New York Real Estate License Requirements

How to Become a Real Estate Agent in New York

How to Get a Real Estate License in New York

The New York Department of State requires all potential agents to complete the following steps in order to become a licensed real estate agent.

1. Complete 75 Hours of Approved Pre-Licensing Education

To start, you must complete
75 hours of Pre-Licensing real estate courses.

If you have received a degree from a university with a major course of study in real estate, or have a current license in another jurisdiction but are seeking licensure in New York, please see
the Department of State Division of Licensing website for the education and examination requirements in detail for your specific situation.

2. Pass the Course Final Exam

After you complete all the course materials, there is a course final exam. The minimum passing score is 70%. Course completions are valid for eight years and must be used to obtain a license or they will expire and must be retaken.

Once either of these courses has been applied towards a license, it will not expire and can be used for upgrade.

You must take the final exam in the presence of a proctor, so you’ll need to schedule an appointment with a proctor in advance.
Find out more about proctoring here.

3. Pass the New York Real Estate Salesperson Exam

You will have 1.5 hours to complete this multiple-choice exam based on the 75-hour Pre-Licensing curriculum. There are
exam prep courses that help candidates pass the exam on their first try.

4. Find a Sponsoring Broker

To be licensed, you need to be sponsored by a current and active New York Broker. It’s important to find the right broker to work with, since this person will serve as your mentor as you start your new career in real estate.

5. Complete Your License Application

Once you pass the New York Salesperson Real Estate Exam and find a sponsoring Broker,
complete your application eAccessNY.

Quick Facts:

• You can use the New York Real Estate Agent License Lookup Tool to verify an agent’s license status.

• eAccessNY is New York State’s Occupational Licensing Management System that you will use as your hub for licensing.

• The New York Division of Licensing Services put together
  application instructions for you to follow when applying.

Common Questions About Getting Your New York Real Estate License.

1. How much does it cost to get your real estate license in New York?

The cost of an agent license in NY can vary considerably depending on the price of your New York real estate classes and different types of fees for your licensing, etc. An individual can typically expect to pay $481-$731 to get an active New York real estate license.

2. How long does it take to get a real estate license in New York?

The specific amount of time to complete your 75 hours of licensing can vary depending on how long each task takes you, and how long you take to complete Pre-Licensing courses. Different credit hours and requirements of each brokerage will affect each Salesperson differently.

3. If I get a real estate license in New York, where else can I work?

If you get a real estate license in New York, you are automatically eligible to work in states that offer full reciprocity. States that offer full reciprocity will recognize your New York license, meaning you can work in their state after fulfilling significantly less requirements. Typically, this means passing the state-specific real estate exam or taking a state-specific course. States with full reciprocity include:

• Alabama
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Georgia
• Florida
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Maine
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Virginia
• Washington 

The above list is not comprehensive. Please refer to
this guide for more information on reciprocity.

4. How much money can I make as a New York real estate agent?

According to Indeed.com, the average salary for a New York real estate agent is $111,581. This number is 7% higher than the national average.

New York Real Estate Continuing Education Requirements

For real estate agents,
this requirement is 22.5 hours of approved Continuing Education
within your two-year cycle. Your CE must include at least:

• 2 hours on implicit bias
• 2 hours on cultural competency
• 3 hours on fair housing
• 2.5 hours on ethical business practices
• 1 hour on legal matters
• 1 hour agency (2 agency hours for initial license renewal)
• 11 elective hours

You will need to make sure that you are getting these courses through a
DLS-approved education provider.