Business Elementary8 Numbers Every NJ Real Estate Student Should Know
The short answer: The path to a New Jersey salesperson license comes down to a handful of numbers. You must be 18. You complete a 75-hour course with at least 80% attendance. On the state exam you answer 110 scored questions and need 77 right, and 30 of those questions are New Jersey-specific. You have one year from finishing the course to pass and apply. After that, 12 CE credits every two-year term keep your license renewable (N.J.A.C. 11:5, as amended by R.2026 d.020; PSI candidate bulletin). Here's what each number means.
For the full step-by-step process, see our complete guide to getting a NJ real estate license.
1. 18: the minimum age for a license
An applicant for a salesperson license must be at least 18 years old (N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.6(a)). You also certify that you have a high school education or its equivalent, and the Commission may ask for proof (N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.6(d)). If you're still in high school, see taking the course before you turn 18. The other eligibility rules are in our license requirements guide.
2. 75: hours in the pre-licensing course
To qualify for the salesperson exam, you must complete at least 75 hours of instruction at a school licensed by the Commission (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1(b)). Time spent on the school's final exam counts toward those hours, and breaks can't take more than five minutes of each hour (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1(d)). The largest topic blocks are contracts, mortgages and agency at 12 hours each (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1(f)). See what the 75-hour course covers and how to check that a school is licensed.
3. 80%: the attendance you need for credit
To get credit for the course, you need a passing grade and attendance at no less than 80% of class instruction (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(s)). In a 75-hour course, that's 60 hours. When you finish, the school issues a Course Completion Certificate (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(t)), which goes with your license application (N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.6(b)). See how the attendance rule works and the school final vs the state exam.
4. 110: scored questions on the salesperson exam
The PSI salesperson exam has 110 scored questions, and you get four hours to finish it. PSI may also include 5 to 10 unscored "experimental" questions, and those count against your time (PSI candidate bulletin). You can test at a PSI center or online with a remote proctor. Our PSI exam guide covers format and test day.
5. 77: correct answers needed to pass
The passing score is 70%, which is 77 of the 110 scored questions (PSI candidate bulletin). If you don't pass, your score report includes a diagnostic by topic, and you can't book a new appointment on the same day as your exam (PSI candidate bulletin). See reading your PSI score report and our exam math guide.
6. 30: New Jersey-specific questions
Thirty of the 110 questions cover New Jersey law: licensing requirements (3), statutes and rules on licensee activities (22), additional requirements (3), and the Real Estate Commission's duties and powers (2) (PSI candidate bulletin). Most come from one area, licensee activities, so that's where NJ study time goes furthest. Our NJ state-portion study guide maps each topic to its rule.
7. One year: from course completion to pass and apply
You must pass the state exam and apply for your license no later than one year after completing the course. Miss it, and you retake both the course and the exam (N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.6(c)). The clock starts at course completion, not your exam date (NJREC fingerprinting page). NJREC also says to get fingerprinted as soon as possible after you pass. You apply through a sponsoring broker. See how long it takes to get licensed, what happens after you pass and finding a sponsoring broker.
8. 12: CE credits every two-year term
To renew, licensees complete 12 credits of approved continuing education during the 24 months before renewal. At least six must be in core topics, including at least two in ethics, one in fair housing and one in agency (N.J.A.C. 11:5-12.3(a) and 12.4). The current term ends June 30, 2027, and the CE deadline that avoids a late processing fee is April 30, 2027 (NJREC CE FAQ #18). Salespersons first licensed in the second year of a term don't need CE for that first renewal (N.J.A.C. 11:5-12.3(a)3). See our CE and renewal guide.
How do the numbers fit together?
| Number | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Minimum age for a salesperson license | N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.6(a) |
| 75 | Minimum course hours at a licensed school | N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1(b) |
| 80% | Minimum attendance for course credit | N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(s) |
| 110 | Scored questions on the exam (4 hours) | PSI bulletin |
| 77 | Correct answers to pass (70%) | PSI bulletin |
| 30 | New Jersey-specific exam questions | PSI bulletin |
| 1 year | From course completion to pass and apply | N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.6(c) |
| 12 | CE credits per two-year license term | N.J.A.C. 11:5-12.3, 12.4 |
If you want to start with the first two numbers, Business Elementary's 75-hour pre-licensing course is one option.
Sources
- N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1(a)2, (b), (d), (f); 2.2(s), (t); 3.6(a)–(d); 12.3(a); 12.4, as amended by R.2026 d.020 (58 N.J.R. 803, Jan. 20, 2026): https://www.nj.gov/dobi/proposed/aa260120njac11_5.pdf
- PSI New Jersey Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 2/1/2026): https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/1667
- NJ Real Estate Commission, Fingerprinting and one-year eligibility: https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/licensing/fingerprint.html
- NJREC Continuing Education FAQs (#18): https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/licensing/continuingeducation/faqs.htm
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026