Are you ready to jump-start your career and find the best New Jersey real estate school to help you on your path? To become a real estate agent in New Jersey, you’ll need to take a 75-hour prelicense course to meet the state’s requirements.
With over 100 licensed schools listed on the New Jersey Real Estate Commission’s website, you might find yourself wondering which is the right choice. We’ve narrowed it down for you to the five best New Jersey real estate schools based on pricing, offerings, and more. We’ll highlight their strengths and features to help you determine which New Jersey real estate school is right for you.
5 Best New Jersey Real Estate Schools for 2022
| Our Top Picks | ||
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall: Real Estate Express | ||
| Best Instructor Support: Garden State Real Estate Academy | ||
| Best No-frills School: Alliance School of Real Estate | ||
| Best for Flexibility: Center for Real Estate Education | ||
| Best for Exam Prep: New Jersey Real Estate Institute |
Choosing a New Jersey Real Estate School – Helpful Info
To start your career in New Jersey real estate, you’ll have to take the 75-hour prelicensing course required by the state. Before choosing a New Jersey real estate school, you should know that your education doesn’t stop there. You’ll be required to continue your professional development throughout your career. Here are some of the types of courses offered by New Jersey real estate schools.
Prelicensing Courses
To start your career in real estate, you’ll have to take the 75-hour prelicensing course. You’ll need to show proof of completing and passing this course to apply for the real estate license exam with the NJ Real Estate Commission. So, you’ll want to trust that you’re getting the most out of your prelicense class. The New Jersey real estate schools on our list ensure you’ll have all the materials you need to learn and get extra support.
NOTE: The New Jersey 75-hour prelicense course is normally in-person only. Due to current COVID-19 mandates and restrictions, licensed schools in New Jersey are temporarily ableto provide prelicense courses online. Online classes are formatted as a livestream option, with set start dates for the course and specific class times.
Exam Prep
Besides the topics you’ll cover in class, you’ll want to leave your course feeling confident about taking your license exam. Sometimes, it’s not enough to review the course material. The NJ real estate schools on our list provide additional study materials and exam prep packages, so you know what to expect on exam day.
Continuing Education
Once you get your New Jersey real estate license, your first couple of years as a real estate agent can pass by quickly. That’s why you’ll want to pick a real estate school you trust to satisfy your continuing education (CE) requirements. In New Jersey, you’ll need to complete 12 hours of CE every two years to maintain your real estate license. Pick from one of the schools on our list, and you can finish your continuing education hours in no time.
Now that you understand the importance of choosing the right New Jersey real estate school — one that’s capable of carrying you through the stages of your career — let’s take a closer look at our top picks and learn why they made our list of favorites.
Best Overall NJ Real Estate School: Real Estate Express
Real Estate Express sits at the top of our list for best NJ real estate school. The company is a veteran in real estate education, with prelicense courses in 36 states and exam prep in all 50 states. For more than two decades, Real Estate Express has been educating real estate candidates.
Real Estate Express’ interface makes your online learning experience easy to use. Plus, they’re known for offering various options to fit your schedule. Real Estate Express’ packages provide extra materials, support options, and you can even get extra exam prep all in one place.
Real Estate Express Pros | Real Estate Express Cons |
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Real Estate Express Pricing
Real Estate Express offers two ways to take your prelicensing course—via livestream or a self-paced online option.
- Livestream Package ($479): Includes a set schedule of classes with a live instructor to attend from the comfort of home. Choose between weekdays, evenings, and part-time classes.
- Self-paced Online Package ($479): If you can’t attend livestream classes, you will have access to recorded videos of classes you can watch to fit your schedule.
(Real Estate Express prelicensing package prices as of December 2021)
FEATURES:
ROOM TO IMPROVE: For those who have trouble taking the course during the week, it’d be helpful if Real Estate Express offered scheduled classes on the weekend too. But since you have access to recorded livestream classes, this will simply mean scheduling your viewing time.
BOTTOM LINE: Real Estate Express’ prelicense course is one of the most comprehensive packages on the market. The 40 hours of live Q&A support available go above and beyond email support from other schools. Thorough exam prep usually costs extra, so including in their prelicense package is an excellent deal for you.
Best NJ Real Estate School for Instructor Support: Garden State Real Estate Academy
Garden State Real Estate Academy (GSRE) is one of the best options for instructor support. If you’re most worried about the challenging course material, GSRE Academy focuses on making sure you feel confident about the material during class time. With lots of great reviews about their instructor, GSRE has been teaching candidates since 2005.
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Garden State Real Estate Academy Pricing
Garden State Real Estate Academy offers two prelicensing packages in New Jersey.
- Livestream Package ($369): Choose from daytime or evening classes held over Zoom, including the textbook and instructor support.
- Garden State Real Estate Academy In-person Class Package ($369): Choose from daytime or evening classes and switch between in-person and online classes for a blended approach to fit your schedule.
(Garden State Real Estate Academy prelicensing package prices as of December 2021)
FEATURES:
ROOM TO IMPROVE: Because GSRE Academy usually teaches in person, their online interface doesn’t have as many options. Like most real estate schools in New Jersey, they won’t have an at-your-own-pace option.
BOTTOM LINE: When you sign up for your prelicense course with Garden State Real Estate Academy, you’ll have access to both livestream and in-person classes. Small class sizes mean you’ll get more attention on the tougher course material you may need help with. If you’re looking for a solid understanding of the course content and a dedicated instructor, GSRE Academy is the way to go.
Best No-frills NJ Real Estate School: Alliance School of Real Estate
The Alliance School of Real Estate has straightforward prelicense courses offered online by livestream. Their student testimonials praise their knowledgeable instructors. Their instructors have over 20 years of broker experience. What’s more, they offer some tips and advice for your real estate career after you’ve finished the course.
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Alliance School of Real Estate Pricing
Alliance School of Real Estate currently only offers one package for their prelicensing course.
- Livestream Package ($349): This packages offers the 75-hour prelicensing course via Zoom with all your course materials included.
(Alliance School of Real Estate prelicensing package prices as of December 2021)
FEATURES:
ROOM TO IMPROVE: Without a self-paced online option, you’ll have to work your schedule around the livestream options. Alliance School of Real Estate also isn’t for you if you prefer in-person classes and don’t want to fuss with online learning.
BOTTOM LINE: Alliance School of Real Estate is for you if you’re looking for value and not as many bells and whistles. Their prelicense course is the most affordable package on our list. Their live classes are streamed via Zoom, and their courses still offer some extra tools. Alliance School of Real Estate also provides a free retake of the course if you didn’t pass. If you want to retake the course, this makes their package the best value.
Best Flexible NJ Real Estate School: Center for Real Estate Education
The Center for Real Estate Education (CREE) is one of the largest real estate schools in New Jersey. It offers prelicense courses and continuing education, as well as seminars and coaching. With so many instructors, classes are always in session, which makes finding a class easy. Their flexible scheduling means that you have more than just weekday and evening options.
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Center for Real Estate Education Pricing
Center for Real Estate Education offers several packages to complete your prelicensing course.
- Essentials Package ($249): Includes the 75-hour prelicensing course via livestream or in-person, with study aids.
- Power Study Package ($299): Includes practice exams, interactive study groups, and access to a community Facebook group.
- Ultimate Career Package: ($499): Includes additional career training and a property management certificate course.
(Center for Real Estate Education prelicensing package prices as of December 2021)
FEATURES:
ROOM TO IMPROVE: While CREE offers the most flexibility between in-person and livestream class options, they could sweeten the deal by including the textbook in the price. For now, you’ll have to purchase the textbook separately.
BOTTOM LINE: If you’re looking to get your license in New York or Pennsylvania, the Center for Real Estate Education has you covered. You can choose their Multi-state Mogul package to prepare for the NJ, NY, and PA real estate licenses at once. If you only need your license in New Jersey, you still can’t beat their flexible schedule.
Like other New Jersey real estate schools, CREE offers weekday and evening livestream classes, but they also offer classes on Saturdays and Sundays. And you can mix and match the classes that fit your schedule, so you can dip into all of the weekday, evening, and weekend classes however you like.
Best NJ Real Estate School for Exam Prep: New Jersey Real Estate Institute
The New Jersey Real Estate Institute (NJREI) is another great option for flexible course options. NJREI’s director is also their principal instructor, and he puts the school’s focus on making sure you pass the license exam. Instructors are educated real estate salespeople and brokers with decades of experience. What the New Jersey Real Estate Institute lacks in extra tools it makes up for in class schedule and their high pass rate.
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New Jersey Real Estate Institute Pricing
New Jersey Real Estate Institute offers only one prelicensing package.
- Prelicense Course ($425): Includes the 75-hour course in a small-class setting with all course materials, including textbook, included.
(New Jersey Real Estate Institute prelicensing package prices as of December 2021)
FEATURES:
ROOM TO IMPROVE: New Jersey Real Estate Institute began offering their prelicensing course online beginning in April 2020, so don’t expect a slick user experience. You may not appreciate the simplified layout if you’re tech-savvy or want the most out of your online learning platform to switch between your tablet, phone, or computer.
BOTTOM LINE: New Jersey Real Estate Institute is all about making sure you pass the licensing exam. They have an average 90% pass rate, and they focus on making sure you pass the license exam the first time. Their 10-person class size means you get more time with an instructor to ensure you understand the course material. Like other classes, your materials and exam prep are included. NJ Real Estate Institute also offers flexible classes, so you can choose the rate at which you’d like to finish the course.
New Jersey Real Estate Schools FAQs
Still have questions? We have answers to some of your most frequently asked questions about attending a New Jersey real estate school. If there’s something we haven’t covered, please drop your question in the comments section of this article. We’d be happy to help!
How much does real estate school cost in New Jersey?
New Jersey real estate schools cost between $250 and $500 to get your prelicensing requirements. You’ll need to take 75 hours of a prelicensing course before you can apply for your New Jersey real estate license. The cost will depend on the kind of school package you choose. In general, the cost of school packages are higher when they include extra features like exam prep, instructor support, or practice tests.
How long does it take to get my New Jersey real estate license?
On average, it takes people three to six months to get their New Jersey real estate license. How long it takes will vary depending on how long your prelicense course takes and how long you need to prepare for the exam. You can complete prelicense courses in as quickly as two weeks if you go full time, and you’re able to apply for the license exam immediately after passing your prelicense course.
What is the pass rate of the New Jersey real estate license exam?
Sixty-three percent of candidates will pass the license exam on their first try.
How difficult are real estate courses in New Jersey?
You’ll need to learn a variety of real estate topics and gain a solid understanding of the principles behind real estate. That being said, you have plenty of options for real estate schools with extra support like instructor Q&A, study groups, and practice exams. In the end, you’ll simply need to commit time to attending your classes and reviewing the material.
What if I already have my real estate license from another state?
If you are a real estate salesperson in another state, you may be exempt from the prelicense course requirements. You can complete the waiver for education experience from the New Jersey Real Estate Commission (REC).
Can I become a real estate agent in New Jersey without taking a prelicensing course?
You can get your real estate license in New Jersey by filling out the waiver of education experience only if you:
- Hold a valid real estate license in another state
- Have a bachelor’s degree or associate degree in real estate
- Have a valid real estate broker license in any state
- Are a practice attorney-at-law in any state
More Career Resources From The Close
Now that you’ve learned about our top picks among New Jersey real estate schools, we hope you feel confident in choosing the New Jersey real estate school that’s right for you, your timeline, lifestyle and learning style. Once you’ve taken your courses and have your license, don’t forget to check out The Close Pro to level up your skills as your progress in your career.
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Star Points Real Estate School was amazing. Located in Brick, Roe Maloff runs a top notch school, small classes and tons of hand holding to get you through what is a tough course. It prepares you well for the State test. Fair pricing. I made the million dollar club my first year thanks to Star Points.
Hey Chris,
My name is Kyle Kovats and I am the owner and lead instructor of Kovats Real Estate School. We’ve been a family owned and operated school for 49 years and would have loved to have been considered for this list. Please consider us in the future as I believe we provide enormous value to our students that other schools do not from both a test and practical perspective. Feel free to reach out to me to further discuss and learn more about us!
Hi Kyle,
Thanks for the comment, will do.
Chris