How to Become a Real Estate Agent in New York

Checked against New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services · Verified 2026-10-11

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: 2 years
State fee: $65 for the 2-year salesperson license (nonrefundable).
Licensed by: New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services

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Who can apply

Be at least 18 years old when you apply.
Complete a Department of State-approved 77-hour salesperson qualifying course.
Pass the New York State real estate salesperson exam.
Be sponsored by a New York licensed real estate broker.
Not be four or more months behind on court-ordered child support, unless you are on an approved payment plan.

Step by step

Complete the 77-hour qualifying course at a DOS-approved school, including the school's proctored final exam.
Create an eAccessNY account and schedule the state exam ($15).
Pass the state exam (multiple choice, 1 1/2 hours, reported as pass or fail).
Find a sponsoring broker and get their license number (UID).
Apply online through eAccessNY and pay the $65 fee; your broker must approve the application online.
Once the license is issued, work only under your sponsoring broker's supervision.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: 77 hours of approved qualifying education from a DOS-approved school, ending in a school-administered proctored exam. Applicants who took the older 75-hour course may add a 2-hour CE course on fair housing and/or implicit bias. The course is valid for 8 years after completion if not used for a license. DOS may waive the 77 hours for equivalent schooling completed outside New York, by written request.

Exam: Given by the Department of State and scheduled through eAccessNY. Multiple choice, based on the 77-hour curriculum, 1 1/2 hours after instructions. Results are reported only as pass or fail, with no numeric score. Fee: $15. A passing result is valid for 2 years.

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What it costs in New York

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

77-hour qualifying course (school tuition)$
State exam fee$15
Salesperson license application fee (2 years)$65

Estimated total in New York$80Plus 1 item with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

Exam fee: $15 per attempt
77-hour course tuition: set by the school
Change of association to a new broker: $20

Pay in New York

Before you compare job offers, see what a paycheck takes home in New York after taxes.

What other sites get wrong about New York

Myth: The New York salesperson application fee is $55, and you also pay about $40 for fingerprinting.

Fact: The Department of State lists a $65 initial application fee and a $15 written exam fee for salespersons; its salesperson pages list no fingerprint fee. source

After you're licensed

Renewal: Renew every 2 years for $65, online through eAccessNY. You need a sponsoring broker to renew. Complete 22.5 hours of approved CE in the 2 years before renewal, including at least 3 hours of fair housing/discrimination, 2.5 hours of ethics, 1 hour of recent legal matters, 2 hours of implicit bias, 2 hours of cultural competency, and 1 hour of agency law (2 hours of agency in your first 2-year term).

Good to know in New York

Sponsoring broker: A salesperson cannot work independently. You must be sponsored and supervised by a New York licensed broker, who approves your online application.

Reciprocity: The Department of State says it does not currently have reciprocity with any other state.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services before you apply.