New York real estate license reciprocity status and waiver pathways

New York does not offer real estate license reciprocity with any other state. The New York Department of State (DOS) ended all former reciprocity agreements when updated educational standards became effective on December 21, 2022. Licensees from other states must pursue an education waiver, finish any missing coursework, pass the New York exam, and submit a full application to practice in the state.

New York's real estate reciprocity policy

No. The NY DOS salesperson FAQ^[1] and broker FAQ^[2] both state that the Department of State does not honor any other state's real estate license through reciprocity. A DOS bulletin dated March 23, 2023^[3] confirmed the change, noting that the state no longer has direct reciprocity with other states as a result of additional educational requirements.

The February 2023 salesperson application form (Form DOS-0022-f-a^[4]) lists four qualification options: attorney status, previously licensed, additional salesperson license, or DOS-approved qualifying education. No reciprocity checkbox appears on the form. The application itself no longer recognizes reciprocity as a pathway.

Which states formerly had reciprocity with New York?

Nine states formerly held real estate reciprocity agreements with New York: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. All nine agreements were eliminated effective December 21, 2022.

Before elimination, each state had specific eligibility conditions. Arkansas, Massachusetts, and Mississippi required broker-level licensure with at least 2 years of experience. Colorado covered brokers and associate brokers. Connecticut, Georgia, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia covered both brokers and salespersons. Georgia additionally required that the licensee obtained their license by passing the Georgia exam.

Several online sources still publish the former 9-state list as if those reciprocal real estate license agreements remain active. New York is no longer counted among real estate reciprocity states; the NY DOS FAQ pages confirm that no reciprocity exists with any state.

The education waiver pathway for out-of-state licensees

Holders of an out-of-state real estate license must request an education waiver from the NY DOS Division of Licensing Services, then pass the New York state exam and submit a paper application. The waiver evaluates whether out-of-state coursework satisfies New York's salesperson qualifying education requirement.

The waiver request must include:

The DOS states on the application form^[4]: "We may waive the 77-hour real estate education requirement if you can document an equivalent level of schooling." Each request is evaluated individually.

Three categories of courses will not be approved for the waiver: continuing education courses, correspondence or home-study courses, and paralegal courses.

If the waiver is denied or covers only part of the requirement, the applicant must complete the remaining hours through a New York-approved pre-licensing education provider before sitting for the exam.

After waiver approval and exam passage, the applicant must submit the application by paper to the DOS Licensing office; online application is not available for education-waiver recipients. Passed exam results are valid for 2 years, and the application must be submitted within that window.

A sponsoring New York licensed broker is required to activate the salesperson license. Non-residents may obtain a New York license but must take both required examinations at approved testing sites within New York State. Applicants without a New York DMV photo ID must enter nine zeroes on the application and include a copy of a government-issued photo ID. Qualifying courses are valid for 8 years from the completion date.

New York real estate license portability explained

New York is classified as a Physical Location portability state, meaning an out-of-state agent may represent a client in a New York transaction remotely but cannot be physically present in New York during the transaction. All in-person activities (showings, negotiations, inspections) must be handled by a New York-licensed agent.

Portability and reciprocity are distinct concepts. The National Association of REALTORS®^[5] publishes guidance on real estate agent license reciprocity, defining it as one state choosing to honor another state's license to reduce the steps for multi-state transactions. Portability governs whether an agent can participate in a single cross-state transaction without obtaining a license in that state. New York offers no reciprocity but permits Physical Location portability for one-off transactions.

Under Physical Location rules, the out-of-state agent's license must be active and in good standing, with no disciplinary actions or outstanding ethical issues. The agent coordinates from their home state with a New York-licensed agent who handles all on-the-ground work. The Chicago Association of REALTORS®^[6] confirms that in Physical Location states like New York, an out-of-state agent cannot enter the state to work on a transaction unless they hold a New York real estate license.

Broker reciprocity and the broker waiver pathway

New York has no real estate broker license reciprocity with any state. Out-of-state brokers follow the same education waiver process as salespersons, evaluated against the 152-hour broker qualifying education requirement.

Broker applicants need at least 2 years of experience as a licensed salesperson or 3 years in the general real estate field (or a combination), must meet minimum experience points, and must complete the full broker qualifying education. The broker application fee is $185. The broker exam is 2.5 hours long and covers the full broker curriculum.

A Bachelor's Degree with a concentration in real estate may qualify for a waiver of the broker qualifying course requirement, separate from the out-of-state education waiver. Broker applicants must be at least 20 years old.

All out-of-state broker applicants must pass the New York broker exam regardless of waiver approval. The waiver only addresses the education requirement; it does not waive the exam, the experience requirement, or the application.

Special exemption pathways for attorneys and military spouses

Attorneys admitted to the New York State Bar are exempt from the salesperson qualifying education requirement and may apply directly for licensure without completing pre-licensing coursework. Attorneys must still pass the state exam and submit a paper application. Per the NY DOS salesperson FAQ^[1], attorneys also remain exempt from the 22.5-hour continuing education requirement that applies to all other licensees each 2-year term.

Military spouses can apply through the Military Spouse Waiver Application process available through the NY DOS broker licensing page^[7]. This pathway recognizes the relocation challenges faced by military families.

As of July 1, 2021, the 15-year broker CE exemption was removed. All brokers previously exempted must now complete continuing education, as confirmed by NYSAR^[8]. The only remaining CE exemption is for attorneys admitted to the New York State Bar.

Next steps for out-of-state applicants

Start by requesting an education waiver from the NY DOS Division of Licensing Services. Gather your original course completion certificates, detailed course outlines listing topics and hours, and official course descriptions. Submit the waiver request in writing for individual evaluation.

While waiting for the waiver decision, review the New York exam requirements and begin identifying a sponsoring broker. If the waiver is approved, schedule the state exam through eAccessNY. If the waiver is denied or partially approved, enroll in the remaining required hours through a New York-approved pre-licensing education provider.

After passing the exam, submit your paper application to the DOS Licensing office. The salesperson application fee is $65 and the exam fee is $15 per attempt. Your sponsoring broker must submit their affiliation to activate your license.