New Jersey Real Estate CE Requirements (2026): 12 Hours Every 2 Years
Requirements Overview
The New Jersey Real Estate Commission requires 12 hours of continuing education per biennial licensing term. The 6 core hours must include at least 2 hours of Ethics, 1 hour of Fair Housing and NJ Law Against Discrimination, and 1 hour of Agency, with the remaining 2 core hours from additional approved core topics. The other 6 hours are electives.
Several exemptions exist. Licensees who obtain their license in the second year of a licensing term are exempt for that term. Referral license holders have no CE requirement for renewal. Brokers with 40 or more years of experience may apply for a CE waiver. Completing the NJ broker prelicensure course within the licensing term also satisfies the CE requirement.
The completion deadline is April 30, with late submissions accepted until June 30 for a mandatory $200 late fee. Credits do not carry over between terms, and you cannot receive credit for the same course twice within a licensing term. Hardship waivers are available for incapacitating illness, military duty, or unavoidable hardship, but waived core credits must be completed in the next term.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethics | 2 | Every renewal | Minimum 2 hours per 2-year term. Part of the required 6 core hours. |
| Fair Housing & NJ Law Against Discrimination | 1 | Every renewal | Minimum 1 hour per 2-year term. Covers federal Fair Housing Act and NJ Law Against Discrimination. Part of required core hours. |
| Agency | 1 | Every renewal | Minimum 1 hour per 2-year term. Part of required core hours. |
Renewal Pathways
Exemptions
- New Licensee (Second-Year) — Licensees who obtain their license in the second year of a licensing term are exempt from CE for that term.Must complete full 12 hours in subsequent terms
- Referral License — Salesperson (Referral) license holders are not required to complete CE for renewal.Must complete CE to change from referral to active license type
- 40+ Year Broker — Brokers with 40 or more years of experience may apply for a CE waiver.
- Broker Prelicensure Course — Completing the NJ broker prelicensure course within the licensing term fulfills the CE requirement for that term.
- Hardship Waiver — Waivers available for incapacitating illness, active military duty (1+ year), or substantial and unavoidable hardship.Waived core credits must be completed in the succeeding licensing termEffectively doubles CE obligation in the next term
How You Can Complete Your CE
New Jersey CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to New Jersey that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Carry-over — CE credits do NOT roll over to the next licensing term. Each 2-year term requires independent completion of 12 hours. Cannot receive credit for the same course twice in a licensing term.
- CE completion deadline is April 30 of the term's final year. Late submissions accepted until June 30 with mandatory $200 late fee.
- Cannot receive credit for the same course twice within a licensing term.
- Instructors receive CE credit only once per course per cycle, regardless of how many times they teach it.
- Other-state CE credits are transferable only if the course is also NJ-approved with an NJ approval number (elective credit only).
- Hardship waivers carry forward obligations — waived core credits must be completed in the succeeding term, effectively doubling the next term's requirements.
- Confirmation of CE completion takes approximately 10 business days to transfer through providers.
- Appraiser and mortgage license CE credits are applicable only if the course is NJ-approved for the related profession (elective credit only).
Provider Requirements
Courses must be approved by the NJ Real Estate Commission. Provider and course lists accessible via PSI Continuing Education Online (njrece.psiexams.com). Providers report credits automatically to PSI. Board of Realtors courses are not automatically approved.
Tips for New Jersey Real Estate Agents
- Mark April 30 as your real deadline — the June 30 late window carries a $200 fee that is not waivable.
- Out-of-state CE credits only transfer if the course also has an NJ approval number, and they count as elective credit only.
- If you request a hardship waiver, plan ahead: waived core credits carry forward and effectively double your next term's requirements.
- Confirmation of CE completion takes about 10 business days to transfer through providers — do not wait until the last week.
Sources
Each figure on this page is taken directly from the New Jersey Real Estate Commission's official rules and continuing-education sources and recorded with the exact source excerpt. Last verified Mar 2026. Read how we compile and verify this data.