How to Get Your Real Estate License in Burlington City, New Jersey

Planning to become a real estate salesperson in Burlington City? Start with New Jersey's statewide licensing requirements and the required education. You can review LEAP Real Estate's New Jersey pre-licensing course as you prepare for the licensing process.

New Jersey Real Estate Salesperson Requirements

To qualify for a New Jersey salesperson license, an applicant must generally:

Be at least 18 years old.
Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Complete a 75-hour salesperson prelicensing course at a school licensed or approved by the New Jersey Real Estate Commission.
Pass the New Jersey real estate salesperson examination.
Meet the Commission’s standards for honesty, trustworthiness, character, and integrity.
Complete the required fingerprint-based criminal history background check.
Apply for the license through a sponsoring New Jersey broker.

The New Jersey Real Estate Commission identifies the 75-hour course, examination, age and education requirements, and character review as conditions for salesperson licensure.

A criminal conviction does not necessarily provide a complete answer about eligibility. Applicants should disclose information accurately and contact the Commission if they have questions about how their record may affect licensure.

Complete the 75-Hour Prelicensing Course

New Jersey requires 75 hours of approved prelicensing education before a salesperson candidate can qualify for the licensing examination.

The course typically covers subjects such as:

New Jersey real estate law and Commission rules.
Agency relationships and fiduciary duties.
Contracts and agreements.
Property ownership and transfer.
Financing and mortgages.
Real estate mathematics.
Fair housing and discrimination laws.
Leasing and property management concepts.
Brokerage operations.
New Jersey-specific licensing practices.

The education must be completed through a qualifying school. After completing the course, the school issues documentation used to establish examination eligibility.

Online Course Options

New Jersey permits approved prelicensing education in formats that may include online, live remote, and in-person instruction, depending on the provider and course approval. The Commission specifically notes that the 75-hour prelicensing course is available in live remote and in-person formats.

An online course may be useful for a Burlington City resident who needs to study around work, family, or other obligations. Before enrolling, confirm that:

The provider is authorized to offer New Jersey salesperson education.
The course is the full 75-hour program.
The format satisfies current New Jersey requirements.
The provider explains how attendance, progress, testing, and course completion are documented.
The course includes preparation for both New Jersey and general real estate concepts.

For a flexible online option, review Leap Real Estate’s New Jersey prelicensing program and confirm the current course format, tuition, and enrollment terms directly with the provider.

Apply for Examination Eligibility

After completing the 75-hour course, the candidate must establish eligibility to take the state examination. The current PSI candidate materials state that the required prelicensing education must be completed before reserving the examination.

The Commission states that an individual candidate has one year from completing prelicensing education to pass the state examination and file a complete license application. Because deadlines and procedures can change, candidates should follow the eligibility date shown on their official documents and the current instructions from the Commission and PSI.

Schedule and Pass the New Jersey Real Estate Exam

The New Jersey salesperson examination is administered by PSI Services LLC. Candidates may have the option to take the exam remotely or at a PSI testing center, subject to current PSI availability and rules.

The PSI materials describe the salesperson examination as:

110 questions.
A four-hour testing period.
A combined examination covering national and New Jersey subjects.
A $45 examination fee, as listed in the current PSI candidate information.

Other published licensing guidance identifies a 70% passing standard, generally equivalent to 77 correct answers out of 110. Confirm the current passing standard, scheduling procedures, identification requirements, and fee with PSI before registering.

A practical study plan should include:

Reviewing every topic from the approved course.
Practicing New Jersey-specific questions.
Studying agency, contracts, financing, and fair housing.
Practicing real estate calculations without relying on guesswork.
Taking timed practice examinations.
Reviewing incorrect answers rather than memorizing only the final score.

If you do not pass, PSI’s current policies determine retesting procedures, available appointments, and any additional examination fee.

Complete Fingerprinting and the Background Check

New Jersey requires prospective individual real estate licensees to complete a fingerprint-based criminal history record check through the state’s designated process.

The Commission’s fingerprinting information states that:

Fingerprinting is required as a condition of obtaining a New Jersey real estate license.
Candidates must provide fingerprints and written consent for the criminal history check.
The processing fee is paid directly to IDEMIA, also known as IdentoGO.
The published processing cost is $66.05.
Candidates should complete fingerprinting promptly after passing the examination to avoid missing the one-year eligibility deadline.

Applications are not accepted without evidence of completed fingerprinting, the required application materials, and the applicable license fee. Follow the current fingerprinting instructions carefully because appointment procedures, identification requirements, and fees can change.

Find a Sponsoring Broker

A New Jersey salesperson cannot independently practice as an unaffiliated real estate professional. After passing the examination, the candidate must apply through a sponsoring employing broker.

For someone based in Burlington City, potential sponsoring brokerages may be located in:

Burlington City.
Burlington Township.
Mount Holly.
Bordentown.
Florence.
Willingboro.
Nearby communities in Burlington County.
Other New Jersey markets where the brokerage operates.

When comparing brokers, ask about:

Training for new salespersons.
Commission splits and transaction fees.
Desk, technology, marketing, and administrative charges.
Lead distribution.
Mentorship and transaction supervision.
Office location and service area.
Expectations for prospecting and open houses.
Support for rentals, residential sales, commercial property, or relocation business.
Whether the broker serves Burlington City and the surrounding county.

Your broker submits or participates in the licensing application process as required by the Commission. The PSI instructions state that, after passing, the candidate must complete fingerprinting, meet with the employing broker, and submit the required materials to the Commission’s Licensing Services Bureau.

Submit the License Application

After passing the examination and completing fingerprinting, the candidate must submit a complete salesperson license application through the sponsoring broker.

The application package generally requires:

The completed application.
Proof of examination success.
Fingerprinting documentation.
The sponsoring broker’s information and signature or certification.
The applicable license fee.
Any additional disclosures or documents requested by the Commission.

The published initial salesperson license fee is $160. Government costs commonly associated with the initial process therefore include the $45 examination fee, $66.05 fingerprinting fee, and $160 license fee, for a published total of $271.05 before education tuition, study materials, travel, retesting, or brokerage expenses. Confirm all amounts before payment because state and vendor fees may be revised.

Estimated Timeline

The time required varies according to course availability, study pace, exam appointments, fingerprinting appointments, background-check processing, and broker application processing.

A straightforward sequence is:

Enroll in an approved 75-hour course.
Complete the education and obtain the school’s completion documentation.
Establish examination eligibility.
Schedule and pass the PSI examination.
Complete fingerprinting and the criminal history check.
Select a sponsoring broker.
Submit the complete application and license fee.
Begin practicing after the license is issued and activated as required.

Some candidates may complete the process in a few months, while others take longer. The key statutory timing issue is the Commission’s one-year period following completion of prelicensing education to pass the examination and file a complete application.

What Happens After Licensing?

New Jersey does not appear to require a separate, universally named “post-license course” for every newly licensed salesperson in the same way some states impose a distinct first-renewal curriculum. However, licensees must comply with New Jersey’s continuing education and renewal requirements, and the Commission’s current rules control.

New salespersons should also expect practical onboarding from their brokerage, including:

Learning the brokerage’s transaction-management systems.
Understanding disclosure and agency procedures.
Practicing comparative market analyses.
Learning listing, showing, offer, and contract workflows.
Reviewing advertising and recordkeeping rules.
Developing a compliant marketing plan.
Learning how commissions, referrals, and trust-related procedures work.
Building knowledge of Burlington City neighborhoods and the wider Burlington County market.

Continuing Education and License Renewal

New Jersey real estate licensees must complete continuing education required by the Real Estate Commission for renewal. The Commission currently highlights an agency education requirement as part of the renewal requirements.

Licensees should verify the current:

Number of required continuing education hours.
Renewal period and deadline.
Required subject categories.
Fair housing and ethics requirements.
Approved course providers.
Renewal fee.
Consequences of late renewal or inactive status.

Continuing education is separate from the initial 75-hour prelicensing course. A licensee should maintain completion records and avoid waiting until the renewal deadline to satisfy the requirements.

Costs to Budget For

The licensing process has more expenses than the state application fee. Potential costs include:

Prelicensing course tuition.
Textbooks or digital study materials.
Practice exams.
The PSI examination fee.
Retesting fees, if applicable.
Fingerprinting and background-check processing.
The initial state license fee.
Transportation or technology costs for testing.
Association or multiple-listing-service fees.
Brokerage technology, administrative, desk, or transaction fees.
Marketing, signs, photography, lockboxes, and business cards.
Continuing education and renewal costs.

The published PSI examination fee is $45, the fingerprinting processing fee is $66.05, and the initial salesperson license fee is $160. Course prices and brokerage charges are set by providers or firms and should be confirmed before enrollment or affiliation.

Potential Earnings in Burlington City and New Jersey

Real estate salesperson earnings vary substantially. Income may depend on the number and type of transactions closed, commission arrangements, market conditions, lead generation, experience, hours worked, brokerage splits, and business expenses.

Reliable municipality-specific earnings data for Burlington City may not be available. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a May 2022 mean annual wage of $82,090 for New Jersey real estate sales agents, with a mean hourly wage of $39.47. That statewide figure is not a guarantee, does not represent every salesperson, and may not reflect current Burlington City earnings.

New licensees should plan for an income-building period rather than assuming immediate full-time earnings. Many begin by developing a sphere of contacts, assisting experienced agents, working rentals or entry-level residential transactions, and learning how to generate repeat and referral business.

Career Opportunities for a New Jersey Salesperson

A Burlington City–based licensee may pursue several directions, subject to brokerage supervision and the scope of the license:

Residential buyer representation.
Residential listing services.
Rental and leasing transactions.
Relocation assistance.
New-construction sales.
Investment-property transactions.
Small commercial real estate.
Property-management-related brokerage activity where permitted.
Referral business.
Real estate team support and transaction coordination.
Future advancement toward a broker or broker-salesperson license.

A salesperson who later wants to qualify as a New Jersey broker must meet additional education and experience requirements. The Commission states that broker candidates generally need 150 hours of broker prelicensing education and three years of continuous full-time experience as a New Jersey salesperson immediately before applying.

Burlington City Market Preparation

Although the license is statewide, local expertise can help distinguish a new agent. Before seeking clients, study:

Burlington City neighborhoods and housing types.
Burlington County property-tax and municipal information.
Local schools and publicly available community resources.
Commuting routes and regional transportation.
Historic properties and preservation considerations.
Rental demand and investor activity.
Comparable sales and local listing trends.
Nearby communities that may form part of your service area.

Use official public records and brokerage-approved tools, and avoid presenting estimates or neighborhood claims as guarantees.

New Jersey Licensing Checklist

Confirm that you are at least 18.
Confirm that you have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Select an NJREC-approved 75-hour prelicensing course.
Complete the course and retain the completion certificate.
Establish examination eligibility.
Register for the PSI salesperson examination.
Pass the 110-question examination.
Complete the required IDEMIA/IdentoGO fingerprinting process.
Choose a sponsoring New Jersey broker.
Submit the complete application and applicable fee.
Complete continuing education and renew on time.
Build a Burlington City and Burlington County business plan.

For a convenient way to begin the education requirement, explore the New Jersey prelicensing course from Leap Real Estate, then verify all current licensing details with the New Jersey Real Estate Commission and PSI before submitting payments or applications.

Authoritative Sources