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How to get a real estate license in New York. 77 pre-licensing hours required. Government fees: $80. 2-year renewal cycle. Verified 2026-03-22. Data verified 2026-03-22. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Real Estate Agent
Pre-License Hours
$80
Total Gov Fees
75
Exam Questions
1.5 hrs
Exam Time
Renewal Cycle
Reciprocity
⚠ Recent Changes in New York
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
| 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. |
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.
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.
| 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 |
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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
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.
4–24 weeks from start to active license.
Minimum with accelerated 2-week education course. Maximum with self-paced study.
2023-02-01
New York eliminated all reciprocity agreements with other states, effective February 1, 2023, due to changes in NY Real Property Law.
2022-01-21
Application and renewal fees increased from $50 to $65, effective January 21, 2022.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in New York.
How this state compares to 48 others for this profession
Timeline
#8 of 49
Salary
#1 of 49
Cost
#1 of 49
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Real Estate Sales Agents (SOC 41-9022)
Entry Level
$52,000
25th percentile
Median
$97,440
+73% vs. national avg ($56,320)Experienced
$129,050
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
10,040 employed in this state
Note: Real estate agent compensation is heavily commission-based. BLS OEWS data reflects base wages reported by employers and may undercount total earnings.
Source: BLS OEWS – Real Estate Sales Agents (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+1.8%
Below AverageNew Jobs
+6,500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
42,900
per year (avg.)
359,300 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Real Estate Career Ladder
You are here
Real Estate Agent
$97,440
Pre-licensing education (40-180 hours) + state exam
You are here
Real Estate Agent
Pre-licensing education (40-180 hours) + state exam
$97,440
2-3 years experience + additional education + broker exam
$94,170
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
$77,690
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 4–24 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Study guides and practice tests for the real estate licensing exam.
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All data on this page was verified against the following official sources. Last verified: 2026-03-22.
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