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RE License Guide

New Hampshire real estate licensing

New Hampshire Real Estate Broker License requirements

A practical, source-checked guide to qualifying, passing the exam, applying, and keeping this license active.

Gabriel Giner

By Gabriel Giner, Editor  ·  Verified  ·  RE License Guide Editorial Desk

Source checked 5 official references Next review 2026-12-01
Required education
60 hours of approved study (JD / real-estate degree / CCIM or GRI / stacked CE + unused 40-hour prelicense + college credits at 12 hours per 3-credit course)
Exam fee
$70
Published fees
See fee table
Typical timeline
One year (or 2000 hours) is the longest step
01

What to know first

A New Hampshire broker license requires more than a second 40-hour salesperson course. The PSI bulletin (updated 7/1/2025) reprints the RSA 331-A:10 experience requirement: you must have been employed full-time by an active principal broker for at least one year within five years from the date of application for licensure, or have worked at least 2000 part-time hours as a licensed salesperson in this state within those five years. If you do not specifically meet those requirements but can prove equivalent experience, contact the Commission at 603-271-2152 to schedule an appointment to request a waiver. In addition, all broker applicants must submit evidence of at least 6 separate real estate transactions in which the applicant was actively involved and was compensated; download the equivalency form from oplc.nh.gov.

The 60 hours of approved study (RSA 331-A:10,II(b); Rea 301.03(k)–(o)) can be met with a JD from an accredited law school with recent real-estate-law practice, a real-estate bachelor's or associate's degree within five years, or CCIM or GRI within five years. You can also combine NH-approved CE (one 3-hour core plus electives within 24 months), a 40-hour prelicense course (32/8, within six months of the broker exam; a salesperson 40 already used for the salesperson license cannot be reused), and 3-credit college courses counted at 12 hours each. The PSI broker combo exam costs $70: National is 75 items (80 points, with some two-point items), 56 points to pass, 150 minutes; State is 40 items, 28 points to pass, 90 minutes. Combined, it is 115 items (120 points), 240 minutes, 84 points to pass. The same eight-attempt / six-month limit before a new course applies, as do the same State Police record and the same three-month registration deadline. By comparison, a Maine associate broker needs two years plus a 60-hour course with documented field experience and no second Pearson exam. A Vermont broker needs a 40-hour broker course, two years, eight closed unrelated transactions, and the OPR state exam. A New Hampshire broker needs 60 hours, one year (or 2000 hours), and six compensated transactions, plus the $70 PSI combo exam.

02

Your path to the license

Follow these steps in order. Deadlines and affiliation requirements can make a passed exam unusable if they are missed.

  1. Document one year / 2000 hours and six compensated transactions

    Waivers require a Commission appointment at 603-271-2152. The equivalency form is on oplc.nh.gov.

  2. Assemble 60 hours that do not reuse the salesperson 40

    JD, degree, CCIM/GRI, or a combination of CE, an unused 40-hour course, and college credits at 12 hours per 3-credit course.

  3. PSI $70 combo (56/28) then license application within six months

    The State Police record still must be no more than six months old. Indicate the principal / managing / associate designation on the exam registration if known.

How long the 60-hour course takes

Coursework is usually the longest step you control. Weeks below are classroom or online hours only; add application processing, fingerprint clearance, and exam scheduling from the roadmap above.

Part-time
6 weeksabout 10 hrs/week
Steady
3 weeksabout 20 hrs/week
Full-time
2 weeksabout 40 hrs/week

Overall estimate from our source review: One year (or 2000 hours) is the longest step, then 60 hours plus PSI plus six months to apply. Waiver appointments add time.

03

Education and eligibility

Minimum age
18 years old
Identification
A Social Security number is required. An ITIN is not confirmed as a substitute.
Residency and identification
One year full-time under an active principal broker in five years, or 2000 part-time NH salesperson hours in five years, plus six separate compensated transactions. Waivers are requested by Commission appointment (603-271-2152). Out-of-state brokers licensed at least one calendar year submit certificates of good standing with the exam registration (Rea 301.03(c)).
Qualifying education
Rea 301.03(k)–(o) and the PSI bulletin. A salesperson 40-hour course already used for the salesperson license cannot be reused toward the broker 60 (Rea 301.03(o); bulletin: proof of a pre-licensing course previously used to fulfill the salesperson's education requirement shall not be used to fulfill the broker education requirement). A 40-hour prelicense course counted toward the broker 60 must still be 32/8 and within six months of the broker exam. CE counted toward the 60 must be Commission-approved and within 24 months. College 3-credit real-estate-related courses (accounting, management, real estate law, finance, investment, appraisal, paralegal) count as 12 credit hours each if taken within five years, documented by transcript.
Education or filing deadline
The same deadlines apply as for salespersons: six months from course start (if a 40-hour prelicense course is part of your 60 hours), three months from registration, six months after passing, and the eight-attempt limit.
Character review
Same State Police plus other-jurisdiction reports. Three character references on the license application.
Background process
RSA 331-A:10-a, valid six months.
Experience
One year full-time with an active principal broker within five years, or 2000 part-time salesperson hours in this state within five years, plus six separate compensated transactions in which the applicant was actively involved and compensated. Equivalent experience is approved only through a Commission appointment.
Broker affiliation
A broker license lets you serve as a principal broker, managing broker, or associate broker. Your experience must have been under an active principal broker (or covered by the equivalent-experience waiver). Firm and firm-branch licenses are separate OPLC licenses. The Commission page lists principal-broker affiliation changes as a separate filing.

Documents to prepare

  • Experience as defined in RSA 331-A:10 (or Commission waiver appointment)
  • Six-transaction equivalency form from oplc.nh.gov
  • 60-hour proof that does not reuse the salesperson 40
  • PSI broker 56/28 ($70 combo)
  • State Police record ≤6 months
04

The licensing exam

PSI broker exams are in the same 7/1/2025 bulletin. National: 75 items (80 points), 150 minutes, 56 points to pass, $36. State: 40 items, 90 minutes, 28 points, $34. Combo: $70 / 240 minutes / 115 items (120 points) / 84 points. National broker items may be scored up to two points (scenario / BEST-answer). The same rules apply as for salespersons: education must be finished before the exam, the eight-attempt / six-month limit applies, and 5–10 experimental items may appear. Broker candidates must not sit the 80-item salesperson national exam.

PSI, combo $70. Same NHRE bulletin and (855) 340-3711. Online only as of 3/31/2025. · Fee: $70

Part Questions Minutes Pass
Broker National 75 150 70%
Broker New Hampshire State 40 90 70%
Scoring details from the candidate handbook
  • Broker National: 75 items / 80 points (some items worth two points); 56 of 80 points to pass; 150 minutes; $36 or $70 combo
  • Broker New Hampshire State: 40 items / 40 points; 28 of 40 points to pass; 90 minutes; $34 or $70 combo. Combined 115 items / 120 points / 240 minutes / 84 points

The same eight-attempt / six-month limit applies as for salespersons, after which you need a new course. Pay for each attempt. Do not sit the 80-item salesperson national exam.

What to study

  • PSI NH broker bulletin (two-point national items, $70 combo)

    PSI / NHREC

    75 items / 80 points national, with scenario-style BEST-answer items. Do not sit the 80-item salesperson exam.

  • RSA 331-A:25-a through 25-f agency types

    OPLC

    Seller, buyer, disclosed dual, designated, facilitator — tested on the state exam. Same 40-item state exam, with broker-level experience assumed.

  • Six-transaction equivalency form and RSA 331-A:10 experience

    OPLC

    Transactions must be ones in which you were actively involved and compensated. Waivers require a formal Commission appointment.

  • Named 60-hour options (JD / degree / CCIM / GRI / unused 40 / CE / college credits)

    NHREC-accredited providers

    A salesperson 40-hour course already used for your salesperson license does not count. Each 3-credit college course counts as 12 hours.

05

Application costs

These are commission or testing-vendor amounts we can cite. School tuition and optional preparation products are private-market prices.

Fee Amount
Application$110
Examination$70
Initial license$110
Renewal (every 2 years)$110

PSI combo $70 (National $36 / State $34). Rea 301.02: original individual, firm, or firm-branch broker license and renewal $110. The application and initialLicense amounts are the same $110 fee, not two charges. The OPLC portal charges the actual fee; school materials have listed $121. Firm and branch licenses are separate $110 fees. Confirm the current amounts with OPLC.

Published state fees

$290

Application, exam, initial-license, and fingerprint amounts cited above. Excludes school tuition.

Estimate your full cost →
Commission

New Hampshire Real Estate Commission (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification)

(603) 271-2152

RSA 331-A (New Hampshire Real Estate Practice Act), including §331-A:10 (40-hour salesperson / 60-hour broker study; experience), §331-A:10-a (criminal records), §331-A:20 (CE). Adm. Rule Rea 301.03 (filing, the 32/8 classroom-distance split, the three-month registration deadline, the 70 percent cut score, and no reuse of the salesperson 40 toward the broker 60); Rea 301.02 (fees); Rea 303.05 (eight attempts or six months, then a new prelicense course). PSI New Hampshire Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin (copyright 2025, updated 7/1/2025; online registration only as of 3/31/2025) at test-takers.psiexams.com/nhre.
Pre-licensing

60 hours of approved study (JD / real-estate degree / CCIM or GRI / stacked CE + unused 40-hour prelicense + college credits at 12 hours per 3-credit course)

Rea 301.03(k)–(o) and the PSI bulletin. A salesperson 40-hour course already used for the salesperson license cannot be reused toward the broker 60 (Rea 301.03(o); bulletin: proof of a pre-licensing course previously used to fulfill the salesperson's education requirement shall not be used to fulfill the broker education requirement). A 40-hour prelicense course counted toward the broker 60 must still be 32/8 and within six months of the broker exam. CE counted toward the 60 must be Commission-approved and within 24 months. College 3-credit real-estate-related courses (accounting, management, real estate law, finance, investment, appraisal, paralegal) count as 12 credit hours each if taken within five years, documented by transcript.

The same deadlines apply as for salespersons: six months from course start (if a 40-hour prelicense course is part of your 60 hours), three months from registration, six months after passing, and the eight-attempt limit.
Sponsoring broker

A broker license lets you serve as a principal broker, managing broker, or associate broker. Your experience must have been under an active principal broker (or covered by the equivalent-experience waiver). Firm and firm-branch licenses are separate OPLC licenses. The Commission page lists principal-broker affiliation changes as a separate filing.
Fingerprints

Same RSA 331-A:10-a State Police process, with reports valid six months. Required for a new broker license even if you already hold a New Hampshire salesperson license.
CE / renewal

Same 3-hour core + 12 elective requirement as salespersons, per OPLC, tracked in CE Broker. The original 60 hours of education do not count as renewal CE. Supervision and office management is a named elective topic under RSA 331-A:20.

Same $60 late fee and $200-per-four-weeks reinstatement schedule as salespersons (Rea 301.02). Confirm the current OPLC fee ($110 in the rule vs $121 in school materials).
Recovery fund

Same as for salespersons: check the current OPLC fee table. The bulletin does not list a broker Recovery Fund amount on the exam table.
06

Mistakes that delay applicants

  • Reusing the salesperson 40 toward the broker 60

    The bulletin and Rea 301.03(o) prohibit it. Take new hours.

  • Counting uncompensated or non-separate transactions toward the six

    You must have been actively involved and compensated. The equivalency form is on oplc.nh.gov. Waivers require a Commission appointment.

  • Sitting the 80-item salesperson national exam

    The broker national exam is 75 items worth 80 points. The combo is $70, not $66.

  • Treating Maine's two-year associate-broker requirement as New Hampshire's one-year / 2000-hour requirement

    Different statute, and New Hampshire also requires six transactions. Check with OPLC.

  • Skipping the State Police report because you already hold a New Hampshire salesperson license

    A new broker license requires a new RSA 331-A:10-a filing, valid six months.

07

Reciprocity and recognition

Partner / path Accepted exam Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity is published for this credential.

The bulletin's "all 50 states" statement applies here too. Broker candidates licensed in another state for at least one calendar year submit each license number and a certificate of good standing with the exam registration (Rea 301.03(c)). The experience and six-transaction requirements still apply unless the OPLC form waives them. Check the current OPLC broker reciprocal application.

08

Renewal and staying active

Same 3-hour core + 12 elective requirement as salespersons, per OPLC, tracked in CE Broker. The original 60 hours of education do not count as renewal CE. Supervision and office management is a named elective topic under RSA 331-A:20.

Late renewal: Same $60 late fee and $200-per-four-weeks reinstatement schedule as salespersons (Rea 301.02). Confirm the current OPLC fee ($110 in the rule vs $121 in school materials).

The Commission page lists principal-broker affiliation changes as a separate filing. Firm and branch licenses renew separately at $110 each under Rea 301.02.

Applicant checklist

  • One year full-time or 2000 part-time hours in five years
  • Six compensated transactions (equivalency form)
  • 60 hours that do not reuse the salesperson 40
  • PSI 56/28 ($70 combo) within 3 months of registration
  • State Police record ≤6 months; license application within 6 months of passing
09

How New Hampshire is different

A Maine associate broker needs two years plus a 60-hour course with documented field experience and no second Pearson exam. A Vermont broker needs a 40-hour broker course, two years, eight closed unrelated transactions, and the OPR state exam. A Massachusetts broker needs 40 hours plus three years. A Connecticut broker needs three years, 1,500 hours, and four deals. A New Hampshire broker needs 60 hours, one year full-time or 2000 part-time hours in five years, and six compensated transactions, plus the $70 PSI combo exam scored at 56/28.

New Hampshire vs neighboring states

New Hampshire Real Estate Broker License compared with nearby states
Jurisdiction License title Pre-license hours Exam vendor Exam questions Exam fee Published state fees Renewal cycle Min. age
New Hampshire (this guide) Broker 60 PSI 115 $70 $290 2 yr 18
Maine Associate Broker 60 Pearson VUE 50 See handbook $121 2 yr 18
Massachusetts Broker 40 PSI 115 $106 $158 2 yr 18
Vermont Broker 40 PSI 140 $110 $310 2 yr 18

Hours are the pre-license total printed in each guide; states that count credits or named courses show “See guide.” Published state fees add the application, exam, initial-license, and fingerprint amounts the guide can cite — tuition is not included.

10

Frequently asked questions

Can I reuse my salesperson 40 toward the broker 60?
No. Per Rea 301.03(o) and the bulletin, a prelicensing course previously used to fulfill the salesperson education requirement shall not be used to fulfill the broker education requirement.
How much experience?
One year full-time under an active principal broker in five years, or 2000 part-time NH salesperson hours in five years, plus six separate compensated transactions. Waivers are requested by Commission appointment at 603-271-2152.
Exam fee and cut?
Combo $70. National: 56 of 80 points (75 items, some worth two points). State: 28 of 40. Combined: 115 items / 120 points / 240 minutes.
What can count toward the 60 hours?
A JD with recent real-estate-law practice; a real-estate bachelor's or associate's degree within five years; CCIM or GRI within five years; Commission-approved CE within 24 months; an unused 40-hour prelicense course (32/8, within six months of the broker exam); and 3-credit college courses at 12 hours each within five years.
Do I sit the 80-item salesperson national exam?
No. The broker national exam is 75 items worth 80 points, a different exam with different item weights.
Can I open a firm on my individual broker license?
Firm and firm-branch are separate license types on the OPLC applications page. Principal / managing / associate is a designation on the exam registration if known.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

  1. PSI NH bulletin — broker 75 items / 80 points, $70 combo, 60-hour rules, no reuse of salesperson 40, six transactions
  2. Rea 301.03(k)–(o) (60-hour stack; 12 hours per 3-credit course; no reuse of salesperson 40)
  3. Rea 301.02 (broker original/renewal $110)
  4. OPLC Real Estate Commission / license applications
  5. OPLC CE (3-hour core + 12 elective; CE Broker)

Verified 2026-09-02  ·  Next scheduled review 2026-12-01

Update history

  1. Rewrote the guide text for readability and added state comparison tables. No requirements, fees, or deadlines changed.
  2. Requirements, fees, and deadlines checked against the primary sources cited on this page.

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