What Has Changed in NJ Real Estate Licensing Recently?
The short answer: The biggest recent change is the Real Estate Consumer Protection Enhancement Act (P.L.2024, c.32), in effect since August 1, 2024. It added designated agency, required written brokerage services agreements in residential deals and put the Consumer Information Statement into those agreements (NJREC Bulletin 24-11). Since then, New Jersey has allowed licensees to be paid through a registered LLC (August 19, 2024), added flood-risk disclosure for sellers, amended the source-of-income rules in fair housing law (January 12, 2026) and added a required agency CE hour for the 2027 renewal (NJREC). The Commission's own rules were also amended effective January 20, 2026, adding a one-hour fair housing topic to the 75-hour course (R.2026 d.020). The basic path to a salesperson license hasn't changed: course, exam, fingerprints and a sponsoring broker.
That path is laid out in our complete NJ licensing guide. Below are the changes, with dates.
What are the main recent changes?
| Effective | Change | Source | Where we explain it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leases from March 21, 2024; sales once the revised disclosure form applied | Sellers and landlords disclose flood-zone status and known flood history | P.L.2023, c.93; DEP FAQ | Seller disclosure law |
| August 1, 2024 | Five business relationships, including designated agent; written brokerage services agreements; CIS in the agreement; showing signage | P.L.2024, c.32 | Agency on the exam |
| August 19, 2024 | Salespersons may register an LLC or other entity to receive commissions | N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.16 | Paid through an LLC |
| January 12, 2026 | Law Against Discrimination source-of-income provisions amended; the current text limits minimum-income tests to the tenant's share of rent | P.L.2025, c.251 | The LAD for agents |
| January 20, 2026 | Real Estate Commission rules amended: the 75-hour course adds 1 hour on fair housing and housing discrimination (the "other laws" topic drops from 5 hours to 4); on-demand online pre-licensure courses must be ARELLO-approved; the CE rule sets minimums of 2 ethics, 1 fair housing and 1 agency credit; brokers and broker-salespersons with 40 years of experience may apply for a CE exemption | N.J.A.C. 11:5, R.2026 d.020 | Course hours by topic |
| February 1, 2026 | Current edition of PSI's NJ candidate bulletin | PSI bulletin | The PSI exam guide |
| 2025–2027 renewal | One CE credit hour in agency now required for renewal | NJREC | CE and renewal |
What did the 2024 agency law change?
The Act reworked how brokerages describe and document their relationship with clients (NJREC Bulletin 24-11; P.L.2024, c.32):
- Five relationships. Seller's agent, buyer's agent, disclosed dual agent, transaction broker and the new designated agent. One brokerage can designate different licensees to represent the buyer and the seller separately.
- Written brokerage services agreements. These are required in all residential transactions, and with sellers in commercial ones. Each agreement spells out the firm's compensation and must state that broker compensation is "fully negotiable and not set by law."
- The Consumer Information Statement now goes inside that agreement.
- Tenants and landlords count. "Buyer" and "seller" include tenants and landlords, so rentals are covered too.
- Showings of residential property must have signage, and the Bulletin gives the required open-house wording.
- Compensation from more than one party is now permitted in dual or designated agency deals.
- CE must include at least one agency course every license term.
For how these show up in daily work, see listing agreement types and what an agent does day to day.
What changed in how agents can be paid?
Commissions still flow through your employing broker. Since August 19, 2024, though, a salesperson or broker-salesperson can have them paid to an LLC or other entity they own, once it's registered with the Commission. Each licensee may have one registered entity, and one licensee per entity (N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.16). NJREC now takes these registrations online with a $50 fee (NJREC).
What changed in seller disclosures?
Under P.L.2023, c.93, sellers must disclose whether a property is in a FEMA special flood hazard area or moderate-risk area, plus any flood history they actually know of, before the buyer is obligated (P.L.2023, c.93). The sales rule began 90 days after the state published the revised disclosure form. Landlords have a parallel notice for residential leases signed or renewed on or after March 21, 2024 (DEP FAQ). The state's seller disclosure form now includes a Flood Risk Addendum, and the 2024 Act requires a firm representing a residential seller to get the completed, signed form (P.L.2024, c.32).
What changed in fair housing law?
P.L.2025, c.251, approved January 12, 2026 and effective immediately, amended the Law Against Discrimination's source-of-income rules. As amended, the law makes it unlawful to refuse a lawful source of income or rent payment. That includes applying "any minimum income requirement or financial standard that is not based exclusively on the portion of the rent to be paid by the tenant" (P.L.2025, c.251). The rule matters for any agent who screens tenants or writes rental ads.
What's new for renewal and continuing education?
The current license term runs through June 30, 2027. NJREC's renewal notice says:
- CE must be finished by April 30, 2027 to avoid a $200 late fee.
- Most licensees now need one CE credit hour in agency.
- Licenses not renewed by June 30, 2027 expire.
- Credits completed at the last minute may not post in time.
All four points come from the NJREC renewal notice. New licensees should check the first-term exemption in our CE and renewal guide.
Has the path to a salesperson license changed?
Not in its basic shape. You still complete the 75-hour course, pass the PSI exam, get fingerprinted and apply through a sponsoring broker. Inside the course, the January 20, 2026 rule change added a one-hour fair housing and housing discrimination topic and cut the "other laws" topic from 5 hours to 4, so the total is still 75 (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1(f)). Our course hours by topic page has the full list. Fees and exam details can shift, though. PSI's bulletin is dated February 1, 2026, and NJREC publishes the current fee schedule. Our page on what a NJ license costs tracks those numbers.
How can you keep up with future changes?
- NJREC's home page posts renewal notices, recent bulletins and alerts. A current one warns licensees about phishing emails made to look like they come from the Commission's licensing unit (NJREC).
- DOBI bulletins explain new laws, as Bulletin 24-11 did for the 2024 Act.
- PSI's bulletin is the authority on exam format and policies.
We re-check this page against those sources each quarter. If you're getting licensed now, you can see Business Elementary's 75-hour pre-licensing course here.
Sources
- P.L.2024, c.32 (Real Estate Consumer Protection Enhancement Act; approved July 10, 2024, effective Aug 1, 2024): https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2024/PL24/32_.PDF
- NJREC/DOBI Bulletin 24-11 (Aug 1, 2024): https://www.nj.gov/dobi/bulletins/blt24_11.pdf
- N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.16 (entity registration; effective Aug 19, 2024; via Cornell LII): https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-11-5-3-16
- P.L.2023, c.93 (flood risk disclosure; approved July 3, 2023): https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2022/PL23/93_.PDF
- NJDEP, Flood Risk Disclosure FAQ (Sept 30, 2024): https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/flooddisclosure/faqs_disclosure_09.30.24.pdf
- P.L.2025, c.251 (LAD source of lawful income; approved Jan 12, 2026): https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2024/PL25/251_.PDF
- NJ Real Estate Commission home page (renewal and CE notice, entity registration, alerts; read Oct 29, 2026): https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/index.htm
- N.J.A.C. 11:5 as amended, R.2026 d.020 (New Jersey Register adoption notice, 58 N.J.R. 804, effective Jan. 20, 2026): https://www.nj.gov/dobi/proposed/aa260120njac11_5.pdf
- PSI, New Jersey Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 2/1/2026): https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/1667
Last reviewed: October 30, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the 75-hour course requirement change?
The total didn't. It's still 75 hours, but since January 20, 2026 the rule's topic list includes one hour on fair housing and housing discrimination, with the "other laws" topic cut from 5 hours to 4 (N.J.A.C. 11:5-2.1(f)). The salesperson path still starts with the 75-hour course, as our licensing requirements page explains.
What is designated agency in New Jersey?
A relationship, added August 1, 2024, in which one brokerage designates separate licensees to represent the buyer and the seller. Each designated agent represents only their own client and isn't a dual agent (NJREC Bulletin 24-11).
Do I need a written agreement with buyers now?
Yes, in residential transactions. The Act requires a written brokerage services agreement that sets out the firm's role and compensation (P.L.2024, c.32).
Is there a new CE requirement for 2027?
Yes. Most licensees must complete one CE credit hour in agency as part of their renewal requirements (NJREC).
Can I receive commissions through my own LLC?
Yes, if it's registered with the Commission under N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.16 and the commission still comes from your employing broker (N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.16).