Please read this immediately and review following your registration. Per you registration agreement, you may cancel your registration before your first class if you feel that you may not be eligible to attain a real estate salesperson’s license, due to the screening questions listed below.

On or about October 26, 1998 the NJ Real Estate Commission revised the questions on the license examination/application forms to inquire if an applicant has ever had a criminal history.

Can I Get a Real Estate License in NJ? Notice on Character-based Qualifications for Licensure
(prior convictions, revocations of professional licenses, etc.)

N.J.S.A. 45:15-12.1 refers to a five-year period of ineligibility for licensure upon conviction for certain specified offenses. A Conviction for an offense listed in 45:15-12.1 within the preceding five years will compel disqualification. However, the commission has concluded that it is necessary to look beyond a five year period in order to determine a candidate’s general fitness for licensure under N.J.S.A. 45:15-9. All convictions will be reviewed and the applicant will be required to submit further information such as a copy of the judgment of conviction, a letter from a probation officer and other evidence of rehabilitation. Applicants should be aware that the rehabilitated convicted offenders act. N.J. S.A. 2A:168A-1 et seq. May apply to their cases.

Whenever staff denies an application, the applicant has a right to a hearing before the full commission and the opportunity to present his or her case for licensure.

If a student has questions regarding a prior conviction, they should contact the investigation unit of the Real Estate Commission at 609-292-8300 extension 50147.or contact NJ REC investigator Clark Masi at:  609-292-7272 Ext. 50383

Students should be cautioned to carefully read all screening questions before entering your responses on the state exam and on all applications. Incorrect responses could delay the processing of your application. Also, a license issued in reliance upon false information is revocable see N.J. S.A. 45:15-17A.
SCREENING QUESTIONS

1. With the exception of motor vehicle, have you EVER been convicted of a crime, misdemeanor, or disorderly person offense in the state of New Jersey, and other state or by the Federal Government, or are you presently on probation or parole?
2. Is there a criminal complaint, disorderly person charge, a criminal accusation or criminal information presently pending against you or are you presently under indictment in New Jersey, any other state or by the Federal Government, or are you presently enrolled in New Jersey’s pre-trial intervention (PTI) program or any similar state or federal program involving the deferral of the disposition or sentencing in a criminal matter?
3. Have you ever had a real estate or other professional license, certification or similar credential revoked, suspended, surrendered in lieu of formal prosecution, or denied in New Jersey or any other state?
4. Do you have a child support obligation on which there is an arrearage due that equals or exceeds the amount of child support payable for six months or are you the subject of a child support related warrant?
5. Are you under the age of 18 at the time of taking this examination?
6. Do you now hold, or have you ever held, any license issued by the N.J. Real Estate Commission?
7. Are you a high school graduate or the holder of a G.E.D.?
8. Do you currently hold a real estate license issued by another state?

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IF I COMMITTED A CRIME CAN I GET A REAL ESTATE LICENSE?

BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING BEFORE MAKING APPLICATION FOR A REAL ESTATE LICENSE, AS THEY MAY DISQUALIFY YOU FROM LICENSURE.

All applicants for licensure as a real estate professional are required by law to possess good character, trustworthiness, honesty and integrity. See N.J.S.A. 45:15-9. Consequently, all applicants for licensure must submit to a criminal history record check. In addition, when taking the state examination (after successfully completing the real estate licensure course), the applicant will be required to answer screening questions about their qualifications to receive a real estate license. For example, a licensee must be over the age of 18 and must have a high school diploma or its equivalent on the date of the examination.

However, the screening questions also make inquiry into criminal histories. N.J.S.A. 45:15-12.1 specifically prohibits licensure to anyone that has been convicted of forgery, burglary, robbery, any theft offense other than shoplifting, criminal conspiracy to defraud or other like offenses within the 5 (five) years preceding the application for licensure.

Convictions for shoplifting or other offenses or convictions for those offenses stated in the preceding paragraph which occurred more than five (5) years ago or the loss of a real estate or other professional license for cause, may constitute grounds for the denial of a license under N.J.S.A. 45:15-9. The Commission considers the date and nature of all convictions and other indicia of the applicant’s character, honesty, trustworthiness and integrity when evaluating an applicant’s qualifications for licensure.

After successfully passing the real estate licensure examination, you will be required to sign a form on which you certify that your screening question answers are accurate and truthful. That form is part of your application for licensure. Providing false information in response to your screening questions is grounds for the denial of your application and for the suspension or revocation of any license issued to you, as well as the imposition of a substantial fine. See N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(n). 

If answers to screening questions raise concerns with the Commission about the qualifications of an applicant, the candidate will be given the opportunity to submit a full, written explanation of their response.      

***THEREFORE,  IT IS BETTER TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF DISCLOSURE THAN TO ANSWER IN A WAY THAT MAY RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT WHETHER YOUR ANSWERS WERE HONEST AND TRUTHFUL.***