How to get a New York real estate license
New York real estate salesperson exam requirements: hours, vendor, national vs state portions, and how to prepare for the licensing exam — from the official commission.
- Salesperson hours
- 77 hours approved qualifying education
- Broker requirement
- 152 hours qualifying education (includes the 77-hour salesperson course plus broker-specific content), plus 2 years' experience as a licensed salesperson (or 3 years equivalent real estate experience); a bachelor's degree with real estate concentration can waive part of the 152-hour requirement
- Exam vendor
- New York Department of State administers its own state exam directly (not PSI or Pearson VUE) via eAccessNY-scheduled sessions; a separate school-administered proctored final exam is also required after the qualifying course
- Exam structure
- New York does NOT split its state licensing exam into separately-scored national and state portions the way most states do — it is a single state exam (commonly cited as ~75 multiple-choice questions) based on the 77-hour/152-hour curriculum, which itself blends national real estate principles with NY-specific law
- Passing
- 70% minimum on the state exam
Some New York details were ambiguous on the official site when we researched this (July 2026) — double-check specifics with the commission before you rely on them.
Preparing for the New York exam
PrepTempo's Salesperson and Broker courses cover the national portion — property, contracts, financing, agency, and practice — which is the same in New York and the larger share of the exam. Study your New York state-law portion from the commission on top of the core.
New York real estate license FAQ
How many hours are required for a New York real estate license?
77 hours approved qualifying education
What does the New York real estate salesperson exam cover?
New York does NOT split its state licensing exam into separately-scored national and state portions the way most states do — it is a single state exam (commonly cited as ~75 multiple-choice questions) based on the 77-hour/152-hour curriculum, which itself blends national real estate principles with NY-specific law
How do I become a realtor in New York?
Complete required pre-license education (77 hours approved qualifying education), pass the licensing exam (New York Department of State administers its own state exam directly (not PSI or Pearson VUE) via eAccessNY-scheduled sessions; a separate school-administered proctored final exam is also required after the qualifying course; New York does NOT split its state licensing exam into separately-scored national and state portions the way most states do — it is a single state exam (commonly cited as ~75 multiple-choice questions) based on the 77-hour/152-hour curriculum, which itself blends national real estate principles with NY-specific law), meet any broker affiliation rules, and apply through the New York real estate commission. PrepTempo covers the national exam portion with free sample questions and free Chapter 1.
Official sources
Educational information only, researched July 2026 — not legal or licensing advice. Requirements change; confirm with the New York real-estate commission. PrepTempo is not affiliated with any state commission or exam vendor.