How to Get a NJ Real Estate License Certification or License History
The short answer: You order official proof of a New Jersey real estate license from the Real Estate Commission in writing, using its one-page request form. A License Certification (also called a Letter of Good Standing) shows your current status and costs $25 a copy. A License History, which also lists your current and previous brokers of record, costs $50 a copy (NJREC request form). The Commission says it mails them within five business days of receiving the request.
If you just need to show someone that you're licensed today, you usually don't need either one. The free online Licensee Search covers that, as explained below.
What's the difference between a certification and a license history?
They answer two different questions.
| Document | What it shows | Fee per copy |
|---|---|---|
| License Certification / Letter of Good Standing | Your current license status | $25 |
| License History | Your license record, including your current and previous brokers of record | $50 |
The Commission's request page describes the history as the option for licensees with "more than one employing broker since 1999" (NJREC, How to Obtain a License Certification/License History). If you've been with one broker the whole time and someone only needs to know that you're in good standing, the certification is the one to order.
When another agency or employer asks for "proof of licensure," ask them which one they want. Ordering the wrong one costs you time and another check.
How do you request one?
Here's the process, from the Commission's request page and the form itself:
- Download the form. It's the "License Certification and/or License History Request Form" (PDF), also linked from the Commission's forms page.
- Choose the quantity. The form asks how many certifications and how many histories you want. Each copy is priced separately.
- Fill in your details. That means your full legal name, your seven-digit license reference number, your Social Security number, your home address, a daytime phone and an email. The request page asks for your name plus your license number and/or the name of your current or last employing broker (NJREC request page).
- Pay the right way. Send a broker business check, bank certified or cashier's check, or money order, payable to the "State Treasurer of New Jersey." Personal checks aren't accepted. The Commission says they'll be returned and only delay things (NJREC request page).
- Mail it to one address only. Regular mail goes to NJREC, P.O. Box 474, Trenton, NJ 08625. Overnight or express mail goes to NJREC, 20 West State Street, P.O. Box 474, Trenton, NJ 08625-0474 (form).
A note on addresses: the Commission's older FAQ lists a different box (PO Box 328) for these requests (NJREC FAQ, Q5), and that box also appears in the form's letterhead. The form's own mailing instructions and the request page both say Box 474, so that's the one to use. If you're unsure, call (609) 292-7272 before you mail anything.
How long does it take?
The form says certifications and histories "will be mailed within five (5) business days" starting from the date the Commission's Licensing Services Bureau receives your written request (form). Add mailing time on both ends. If you're up against a deadline, overnight mail to the street address is the faster route in.
When would you actually need one?
The most common reason is that another licensing agency asks for it. New Jersey works the same way in reverse. When someone licensed in another state applies for a NJ salesperson license through the Commission's waiver process, they have to send a License Certification, Certificate of Licensure or Letter of Good Standing from their home state, "NOT a copy of your license." It must reach NJREC within 30 days of the date the other state issued it (NJREC Salesperson Waiver Application).
So if you're moving out of New Jersey, or adding a license in another state, expect that state to ask for something similar. Check its rules for the exact document and how fresh it has to be before you order. Then time your request so the document doesn't go stale.
Other situations where people ask for official proof include employers, lenders or attorneys who want a state-issued document rather than a screenshot. What they'll accept is up to them, so ask.
Can you check your license status for free?
Yes, and for everyday purposes that's usually enough. The state's online Licensee Search lists active and inactive licensees. You can search by name, license reference number, license type or status (active, inactive, revoked, suspended, surrendered). Click the "Status" column to see a licensee's business information (NJREC Online Licensing Services, Licensee Search).
Two things to know:
- Changes show up the next day. The Commission says changes made by its staff, by you or by your broker through online services won't appear in the search until the following day (Licensee Search instructions). If you just transferred, wait a day before sending anyone the link.
- Your license itself is self-serve. The Commission no longer mails licenses. You print or email your own license, which also serves as your pocket card, through Online Licensing Services (NJREC FAQ, Q8; Pocket License). That's proof you carry, not an official certification.
What if your record looks wrong?
Fix the underlying record first, then order the document. A certification or history will only reflect what's on file:
- Name or home address out of date? See our guide to changing your name or address on a NJ license.
- License expired or inactive? A certification will show that status. Our reinstatement guide covers getting it active again, and our CE and renewal guide explains how to keep it from lapsing.
- Thinking about the broker license? The Commission reviews your three years of salesperson experience through Experience Activity Reports from your brokers, not through a license history you order (NJREC FAQ). Our broker license guide walks through that process.
For anything that doesn't fit, the Commission's Licensing Services Bureau is at (609) 292-7272.
Not licensed yet? The first step is a 75-hour pre-licensing course. Business Elementary's 75-hour course is one option.
Sources
- NJREC, How to Obtain a License Certification/License History: https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/licensing/recliccert.htm
- NJREC, License Certification and/or License History Request Form (form dated 11/15/2018): https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/licensing/forms/reccertreq.pdf ; forms page: https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/licensing/recforms.htm
- NJREC Real Estate FAQs (Q5, Q8, broker requirements): https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/recfaqs.htm
- NJREC Salesperson Waiver Application (rev. 5/27/2022): https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/licensing/forms/salespersonwaiverapp.pdf
- NJREC Online Licensing Services, Licensee Search: https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/licensing/online_Instructions/licSearch.html ; full search: https://www.state.nj.us/dobi/licenseesearch/licsearch.htm
- NJREC Online Licensing Services, The Pocket License: https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/licensing/online_Instructions/pocketlicense.html
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a NJ real estate license certification cost?
$25 per copy for a License Certification or Letter of Good Standing, and $50 per copy for a License History (NJREC request form).
Can I pay with a personal check or credit card?
No personal checks. The form accepts a broker business check, a bank certified or cashier's check, or a money order payable to the State Treasurer of New Jersey (NJREC request form).
Can I request a license certification online?
The Commission's instructions call for a written request on its form, sent by mail with payment (NJREC request page). The free online Licensee Search shows current status but isn't an official certification.
What does a NJ license history include?
Your license record, including your current and previous brokers of record (NJREC request form).
How soon will I get it?
The Commission says it mails certifications and histories within five business days of receiving the written request (NJREC request form).