A Veteran's Guide to Getting a NJ Real Estate License
The short answer: Veterans get a NJ real estate license the same way as everyone else: the 75-hour course, the PSI exam and an application through a sponsoring broker. New Jersey adds special provisions for honorably discharged veterans who are NJ citizens and have a VA disability certification: the license and renewal fees can be waived, a college real estate program can count as the education, and broker candidates skip the three-year experience requirement (N.J.S.A. 45:15-11; PSI candidate bulletin).
For your own situation, contact NJREC at (609) 292-7272. This page is general information, not legal advice.
If you're weighing real estate as your next career, our guide to changing careers to real estate in NJ covers the bigger decision. This page covers what's different for veterans.
What's the standard path?
Every salesperson candidate has to be at least 18, have a high school diploma or equivalency, complete the 75-hour course, pass the PSI exam and apply through a sponsoring broker (NJREC FAQ). Military service doesn't skip any of these steps. The veteran provisions below change the fees and some of the education and experience rules.
Who qualifies for New Jersey's disabled-veteran provisions?
The statute covers a New Jersey citizen who (N.J.S.A. 45:15-11):
- served in the U.S. armed forces (or in the American Merchant Marine during World War II and is eligible for federal veterans' benefits),
- was honorably discharged,
- was wounded or disabled in the line of duty,
- completed a Commission-approved program of real estate courses, and
- passed the license exam.
NJREC's veterans information sheet lists the proof: a current copy of your VA certification of disability and a copy of your DD-214 showing an honorable discharge (NJREC veterans waiver information).
Which fees are waived?
All three official sources say fees are waived, but they word it differently:
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| N.J.S.A. 45:15-11 | A qualifying veteran may obtain the license "without cost," and renewals may be granted "upon request, without fees" |
| PSI candidate bulletin | May qualify for a waiver of the $100 salesperson license fee; submit $60 with the application instead of the standard $160 |
| NJREC veterans sheet | "Application fee is waived"; "All renewal fees are waived for veterans" |
The standard salesperson application is $160 (NJREC fees). Because the sources describe the initial amount differently, confirm with NJREC what you'll owe before you send payment. None of these sources mentions the PSI exam fee or the fingerprinting fee, which is paid to IDEMIA (NJREC fingerprinting). Our license cost guide lists every standard fee.
What do you send with a disabled-veteran application?
According to PSI's bulletin, you send these to NJREC's Licensing Services Bureau (PSI candidate bulletin):
- Your PSI passing score report, completed in full
- The Universal Form and fingerprint payment receipt
- The $60 fee for a salesperson license (no personal checks)
- Your Certificate of Disability from the VA
- Your Certificate of Honorable Discharge (DD-214)
Is the 75-hour course waived for disabled veterans?
Not the hours, but there's flexibility in where you complete them. NJ rules say the education requirement still applies to disabled veterans. However, they can satisfy it with a program of study in real estate offered by an accredited college or university that's at least 75 hours (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1(a)1, as amended effective Jan. 20, 2026). NJREC's sheet puts it the same way: the 75-hour course or 75 hours of college credits in real estate-related courses (NJREC veterans sheet).
PSI's bulletin tells veterans to call NJREC at (609) 292-7272, ext. 50137, for details on education or experience waivers (PSI candidate bulletin).
Can other education waivers apply to veterans?
Yes, the general waivers apply to anyone. They cover people licensed in another state, attorneys, and people with qualifying real estate college coursework or degrees (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1(e)). The salesperson waiver application has a $25 nonrefundable fee. It says an honorably discharged disabled veteran who lives in NJ can have that fee waived by including a DD-214 and a VA certificate of disability (NJREC salesperson waiver application).
Do disabled veterans still take the exam?
Yes. The statute covers veterans who have "successfully passed an examination" (N.J.S.A. 45:15-11). One practical point: at a PSI test center, a U.S. government-issued military ID card is on the list of accepted photo IDs (PSI candidate bulletin).
What changes for disabled veterans who want a broker license?
Usually a broker candidate needs three years of full-time experience as a NJ salesperson. Qualifying disabled veterans can get a broker license "without qualification through experience as a salesperson" (N.J.S.A. 45:15-11). The education rules differ too:
- A college program counts if it's at least 225 hours, offered by an accredited college or university (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1(a)1, as amended effective Jan. 20, 2026).
- Qualified disabled veterans are the one exception to the rule that broker-course credit requires a salesperson license at enrollment (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1(c)).
- PSI lists a possible waiver of the $200 broker license fee, with $70 submitted instead (PSI candidate bulletin).
For the standard route, see how to become a broker in NJ.
What if you're already licensed and called to active duty?
You can ask for a continuing education waiver. NJ allows CE waivers for active duty in the U.S. armed forces for at least one year of the two-year license term. Most people who get a waiver have to make up waived core credits in the next term. Those waived for active duty don't (NJREC CE FAQs; NJREC CE). The CE and renewal guide covers the rest.
What about other veterans and military family members?
The NJREC sources cited here describe special licensing provisions only for disabled veterans, plus the active-duty CE waiver. If you're a veteran without a VA disability certification, or a family member, ask NJREC at (609) 292-7272 whether anything else applies to you.
When you're ready, Business Elementary's 75-hour pre-licensing course is one way to complete the education requirement.
Sources
- N.J.S.A. 45:15-11, Disabled war veterans; granting of license (via Justia): https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-45/section-45-15-11/
- N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1, Educational requirements (via Cornell LII): https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-11-5-2-1
- N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1(a)1 as amended, R.2026 d.020 (New Jersey Register adoption notice, effective Jan. 20, 2026): https://www.nj.gov/dobi/proposed/aa260120njac11_5.pdf
- PSI, NJ Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 2/1/2026), pp. 1–2, 7: https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/1667
- NJREC, Honorably Discharged Disabled Veterans Waiver Information: https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/licensing/forms/njvetwaiverinfo.pdf
- NJREC, Salesperson Education Waiver Application (rev. 5/27/2022): https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/licensing/forms/salespersonwaiverapp.pdf
- NJREC, Real Estate FAQs (Q13, Q15): https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/recfaqs.htm
- NJREC, Real Estate License Fees: https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/licensing/recfees.htm
- NJREC, License Candidate Fingerprinting: https://nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/licensing/fingerprint.html
- NJREC, CE requirements and CE FAQs: https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/licensing/online_Instructions/ce.html ; https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/licensing/continuingeducation/faqs.htm
Last reviewed: October 30, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a DD-214 for the NJ disabled-veteran fee waiver?
Yes. PSI's bulletin and NJREC's veterans sheet both list a DD-214 showing an honorable discharge, along with a VA certification of disability (PSI candidate bulletin; NJREC veterans sheet).
Do I have to live in New Jersey to qualify?
The statute applies to "any citizen of New Jersey" who meets the other conditions (N.J.S.A. 45:15-11). Ask NJREC how residency is documented.
Can college real estate credits replace the 75-hour course for a disabled veteran?
They can, if it's a program of study in real estate of at least 75 hours offered by an accredited college or university (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1(a)1, as amended effective Jan. 20, 2026).
Are renewal fees waived too?
The statute says renewals may be granted "upon request, without fees," and NJREC's sheet says all renewal fees are waived for veterans (N.J.S.A. 45:15-11; NJREC veterans sheet).
Who do I call with veteran waiver questions?
The NJ Real Estate Commission at (609) 292-7272. PSI's bulletin lists ext. 50137 for veteran education and experience waiver questions (PSI candidate bulletin).