How to Become a Real Estate Agent in New Hampshire

Not sure how to get your real estate license in New Hampshire? Interested in starting a career in real estate, but can't figure out what the New Hampshire real estate license requirements are?

We’ve got you covered! This article will cover all of the basic information that you need to know about how to become a real estate agent in New Hampshire.

The Steps to Become a New Hampshire Real Estate Agent

Let's start with the basic steps to get your real estate license in NH:

1. Be at least 18 years old and have a valid social security number.
2. Take the 40 hour New Hampshire real estate course with an accredited NH real estate school (that's us!).
3. Apply to take the New Hampshire real estate license test.
4. Pass the 120 question New Hampshire real estate license test.
5. Find a job with a New Hampshire real estate brokerage that will sponsor your license application.
6. Apply to get your license with the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission.
7. Get your license!

This entire process can take as little as 2-3 months depending on how quickly you do everything. On average expect it to take around 4-5 months in total with class time, studying, and application waiting periods.

The Cost to Get a Real Estate License in New Hampshire

So how much is all of this going to cost? The cost to get your New Hampshire real estate license is approximately:

• Real estate classes: $299-$599
• License exam fee: $67
• CORI check fee: $25
• License fee: $90
• Total cost to become a New Hampshire real estate agent: $480-$800

Overall the cost to become a real estate agent in NH isn't that bad, especially when compared to many other professional licenses that can cost tens of thousands of dollars and take many years to get!

In addition to the required expenses listed above, there are also some optional expenses you will likely want to pay after you get your license:

• MLS access: Around $20-$50 per month.
• Errors and omissions insurance: About $50 per month depending on your insurer.
• NH REALTOR association membership: About $700 per year depending on your local Board's dues.

Important Licensing Deadlines

There are some important deadlines when getting your real estate license in New Hampshire that you need to be aware of when getting your license:

• You have 6 months to finish the NH 40 hour pre-licensing course and take the NH real estate test (counted from your start date).
• You have 6 months to re-take the exam if you do not pass on the first try (counted from your first exam date).
• You have 6 months to apply for your NH real estate license after you pass the license test.

If you miss any of these deadlines the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission may require you to pay for the examination again, re-take the entire NH 40 hour pre-license course, and/or re-take the NH real estate exam. You definitely don’t want that to happen, so please be mindful of these deadlines!

Can You Take the New Hampshire Real Estate Course Online?

Yes! The 40 hour New Hampshire real estate course can be taken entirely online. All online NH classes must be taught as live-streaming webinars by a state approved instructor, no exceptions.

How does the NH real estate class work? And what is the class schedule? It depends on the real estate school.

At Freedom Trail Realty School, we offer flexible online classes for becoming a New Hampshire real estate agent. Our online NH real estate classes are available as live-streaming webinar classes offered as day classes, night classes, and weekend classes. You can take class with us at your own pace whenever you have time, without committing to a set schedule. The course is broken down into short 1-2 hour modules that you can take over 6 months, and our course software automatically tracks your progress through the state-mandated course curriculum.

How Hard is the New Hampshire Real Estate Test?

The test isn't easy, but you can definitely pass if you study. The New Hampshire real estate test is 120 questions long, broken down into two sections (National and State). You need to score a 70% on both sections to pass and get your license. So the score that you need to pass isn't super high, but you do need to know your stuff. You have 4 hours to finish the test and answer all of the questions on it, which is plenty of time if you're prepared.

Studying is the key to passing the NH real estate test. Don't make the mistake of thinking that you can pass without it! Any reputable NH real estate course should include test preparation materials and practice exams to get you ready for the exam. You should also get some sort of study guide or course textbook as part of your course registration fee that you can use to study for the license exam.

Where is the New Hampshire Real Estate Test Offered?

The New Hampshire real estate license test is offered in three different testing center locations:

• Concord, NH
• Nashua, NH
• Portsmouth, NH

How Often is the New Hampshire Real Estate Test Offered?

Often! The New Hampshire real estate license exam is offered most days of the week during regular business hours. You can view the upcoming available test dates on PSI Exam's website here.

Can I Take the New Hampshire Real Estate Test Online?

No. While you can take the NH real estate course online, you will need to take the actual license test in person at one of the state-approved exam centers.

Should I Get a NH Broker License or a NH Salesperson License?

This is a great question! First off, let's start with some background. Real estate agents in New Hampshire can have one of two different licenses: a salesperson license or a broker license. Both licenses let you become a real estate agent in New Hampshire, and which license you should get depends on how much real estate experience you have and what your career goals are.

Every new real estate agent in New Hampshire must start out as a salesperson. So if you are just starting your career in real estate in New Hampshire, you will need to get your salesperson license. It's an easy answer! You can stop reading if that was your only question, but read on below for more information about broker licenses.

If you are already an experienced NH real estate salesperson, you can upgrade your NH salesperson's license to a NH broker's license if you have a full year of work experience as a salesperson and if you have completed at least 6 real estate transactions. If you have been working part time, you can upgrade your license with 2000 hours of work experience in the last 5 years instead of a full year of experience. And remember, you don't have to upgrade. It's totally optional.

So what's the difference between these two licenses in New Hampshire, and why would anyone want to upgrade to a broker license? The difference between the licenses mostly has to do with the ability to open your own real estate brokerage (hence the name "broker" license). Every NH real estate salesperson must work under a licensed NH real estate broker who is responsible for making sure that the salespersons working for them follow the licensing laws and regulations. So brokers can open their own real estate brokerage office, salespersons cannot, and anything that has to do with running a real estate brokerage can only be done by a licensed broker (for example, managing client deposits).

Otherwise New Hampshire salespersons and brokers can mostly do the same things: represent buyers and sellers in real estate sales, work with renters, hold open houses, earn commissions on transactions, and so forth. In fact, many NH real estate agents remain salespersons throughout their entire careers and never get their broker's license, because they don't want to open their own office. Getting your broker's license is entirely optional, and definitely not required to be a real estate agent in New Hampshire.

How Do I Become a REALTOR in New Hampshire?

Contrary to popular belief, not all real estate agents are REALTORs. A REALTOR is a member of the National Association of REALTORs, which is a trade association for licensed real estate agents and affiliated businesses. So to become a NH REALTOR you’ll need to first get your New Hampshire real estate license, and then afterwards affiliate with the REALTORs and pay the membership due associated with your membership.

That’s a Wrap!

That’s all of the basic information about becoming a real estate agent in New Hampshire. If you have any additional questions about becoming a NH real estate agent please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We'll see you in class (online)!