How To Become A Real Estate Agent In New Hampshire

High demand, low-interest rates, and a restricted inventory have driven housing prices to all-time highs. This phenomenon is not only being noticed in well-known real estate hotspots but in untapped markets as well. This spells great news for real estate agents in New Hampshire, a state which has always had a traditionally strong real estate industry.

Are you interested in becoming a real estate agent in the State of New Hampshire? Let’s take a look at the steps required to become a real estate agent within the State of New Hampshire, some of the costs involved, and how long the entire process will take. Keep on reading!

How To Get Your Real Estate License in the State of New Hampshire 

As we mentioned before, there are several key criteria you have to pass before you can become a real estate agent in the state of New Hampshire. These criteria were put in place by the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission (NHREC), the government agency in charge of licensing and regulating real estate agents within the state. In a nutshell, they include:

1. You must be at least 18 years old
2. You must have a high school diploma or its equivalent 
3. Complete 40 hours of New Hampshire Real Estate pre-licensing classes
4. Pass the final exams in your pre-licensing real estate courses 
5. Schedule your Real Estate Sales Associate Examination
6. Pass the New Hampshire Real Estate Sales Associate Examination
7. Complete the Licensing Application
8. Submit to a criminal background check
9. Find a broker to sponsor you

While all these may seem pretty simple, there are some important aspects that I would like to highlight to make the process as smooth as possible.

Meet the Minimum Age, Education, and Citizenship Requirements

The first part is quite straightforward and applies to most states in the country. Any individual interested in applying for a real estate license within the State of New Hampshire must provide proof that they are at least 18 years of age and have a GED, high school diploma, or its equivalent. The individual must also be a U.S. citizen with a valid Social Security Number or a lawfully documented resident within the country. You must also have not been convicted of certain felonies within a particular period.

Complete 40 Hours of Real Estate Pre-Licensing Courses

The next step is to complete 55 hours of NHREC-approved real estate pre-licensing courses. This course covers the basic theories and practical concepts that you will need to know as a practicing real estate agent in New Hampshire.

The major topics covered in the course include:

• Real estate law
• Fair housing regulations
• Real estate interests
• Real estate ownership
• Land descriptions
• Title transfers and title records
• Real estate brokerage
• Real estate agency
• Real estate contracts
• Real estate financing
• Leases
• Government laws and regulations

These courses can be taken as physical classes and online classes depending on your preference, but at least 32 hours of the pre-licensing classes must be taken as physical classes.

These classes will be anchored by experienced real estate professionals at NHREC-approved centers. These courses may seem a bit confusing initially since you are learning an entirely new set of languages and concepts. However, with time and dedication, you’ll easily adapt and find yourself gaining a deeper understanding of the real estate industry.

Sign up for NH real estate pre-license classes: New Hampshire Real Estate School

Pass the Final Exams in Real Estate Courses 

Once you have completed the courses you have to pass the final examination with at least a score of 75%. Once you have passed this you will be presented with a Certificate of Completion for that course. When applying for your license you must submit a copy of this certificate to be eligible. This course will be valid for only 6 months after the course commencement date, so there’s no time to waste after passing your pre-licensing exams.

Due to this many people rush to finish the material and take the pre-licensing exams. However, this is not the ideal way to approach the course. Take your time to ensure that you understand the course material fully and avoid overwhelming yourself with information. However, always remember that you are working with a deadline too.

Schedule Your Exam

Once you have passed your pre-licensing exams and have received your Certificate of Completion, your next task is scheduling your New Hampshire Real Estate Licensure Exams. The exams are handled by PSI, a national testing company that has been contracted by the state to handle NHREC licensing exams.

You are required to process your licensing exam application form via NHREC and pay the examination fee of $155, payable to the Treasurer, State of New Hampshire. PSI will send you an email notification with an NH ID number which entitles you to take the exam. However, you must take the exam within three months of registration. You can also obtain more information about the process by reading the PSI candidate handbook.

After receiving your notification, you can then schedule your exam via the PSI platform or call 1-800-345-6559 for more information. Remember, you are required to take your licensing exams within three months of registration and within six months of starting your pre-licensing classes. The exams are administered in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings seven days a week at approved PSI testing centers in Concord, Manchester, Nashua, and Portsmouth. However, out-of-state centers are available if that is more convenient for you.

There are also dozens of study material and updated preparatory questions that candidates can easily download or purchase from various sources online. These study tools as well which include interactive quizzes and short video content covering key areas which usually appear in the exam.

Pass the New Hampshire Real Estate Licensing Exam

You are expected to present to the examination venue with certain items and identification materials. The identification materials are usually two forms of identification, a picture ID and an additional signature verification ID such as a driver’s license and social security card. Your picture will then be taken for the exam score report and you’ll be required to sign the Candidate Rules Agreement form. You are also allowed to bring along a basic (non-scientific) calculator.

The New Hampshire State salesperson exam is divided into two sections of multiple-choice questions, a national section, and a state section. The total number of questions is 120 questions (80 national-based questions and 40 state-based questions) which are to be answered in 4 hours. A passing score of 75% is required in both sections.

Your score will be displayed immediately after completion of the exams and an official score report with your score and any other diagnostic information will be provided to you. The exam report will also be reported to the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission.

You must pass both portions of the exam before moving on to the next steps with your license. If you passed one section of the exam and failed the other you can retake only the section you failed after registering for the examination again through NHREC and paying the $155 examination fee. Remember that you must pass both sections within six months of starting your pre-licensing courses or within a maximum of eight attempts. After that, you’ll have to retake the pre-licensing course and rewrite both sections of the exam. 

Apply for a New Hampshire Real Estate License

After completing all your courses and passing your licensing exams, it’s finally time to apply for your license. You are required to apply to the NHREC for registration within six months of passing both sections of the real estate exam. Mail an NHREC salesperson application to the NHREC address.

This service costs about $90, payable to the Treasurer, State of New Hampshire. You will be informed of the required documentation, but note that your Sales Agent Course Completion Certificate and official Sales Agent Exam Score Report must be a part of the application.

Complete the National Criminal Background Check

This involves sending a Criminal Record Release Authorization Form to the New Hampshire State Police. This service includes a $25 fee payable to the State of New Hampshire Criminal Records. For more information, check out how to obtain a criminal background check.

Find A New Hampshire Brokerage To Sponsor You

The last step before licensing is to apply for sponsorship with a licensed broker. This involves completing a sponsorship request which may take several months. There are several important things to keep in mind when choosing a broker. They include factors such as:

• Broker reputation
• Mentorship culture 
• Commission splits
• Commission caps
• On-going monthly fees, and so on

Related: Top 5 Reasons Agents Change Brokerages

In Conclusion

Getting your real estate license in New Hampshire is quite easy if you follow all the required steps. The entire process can take a minimum of several weeks and may cost you between $400+ depending on the pre-licensing center chosen and other factors. However, with hard work and dedication, you’ll be a licensed New Hampshire real estate agent in no time.