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How to Become a Real Estate Agent in New York

New York real estate agents showing a house to clients after getting their license

What if we told you that you could earn a commission of three percent of the cost of a New York brownstone by working as a real estate agent in New York?

If you are familiar with the price of NYC real estate, you may be excited by the idea of becoming a real estate agent. After all, what other profession allows you to earn this kind of money – without being required to have a college degree?

Keep reading to learn how to become a real estate agent in NY. You could be helping clients buy and sell property in Brooklyn, Albany, or Manhattan less than six months from today!

Prerequisites to get your real estate license in New York:

  1. You must be at least 18 years old.
  2. New York state photo driver’s license or non-driver ID card.

The process is relatively straightforward. Applicants must complete coursework, pass a test and a background check, and fill out an application to become licensed as a NY real estate agent.

It’s time to get started!

5 Steps To Get Your Real Estate License in New York

How long does it take to become a real estate agent in New York?

It can take you between four to six months to become a real estate agent in New York. This includes the time required to finish your New York pre-licensing course, undergo the background check, take the licensing exam, and receive a license. However, this may vary from person to person.

Step 1: Enroll in a New York real estate school

The NYS Department of State Division of Licensing Services requires real estate agents to take 77 hours of specified coursework before sitting for the real estate licensing exam – and you must take the coursework from a pre-approved real estate school.

The 77 hours of classes cover complicated topics like real estate law, mortgage loan brokering and lending, and fair housing. You need to understand these topics to pass the licensing exam – and to help your future clients make significant financial decisions.

The Division of Licensing Services provides a list of approved real estate schools online. You’ll see both in-person and online schools on the list. However, most people take online courses to streamline the process. An online real estate school also offers more flexibility and allows you to go back and review topics that confused you.

Step 2: Pass the course final exam

When you have completed the 77-Hour New York Pre-licensing Course, you must pass a course final exam that will help prepare you to pass the licensing exam.

Step 3: Complete the background check

Real estate salespeople in New York (and across the country) must work under a broker. A broker is someone with experience in the industry who has taken additional coursework and passed a broker exam.

Before you can submit the NY Real Estate Salesperson Application, you need to provide the name of the broker you will be working under – and they must confirm this relationship.

Some people talk with many brokers before selecting one that is the right fit. Some brokerages have excellent training and mentor programs, but you may have to pay desk fees or give them a bigger share of your commissions for these benefits.

Step 4: Apply for your New York real estate license

After passing the exam, you must complete the Real Estate Salesperson Application. There is a $65 application fee.

Step 5: Pass the state license exam

Once you’ve completed your 77-hour New York exam preparation course, you must take and pass the real estate salesperson exam.

Start by creating an account with eAccessNY, the Occupational Licensing Management System for the state. Once you have created an account, you can schedule and pay the $15 fee for your in-person exam. There are 11 exam sites scattered throughout the state.

Spend the time leading up to your exam reviewing the material you learned during your coursework and taking practice exams. Some pre-licensing packages come with exam-prep materials.

You’ll have 1.5 hours to complete the New York real estate salesperson exam. The test is multiple-choice, and exam results will be posted ASAP to your eAccessNY account.

Related: New York real estate license exam prep.

Additional Steps

For New License Holders: Find a Sponsoring Broker

Real estate salespeople in New York (and across the country) must work under a broker. A broker is someone with experience in the industry who has taken additional coursework and passed a broker exam.

Before you can submit the NY Real Estate Salesperson Application, you need to provide the name of the broker you will be working under – and they must confirm this relationship.

Some people talk with many brokers before selecting one that is the right fit. Some brokerages have excellent training and mentor programs, but you may have to pay desk fees or give them a bigger share of your commissions for these benefits.

What Should You Do After You Get Your New York Real Estate License?

We know that the process of becoming a real estate agent in New York seems daunting. But you can do it!

Let’s circle back to the first step in the process. To become a real estate agent in New York, you first need to enroll in a real estate school. You can check off this task in a matter of minutes!

Colibri Real Estate (formerly Real Estate Express) has helped hundreds of thousands of people earn their real estate licenses, and Colibri offers pre-licensing courses for NY.

In fact, Colibri Real Estate offers three pre-licensing packages for New York – all are expertly designed to explain complicated material in an easy-to-learn format. We advise you to choose one of the top two packages that come with the Exam Crammer Webinar Series and interactive instructor Q&A.

Once our students get their New York real estate license, they return to us for

Enroll in Colibri’s New York pre-licensing courses today. We are so confident of your success that we offer a pass-or-don’t-pay guarantee!

Have a question?

Connect with an enrollment advisor today.

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