How to Become a Licensed Real Estate Agent in New York

For questions on how to get licensed please call us at 1 (631) 480-8725

If you've ever thought about becoming a licensed Real Estate Salesperson, there's no time like the present to enroll in the 75-hour training course required by the New York State Department of State to obtain your Real Estate Salesperson license in New York and begin a rewarding career in real estate. Whether you choose to pursue real estate on a part-time or full-time basis, Keystone Realty USA, a leader in the Long Island, New York real estate industry, sponsors and provides training to all new real estate agents who join our Keystone team.

Along with the mandatory 75-hour course of study, there are several other requirements for obtaining a Real Estate license in New York. To become a licensed Real Estate Salesperson, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Be a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence
• Have a record clear of any felony convictions (exceptions may apply)
• Possess a current NYS Driver's License or DMV-issued non-driver ID
• Successfully complete a Department of State (DOS)-approved 75-hour qualifying course. (Those who have completed the 45-hour salesperson course prior to July 1, 2008 may complete the 30-hour remedial gap course to satisfy licensing requirements.)
• Be sponsored by a NYS-licensed real estate broker
• Pass the New York State Real Estate Salesperson exam with a score of 70% or higher

There are a number of DOS-approved 75-hour courses available to you to satisfy the training required to sit for the NYS Real Estate Salesperson examination. Although the 75 hours of training is mandatory and the curriculum is standardized, various course programs offer flexible scheduling in both traditional classrooms and online study; some also offer payment plans and financial aid.

Day, evening and weekend classes are offered in traditional classroom settings. Many programs also offer online study. Flexible options to complete the program are widely available. Some programs provide an option to complete the 75-hour course in as few as 10 days. The 75-hour real estate salesperson curriculum is designed to familiarize you with all aspects of the real estate business, from laws and regulations to environmental issues, taxes, mortgages and property management. The 75-hour curriculum is divided into 18 sections which are detailed below, and there will be a final examination at the end.

• License Law and Regulations - 3 hours
• Law of Agency - 11 hours
• Legal Issues - 10 hours
• Contract of Sale and Leases - 3 hours
• Real Estate Finance - 5 hours
• Land Use Regulations - 3 hours
• Construction and Environmental Issues - 5 hours
• Valuation Process/Pricing Properties - 3 hours
• Construction and Environmental Issues - 5 hours
• Human Rights and Fair Housing - 4 hours
• Real Estate Mathematics - 1 hour
• Municipal Agencies - 2 hours
• Property Insurance - 2 hours
• Taxes and Assessments - 3 hours
• Condominiums and Cooperatives - 4 hours
• Commercial and Investment Properties - 10 hours
• Income Tax Issues in RE Transactions - 3 hours
• Mortgage Brokers - 1 hour
• Property Management - 2 hours
• Final Examination

Once you have completed the 75-hour course of study and final exam, you may schedule your Real Estate Salesperson exam through eAccessNY, the NYS Department of State's occupational licensing management system for the real estate industry. The written exam is multiple choice and must be complete in 90 minutes. A passing grade is 70%; you will only be notified if you have passed or failed the exam.

Remember, you must be sponsored by a licensed New York real estate broker in order to apply for your Real Estate Salesperson license. Keystone Realty USA sponsors and provides training for all new agents who make the decision to join the Keystone team.

Recommended Reading:

• How to Become a Millionaire Real Estate Agent
• Success as a Real Estate Agent For Dummies
• The Honest Real Estate Agent

Need more information? For questions on how to get licensed please call us at 1 (631) 480-8725