NJ real estate exam online or at a test center: how to choose
Remote or in person for the PSI NJ exam? What your computer and room need, the no-break and no-scratch-paper rules, and who should pick a test center.
Rules covered through . Sources and corrections.
The short version
- 1You can take the PSI New Jersey salesperson exam remotely on your own computer or at a PSI test center, and it is the same exam either way: 110 questions, four hours, 77 correct to pass, $38.
- 2Remote means a webcam the proctor can see, a computer that passes PSI's compatibility check, a private room, no scratch paper and no breaks, and you must start within 15 minutes of your booked time.
- 3Pick a test center if you want scratch paper for the math, might need a restroom break, share your space, or only have a work or school computer.
Same exam, two ways to sit it
New Jersey has allowed remote license exams since September 22, 2020. The Department of Banking and Insurance announced it in Bulletin 20-33, and said in-person testing at PSI's centers would continue. Both options are still on offer: when you book with PSI, you choose Test Center or Remote Proctored.
The exam does not change with the format. PSI's bulletin lists 110 scored questions in four hours, with 77 correct (70%) needed to pass. An additional 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions may appear, and they count against your four-hour limit. Your score shows on screen when you finish and a score report is emailed to you. The bulletin lists one $38 fee and does not set a different price for remote.
What changes is your test day: the room, the rules, what you can have on the desk, and what happens if you need a break. That is what this guide compares. If you have not booked yet, start with how to schedule the exam with PSI.
Remote vs test center, side by side
| Remote proctored | Test center | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Your own computer, in a private space | Nine New Jersey sites (Brick, Hamilton Square area, Marlton, New Providence, North Brunswick, Northfield area in Linwood, Parsippany, Rochelle Park, Secaucus) plus PSI centers in other states |
| Timing on the day | Launch within 30 minutes of your booked time. Not starting within 15 minutes after it forfeits the fee | Arrive 30 minutes early. If you arrive late you may not be admitted, and you forfeit the fee |
| Scratch paper | Not allowed | A piece of scratch paper and a pencil, returned when you leave |
| Calculator | Handheld calculators are prohibited. The bulletin does not describe a provided calculator | Same |
| Breaks | Not allowed. PSI says not to register for remote if you cannot finish without one | Restroom only, with the proctor's permission. The clock keeps running |
| Equipment | Webcam placed so the proctor can see you, sufficient internet, and a passed compatibility check | PSI supplies the computer |
| Your belongings | Electronic devices, food, drinks and bags are prohibited items for all exams | Into the provided secure storage or back to your car |
| Who is watching | A remote proctor through your webcam | An on-site proctor |
| Score | On screen at the end, then emailed. A failing report breaks down your weak areas | Same |
The two rows that decide it for most people are scratch paper and breaks. Four hours is a long time with no restroom option, and the math questions feel very different when you cannot write anything down.
What your computer needs for the remote exam
PSI's New Jersey bulletin keeps the tech rules short: a webcam placed for ideal viewing by the proctor, internet service sufficient to run the exam, and a compatibility check that includes an audio/video check, a webcam check and a system check. You may not change computers during the exam. DOBI's 2020 bulletin added that remote candidates need a desktop or laptop with a webcam and a microphone, and that anyone whose equipment, internet or location does not meet the requirements must test in person.
For the detail, PSI points candidates to its general online proctoring system requirements page. It is not written for New Jersey alone, so treat it as PSI's current baseline and follow your confirmation email where they differ. As of October 27, 2026, it says:
| Item | What PSI's page says |
|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit. Not supported: S Mode, Education edition, Enterprise (all versions) or Windows on Snapdragon |
| Mac | macOS 14 (Sonoma) or newer. Ventura (13) and Monterey (12) are not supported. PSI also says to turn Bluetooth off |
| Other systems | Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04 or 26.04 LTS. Chromebooks only with the PSI Chrome Extension, not the Secure Browser. New OS releases can take up to 30 days to be supported |
| Not allowed | Smartphones, virtual machines and most tablets. The tablet exception is a Surface Pro with a forward-facing camera |
| Software | Your confirmation email says whether you use the PSI Secure Browser (installed, needs admin rights and 500 MB free) or the Chrome Extension (latest Chrome only) |
| Webcam | Must stay on from check-in to the last question; unplugging it ends the session. It must do a full 360 degree room scan, so desktop users need an external webcam they can move. A phone may photograph your ID but cannot be the webcam |
| Microphone and audio | Microphone on for the whole exam. No headsets, headphones or earbuds; use built-in speakers |
| Internet | Stable wired, cable or fiber broadband, 3 Mbps or faster up and down recommended, 750 kbps minimum. No VPN or corporate firewall |
| Memory and screen | 16 GB RAM recommended, 8 GB minimum. Screen 1920 by 1080 recommended, 1024 by 768 minimum |
Our suggestion: run the compatibility check as soon as you book, again a few days before, and once more on the day, on the same computer, network and room you will use. PSI's page also says to restart just before you launch and close every program you are not using.
Your room and the rules on camera
DOBI's 2020 bulletin asks for a private area free from disruptions, and PSI's general requirements page spells that out: no other people in the room, including children and pets, and a desk cleared of anything not permitted. PSI's New Jersey bulletin then lists the protocols for remote exams, and they are stricter than many people expect. Among them:
- Adequate lighting so the proctor can see what you are doing.
- No moving out of the camera's view, and no changing rooms or computers during the exam.
- Follow the proctor's instructions, which may include keeping your hands on the desk, your eyes on the screen, your hands away from your face, and not fidgeting.
- Try not to cover your mouth. Talking, whispering and mouthing the words are not allowed, so no reading questions aloud.
- No scratch paper and no breaks.
- For all exams: no phones or other electronic devices, no reference materials, and no food, drinks, gum or bags.
The bulletin says PSI may pause or terminate an exam at any time, and that breaking the rules can mean disqualified results and being barred from future exams. It does not say what happens if someone walks into your room. Our advice is to treat that as a real risk: if you cannot guarantee four quiet, uninterrupted hours with a closed door, a test center removes the problem.
Quick check
Saves to your topic scoreUnder PSI's New Jersey bulletin, which of these is allowed during a remote proctored salesperson exam?
Reveal answer (review only)
Answer: The answer is B, Following the proctor's instruction to keep your hands on the desk.
Remote candidates must follow proctor instructions, which may include keeping hands on the desktop and eyes on the screen. Talking, breaks and changing spaces are all ruled out for remote exams.
Why the other answers do not fit
- A. Reading each question quietly aloud to stay focused
- Talking, whispering and mouthing are not allowed during the exam.
- C. A short restroom break with the proctor's permission
- Breaks are not allowed in remote exams at all. The restroom-with-permission rule is for test centers.
- D. Moving to a quieter room when noise starts next door
- You may not change spaces or computers during a remote exam.
Remember: Remote means one room, one computer, silent and in view the whole time.
Question ID: bq-06-1
Revealing the answer makes this attempt review only.
Check-in and launch timing
You can launch a remote exam within 30 minutes of your booked time. If you have not started within 15 minutes after it, you forfeit the $38 fee. So for a 10:00 a.m. booking, the window opens at 9:30 and you must be started by 10:15.
Check-in is where the time goes. PSI's test taker guide describes a microphone and webcam test, a photo of yourself and your government-issued ID, a wait while a check-in specialist verifies them, and a room scan that may include a 360 degree webcam scan and a desk surface scan. The New Jersey bulletin adds that every candidate is asked during check-in whether they have any prohibited items, and that the first and last name must match your current, valid, government-issued ID exactly.
Our suggestion: be seated and launching at the 30 minute mark, not at the booked time. A slow ID photo or a camera that will not focus can eat the 15 minute cushion fast.
Quick check
Saves to your topic scoreA candidate books a remote PSI exam for 10:00 a.m. What is the latest she can start the exam without forfeiting her $38 fee?
Reveal answer (review only)
Answer: The answer is D, 10:15 a.m..
PSI lets you launch within 30 minutes of your booked time, and not starting within 15 minutes after the booked time forfeits the fee. For a 10:00 booking, that is 10:15.
Why the other answers do not fit
- A. 9:30 a.m.
- 9:30 is when the launch window opens, not the latest start.
- B. 10:00 a.m.
- 10:00 is the booked time, but PSI allows up to 15 minutes after it.
- C. 10:30 a.m.
- 10:30 is past the 15 minute limit, so the fee is forfeited.
Remember: Window opens 30 minutes before, closes 15 minutes after.
Question ID: bq-06-2
Revealing the answer makes this attempt review only.
If your connection drops or the exam freezes
Here is what PSI publishes, and it is not much. The New Jersey bulletin gives a technical support line, (844) 267-1017, for compatibility check questions and trouble launching your test. It says fees are non-refundable and that PSI may pause or terminate an exam. It does not describe what happens after a disconnect, whether you can resume, or whether you get a free retest. PSI's test taker guide says a live chat with its technical team is available throughout an online session, and the system requirements page points to PSI Support at helpdesk.psionline.com if troubleshooting fails. Nothing we found promises a refund or reschedule when a remote session fails.
If something does go wrong, these steps are our suggestions, not PSI procedure:
- Do not leave the camera view or pick up your phone while the session is still open. Use the live chat PSI provides during the session.
- Once the session has ended, call PSI technical support at (844) 267-1017 straight away.
- Write down the time, what you saw on screen and any error message, while it is fresh.
- Keep your confirmation email and any messages from PSI, and ask for a reference for the call.
- Before you rebook, remember the clock: every attempt must fit inside your one-year eligibility window.
Test centers have their own version of this. If bad weather or another emergency closes a site, the bulletin says your exam will be rescheduled and PSI staff will attempt to contact you. You can also check status at (855) 579-4634 or on PSI's website.
Who should pick a test center
Neither option is better for everyone. These rules of thumb are ours, built from PSI's rules above.
| Pick a test center if... | Remote can work if... |
|---|---|
| You want scratch paper for the math | You are comfortable doing the math without writing anything down |
| You might need a restroom break in four hours | You are sure you can sit for four hours straight |
| You share your home, or have kids or pets who may come in | You have a private room with a door you can close |
| Your only computer is a work or school machine, a tablet or a Chromebook without the Chrome Extension option | Your personal computer passes PSI's compatibility check |
| Your internet is shaky or you rely on Wi-Fi in a busy building | You have stable, fast broadband, ideally wired |
| You think aloud or cover your mouth when you concentrate | You can keep still with your eyes on the screen |
Two illustrative examples. Maya works days and lives alone 90 minutes from the nearest center. Her personal laptop passes the check and she practiced the math without paper, so remote saves her a half day off work. Luis shares an apartment with two roommates and his only laptop is from work. Remote would put his $38 and his date at risk, so he books the Parsippany center and drives in.
If you go remote, practice for the conditions. Take a full practice exam in one sitting with no paper and no breaks, and drill the real estate math until you can hold the numbers in your head.
Quick check
Saves to your topic scoreA candidate's only computer is an employer laptop running Windows 11 Enterprise on the company VPN, and the remote compatibility check fails. Based on PSI's published guidance, what is the best plan?
Reveal answer (review only)
Answer: The answer is A, Book a test center, or test remotely on a personal computer that passes the check.
PSI's requirements page lists Windows Enterprise as unsupported, says VPNs and corporate firewalls block testing, and tells candidates to use a personal computer. DOBI's 2020 bulletin says anyone whose equipment does not meet requirements must test in person.
Why the other answers do not fit
- B. Turn off the VPN on exam day and launch anyway
- Enterprise editions are unsupported whether or not the VPN is on, and a failed check is a warning, not a formality.
- C. Use a smartphone as the webcam and keep the laptop
- PSI says a phone may photograph your ID but may not be used as the webcam, and the laptop is still unsupported.
- D. Ask the remote proctor at check-in to approve the laptop
- The proctor does not waive system requirements. Equipment problems are fixed before exam day.
Remember: Failed compatibility check means a different computer or a test center, not a gamble.
Question ID: bq-06-3
Revealing the answer makes this attempt review only.
The day-before checklist
Whichever you chose, run through this the day before. For the full version, use the exam day checklist.
| Remote | Test center |
|---|---|
| Run the compatibility check on the same computer, network and room | Plan the route and parking, and aim to arrive 30 minutes early |
| Install the Secure Browser if your email says so, or update Chrome | Companions, including drivers, may not wait in the center, the building or on its property |
| Clear the desk and the room: no notes, phone, food, drinks or second screens | Leave what you can at home or in the car; PSI is not responsible for belongings |
| Unplug extra monitors, cameras and microphones; turn off any VPN | Bring your current, unexpired government photo ID. Temporary IDs are not accepted |
| Set up lighting and an external webcam you can move, if on a desktop | In bad weather, check site status at (855) 579-4634 or on PSI's website |
| Have your ID ready and tell everyone at home not to come in | Eat and use the restroom before you go in |
More on the day itself, from arrival to your score, is in the exam day guide.
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FAQ
Can I take the NJ real estate exam online?
Yes. New Jersey has allowed remote proctored license exams through PSI since September 22, 2020, and you choose Remote Proctored when you book. You need a computer with a webcam, sufficient internet and a private, quiet space.
Is the remote NJ real estate exam the same as the test center exam?
Yes. PSI's bulletin gives every salesperson candidate 110 questions in four hours with 77 correct needed to pass, and the score shows on screen at the end. Only the testing conditions differ.
Do I get scratch paper on the remote PSI exam?
No. PSI's bulletin says remote candidates are not allowed scratch paper. At a test center you get one piece of scratch paper and a pencil.
Can I take a bathroom break during the remote NJ real estate exam?
No. Breaks are not allowed in remote exams, and PSI says not to register for remote if you cannot finish without one. At a test center you may leave for the restroom with the proctor's permission, but the clock keeps running.
Can I use a calculator on the NJ real estate exam?
Handheld calculators are on PSI's prohibited list for both formats. The bulletin does not describe a provided calculator, so practice the math without one.
What happens if my internet goes out during the remote PSI exam?
PSI's New Jersey bulletin does not describe what happens after a disconnect and does not promise a refund or retest. Contact PSI technical support at (844) 267-1017 right away and keep a record of what happened.
Can I use a work laptop or Chromebook for the PSI remote exam?
PSI's general requirements page tells you to use a personal computer because work and school machines often block the software, and it lists Windows Enterprise and Education editions as unsupported. Chromebooks work only when your exam uses the PSI Chrome Extension.
How early can I start my remote NJ real estate exam?
You can launch within 30 minutes of your booked time. If you have not started within 15 minutes after your booked time, you forfeit the $38 fee.
Where are the PSI test centers in New Jersey?
PSI's bulletin lists Brick, Hamilton Square area, Marlton, New Providence, North Brunswick, Northfield area (Linwood), Parsippany, Rochelle Park and Secaucus. PSI also has centers in other states.
Sources
- PSI, New Jersey Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin (updated February 1, 2026)
- NJ Department of Banking and Insurance, Bulletin 20-33: Remote real estate license examinations (September 18, 2020)
- PSI, Online proctoring system requirements
- PSI, Test Taker Experience Guide (version 1.0, January 1, 2024)