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Real Estate Agent
To get a New York real estate license in 2026, you must complete 77 hours of New York Department of State (DOS)-approved pre-licensing education, pass a background check, take and pass the NYS Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (administered directly at DOS exam sites) licensing exam, and find a sponsoring broker. Most applicants finish in 8–16 weeks and spend $229–$580 including course tuition.
Pre-License Hours
$80
Total Gov Fees
75
Exam Questions
1.5 hrs
Exam Time
Renewal Cycle
Reciprocity
CE Required
Renewal Fee
18 years old
Min. Age
New York Department of State (DOS)
Authority
⚠ Recent Changes in New York
| Minimum Age | 18 years old |
| Education | No degree required Only the 77-hour pre-licensing education is needed. |
| Residency | Not required Must have a valid SSN or Federal ID number. |
| Citizenship | Not required Must have legal authorization to work. |
| Background Check | Self-disclosure only Application includes criminal history self-disclosure questions. Fingerprinting does NOT appear to be required per official DOS sources, despite some third-party claims. |
| Sponsoring Broker | Required Must be sponsored by a NYS licensed Real Estate Broker. |
Not sure if you need a real estate license? Check whether your state requires one.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee Paid to: NYS Department of State ⚠ Conflict: Aceable Agent, Agent Real Estate Schools reports $50. Fee was increased from $50 to $65 effective January 21, 2022. Some secondary sources have not updated. | |
Exam Fee Paid to: NYS Department of State | |
Total Estimated Government Fees | $80 |
Use our licensing cost calculator to estimate your total investment including education and exam fees.
See the full cost breakdown with our License Cost Estimator →
Education Requirements
VerifiedTotal Hours Required
Provider Type
NYS DOS-approved education providers (classroom, livestream, or online — home-study not accepted)
Required Courses
Must also pass a school-administered proctored exam.
See our picks for the best real estate programs in New York.
Exam Details
VerifiedExam Provider
Total Questions
75
Total Time
90 min
Format
Computer-based, multiple-choice
Exam Sections
| Section | Questions | Time | Passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salesperson Exam (combined: ~60% national, ~40% NY-specific) | 75 | 90 min | 70% |
Retake Policy
Results valid for 2 years. Must pay $15 per retake attempt.
Pass/Fail only — no numerical score provided. On-screen calculator provided. 11 exam locations statewide.
For study strategies and what to expect on test day, see our guide to passing the real estate exam.
Complete the 75-hour qualifying course + 2-hour fair housing/implicit bias course from a DOS-approved school.
Estimated time: 2 weeks – 4 months
Your education provider administers a proctored exam upon course completion.
Estimated time: Same day as course completion
Register at the DOS website to schedule your state exam and submit applications.
Estimated time: 15 minutes
Pay $15 exam fee. Take the 75-question exam (90 minutes, 70% to pass) at a DOS exam site.
Estimated time: 1–4 weeks
Find a NYS licensed broker who will sponsor your license.
Estimated time: 1–4 weeks
Apply online via eAccessNY with the $65 application fee. Your principal broker authorizes the application.
Estimated time: 1 day
License is mailed to your business address upon approval.
Estimated time: 2–4 weeks
Renewal Details
VerifiedRenewal Cycle
CE Hours
Renewal Fee
Deadline & Late Policy
Eligible to renew 3 months before expiration. No grace period — cannot practice while unlicensed. Reinstatement available within 2 years of expiration.
First Renewal Notes
Same CE requirements as subsequent renewals (22.5 hours). NY State Bar-admitted attorneys are exempt from CE.
Regulatory Board
For a deeper dive into CE requirements and deadlines, see our real estate license renewal guide or compare deadlines across all 50 states.
See full CE requirements in New York: Continuing education details →
Interstate Reciprocity
VerifiedHas Reciprocity
No
Reciprocity was eliminated effective February 1, 2023, due to changes in NY Real Property Law increasing educational requirements. Out-of-state education may be evaluated via written waiver request.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare New York with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Real Estate Agent Schools in New York
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Official Sources
Real Estate Agent requirements in New York verified against New York Department of State (DOS), April 2026.
All data on this page was verified against the following official sources. Last verified: 2026-04-02.
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