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    10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a NJ Real Estate School

    The short answer: Before you enroll in a New Jersey pre-licensing course, ask questions that map to Commission rules, not marketing slogans: Is the school licensed? What delivery format is approved? How does the 80% attendance rule work? Are books and fees itemized? What is the written refund policy? Those answers come from N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1 and 11:5-2.2 and from documents the school must give you—not from social-media ads.

    This checklist is neutral. It does not rank schools. Start by confirming licensure with how to verify a NJ real estate school is licensed, then walk the questions below.

    1. Is this school currently licensed by the New Jersey Real Estate Commission?

    Only a Commission-licensed school can issue the course-completion certificate you need for the salesperson exam path (N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.6; NJREC FAQ). Ask for the school license information and compare it to the Commission's current licensed-school list. If you cannot verify the license, stop.

    2. Which course format am I actually buying—live, remote live, or on-demand?

    New Jersey allows more than one delivery model, but the rules differ. On-demand pre-licensing courses must also be ARELLO-certified (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1(j)). Live remote (for example, Zoom) is not the same product as a self-paced library. Clarify the format in writing before you pay. Our comparison of Zoom vs self-paced NJ courses explains the practical differences.

    3. How does the school track the 80% attendance rule?

    Completion requires a passing grade and attendance of at least 80% of the required class-session hours (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(s)). For a 75-hour salesperson course, that means you must be present for at least 60 hours. Ask how absences are recorded, whether makeup sessions exist and what happens if you fall short. Details: missing a class / 80% attendance.

    4. Are tuition and extra fees itemized before I pay?

    Tuition must be stated separately. Extra fees for supplies, materials or books must be itemized before you pay any fees, and those items become your property once paid (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(n)). Ask for the full fee schedule in writing—not a single bundled number with surprises later.

    5. What does the student contract say about refunds?

    The school must use a student contract that expressly states its policy on returning unearned tuition if you are dismissed, withdraw voluntarily or withdraw for hardship (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(o)). New Jersey's school rules do not set a statewide refund percentage—so read the contract. See tuition refunds at NJ real estate schools.

    6. What is the school final exam, and how is it different from the PSI state exam?

    Licensed schools give a course final; passing it (with attendance) leads to the Course Completion Certificate. The PSI salesperson exam is separate. Ask how the school final is scheduled, what happens if you fail it and whether final-exam time counts toward course hours (it does under N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1(d)). Background: school final vs state exam.

    7. How long do I have after the course to apply for the license?

    After you complete the course, you generally must pass the state exam and apply for licensure within one year of course completion or you must retake the education (N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.6(c)). Ask the school how it phrases that deadline in your paperwork so you can plan study time realistically.

    8. Does any sales pitch guarantee a job, a broker placement or a state-exam pass?

    It should not. Schools may not guarantee that you will pass the state exam (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(v)). They also may not offer reduced tuition conditioned on getting licensed through a particular broker, or promise or imply a job (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(x)6). Treat those promises as a red flag.

    9. What study support is included—and what is sold separately?

    Ask which materials are in tuition, whether practice questions are included and how instructors review the PSI content outline. Separate practice-exam products are optional tools, not a substitute for the 75-hour course. See using practice exams and the PSI outline checklist.

    10. Who is my point of contact if a class is cancelled or I need a hardship makeup?

    Get a name, email and phone for scheduling issues before night one. Confirm makeup policies in the contract. If you have a permanent disability that prevents regular attendance, the rules allow a Commission-approved special-instruction request through a willing licensed school (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.2(p))—ask how the school handles that process.

    Bring written answers to each question into one folder with the school license verification printout and the unsigned student contract. Comparing two schools side by side is easier when both sets of answers use the same checklist.

    For the hour and topic map of the salesperson course itself, see the 75-hour course guide. When you are ready to compare a live option against this checklist, Business Elementary's 75-hour pre-licensing course is one licensed path.

    Sources

    Last reviewed: November 6, 2026

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