New York Frequently Ask Questions Real Estate License

In order to be eligible to apply for an ​NYS license, you must complete the 75-hour NYS license course. The course must be approved by the NYS DOS. At the end of the course is a proctored final exam that you must pass in order to receive your Certificate of Completion for the course.

You must complete 75-hours of state-approved pre-license coursework in order to be eligible to obtain an NYS real estate salesperson's license.​

You can take the 75-hour NYS license course online or in a classroom. Most students prefer to take the course online since you can complete the course much quicker and it is typically offered at a better price. If you take the course in a classroom, you must complete the course according to the school's schedule.

Yes! You can certainly take the 75-hour NYS real estate salespersons course online. In fact, most students prefer to take the course online. The online format allows you to complete the course at your own pace.

Yes, you are allowed to take (and complete) the 75-hour NYS real estate salespersons course while you are still in high school. The NYS Department of State only requires that you are at least 18 years old when it comes time to apply for your real estate license.

​You cannot use law school credits towards the 75-hour NYS real estate salespersons course; however, the Department of State will waive the 75-hour course requirement if you a licensed attorney that is admitted to the NYS Bar.

The DOS will waive the 75-hour pre-license course requirement if you hold a Bachelor's Degree with a major or concentration in real estate. You must submit a request for a waiver to the DOS, along with official transcripts. All other college credits cannot be used towards the 75-hour pre-license course.

The State only allows up to 2 attempts at the final exam. If you do not pass the final exam after the 2nd attempt, you will have to repurchase and retake the 75 hour online course.

Yes, you must complete a proctored final exam at the end of the 75-hour NYS real estate salespersons course. The proctored final exam must be taken at a location that is approved by the NYS Department of State and is located within New York State.

​The final exam for the 75-hour NYS real estate salespersons course consists of 75 multiple-choice questions, with a passing grade of 70%. There is a 90-minute time limit for the final exam.

​You will receive your Certificate of Completion right after you pass the course final exam. You can download the Certificate as a PDF from within your RealEstateU account. Please note, your Certificate of Completion is only for your records, as RealEstateU will send your course completion information to the NYS DOS.

Yes, RealEstateU will send your course completion information to the NYS Department of State within 5 business days of you passing the course final exam.

Yes, your Certificate of Completion for the 75-hour NYS real estate salespersons course is only valid for up to 8 years. This means you must pass the NYS state licensing exam and apply for your NYS real estate license within 8 years of completing the course. Otherwise, you must retake the 75-hour course.

According to section 176.25 of Article 12-A of the NY Real Property Law, you must complete the 75-hour online NYS real estate salespersons course (including the proctored final exam) within 12 months.

​Yes, the NYS Department of State may waive the 75-hour pre-license course requirement if you hold a Bachelor's degree with a major or concentration in real estate. They may also waive the course requirement if you completed a substantially similar real estate pre-license course in another state.

You can only apply for your NYS real estate salespersons license after you have completed the 75-hour NYS real estate salespersons course, passed the NY state licensing exam, and found a sponsoring broker.

The NY real estate salesperson license application costs $55. You must make the payment through your eAccessNY account using a credit card.

No, you must have a sponsoring broker (who is a licensed NY real estate broker) in order to submit your NY real estate salesperson license application.​

​A paper version of the NYS Real Estate Salesperson Application should only be used if: 1) You are applying for your license as an attorney admitted to the NYS Bar. 2) You were previously licensed. 3) The DOS waived the 75-hour education requirement. 4) You are applying for a NY real estate license via reciprocity.

​You will not be eligible to submit a NY real estate salesperson license application if you are more than four months in arrears in the payment of child support.

On your license application, you will have to tell the DOS if you have been convicted on a felony, if you have any pending charges, or if you have ever had a license revoked, suspended, or denied. You will also have to provide the required supporting documentation, which will allow the DOS to evaluate your case.

​You must disclose the following criminal activity to the DOS as part of your license application: 1) If you have ever been convicted of a crime that is a misdemeanor or felony. 2) If you have any criminal charges (misdemeanor or felonies) pending. 3) If you ever had a license revoked, suspended, or denied.

It is possible to obtain your NYS real estate salesperson's license if you have a prior conviction. However, you will not be eligible to receive a license if you have been convicted of the following crimes: a felony, a sex offense, or a sexually violent offense.

​eAccessNY is New York State's online licensing management system. You will use eAccessNY to schedule your state licensing exam, submit your license application, and renew your real estate license.

1) Go to the eAccessNY website. 2) Select 'Create My Account'. 3) Enter your details and click "Preview". 4) Then click "Save". 5) You will then receive an email to change your temporary password. 6) Once you change your temporary password, you can then apply for the state licensing exam.

​To schedule your state exam, you must log in to your eAccessNY account and click on "Apply to Take an Exam", which is located on the Main Menu page. You then have to follow the instructions, pay the exam fee, and accept the exam policies.

Log in to your eAccessNY account and click on "Apply for Initial Salesperson License". Enter your details and your sponsoring broker's details. Select the school where you completed the pre-license course. Pay for the application and print the "Summary of Your Submission" page.

1) Log in to your eAccessNY account and click on "List of Licenses (Access your license here)". 2) Click on "Renew License". 3) Answer the questions and click "Next Step". 4) Affirm the application and enter your credit card details.

Your broker will have to do the following to authorize your application: 1) Log into their own eAccessNY account and click on "List of Licenses" 2) Under "Functions", click on "Authorize Initial Salesperson License" 3) Choose "Accept" next to your name 4) An "Authorize Initial License - Summary" page will then appear

There are 4 steps you need to take to get your NYS real estate license: 1) Complete the 75-hour NYS real estate license course. 2) Pass the school's final exam. 3) Pass the state exam. 4) Apply for your license through eAccessNY with the help of your sponsoring broker.

Here is a breakdown of the costs associated with obtaining your NYS license: 1) Complete the 75-hour NYS real estate salespersons course: $99. 2) Pass the school's proctored final exam: Free - $35. 3) Pass the state exam: $15 per attempt. 4) Submit your license application: $65. Total Cost: $179 - $214

Here is a breakdown of the time-frame it will take to obtain your NYS license: 1) Complete the 75-hour NYS real estate salespersons course (including the proctored final exam): 2 weeks. 2) Pass the state exam: 2 weeks. 3) Submit your license application and have it approved by the DOS: 2 weeks. Total Time: 6 weeks​

There are two tests you must pass in order to apply for your NYS real estate salespersons license. First, you must pass the school's proctored final exam. You will take this exam at the end of the 75-hour NYS real estate salespersons course. Second, you must pass the state licensing exam.

According to section 440-a of the NYS Real Estate License Law, you must be at least 18 years old to obtain an NYS real estate salesperson's license.

No, you are not required to hold a high school diploma (or its equivalent) in order to obtain an NYS real estate salesperson's license. You are only required to be at least 18 years old.

Yes, only an NYS real estate broker is required to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Salespersons are not required to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; however, you must have at least a social security number.

It costs $65 to renew your NY real estate salespersons license. You must make the payment through your eAccessNY account using a credit card.

You must renew your NY real estate salespersons license every two years. Your license expiration date will be printed on your real estate license.

​You can renew your NY real estate salespersons license through your eAccessNY account up to three months prior to your license expiration date. Three months prior to your license expiration date, you will receive an email and postcard from the NYS Department of State reminding you to renew your license.

​You must complete 22.5-hours of CE for each 2-year renewal period. Prior to July 1, 2021, all licensees must complete 22.5 hours of approved CE, including 3 hours of fair housing, and at least 1 hour of law of agency. If you are renewing your NY license for the first time, you must complete 2 hours of law of agency.

If you fail to renew your NY real estate license on-time, your license will be considered expired and you will not be able to resume practicing real estate until your license is reinstated. The NY DOS does not offer a grace period for renewals.

If you fail to renew your license within 2 years after your license expiration date, you will have to retake the state exam, apply for a new real estate license, and pay the application fee.

In order to renew your NY real estate salespersons license, you must: 1) Complete the required 22.5 hours of continuing education. 2) Submit your renewal application online through your eAccessNY account. 3) Pay the $55 renewal fee through your eAccessNY account using a credit card.

The DOS may grant an extension to complete the required 22.5 hours of CE. However, extensions may only be granted for a "bona fide hardship". You must also submit evidence demonstrating hardship, along with a written request for an extension as part of your renewal application.

If your NY real estate license has been expired for less than 2 years, you may have your license reinstated by completing the following: 1) Complete the required 22.5 hours of continuing education. 2) Submit your renewal application online through your eAccessNY account. 3) Pay the $55 license renewal fee.

​If your NY real estate license was revoked, you will not be eligible to be re-licensed for at least one year. At that time, you must retake the NY state licensing exam, submit a new license application, and pay the $55 license application fee.

Only a NY real estate broker who is engaged full time in the real estate business and who has been licensed prior to July 1, 2008, for at least 15 consecutive years, and has maintained continuous licensure; or, an attorney admitted to the New York State Bar who holds a real estate broker's license may be exempt.

As a licensed NY salesperson, you will be allowed to represent sellers or landlords to sell or lease their property, or represent buyers or tenants looking to buy or rent a property, and earn a commission in the process. This applies to all types of real estate (residential, commercial, or industrial) throughout NY.

Yes, the RealEstateU 75-hour online NYS real estate salesperson course and 22.5-hour online NYS continuing education course are fully approved by both the NYS Department of State and Arello.

​Yes, New York State offers reciprocity with 9 other states: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, West Virginia

​To obtain your NYS license via reciprocity, you must: 1) Hold a current real estate license in your home state 2) Be sponsored by your home-state broker who must also hold a current NY broker's license 3) Submit a completed Salesperson Application 4) Pay the $55 application fee 5) Submit an irrevocable consent form

Unless you are eligible to apply for an NYS license via reciprocity​, you must obtain your license the same way as any non-licensee. This includes: 1) Complete the 75-hour NYS real estate salespersons course (including the final exam). 2) Pass the NYS state licensing exam. 3) Submit your NYS license application.

Yes, you are not required to be a New York State resident to obtain your NYS real estate salespersons license. However, please note, you must complete both the school's proctored final exam and the proctored NYS state licensing exam at approved proctoring locations within New York State.

​New York does not offer reciprocity with New Jersey; however, the DOS may waive the 75-hour NYS salesperson course requirement if you can show evidence that you have completed the NJ pre-license course. This means you will only have to pass the NYS state licensing exam and apply for your NY real estate license.

New Jersey does not offer reciprocity with New York; however, if you hold an active NY real estate salesperson's license, NJ may waive their pre-license course requirement, which means you only have to pass the NJ state licensing exam and apply for an NJ license.

​Once you complete the 75-hour NYS real estate salespersons course, you can then schedule your state exam through eAccessNY. You will first have to create your eAccessNY account before you can schedule your state exam.

Most students schedule their NY state licensing exam after completing the 75-hour NYS real estate salespersons course since the course will prepare them for the exam. However, you can still schedule and take the state exam prior to completing the 75-hour course.

​The NYS state licensing exam costs $15 per attempt. You must pay for the exam through your eAccessNY account using a credit card.

​You must take the NY state licensing exam at one of the Department of State's 12 proctoring locations within New York State. You can click HERE for a list of all 12 proctoring locations along with their addresses.

​You can reschedule your state exam 6 days prior to your exam date. To reschedule your exam date, log in to your eAccessNY account and click on "View Scheduled Exam Details". Then click on the "Reschedule" button and follow the instructions.

Yes, you do not need a sponsoring broker in order to take the state exam. You only need a sponsoring broker when it comes time to submit your license application.​

Yes, you can schedule and take the NYS state licensing exam while you are still working on the 75-hour NYS real estate salespersons course. The Department of State only requires that you complete the 75-hour course and pass the state exam prior to submitting your license application.

​You will have to bring a print-out of the "Summary of Your Submission" page with you to the state exam. If you did not print this page after scheduling your state exam, you can find the page again by logging in to your eAccessNY account and clicking on "View Scheduled Exam Details" on the Main Menu page.

​The NY state licensing exam consists of 75 multiple-choice questions with a passing grade of 70%. There is also a 90-minute time limit for the exam.

​Yes, you can take the NY state exam in Spanish, Korean, Russian, or Chinese. You must notify the exam proctor when you arrive at the testing center in order to take the exam in one of these four languages.

You can take the NY state licensing exam as many times as needed until you pass. You simply have to schedule a new attempt through your eAccessNY account and pay the $15 examination fee.

You can view your state exam results through your eAccessNY account within a few days after taking the exam. When you log in to your eAccessNY account, click on "View Exam Results". If you see "Waiting for Score", this means your results have not been processed yet. Otherwise, you will see either a "Pass" or "Fail".

​After you pass the NY state licensing exam, you can then apply for your NY real estate salespersons license through your eAccessNY account. Please note, you cannot apply for your license until you have a sponsoring broker.

​We recommend that you bring a calculator to the state exam; however, the calculator must be battery or solar-powered, silent, non-printing, and not contain a keyboard. Please note, you cannot use your smartphone as a calculator.

​You must bring a current (not expired), government-issued ID that includes your signature and photo. You must also bring a print-out of your "Summary of Your Submission", which you can get through your eAccessNY account.​

​Yes, there are testing accommodations available for persons with disabilities. If you need a testing accommodation you should not schedule your exam online through eAccessNY. Instead, you must call the Department of State at (518)474-4429 to arrange your testing accommodation.

Only permitted calculators may be used. Electronic devices must be turned off. Reference materials, large bags, and briefcases are not allowed. Eating, drinking or smoking is not permitted. Visitors are not permitted. Any person who violates any of the exam policies will be dismissed from the exam site.

If you did not pass the NY state licensing exam, you must schedule a new attempt through your eAccessNY account and pay the $15 examination fee.​

​​Your NY state licensing exam results are only valid for up to two years. This means you must have a sponsoring broker and submit your license application within two years of passing the state exam. Otherwise, you will have to retake the state exam.