How long does it take to get a real estate license?

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.

How do you get a real estate license?

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.

How much does it cost to get a real estate license?

The New Hampshire salesperson license application fee is $99, and the broker application fee is $121, both paid through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) online portal. The salesperson licensing exam costs $66 for both portions combined, and the broker exam costs $70, both paid directly to PSI, the state's testing vendor. Pre-licensing course costs vary by education provider, and applicants must also complete a background check.

What pre-licensing courses are required to get a real estate license?

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.

Can you complete real estate pre-licensing courses online?

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.

How long is a real estate license valid before it expires?

A New Hampshire real estate license is valid for 2 years from the date of issuance. The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) sends an email renewal notification 90 days before the license expiration date, and renewal is completed online through the New Hampshire Online Licensing portal. If a license has been expired less than 1 year, the licensee may reinstate online; if it has been expired more than 1 year, the licensee must reapply online using the application portal.

How long does it take to get a real estate broker license?

New Hampshire requires a broker license applicant to complete a 60-hour pre-licensing course from a Commission-approved school, accumulate at least 1 year of full-time experience as a licensed salesperson (or equivalent part-time hours), and document involvement in at least 6 real estate transactions. After meeting the experience and education requirements, the applicant must pass the broker exam (75 national items and 40 state items, 70% passing score on each portion) and submit the application with a $121 fee. The experience requirement alone sets a minimum of 1 year, and the 60-hour course and exam preparation add additional time on top of that.

First step to becoming a real estate agent in New Hampshire

8 min readUpdated September 14, 2026

Getting a New Hampshire real estate license takes 2 to 6 months from start to finish. The first step to becoming a real estate agent in New Hampshire is completing a 40-hour pre-licensing course from a school approved by the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission, which most students finish in 3 to 7 weeks. From there, you register for the PSI-administered licensing exam, pass both the national and state portions, complete a background check, affiliate with a sponsoring broker, and submit your license application to the state.

The New Hampshire real estate licensing timeline

The fastest candidates complete the entire process in 2 to 3 months, while the average timeline runs 4 to 5 months. New Hampshire sets regulatory time limits at each stage that cap the maximum at approximately 6 months, after which you may need to retake the pre-licensing course or repay exam fees.

How long does it take to get a real estate license?: 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.
Answered for New HampshireView answer for 50 other states

How long the full process takes depends on factors like course schedule, exam availability, and application processing times. Each phase moves at its own pace, and some can overlap — for example, you can start researching brokerages while still taking the course.

How do you get a real estate license?: 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.
Answered for New HampshireView answer for 48 other states

The total cost of getting licensed includes course tuition, exam fees, and application fees.

How much does it cost to get a real estate license?: The New Hampshire salesperson license application fee is $99, and the broker application fee is $121, both paid through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) online portal. The salesperson licensing exam costs $66 for both portions combined, and the broker exam costs $70, both paid directly to PSI, the state's testing vendor. Pre-licensing course costs vary by education provider, and applicants must also complete a background check.
Answered for New HampshireView answer for 46 other states

How long does the pre-licensing course take?

The pre-licensing course takes 3 to 7 weeks for most students. How long real estate classes take depends on the schedule format: flexible or rotating schedules allow completion in as little as 3 weeks, while fixed part-time schedules typically run 5 to 7 weeks.

What pre-licensing courses are required to get a real estate license?: 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.
Answered for New HampshireView answer for 50 other states

Approved schools are listed on the NH OPLC education and training page ^[1]. The course format you choose affects both the timeline and the attendance method, which is covered in the next section.

Can you take the pre-licensing course online to save time?

You can take the pre-licensing course online in New Hampshire, but only through live webinars with real-time instruction. Self-paced, on-demand formats are not permitted.

Can you complete real estate pre-licensing courses online?: 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.
Answered for New HampshireView answer for 50 other states

The live-instruction requirement means you cannot accelerate the timeline by studying at your own pace. You must attend scheduled sessions, which sets a floor on how quickly you can move through the required coursework.

How long does exam registration and scheduling take?

Exam registration processing takes 5 to 10 business days after you submit your registration through PSI. Once processed, you can schedule your exam appointment online through the PSI system.

Candidates register directly with PSI ^[2], which administers the exam at three New Hampshire testing centers: Concord, Nashua, and Portsmouth. The Manchester testing site closed on February 16, 2024, per the NH OPLC ^[3]. Exams are offered by appointment, morning through evening, seven days a week.

Exam results are provided immediately at the testing center. If you pass both portions, you can move to the background check and application phase. If you fail, you must register again through PSI and pay the exam fee for each retake.

How long does the background check and license processing take?

The background check typically takes 3 to 7 business days to process. After your background check clears and you submit your license application through the OPLC online portal ^[4], processing takes 5 to 10 business days. The salesperson application fee is $99 ^[5]. If your application is complete and the background check passes, you can expect to receive your license by email within that window.

You must affiliate with a sponsoring broker before your license can be activated in active status. The OPLC salesperson license checklist ^[6] requires a broker affiliation form for active applicants. Finding a broker typically takes at least 2 weeks for research and interviews, so starting that search during the course or exam phase can save time on the overall timeline.

When your New Hampshire real estate license expires

New Hampshire issues real estate licenses on a 2-year cycle. The OPLC ^[7] notifies licensees by email before each expiration date.

How long is a real estate license valid before it expires?: A New Hampshire real estate license is valid for 2 years from the date of issuance. The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) sends an email renewal notification 90 days before the license expiration date, and renewal is completed online through the New Hampshire Online Licensing portal. If a license has been expired less than 1 year, the licensee may reinstate online; if it has been expired more than 1 year, the licensee must reapply online using the application portal.
Answered for New HampshireView answer for 47 other states

Active renewal requires completing a 3-hour core course and 12 elective hours of continuing education ^[8], and the salesperson renewal fee is $99 ^[5].

Your NH licensing timeline at a glance

Step	Typical duration
Complete 40-hour pre-licensing course	3-7 weeks
Register for exam with PSI	5-10 business days
Take the licensing exam	1-2 weeks after scheduling
Complete NH background check	3-7 business days
Find a sponsoring broker	2+ weeks
Submit license application	5-10 business days processing
Total (start to license)	2-6 months

Next steps

Start by finding a Commission-approved pre-licensing school on the NH OPLC education and training page ^[1] and enrolling in a salesperson course. Your course start date begins the first regulatory clock, so plan your exam timeline before you begin. If you hold a real estate license from another state, New Hampshire's reciprocity process under HB 594 ^[9] may shorten your timeline by waiving education and exam requirements. After gaining experience as a salesperson, some agents pursue broker licensure, which follows a separate timeline.

How long does it take to get a real estate broker license?: New Hampshire requires a broker license applicant to complete a 60-hour pre-licensing course from a Commission-approved school, accumulate at least 1 year of full-time experience as a licensed salesperson (or equivalent part-time hours), and document involvement in at least 6 real estate transactions. After meeting the experience and education requirements, the applicant must pass the broker exam (75 national items and 40 state items, 70% passing score on each portion) and submit the application with a $121 fee. The experience requirement alone sets a minimum of 1 year, and the 60-hour course and exam preparation add additional time on top of that.
Answered for New HampshireView answer for 50 other states

Sources

NH OPLC — RE Commission Education and Training
GovernmentMay 2026
NH OPLC — RE Exam Information
GovernmentMay 2026
NH OPLC — RE Commission Testing Provider (PSI)
GovernmentMay 2026
NH OPLC — RE License Applications
GovernmentAugust 2026
NH OPLC — RE License Fees
GovernmentMay 2026
NH OPLC — Salesperson License Checklist
GovernmentAugust 2026
NH OPLC — Renew License Online
GovernmentMay 2026
NH OPLC — RE Education Requirements
GovernmentMay 2026
NH OPLC — Reciprocity Licensing
GovernmentMay 2026