In this guide you’ll learn all the details you need to know to get your license and become a real estate agent in New York.
You’ll learn the basic real estate licensing requirements in New York, information about the exam including pass rates and test prep, reciprocity rules, county by county breakdowns of the most expensive real estate in New York, and more.
Okay, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s start at the beginning.
Basic New York Real Estate Licensing Requirements
Getting a real estate license in New York is rather easy compared to other states. You only need a total of 75 classroom hours of commission-approved pre-licensing courses. In comparison, to get a license in Texas, real estate licenses require applicants to complete 180 hours of courses. Here’s a quick breakdown of the real estate licensing requirements in New York:
Pre-licensing Courses Required in New York
In order to get a real estate license in New York, you will need to complete 75 hours of real estate pre-licensing courses that will cover:
- 75-Hour DOS Approved Real Estate Salesperson Qualifying Course Includes:
- Basic principles of real estate
- Commercial & Investment Properties
- Human Rights & Fair Housing
- Law of Agency
- Real Estate Finance, Construction
- Environmental Issues
- Condominiums & Cooperatives
New York Real Estate Exam Information
If you work hard and take the courses seriously you should have no problem passing the exam. If you’re looking for help studying for the test, we recommend Real Estate Exam Scholar’s Exam prep course. They offer top-notch exam prep for an affordable price. Even better, they also offer a money back guarantee if you don’t pass on the first try.
Visit Real Estate Exam Scholar
New York Pre-Licensing Exam Questions
- Total of 75 multiple-choice questions
What to Bring to the Exam
- The page “Summary of Your Submission” which you were requested to print upon scheduling your exam via eAccessNY.
- Government issued ID with photo and signature.
- Candidate Number
Passing Score
You must earn a score of 70 to pass the New York Real Estate Salesperson Exam
Pass Rate
N/A
New York Real Estate License Fee
$55
Exam Fee in New York
$15
Education Requirements
You need to have at least a high school diploma or GED in order to apply for a license in New York.
Age
Applicants must be at least 18 of age or older
Residency
Any U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted alien can apply for licensure. You must submit proof of US residency.
Exemptions
If you are an attorney currently admitted to the New York State bar, you already qualify for licensure.
Criminal Background
To be issued a New York real estate license, you must not have any felony charges on record. However, the decision is ultimately up to the Department of State. If you do have a felony, you may still be able to get your license. The final decision is up to the investigative unit of the New York Department of State.
The DOS will put several things into consideration before deciding if you should have a license or not. The DOS will consider the type of license you desire, the nature of the felony or misdemeanor, and the court disposition papers.
Online Real Estate Schools in New York
While taking your real estate pre-licensing course in person can be helpful, online courses are much cheaper and offer the exact same courses. Career WebSchool is a solid choice.
New York Real Estate License Reciprocity and Portability
If you plan on working in states besides New York, then you need to know the real estate license reciprocity and portability laws for New York.
- Reciprocity: New York has mutual recognition agreements with 9 states:
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
- Portability: Physical Location
To learn more about real estate license portability in New York, check out our guide on real estate license reciprocity and portability here.
How to Choose the Right Real Estate Company to Work For in New York
Let’s face it. Choosing the right brokerage to work for in any state isn’t easy. In order to make your choice a little bit easier, check out our in-depth guide on choosing the right real estate company to work for.
Once you’ve finished reading the guide, check out our buyer’s guide comparing Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Century 21 here.
If you’re curious about which New York brokerages are the most successful, check out Real Trends list of the top real estate brokerages in New York for 2016 below.
New York City
| Real Estate Brokerage | Sales Volume (2015) |
|---|---|
| The Corcoran Group / Sotheby’s International Realty / Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage / NRT | $31,807,439,000 |
| Douglas Elliman Real Estate | $22,236,853,537 |
| Houlihan Lawrence | $5,835,691,983 |
| Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty | $2,480,547,000 |
| Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Rand Realty | $1,853,330,989 |
Buffalo
| Real Estate Brokerage | Sales Volume (2015) |
|---|---|
| RealtyUSA | $1,157,720,000 |
| HUNT Real Estate ERA | $688,348,638 |
| M.J. Peterson Real Estate, Inc | $396,428,035 |
*Data from Real Trends Market Leaders 2017
New York Counties with Highest Average Listing Price and Highest Median Sales Price 2016
Let’s face it, higher listing prices mean higher commission checks! To get a sense of which counties offer the best opportunities for big bucks in New York check out this sales data from Trulia’s New York home price page below:
| County | ||
|---|---|---|
| New York | ||
| Saratoga | ||
| Kings | ||
| Westchester | ||
| Suffolk | ||
| Nassau | ||
| Queens | ||
| Yates | ||
| Richmond | ||
| Bronx |
Yorlady lopez
I earned my NYC real estate license 15 years ago license is now expired. I am thinking of practicing real estate again, do I have to do the entire process all over again?
Emile L'Eplattenier
Hey Yorlady,
If it has been more than two years since your license expired, New York state law requires you to pass the real estate exam again and apply for a new license. Hope that helps and good luck!