To obtain a real estate salesperson license in New York, you must follow several key steps. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the process:

1. Meet Basic Eligibility Requirements

• Age: You must be at least 18 years old.
• Legal Status: You must be a U.S. citizen or a legal resident of the U.S.
• Residency: You do not need to be a New York resident, but you must be legally allowed to work in the U.S.

2. Complete the Pre-Licensing Education

• You must complete 75 hours of approved real estate education. This course is offered by a variety of real estate schools in New York, both online and in-person.
• The course includes topics such as:
  • Real estate principles and practices
  • Property law
  • Financing
  • Ethics and professional conduct
  • Real estate transactions
• At the end of the course, you will need to pass a final exam provided by the school.

3. Find a Sponsoring Broker

• To apply for the license, you must work under a licensed real estate broker. This means that before you apply for the exam, you need to find a broker to sponsor you.
• The sponsoring broker will be responsible for overseeing your activities once you become licensed.

4. Submit Your License Application

• After completing your pre-licensing education, you can submit an application to the New York Department of State (NY DOS) to take the NY real estate salesperson license exam.
• You will need to submit the following:
  • Proof of completing the 75-hour pre-licensing education.
  • A completed Salesperson Application form (available on the NY DOS website).
  • A non-refundable application fee (usually around $65).
• The application can be submitted online via the NYS DOS website.

5. Pass the New York Real Estate Salesperson Exam

• After your application is accepted, you will be authorized to take the New York real estate salesperson exam.
• The exam consists of 75 multiple-choice questions, covering topics like:
  • Property ownership
  • Real estate law
  • Contracts
  • Agency relationships
  • Financing and transactions
  • Fair housing
• You must score 70% or higher to pass the exam.
• The exam is offered at various testing centers in New York. (There are 11 of them)

6. Apply for Your License

• Once you pass the exam, you must submit your licensing application to the New York Department of State.
• This includes submitting proof of passing the exam, completing your education, and your sponsoring broker information.
• You may also need to complete a background check, as certain criminal convictions may disqualify you from obtaining a license.

7. Pay the Licensing Fee

• The fee for the salesperson license is around $55, which you must pay when applying for the license.

8. Start Working as a Licensed Salesperson

• Once your license is issued, you can begin working as a real estate salesperson under the supervision of your sponsoring broker.
• The license is typically valid for two years, after which you will need to renew it and complete continuing education courses to maintain your active status.

9. Complete Continuing Education

• To renew your license after two years, you must complete 22.5 hours of continuing education every two years, which includes:
  • 3 Hours of Fair Housing
  • 1 Hour of Agency (if this is a first time renewal you need 2 hours)
  • 2.5 Hours of Ethical Business Practices
  • 1 Hour of Recent Legal Issues
  • 2 Hours Implicit Bias
  • 2 Hours Cultural Competency
• After completing the necessary education, you can renew your license through the New York Department of State.

By following these steps, you can successfully obtain and maintain your real estate salesperson license in New York!