State Licensing Guide
New York Real Estate License Requirements (DOS)
The New York Department of State (DOS) requires 77 hours of pre-licensing education. Note that recently, the state increased the requirement from 75 to 77 hours to include mandatory fair housing curriculum.
The Pre-Licensing Requirement (77 Hours)
You must complete a 77-hour salesperson qualifying education course approved by the Secretary of State. The course includes heavily mandated topics on Agency Disclosure, Fair Housing, and Property Management.
Course Exam: You must pass a proctored final exam for the course itself before you can sit for the state exam.
The State Exam Structure
- Format: 75 multiple-choice questions.
- Time Limit: 1.5 hours (90 minutes) - This is one of the shortest time limits in the nation.
- Passing Score: 70% (53 correct answers).
- Cost: $15 per attempt (administered through eAccessNY).
The Broker Sponsorship Rule
In New York, you cannot even submit your final license application until you have a sponsoring broker. The broker must authorize your application through their eAccessNY account.
Estimated Costs
- 77-Hour Course $150 - $350
- State Exam Fee $15
- License Application Fee $55
- Total Base Cost ~$220 - $420