How to become a real estate agent in New Hampshire
11 min read·
New Hampshire issues real estate salesperson licenses through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). The licensing process involves pre-licensing education, a PSI-administered exam, a background check, and an online application. Every licensee begins as a salesperson — the license required to work as a real estate agent under a sponsoring broker — and may later upgrade to a broker license. The path for both broker and real estate agent careers starts with the same steps.
The process begins with completing a 40-hour pre-licensing course from a NH Real Estate Commission-approved school, which must be finished within 6 months of the course start date. Next, the candidate registers online with PSI and takes the licensing exam, which has 80 national questions (150 minutes) and 40 state questions (90 minutes), with 70% required on each portion to pass. After passing, the candidate must complete a background check through the NH State Police, affiliate with a sponsoring broker if seeking active status, and submit the license application online through the OPLC portal with a $99 fee within 6 months of passing the exam.See the answer for every state
New Hampshire requires 40 hours of pre-licensing education for a salesperson license. The state sets deadlines for taking the exam after starting the course and for submitting a license application after passing. Exam registration, background checks, and license application processing each take several business days. Most candidates complete the entire process within a few months, depending on the course schedule and exam availability.See the answer for every state
Eligibility requirements for a New Hampshire real estate license
To qualify for a salesperson license in New Hampshire, you must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and have a valid Social Security number. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[1] identifies these as standard minimum requirements for real estate licensure nationally. New Hampshire does not require you to be a state resident, though non-resident applicants must file a consent to service of process with the Commission.
A criminal record does not automatically disqualify you from licensure. The salesperson license checklist[2] requires a criminal history report from any state or jurisdiction where you have an unannulled conviction, dated within 6 months of your application. You must also submit attestations of character and answer questions about prior license denials, suspensions, revocations, court judgments, bankruptcies, and matters affecting good repute or trustworthiness.
To obtain a New Hampshire salesperson license, an applicant must complete a 40-hour pre-licensing course from a Commission-approved school and pass both the national and state portions of the PSI-administered licensing exam, scoring at least 70% on each. Additional requirements include a New Hampshire background check, Attestations of Character, a Broker Affiliation Form for those seeking active status, and a $99 application fee paid through the OPLC online portal. Non-resident applicants must also submit Consent to Service of Process.See the answer for every state
Complete the 40-hour pre-licensing course
Before registering for the licensing exam, you must complete a real estate pre-licensing course from a school approved by the Real Estate Commission[3]. The salesperson license checklist[2] lists the pre-licensure course as a mandatory eligibility item. Approved schools appear on the Commission's education page[4], and coursework is tracked through CE Broker.
Yes, but only through live, synchronous webinars with a state-approved instructor on video and students' cameras on. New Hampshire permits online pre-licensing courses delivered as real-time internet live classes, which count as classroom-equivalent instruction. Self-paced, on-demand online courses are not permitted. At least 32 of the 40 required hours must be classroom attendance or real-time internet live class, with up to 8 hours of other distance education allowed.See the answer for every state
New Hampshire requires 40 hours of pre-licensing education for a salesperson license and 60 hours for a broker license, from a Commission-approved school. At least 32 of the 40 salesperson hours must be classroom attendance or real-time internet live-class (live-streaming webinars), with up to 8 hours of non-live distance education permitted. On-demand or self-paced online courses are not allowed; online instruction must be live with real-time video and audio of all participants.See the answer for every state
The NH Real Estate Commission's education and training page lists approved schools for pre-licensing courses, and all approved education is tracked through CE Broker. Courses may be taken in person or online via live-streaming webinars with a Commission-approved instructor. On-demand or self-paced online courses are not permitted; students and instructors must both be present on video during live online classes.See the answer for every state
Register for and pass the PSI licensing exam
New Hampshire contracts with PSI Services LLC[5] to administer the real estate licensing exam. You register and pay the exam fee directly through PSI's online system[6]. The Real Estate Commission's exam information page[7] confirms that the Commission no longer accepts exam registration forms or payments. As of February 16, 2024, PSI's testing locations in New Hampshire are Concord, Nashua, and Portsmouth; the Manchester site has closed.
The New Hampshire real estate licensing exam is a computer-based test administered by PSI, the testing vendor contracted by the NH Real Estate Commission. The salesperson exam has 120 total questions across two portions: 80 national questions on property law, finance, contracts, agency relationships, and ethics with 150 minutes allowed, and 40 state-specific questions on NH real estate laws and regulations with 90 minutes allowed. A passing score of 70% is required on both sections, meaning 56 correct answers on the national portion and 28 on the state portion. Results are provided immediately after completion.See the answer for every state
The NH Real Estate Commission provides an Examination Candidate Handbook and a Guide for the NH Real Estate Exam as primary study references. The salesperson exam consists of 80 national questions and 40 state questions, with 150 minutes for the national portion and 90 minutes for the state portion, requiring 70% on each to pass. PSI, the official testing vendor, offers a prep book through its online store with a full-length sample test. National exam topics include property law, real estate finance, contracts, agency relationships, and ethics.See the answer for every state
The NH Real Estate Commission provides an Examination Candidate Handbook and a Guide for the NH Real Estate Exam as free reference documents for exam candidates. PSI, the official testing vendor, offers a real estate exam prep book through its online store that includes a full-length sample test matching its published exam specifications, along with a diagnostic chart of strengths and weaknesses.See the answer for every state
Complete the background check
The salesperson license checklist[2] requires a New Hampshire background check as part of the application. If you have an unannulled conviction in another state or jurisdiction, you must also submit a criminal history report from that jurisdiction, dated within 6 months of your application. The Commission reviews all background check results when evaluating your character and fitness for licensure.
Submit your salesperson license application
After passing the exam, you submit your license application online through the OPLC application portal[8]. The OPLC fee schedule[9] lists the salesperson application fee at $99 and a $20 amendment fee for license status changes, both payable by MasterCard, VISA, AMEX, or Discover. You must upload your course completion certificate, exam results, background check documentation, and character attestations.
If you want your license issued in active status, include a Broker Affiliation Form signed by your sponsoring broker. Without this form, the Commission issues your license in inactive status, and you cannot practice real estate until you affiliate with a broker and pay the $20 amendment fee to activate.
Activate your license with a sponsoring broker
Your real estate license cannot be used for practice until a sponsoring broker signs your Broker Affiliation Form and you submit it to the OPLC. If you want your license activated at issuance, select a brokerage before submitting your application and include the affiliation form with your initial filing.
A sponsoring broker is required to activate a real estate license; without one, the license remains inactive. To find a sponsoring broker, research brokerages in your area, reach out to several firms, and schedule interviews. During interviews, ask about commission splits, training programs, mentorship opportunities, lead generation, desk fees, marketing support, and company culture. Common commission splits range from 70/30 to 60/40, with the agent retaining the larger share. Large franchise brokerages tend to offer more structured training but may charge higher fees, while independent brokerages may offer more flexible splits and closer mentorship.See the answer for every state
The REALTOR® designation is an optional membership separate from the state license, according to the National Association of REALTORS®[10]. After gaining experience as a salesperson, you may pursue a broker license, which requires additional education and experience. New Hampshire also enacted a universal license recognition pathway in 2023 via HB 594[11], which applies to licensees from states with substantially similar requirements.
To begin the process, find a Commission-approved school on the OPLC education page[4] and enroll in the pre-licensing course[2] required by the Commission. From there, the steps follow in order: complete the coursework, register with PSI for the exam, pass both portions, complete the background check, and submit your application through the OPLC portal.
To become a REALTOR®, a licensed real estate professional must join their local REALTOR® association and pay membership dues, which also provides membership in the state and national associations. The principal of a real estate firm must join before any non-principal affiliated with that firm can join. As of 2027, NAR national dues are $156 per year, plus a $45 Consumer Advertising Campaign assessment, totaling $201 annually. Members must complete Code of Ethics training and Fair Housing training every three years, and NAR does not grant real estate licenses; state real estate commissions handle licensing.See the answer for every state
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), while a real estate agent is anyone licensed to facilitate property transactions. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. To become a REALTOR®, a licensed agent must join their local REALTOR® association and pay membership dues, and members must complete Code of Ethics training and Fair Housing training every three years.See the answer for every state
In New Hampshire, every real estate licensee begins as a salesperson, who must work under a sponsoring broker and cannot operate independently. A broker holds an upgraded license that permits managing an independent real estate business, employing salespersons, and operating a brokerage. To become a broker, a salesperson must complete 60 hours of approved broker pre-licensing education from a Commission-approved school and gain experience as a licensed salesperson, including at least one year of full-time work or equivalent part-time hours, with documented involvement in at least 6 real estate transactions.See the answer for every state
New Hampshire accepts real estate license recognition from all states under a universal recognition model established by HB 594, effective August 27, 2023. The state issues licenses to professionals who present evidence of an active license in good standing from another jurisdiction, provided that jurisdiction's licensing requirements are substantially similar to New Hampshire's. Reciprocity candidates must pass the NH state portion of the licensing exam and include a letter of Good Standing. No pre-licensing education is required for recognition candidates.See the answer for every state
