Licensing Requirements
Who can qualify for a New Jersey Real Estate Salesperson license?
To qualify for a resident New Jersey Real Estate Salesperson license, you must:
⢠Be at least 18 years old
⢠Be a resident of New Jersey, or have your principal place of business in New Jersey
⢠Be trustworthy, competent, financially responsible, and of good personal and business reputation
⢠Complete an approved pre-licensing course
⢠Submit fingerprints for a criminal background check
⢠Pass the state licensing exam and file a license application through a sponsoring broker
Do I have to live in New Jersey to get licensed through your school?
You must either be a New Jersey resident or have your principal place of business in New Jersey in order to qualify for a New Jersey real estate license.
Courses, Hours, and Tuition
What courses and hours do you offer?
⢠Salesperson Pre-Licensing Course: 75 hours
⢠Broker Course: 150 hours
⢠Continuing Education (CE) Credits: 12 hours
Are there any specials or discounts?
Yes. Tuition amounts may change and we often offer specials.
Are the pre-license courses in-class or online?
Our pre-licensing and CE courses are in-class or online. Always check the current schedule on our website or contact the office for updates.
What are your typical class schedules?
Subject to availability and change:
⢠Wednesday to Friday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
⢠Monday to Friday, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Attendance and Course Policies
What is your attendance policy?
Because we are a state-approved school, attendance is recorded and inspected by the New Jersey Real Estate Commission and the Department of Banking and Insurance.Ā
You must:
⢠Sign in at the beginning of class and sign out at the end
⢠Remain in class until the instructor dismisses the class
⢠Attend at least 80 percent of the total scheduled hours
You may miss up to 10 percent of class time. If you need a makeup class, contact the office.
Can I stop and resume my course later?
Yes. You may discontinue and resume training as needed, as long as there is space in later classes. You must complete all course requirements, including attendance and the final exam, within one year from the date you begin your course. Future classes and schedules are not guaranteed, so we encourage you to complete your original class if possible.
How long do I have to finish the course?
You must successfully complete the course and final exam within one year from your first attended class session.
School Final Exam and State Licensing Exam
What score do I need to pass the school final exam?
You must pass the schoolās pre-licensing final exam with a score of 75 percent or higher to receive a certificate of completion.
How many times can I take the school final exam?
Your tuition includes two final exam attempts. If you need additional attempts after that, there is a $25 fee for each extra attempt.
Are there any proctor rules for the school exam?
Yes. The final exam will be monitored by a school representative.
Certificates, Reporting, and State Exam Process
When will I receive my certificate of completion?
After you meet all New Jersey pre-licensing education requirements and pass the school final exam, New Direction School will issue your certificate of completion.
Does New Direction School report my course completion to the state?
At this time, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance does not require pre-licensing course completions to be reported to the state. You are responsible for keeping your certificate of completion.
How do I schedule the state licensing exam?
You can schedule your exam or check test center availability by:
⢠Visiting the PSI Exams website at psiexams.com
⢠Calling PSI Examination Services at (800) 733-9267
What do I need to bring to the state exam?
You must bring two valid forms of signature identification:
⢠Primary ID: Government-issued, photo-bearing, with signature
⢠Secondary ID: Contains a valid signature
All identification must be in English.
If your name has changed, you must also bring legal proof, for example a marriage license, divorce decree, or other official document.
Fingerprinting and Background Check
How do I get fingerprinted?
You can schedule your fingerprinting session by:
⢠Visiting www.newdirection.school/fingerprintingnj
⢠Calling MorphoTrust Customer Service at 1-877-503-5981
The Department suggests scheduling your fingerprint scan immediately after you pass the state exam. Appointments are usually scheduled within 7 to 10 days after you complete the process.
Why is the background check important?
Your license application cannot be processed until the New Jersey Real Estate Commission receives the results of your criminal background check.
Certain offenses, such as forgery, burglary, robbery, theft offenses other than shoplifting, criminal conspiracy to defraud, or similar offenses within five years of your application, may disqualify you from obtaining a license.
If you have questions about your specific situation, you may contact the Real Estate Commission at (609) 292-8300 ext. 50147 between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. In many cases, the Commission cannot make a final decision based only on a phone call, so you should be prepared to provide complete records if asked.
Is this a complete list of disqualifying issues?
No. The information here is a brief summary only and is not intended to be complete. You should always check with the New Jersey Real Estate Commission or the Department of Banking and Insurance for full and current licensing rules.
License Application
What do I need to submit my license application?
Once you pass the state exam and complete fingerprinting, you must submit:
⢠Your State Exam Score Report, signed by your sponsoring broker
⢠Your fingerprinting receipt
⢠A certified check, cashierās check, money order, debit/credit card or cash for the required license fee (currently listed as $160) payable to your broker to activate your license through New Jersey Real Estate Commission.
Tuition, Retraining, and Refunds
Does tuition include exam and license fees?
Tuition paid covers your course instruction, school provided materials and 2 final exams.
It does not include the state exam testing fees or licensing fees.
Can I retake the course for free if I do not pass the exam?
While we cannot guarantee that you will pass the state exam, New Direction School will retrain you for up to one year from the date of your first attended class session at no additional tuition charge, as long as there is space in the class you select.
You may retake the entire course or any part of it. You must bring your original course materials.Ā
If you no longer have them or if materials have been updated, there will be a fee to replace them.
What is your refund policy before classes begin?
⢠If you are not accepted to the school, you receive a full refund of all money paid.
⢠If you cancel within three business days of signing the contract, you receive a full refund of all tuition and fees.
⢠If you withdraw more than three business days after signing but before classes start, you receive a full refund minus a cancellation charge. The cancellation charge will be the lesser of $150 or 25 percent of the contract price.
All refunds are issued within 30 days of the official date of termination.
What is your refund policy after classes begin?
If you withdraw after classes have started, the school does not issue any refunds, except as provided by specific state qualifying questions described below.
How is the official termination date determined?
The official date of termination or withdrawal is the earliest of:
⢠The date the school receives written notice that you intend to discontinue the program
⢠The date you are terminated for violating school policy
⢠For a leave of absence, the day after your expected return date, if you do not return
If the school discontinues a course or program within the time a student could reasonably complete it, you will receive a full refund of tuition and fees paid, except if the school ceases operation completely.
What are āstate qualifying questionsā and how do they affect refunds?
If you begin classes and later discover that you have criminal records that prevent you from qualifying for a New Jersey real estate license:
⢠If you withdraw before completing 10 class hours, you may receive a full refund of tuition minus a $150 registration fee.
⢠After 10 class hours, only 50 percent of tuition will be refunded.
Because these situations relate to license eligibility, you should check your background and talk to the Real Estate Commission if you have any doubts before or early in your course.
Classroom Rules and Conduct
What are the classroom rules?
⢠Attendance is taken and must be accurate
⢠You must sign in at the beginning and sign out at the end of class
⢠Do not leave the classroom until the instructor dismisses the class
⢠Smoking is not permitted in the classroom or building
Can I use my phone, tablet, or record the class?
No. Recorders and telephones are not permitted in the classroom.
What behavior can lead to expulsion from the school?
The school reserves the right to expel any student whose conduct disrupts the instructor, other students, or any other occupants of the building. There is no tuition refund if a student is expelled for conduct reasons.
What if I owe money or have poor attendance?
Any student with an outstanding balance or unsatisfactory attendance will not be allowed to take the final exam. The student will receive an Incomplete until all obligations are met.
Important Notice
This FAQ is a summary of our current policies and the main New Jersey licensing rules that affect our students. It is not a complete or final statement of New Jersey law. Licensing rules, fees, and requirements can change. For the most current information, you should always consult the New Jersey Real Estate Commission and the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, or contact our office for guidance.