N.J. Stat. § 18A:66-34
A member who withdraws from service or ceases to be a teacher for any cause other than death or retirement shall, upon the filing of an application therefor, receive all of his accumulated deductions standing to the credit of his individual account in the annuity savings fund, plus regular interest on contributions made after January 1, 1956, less any loan outstanding, and except that for any period after June 30, 1944, the interest payable shall be such proportion of the interest determined at the regular rate as 2% per annum bears to the regular rate of interest; provided, however, that no interest shall be payable if such a member does not have 3 years of membership service at the time of withdrawal from service or cessation of employment.
He shall cease to be a member 2 years from the date he discontinued service as a teacher, or, if prior thereto, upon payment to him of his accumulated deductions. If any such person or member shall die before withdrawing or before endorsing the check constituting the return of his accumulated deductions, such deductions shall be paid to the member's beneficiary. No member shall be entitled to withdraw the amounts contributed by his employer covering his military leave unless he shall have returned to the payroll and contributed to the retirement system for a period of 90 days.
N.J.S. § 18A:66-34