The New Jersey real estate exam is the last major step between your prelicensing course and your license. It is also the step most students worry about. Fortunately, the exam is predictable. Its format, topics and rules are all published by the testing company. This guide explains each one in plain English. You will also find the study habits our students credit for passing. Ocean School of Real Estate has prepared future agents for this exam since 1979.
NJ Real Estate Exam at a Glance
- Administered by: PSI, on behalf of the New Jersey Real Estate Commission (NJREC)
- Questions: 110 scored questions, including 30 on New Jersey law and rules
- Pretest questions: 5 to 10 unscored questions may also appear
- Time limit: 4 hours
- Passing score: 70%, or 77 correct answers
- Exam fee: $38 per attempt
- Where: a PSI test center, or a remote proctored exam from home
- Deadline: pass and apply for your license within one year of your eligibility date
Who Can Take the Exam
You must finish New Jersey’s 75-hour salesperson prelicensing course before you can schedule the exam. After you complete the course, your school sends your eligibility to PSI electronically. Nothing needs to be mailed by you. Candidates must also be at least 18 and hold a high school diploma or equivalent. For the full list, see our New Jersey licensing requirements.
How the NJ Real Estate Exam Is Structured
The salesperson exam has two portions. The national portion covers real estate principles used in every state. The state portion covers New Jersey law, NJREC rules and how licensees must conduct business. Both portions are taken in one sitting.
National Portion Topics
Contracts and agency carry the most weight. Together, they make up nearly a third of the national questions.
| Topic | Weight | Study more |
|---|---|---|
| Contracts | 19% | |
| Agency | 13% | |
| Practice of Real Estate | 12% | |
| Property Ownership | 10% | General principles |
| Financing | 10% | |
| Valuation | 8% | Property valuation |
| Property Disclosures | 7% | |
| Real Estate Calculations | 7% | Real estate math |
| Transfer of Title | 6% | |
| Land Use Controls | 5% | |
| Property Management | 3% | Property management |
Weights are taken from PSI’s published content outline.
New Jersey Portion Topics
The state portion has 30 questions. Most of them focus on the rules licensees must follow every day.
- Statutes and rules governing licensee activities: 22 questions
- Licensing requirements: 3 questions
- Additional requirements: 3 questions
- Duties and powers of the Real Estate Commission: 2 questions
For a closer look, read our guide to the New Jersey-specific section of the exam. Our overview of real estate laws specific to New Jersey is also useful.
How to Register and Schedule
- Finish your 75-hour course. Your school then sends your eligibility to PSI.
- Create an account on PSI’s New Jersey real estate page. Your name must match your government ID exactly.
- Choose a test center or a remote proctored exam, then pay the $38 fee.
- Pick your date and time. You can also register by phone at (855) 579-4634.
Plans change, so know the cancellation rule. Exams must be canceled at least two days ahead, online or by speaking with PSI. Late cancellations and missed appointments forfeit the fee.
What to Expect on Exam Day
At a Test Center
Arrive 30 minutes early. Bring one current, government-issued photo ID that shows your signature. Phones, smartwatches, bags and personal calculators are not allowed in the testing room. Scratch paper and a pencil are provided and collected when you leave.
Remote Proctored Exam
You test from home on your own computer with a webcam. Run PSI’s compatibility check well before exam day. Scratch paper is not allowed, and breaks are not permitted. You also cannot change rooms or computers during the exam. Log in on time, since a late start can cost you the fee.
Your Results and Retakes
Your score appears on screen as soon as you finish. A score report is also emailed to you. If you do not pass, the report shows how you did in each topic area. That breakdown tells you exactly where to focus next.
Retakes cannot be scheduled for the same day. However, you may be able to test again within a few days, depending on availability. Each attempt requires a new fee. One of our students missed by a single point, then passed three days later and sold her first home within months.
Keep the calendar in mind. Your eligibility expires one year from the date it was issued. You must pass the exam and apply for your license before then.
How to Prepare for the NJ Real Estate Exam
Good preparation starts in class, not the week before the test. These habits help most.
- Study by weight. Spend the most time on contracts, agency and the practice of real estate.
- Give New Jersey rules their own time. Thirty questions depend on state law alone.
- Practice math without a phone. Our real estate math tips cover the formulas that come up most.
- Take timed practice tests. PSI sells official practice exams online, and each one mirrors the real format.
- Ask questions while you learn. In a live class, confusion gets cleared up before it becomes a wrong answer.
- Book your exam soon after your course ends, while the material is fresh.
Exam-style practice questions are built into our salesperson course, so you rehearse the format before test day.
For more ideas, read our New Jersey real estate exam preparation tips.
What Our Students Say About Passing
“Fresh out my exam- passed on the first go! What you put in to her class, you get out.” Kynisha L.
“Ocean Real Estate School has one of the best instructors. I felt confident going into the state exam!” Danny L.
“Passed the exam on my first attempt due to the expert guidance and direction that I received.” Viktoria B.
Read more on our student testimonials page.
After You Pass
Passing the exam is step two of four. Next, complete fingerprinting through IdentoGO and pass the background check. Then affiliate with a sponsoring broker, who submits your license application. State license fees currently total $160: $100 for the license, $50 for the application and $10 for the guaranty fund. See our full guide to what to do after passing the exam.
NJ Real Estate Exam FAQs
The salesperson exam has 110 scored questions. Thirty of them cover New Jersey law and rules. Up to 10 unscored pretest questions may also appear.
PSI lists a passing score of 70%. That equals 77 correct answers out of 110.
Yes. PSI offers a remote proctored exam that you take from home with a webcam. Test centers are also available.
It is challenging but very manageable with steady study. Questions test understanding, not just memorized terms. Students who study by topic weight and practice under time limits usually feel ready.
Your eligibility lasts one year from the date it is issued. You must pass and apply for your license within that window.
Start Preparing the Right Way
The strongest exam prep begins in your prelicensing course. Our 75-hour salesperson course is taught live online by experienced New Jersey instructors. Choose the daytime or evening track. Then call 732-477-8772 to confirm your start date.
Exam details are based on PSI’s New Jersey Candidate Information Bulletin, updated February 2026. Fees and policies can change, so confirm current details with PSI before registering.
Start Your Real Estate Career in New Jersey!
Enroll In A Real Estate Course Today
Kristen E. Johnson, Esq. has been practicing law (https://kejlaw.com/) at the Jersey Shore for over 20 years, focusing on all aspects of residential and commercial real estate. Kristen is originally from Monmouth County where she currently resides with her husband and three daughters. Kristen is a graduate of Drexel University (’00) and Villanova School of Law (’03). Kristen has over twenty years experience in foreclosures, Condominium Law, Landlord Tenant law, and residential and commercial real estate. Kristen also is the owner and operator of the Ocean School of Real Estate, where she is licensed educator.