6 Best Online Real Estate Courses in New York (NY) 2023

Colibri Real Estate student dashboard

• Accreditations: New York State Department of State (NYDOS), Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO), and International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC), and certified by the New York Real Estate Chamber (NYREC)
• Instructor access: Instructors are active real estate professionals
• Learning management system: Course interface for a better online student experience mimicking in-person classroom features, accessible on any device
• Exam preparation: Practice exam questions and flashcards
• Multiple prelicensing plan options: Accommodating various student budgets

Colibri students reported that the self-paced course format was effective and easy to use, which contributed to the school’s positive customer rating of 4.15 out of 5. Students enjoyed being able to adjust their schedule as needed while having access to additional study tools, like a discussion board, access to instructors, learning videos, and audio reviews.

A small number of negative reviews stated that they would have preferred for the learning materials to be more interactive. Although many enjoyed the online aspect of the course, they felt it lacked a lot of visuals and real-life examples to help with better comprehending the materials. For New York salespersons interested in embedded visuals, Aceable Agent has video formats rated highly by former students.

Colibri is the best real estate school in NYC and New York State for its range of prelicensing course options for aspiring agents and brokers. If you want to become a real estate agent, Colibri will likely have a package that fits your budget and learning style.

*Offered through its affiliate partner, McKissock Learning

Aceable Agent access to practice tests and quizzes (Source: Aceable)

• Accreditation: NYDOS
• Instructor support: Email course instructor at any time
• Additional support: Premium package provides weekly live Q&A sessions, live webinars, and access to past webinars, and one hour of private tutoring
• Practice questions and resources: Thousands of exam preparation questions provided with every plan plus downloadable PDFs and in-depth study guides for enhanced learning
• Mobile application: For on-the-go learning directly from any mobile device

Aceable Agent has the highest customer rating of any online real estate courses in NY, with a 4.9 out of 5. Many students gave highly positive reviews about Aceable Agent’s mobile application. Students mentioned the application functionality made it easy to access questions, study guides, quizzes, and learn the coursework. One student enjoyed the video format, which was a change of pace from reading the course.

Students who did not have a positive experience with Aceable Agent felt some exam topics were not covered in class. Additionally, some students who were not the most technologically savvy found it difficult to navigate the online course format and the online test. For a more seamless experience, consider the online learning management system offered by Colibri Real Estate to alleviate some of the difficulties of online learning.

Aceable Agent provides plans for prelicensing and continuing education and offers a few professional development courses to help new agents grow their careers. Its exam prep materials are included in all prelicensing plans. Aceable Agent is the only school to offer a pass guarantee with all prelicensing packages.

Kaplan student dashboard (Source: Fit Small Business)

• Accreditations: NYDOS, ARELLO, IDECC
• Learning management system: Online course platform for easy access to purchased courses, materials, and exams
• Curriculum support team: Response within 24 hours from subject matter experts who can help answer curriculum-related questions
• Career support: Access to Career Toolbox for real estate advice, webinars, tips, and video library
• Exam preparation: In addition to individual New York real estate exam prep tools, Kaplan also offers valuable tools, like a national interactive study group, within prelicensing packages

With over 1,000 reviews, Kaplan maintains an excellent review rating of 4.5 out of 5. Students specifically mentioned that the study groups were extremely engaging and helpful in providing explanations and study materials every week. Other students mentioned their instructors were great at explaining materials and helping with tips and tricks to memorize the exam subject matter.

A handful of students gave Kaplan a negative rating because of the lack of a refund policy and technical difficulties. These students found the online reading and self-paced format just didn’t assist with preparing them for the test. Students who would prefer to take real estate courses in NYC with live classes and a refund policy should consider Colibri Real Estate.

Kaplan offers multiple prelicensing package options for aspiring New York agents and individual exam prep. For current agents needing to renew their licenses, Kaplan offers packaged and individual course options.

LEAP course demo (Source: The CE Shop)

• Accreditations: NYDOS, ARELLO
• Downloadable resources: In lieu of one textbook for the course, downloadable content can be reviewed alongside each course chapter
• Study tools: All courses include a real estate glossary, digital flashcards, and a study schedule
• Additional resources: All online real estate courses in New York include business e-books created each month by real estate experts to support business growth, and the Value and Premium packages include business building courses
• Satisfaction and pass guarantee: The CE Shop will refund the price of any course within 30 days if the course is less than 50% completed; it also offers a pass guarantee only for students who complete Exam Prep Edge

Most students of The CE Shop enjoyed the ability to take these courses at their own pace, and many reviewers said this is the best online real estate school they’ve worked with. They gave the school an overall rating of 4.05 out of 5, also noting great experiences with customer service, study tools, and engaging course material.

The few negative reviews for The CE Shop stem from frustration over the length of course access and disappointment with the refund policy. One student had purchased the wrong course and missed the refund deadline. Some students felt they had to reach out to customer service multiple times before receiving a response to their request. Students looking for more responsive customer service should consider Kaplan’s dedicated customer service teams.

The CE Shop provides real estate classes online for NY professionals wanting to get a license or maintain their license. Its prelicensing and continuing education courses provide a wide variety of packages and course options, so students can choose the resources and topics best for their needs.

Course access on McKissock dashboard (Source: McKissock)

• Accreditations: NYDOS, ARELLO, IDECC
• Multi-state continuing education membership: For one flat fee, students can access all McKissock’s continuing education materials
• Printed course materials: Ability to print online courses one chapter at a time to supplement online learning
• Variety of CE course topics: New York CE courses include everything from “Educating Sellers” to “Helping Clients Understand Real Estate Financing” to technology courses
• McKissock dashboard: Provides quick and easy access to courses and completion certificates, with no requirement for additional software

Many students noted that McKissock Learning is their go-to resource for all continuing education needs, which contributed to the school’s positive rating of 4.5 out of 5. One student said the classes are well-priced and enjoyed the self-paced format for schedule flexibility. Some students mentioned the courses helped with career preparation and growth, with course content being interesting with relevant real-world examples.

Negative reviews were from students disappointed with the course time limitation. They had lost track of time and lost their progress within the courses. This is particularly difficult when you purchase a package and jump around from course to course because the time limits start the moment you open the course. One student specifically mentioned that customer service was not available over the weekend for assistance. For technical support over the weekend, Kaplan provides 24/7 technical support.

McKissock offers three different packages to fulfill the New York license renewal requirements. It also uniquely offers a continuing education membership that includes all the elective CE courses in NY, a webinar library, product and service discounts, and job aids.

*Offered through its affiliate partner, Colibri Real Estate

NYREI course demo (Source: NYREI)

• Accreditation: NYDOS
• Exam preparation: Variety of exam prep textbooks and practice exams to prepare you for the exam, or the unique option of exam coaching
• Career support: NYREI provides a variety of options to support your career, including private tutoring, coaching, mentorship, and professional development courses
• Additional resources: Job placement assistance, bookstore, investor training courses
• Student benefits: NYREI students uniquely get access to healthcare, business resources, and tax form software

NYREI has a customer review rating of 4.4 out of 5, with the majority of students saying they felt extremely supported by the staff. Students said teachers and staff go above and beyond to ensure you are ready. One student mentioned that they were able to complete all their prelicensing courses within two weeks and were well-prepared for the exam.

Customer service issues seemed to be the biggest driver of negative reviews for the school. Many students called without receiving much help or even getting someone to answer the main line. Students who had technical difficulties with course coupons or logging in could not reach anyone to assist. For a better customer service experience, students might want to consider McKissock Learning or The CE Shop for their extended customer service hours.

NYREI’s straightforward pricing makes it easy for students to pick which type of course is best for their needs. The school offers self-paced and live online courses for salesperson prelicensing, broker prelicensing, and continuing education. It offers exam prep textbooks, but no online exam prep program.