schools from guaranteeing that you will pass the licensing examination (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(v)). Buying more books cannot create a pass promise the school is not allowed to make.

What this page will not tell you

Which commercial textbook brand a particular school uses
Whether any one school's materials are "included" in tuition
Prices for books, kits or online platforms

Those details change by provider and are outside Commission rule text. Your decision should start from a licensed school and an itemized contract you can read before paying.

When you are ready to compare course formats and the 75-hour requirement itself, see Business Elementary's 75-hour pre-licensing course page for the enrollment option—without treating any materials claim on this article as a school promise.

Sources

N.J.A.C. 11:5 as amended, R.2026 d.020 (DOBI adoption PDF): https://www.nj.gov/dobi/proposed/aa260120njac11_5.pdf
N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2 (Cornell LII): https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-11-5-2-2
PSI New Jersey Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 2/1/2026): https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/1667

Last reviewed: November 6, 2026