The referral agent license type became effective July 1, 2011.  Proposed rules regarding referral agents will be published in the New Jersey Register and posted on the Department’s website at www.state.nj.us/dobi/legsregs.htm on August 1, 2011, with a 60-day comment period to follow.  

Yes, all referral agents must be employed by and operate under the supervision of a licensed real estate broker.

To qualify for licensure as a referral agent, an individual must fulfill the prelicensure education requirement for licensure as a salesperson or broker and pass the salesperson or broker license examination.  The applicant and his/her broker must also submit certifications confirming their having reviewed the legal restrictions on the brokerage activity of referral agents.

A referral agent is limited to referring prospective consumers of real estate brokerage services to their employing broker or broker-of-record.  Click here for more detailed information on the restrictions on the brokerage activity of referral agents.

No, a licensed referral agent is only permitted to refer prospects to the broker through whom they are licensed, and is only permitted to accept compensation from his or her employing broker or broker-of-record.

Yes, a referral agent will be required to renew beginning with the 2013-15 biennial license renewal.

No, a referral agent cannot simultaneously hold a license as a salesperson, broker-salesperson, employing broker or broker-of-record.

Yes, individuals who pass the license examination on or after July 1, 2011 will be able to indicate on the examination pass notice/license application that they are applying for a referral agent license.  They and their broker can complete the required certifications directly on the license application form. 

If you passed the examination prior to July 1, 2011 and are still eligible to apply for a license, see item 4 above.

Licensees who wish to change their license type from broker-salesperson or salesperson to referral agent will be able to do so online through their employing broker or broker of record.

If your salesperson or broker-salesperson license is presently in active status with a broker, the fee to change your salesperson or broker-salesperson license to a referral agent is $50. If your license is presently in inactive status during the current license term, the fee to change your license type is $50, and the fee to transfer to a broker is $25.

Your license must be reinstated (reactivated) no later than June 30, 2023. Get the application for reinstatement (Fillable MS Word or PDF). You must submit a reinstatement application completed by you and your employing broker or broker-of-record and submit it to the Real Estate Licensing Services Bureau accompanied by the appropriate fee ($150 salesperson or $250 broker-salesperson).  The application must be post marked no later than June 30, 2023.

No, you cannot pay to have your license remain in an inactive status.  Everyone has two (2) years from the EXPIRATION DATE of the last license issued in which to reinstate (reactivate) their license.  Your license must be issued to a licensed New Jersey broker.

Upon the issuance of your license to your employing broker or broker-of-record, you may request to have your license inactivated by the broker through the on-line process if you do not wish to maintain an active license.

Yes, you can submit a referral agent application for reinstatement and change of license type (Fillable MS Word or PDF).  The application must be accompanied by a fee of ($150 for salesperson and $250 for broker-salesperson) and an additional license type change fee of $50.

No. The New Jersey Real Estate Commission no longer mails licenses. You may now print and/or e-mail your license via our licensee portal. This license print service is available only to licensees in active status.

Licenses can carry a print-out of their current license status, as posted on the “Licensee Search” function of the Department's website.

Yes. The REC no longer requires the return of your paper license to transfer to another broker.  Transfers are now processed by the broker electronically via the online licensing services, or a paper application which is located on our website in the Applications and Forms area.  After the present broker inactivates the license, the new broker may activate the license.

Licensees and the general public may access the “Licensee Search”.

All individuals licensed as brokers, broker-salespersons and salespersons must complete continuing education requirements every two (2) years in order to renew their license for the upcoming biennial term.    

Individuals licensed as Real Estate Brokers, Broker-salespersons and salespersons are required to complete 12 credit hours of continuing education courses as a condition of the biennial renewal for the 2021-2023 license term by April 30, 2023. An additional $200 processing fee is imposed upon renewing licensees who complete the CE requirement between May 1, 2023 and June 30, 2023. After June 30, 2023, individuals with an inactive license with an expiration date of June 30, 2023 will be required to reinstate their license, and complete the applicable continuing education requirement.

No, referral agents are not required to complete continuing education courses but, upon initial licensure and renewal, their brokers are required to review with them the restrictions imposed by law upon the brokerage activities of referral agents and to certify to the Commission that they have done so.

Continuing education is required to change your license type.  The amount and type of continuing education required varies depending on whether you were previously licensed as a salesperson, broker-salesperson or broker and the length of time you have been licensed as a referral agent.  See N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.15.  Click here for a chart summarizing the requirements.