Licensing & state law

How to become a real estate agent in New Hampshire

To get a New Hampshire real estate salesperson license you complete 40 hours of state-approved pre-license education, pass the PSI-administered exam, clear a background check and affiliate with a sponsoring broker. The New Hampshire Real Estate Commission sets the rules and issues the license.

What are the requirements for a New Hampshire real estate license?

New Hampshire requires 40 hours of approved pre-license education, a passing score on the PSI salesperson exam, a background check and sponsorship by a licensed broker. The table lists each requirement, the published fees WealthyBud could source and the regulator.

New Hampshire real estate license facts
RequirementNew Hampshire
Pre-license education40 hours
Exam administratorPSI
License / application fee$99 (regulator fee page)
Exam feen/a
RegulatorNew Hampshire Real Estate Commission
Payroll-employed agents (BLS)240
Agent median pay (BLS May 2025)$57,620

What are the steps to get licensed in New Hampshire?

Getting licensed in New Hampshire takes six steps: meet eligibility, finish 40 hours of pre-license education, pass the PSI exam, clear a background check, affiliate with a sponsoring broker, then apply and activate with the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission.

1/ 6

Meet the basic eligibility

Be at least 18 and hold a high-school diploma or equivalent; the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission lists any residency or other conditions.

2/ 6

Complete 40 hours of pre-license education

New Hampshire requires 40 hours from a state-approved real estate school, in a classroom or online.

3/ 6

Pass the New Hampshire salesperson exam

The exam is administered by PSI and covers national real estate principles plus New Hampshire law.

4/ 6

Clear the background check

Submit fingerprints or a criminal-history check as required by the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission.

5/ 6

Affiliate with a sponsoring broker

A new New Hampshire salesperson must work under a licensed broker before practicing.

6/ 6

Apply and activate the license

File the application and pay the license fee to the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission, then activate under your broker.

How much does a New Hampshire real estate license cost?

New Hampshire's published costs in WealthyBud's sources are: $99 license/application fee (regulator fee page); exam fee: n/a. Pre-license course tuition is set by each school and is not regulated, so it is not listed. Confirm every fee with the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission before applying.

How much do licensed agents earn in New Hampshire?

Payroll-employed real estate sales agents in New Hampshire earned a median of $57,620 in May 2025 (BLS); the bottom 10% earned under $43,950. See the full New Hampshire agent salary breakdown.

What are New Hampshire’s housing markets like for new agents?

WealthyBud tracks 5 New Hampshire housing markets. Their median listing prices have a midpoint of $566,225 as of September 2026, from $507,450 in Keene to $599,450 in Laconia; 4 of 5 are below last year's asking price.

Largest tracked New Hampshire housing markets by active listings — September 2026
MarketMedian list priceYoYDays on marketActive listings
Lebanon, NH$524,950-0.4%731,068
Manchester, NH$579,900+0.6%48562
Laconia, NH$599,450-14.2%72366
Concord, NH$566,225-1.5%47298
Keene, NH$507,450-2.1%56171

All tracked markets: New Hampshire housing market hub.

New Hampshire real estate license FAQ

How many hours of education do you need for a real estate license in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire requires 40 hours of state-approved pre-license education before the salesperson exam, according to WealthyBud's compilation of New Hampshire Real Estate Commission requirements.
How much does a New Hampshire real estate license cost?
Published fees in WealthyBud's sources: $99 license/application fee (regulator fee page); exam fee: n/a. Course tuition varies by school. The New Hampshire Real Estate Commission publishes the current fee schedule.
Who administers the New Hampshire real estate exam?
PSI administers the New Hampshire salesperson exam.
Do you need a college degree to get a real estate license in New Hampshire?
No. New Hampshire requires pre-license education and a passing exam score, not a college degree. You must generally be 18 with a high-school diploma or equivalent.
Who regulates real estate agents in New Hampshire?
The New Hampshire Real Estate Commission licenses and regulates New Hampshire real estate salespersons and brokers and is the authoritative source for current rules.
Licensing rules and fees change. Always confirm current requirements with the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission before enrolling.

Naomi Whitfield Real Estate Data Analyst

Naomi Whitfield is a real estate data analyst who builds metro-level price, inventory and days-on-market datasets from public MLS aggregates and county records. She reviews WealthyBud's market pages for data accuracy before they publish.

Editorial persona: WealthyBud bylines are editorial personas, not real individuals. Pages are produced by the WealthyBud research team from the public data cited on each page.