How to get a New York real estate broker license

To get a New York real estate broker license, you must be at least 20 years old, complete 152 hours of approved qualifying education, document qualifying real estate experience, pass a state-administered multiple-choice exam, and file an application with a $185 fee through the Department of State's eAccessNY portal. Most applicants already hold a salesperson license and accumulate two years of full-time experience before upgrading, though New York also allows qualification through three years of general real estate experience without a salesperson license. The broker license is valid for two years and must be renewed online.

The real estate broker role in New York

A real estate broker in New York can operate independently, supervise salespersons, and conduct real estate transactions for compensation without sponsorship from another broker. The NY Department of State^[1] defines a broker as any person, firm, LLC, or corporation who, for another and for a fee, lists for sale, sells, exchanges, buys, or rents real estate, or negotiates a loan secured by a mortgage on real property. Under NY Real Property Law §441-a^[2], the license term is two years.

A single broker license in New York authorizes transactions across residential and commercial property types.

Eligibility requirements for a New York broker license

Broker applicants must satisfy age, identification, experience, and education requirements established by the Department of State before they can sit for the exam and file a license application.

Applicants must hold a current New York photo driver's license or non-driver ID card, per the NY Department of State^[3]. New York has no reciprocity agreements with any other state for real estate licensure as of February 1, 2023, so out-of-state licensees must meet New York's full requirements.

The attorney exemption

Attorneys admitted to the New York State Bar are exempt from the qualifying education, exam, and experience requirements, but must still submit an application and pay the $185 fee, according to NYSAR^[4]. A bachelor's degree with a concentration in real estate may also qualify for a waiver of the qualifying course requirement, subject to Department of State approval.

Meeting the experience requirement

Broker applicants must document real estate experience through a points-based system defined in the license law^[2]. Under 19 NYCRR §179.2(b), 3,500 points equate to two years of full-time experience as a licensed salesperson. Applicants qualifying through three years of general real estate experience without a salesperson license must accumulate 5,250 points. The combination path also requires 5,250 points.

Full-time active service means at least 35 hours per week for 50 weeks in each qualifying year, per 19 NYCRR §175.21(c)^[2]. The three experience paths are:

Point values are assigned per transaction type under 19 NYCRR §179.3^[2]:

Completing the 152-hour qualifying education

The Department of State requires 152 hours of qualifying education for broker licensure, effective December 21, 2022, when the total increased from the former 120-hour standard. The NY Department of State^[3] lists five acceptable course combinations, all totaling 152 hours.

The broker course itself consists of 75 hours of instruction plus a 3-hour proctored final examination, per 19 NYCRR §176.4^[2]. All five pathways to 152 hours are:

The 77-hour salesperson, 75-hour salesperson qualifying, and 30-hour remedial courses are valid for 8 years from the completion date, per the DOS Broker FAQ^[5]. Once a course has been applied toward a license, it does not expire and can be used for the broker upgrade. A school-administered proctored examination is required in addition to the state exam. The Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS®^[6] reports that DOS requires 90% attendance before a student is eligible to sit for the course exam.

Broker qualifying courses are also available through approved distance-learning providers.

Taking the New York broker exam

The broker exam consists of multiple-choice questions drawn from the qualifying curriculum. The NY Department of State^[3] administers the exam and reports results as either "passed" or "failed" with no numerical score provided. The Department does not publish a numerical passing threshold.

Passed exam results are valid for two years from the exam date. Applicants schedule the exam through their eAccessNY account after completing the qualifying education and school final exam.

Filing the broker license application

The broker license application fee is $185, comprising a $155 base fee plus a $30 mandatory surcharge deposited into the anti-discrimination in housing fund, under NY Real Property Law §441-b^[7]. Applications are filed through the eAccessNY online portal. All fees are nonrefundable, and a $20 fee applies to any check returned by the bank.

Before filing, proposed business names must be submitted to the Division of Licensing Services for approval, per the NY Department of State^[3]. The full fee schedule for broker-related transactions:

Types of broker licenses in New York

New York offers several broker license categories depending on business structure and operating model. An individual broker operates independently under their own name. An associate broker holds a full broker license but chooses to work under another broker's supervision and name rather than operating independently.

Other license types include trade name brokers (operating under a registered trade name), partnership brokers, corporate brokers, and LLC/LLP brokers. For each additional officer of a corporation or member of a partnership or LLC who wants to act as a broker, a separate license at the same $185 fee is required, per §441-b^[7]. An office manager must have been active as a licensed associate broker for at least two of the four years preceding appointment, under §440^[2].

After licensure: renewal and continuing education

A New York broker license is valid for two years and must be renewed online through eAccessNY. The renewal fee is $185, and the Department of State^[8] sends an email and postcard reminder three months before expiration.

The 15-year broker continuing education exemption was removed effective July 1, 2021, per the DOS CE Update^[9]. All brokers, including those previously exempt, must complete continuing education each cycle. If a broker lets their license expire, they have two years from the expiration date to renew. After that window, they must meet current education requirements and pass the state written exam again, per the DOS Broker FAQ^[5]. Associate brokers must have a sponsoring broker to be eligible for renewal.

How long it takes and what to do next

The timeline to become a broker depends primarily on whether you already meet the experience requirement.

For a salesperson who already meets the experience threshold, the remaining work involves finishing broker coursework, sitting for the school final, registering for and passing the state exam, then submitting the license application. Most working agents finish the coursework in one to two months. After passing, file through eAccessNY with the required fee and any approved business name. Once the Department of State processes and issues the license, you can operate independently as a real estate broker in New York.