How to Get a New York Real Estate License
Jay Gallagher
Real Estate Broker (Advice from an agent like you, not some tech nerd who never sold a home!)
This is a Step by Step Guide on how to get your New York Real Estate License. No matter where you live, from Manhattan to Buffalo or Rochester to my favorite town, Niagara Falls, or anywhere in between, becoming a real estate agent may be the best decision you ever make.
All the information, documents and links you’ll need to get your New York real estate salesperson license are below.
I also answer all your burning questions at the bottom of the page.
Click on a question to see the answers:
Meet the State Requirements
Learn exactly what the State of New York requires before you can get a Real Estate Salesperson License.
Pass Pre-Licensing Course
New York requires only 77 hours of Real Estate Education to get licensed. Find the best Real Estate School for you.
Pass the State Exam
Learn the fastest and easiest way to pass the New York Real Estate Salesperson License Exam the very first time.
Pick a Sponsoring Broker
Meet the new boss! The good news is you get to pick the broker you want to work with. Learn how to pick the best.
Submit an Application
Make sure you get it right the first time. Check the list, make sure you jumped through all the right hoops and hit send.
Receive Your License
Once New York State receives and processes your application they’ll issue you your brand new Real Estate License.
Launch Your New Career
Now the fun begins. Learn how to get your new Real Estate Career off on the right foot by doing the right things to get business.
So, How Do You Get a New York Real Estate License?
1. Meet The State Requirements
To get your New York Real Estate Salesperson License you must meet the following requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age.
- Have a current New York State photo driver’s license or non-driver ID card.
- Must answer some criminal history questions.
- Be sponsored by a NYS Real Estate Broker.
- Take a New York approved Real Estate Salesperson Pre-Licensing Course.
- Pass the Pre-Licensing Education Exam.
- Pass the New York State Real Estate Salesperson Exam.
Print out the New York Real Estate Salesperson Application here.
2. Pre-Licensing Education Exam
New York has two courses that must be completed before you can apply for your New York Real Estate License:
- Real Estate Sales License Course – 75 Hours
- Implicit Bias Course – 2 Hours
They have 4 levels of instruction.
I don’t recommend the basic level at all because it doesn’t included the most valuable part, the Real Estate License Practice Tests.
These practice tests actually guarantee you will pass the Real Estate Exams. Just take the practice tests until you consistently score 90 or higher and you are guaranteed to pass both the Pre-Licensing Course Exam and the New York Real Estate Exam on your first try. I think these practice tests are the easiest way to ensure you pass.
Here is a link to some places that you can go to have the exam proctored.
3. Pass the State Real Estate Exam
Now that you have completed your Pre-Licensing education and have passed the proctored Pre-Licensing exam, New York has one more exam you must pass before you can get your New York Real Estate License:
- The New York State Real Estate Salesperson Exam
To schedule your Real Estate Salesperson exam you need to go online to the New York eAcessNY website.
You can create your eAccessNY account by following this link.
In addition to being able to apply for the exam, you will be able to view your scheduled exam details and exam results online and make your final application after you pass the test.
New York Real Estate tests are proctored directly by the New York Department of State. Exam locations are mostly state office buildings in major cities which means you may have to travel a bit to find a testing location near you.
Here is a link to all the testing locations statewide.
You must bring the following to the exam site:
- Photo Identification.
- Copy of your “Summary of Your Submission” includes all of your exam information, including your candidate number. (When you scheduled your exam on eAccessNY, you were instructed to print out this page.)
The written exam is multiple choice and based on the 75-hour pre-licensing curriculum. You’ll be allowed 1.5 hours to complete the test.
The biggest concern that most people have about the real estate license process is passing the exam the first time. As I mentioned earlier, there is no need to worry about passing the exam if you bought the Pre-Licensing education that included the Online Practice Tests. If you use these tests and can consistently pass them, then you are guaranteed to pass the real estate exam the first time.
4. Pick a Sponsoring Broker
All Realtors must work under the supervision of a Broker who’s responsible for supervising their activities. The good news is that you get to pick a broker to place your real estate salesperson license under.
When you fill out your Real Estate Salesperson License Application online, you’ll fill out your Sponsoring Broker’s information including their UID Number. The number assigned to the principal or to the branch office can be obtained from your broker or be found on the Department’s website.
It’s important for the processing of your application that you fill in the office license number and indicate whether the location is the principal office or a branch office. Once you submit your application, New York will contact your Sponsoring Broker to go online to confirm the information and accept you as their agent.
If you’re a new agent, I recommend you go with one of the big box real estate brokerages. ReMax, Keller Williams and Century 21 are a good place to start. The reason I recommend these brokerages for new agents is because the big box brokerages have training programs in place to help you make the transition from Rookie Agent to seasoned pro.
5. Submit An Application
You can apply for a license either online or through the mail.
Most people can apply online but if you’re applying based on reciprocity agreements from another state, attorney status, or were previously licensed, you must submit a paper application to the New York Licensing office for processing.
To apply online, go to your eAccessNY online account here.
To get your New York State Real Estate License, the following items need to be submitted to the New York Real Estate Commission:
- Completed New York Salesperson Application Form.
- NYS Driver’s or ID Number or Copy of out of state ID
- Copy of your Pre-Licensing course completion certificate.
- Court records and written explanations for any criminal history.
- Documentation of any past license suspensions or revocations.
- Pay the appropriate fees.
6. Receive Your License
As soon as your broker authorizes your application, the New York Department of State will review your application to make sure it is complete and meets the qualifications for a real estate salesperson license.
When the Department of State approves your salesperson application, a license will be generated by Licensing Services and mailed to the office location indicated on the application.
New York Licensing coordinates with the NY DMV and uses your Drivers License photo to create a Real Estate Salesperson Photo ID card so I hope you like that DMV photo.
7. Launch Your New Career
Now the real fun (and work) begins. The best thing about being a Real Estate Agent is the freedom it gives you. You’re your own boss and you get to decide how to move your real estate career forward.
Books
Continuous learning is the hallmark of all successful agents. Here are some resources to get you going in the right direction.
Below are my best suggestions:
- Best Books to Learn Principles of Success.
- Best Books for Real Estate Agents.
- Best Books for Real Estate Agent Social Media Marketing
Tools
You’ll need some tools to get the job done. At the very least, you’ll need a good Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and a Real Estate Agent Website.
8. Jay Answers Your Questions...
The best (and worst) thing about being a realtor is the freedom you have. Many agents just work part-time and only do 1-3 transactions a year. Other agents work 60+ hours a week and sell hundreds of homes a year.
The best way to answer the question of how much a New York realtor makes is to show how much you are likely to make per transaction.
Remember, there is a big difference between New York state and New York city.
The average price of a home in New York State is $290,000. Say the average commission per side of the transaction is 5.5% and the average broker/agent split is 15/85. That means you will earn, on average, about $7000 per transaction. Not bad.
The average price of a home in New York City is $780,000. Say the average commission per side of the transaction is 5% and the average broker/agent split is 15/85. That means you will earn, on average, about $16,500 per transaction. Now you know why real estate in New York City and especially Manhattan is practically a bloodsport.
New York requires 77 hours of coursework. If you elect to take these courses in a classroom setting, you’ll have to go to a designated place and sit for the entire time.
For this reason, most people take the courses online so they can take the courses at their own pace and any time they wish.
Most people find they can complete the online coursework in a fraction of the 77 hours. A motivated person can complete it in as little as two weeks but most people will take a month or more if they do a little bit every day.
The New York Real Estate Exam is not difficult IF you buy a test prep course.
The best test prep courses include practice tests that you can take over and over again until you know the material. If you can consistently take a practice test and score a 90 or higher, then you are practically guaranteed to pass the actual exam.
If you’re someone who gets nervous and their mind goes blank during testing, then maybe you should wait until your score on the practice tests is consistently 95 or better.
The best brokerage is the one that’s the best fit for you.
Call up a few local brokerages and schedule a time to sit down and talk to them. Discuss things like E&O insurance, commission splits, leads and don’t forget to find out about any desk fees, tech fees or insurance fees.
Remember, if you don’t like the brokerage, you can easily change brokers.
I don’t recommend that you use any brokers CRM or email address because those things are the heart of YOUR real estate business and if your clients information is locked into your broker’s CRM, then it will be harder to make the move. That’s why the tools are “free” or included in a tech fee, to make it difficult for you to leave.
Let’s break it all down.
- Pre-licensing Educational courses – $224.00 – $545.00
- Pre-Licensing Proctored Exam Costs – $00.00 – $50.00
- Exam Prep Courses – $0.00 – $99.00 – (Some Pre-Licensing Includes Exam Prep)
- Real Estate Exam costs – $15.00
- New York State Application Fee – $65.00
The cost of getting your New York real estate license can vary depending on your situation and your needs. The cost for most agents will be as low as $3.00 to as high as $1998.00.
Most agents who follow my recommendations will pay about $364.00.
