Your Beginner’s Guide to Becoming a Licensed Real Estate Agent in NY in 2025
Unlike other high-paying professions which require you to complete years of education and coursework, real estate offers a lower entry barrier for aspiring professionals.
New York real estate offers a plethora of growth and income opportunities to individuals who want to become financially independent and work outside a conventional job.
Thanks to its leading economy, sprawling skyscrapers, world-class quality of living, and a diverse culture, the real estate market of New York is always in high demand.
If you want to earn a six-figure income annually while enjoying a flexible work-life balance and professional autonomy, a career in NY real estate might just be the right one for you.
An iconic city like New York boasts one of the most lucrative real estate markets, valued at an astonishing trillion dollars in value.
What’s more exciting is that despite the highly competitive nature of NY real estate, the market continues to grow by around 6 percent, compared to the previous year.
Did you know that you can make $100K to $120K in annual earnings in New York’s booming real estate market and even start your own real estate agency or firm in the future?
Imagine having the ability to decide how much you want to earn, set your own goals, and build a clientele of wealthy and rich consumers - doesn’t it sound like an ideal career path?
If you're wondering how to succeed in real estate in New York, now is the perfect time to start preparing for your journey as a licensed agent in the state.
Real estate agents work with buyers and sellers and help them make property-related decisions and actions.
The demand for skilled, licensed real estate professionals is growing, and it only takes a few months to start working in the industry.
As per the NYSDOS (New York State Department of State), which is the state authority for governing real estate professionals and firms, getting a license is a must to work with clients.
If you are ready to embark on a journey to work in NY’s premier real estate market, keep on reading to find out about all the steps you need to complete.
In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of how to obtain real estate license in NY by meeting the various state and federal license requirements.
What makes New York a real estate haven
Be it the iconic landmarks, the historic architecture, and the present-day luxury towers, NYC is a top destination for residential and commercial real estate.
The demand for real estate in New York has been strong for decades, and due to the limited supply, housing prices and valuations continue to skyrocket.
In the last few years, property valuation in NY has appreciated by around 4.5 percent, which is almost twice the growth of the national average.
Being the financial capital of the country and a home to global corporations and Fortune 500 companies, New York boasts a market filled with opportunities.
Whether you are a homebuyer or a real estate investor, there is something for everyone in NY’s diverse real estate landscape.
Since location plays a pivotal role in determining the popularity and potential of a real estate market, New York enjoys an edge over other metropolitan states as it is home to Manhattan, Brooklyn, Chelsea, and SoHo among other highly sought-after neighborhoods.
The real estate market of NYC is home to apartments, condos, and penthouses which boast of majestic views and exclusive neighborhoods for the ultra-wealthy and luxury buyers.
If you are ready to pursue the path of becoming a licensed real estate agent in NYC and reap the advantages of the short-term and long-term growth opportunities, now is the time.
Keep on reading to find out about NYS real estate license requirements as we walk you through the detailed steps in the coming section.
Steps to Becoming a Real Estate Agent in New York City
Meet the minimum eligibility requirements
To work as a licensed NYC agent, you must meet the minimum eligibility requirements to apply for a New York salesperson license.
Getting a license is a mandatory requirement to work with clients and help them buy or sell real estate anywhere in the state.
As per the NYSDOS, you must meet the minimum statutory requirements which are:
- Be at least 18 years of age or older
- Be a legally residing citizen of the United States or a lawfully residing alien
- Own a valid NYC driver’s license or any other non-driver ID proof
- Have a clean background with no history of any criminal or unlawful activity
Complete pre-licensing education
Like other states, New York also follows a pre-established set of license laws and regulations that are applicable to aspiring real estate professionals.
One of the requirements to obtain a NY salesperson license is to complete the minimum education and training to qualify for a license.
As per the NYSDOS license requirements, you must complete 77 hours of course credits as part of your pre-licensing education.
Students have the flexibility to choose their preferred medium of learning, i.e., you can choose to join an in-person real estate college or school in NY or enroll in an online New York real estate license course.
The purpose of pre-license courses is to equip students with the fundamental knowledge and principles of working in real estate.
Here are some of the courses and topics covered in the New York pre-license education:
- Principles of Real Estate
- Practices of Real Estate
- Real estate laws and regulations
- Types of Property and their ownership
- Real estate contracts
- Legal descriptions
- Land use
- Land survey
- Real estate finance
- Consumer rights
- Property valuation
By completing your education and training, you will also become familiar with your job duties and responsibilities as a real estate agent in NY.
As part of an overview of how to obtain a real estate license in New York, one important benefit of pre-license courses is that they help you prepare effectively for the New York State real estate license test.
Pass the NY salesperson license exam
After completing your education, the next step in your licensing journey is to take the state real estate license test and prove your competence and knowledge.
The NYSDOS requires students to take the exam which consists of multiple-choice questions covering both state as well as national-specific portions.
The exam consists of 75 questions in total and you will have a duration of 90 minutes to attempt all the questions.
To pass the test, you must score at least 70 percent or above. Note that if you are unable to pass the exam on your first attempt, you can take another attempt after 24 hours.
However, if you are unable to clear the state license test in three attempts, you will have to complete your pre-license course credits again.
Needless to say, without passing the test, you will not be able to obtain your NY salesperson license.
Purpose and Benefits of Practice Exams
Passing a real estate exam can seem like a daunting task, especially for first-time applicants and beginners.
However, if you plan smartly and prepare well, you can easily clear the test on the first attempt.
Have you set your sights on starting a career in New York real estate? If yes, then it’s time to go the extra mile and boost your exam preparation.
Since your odds of getting a license hinge on whether or not you can pass the real estate license test, it is important to invest in training.
As the bar to become a real estate professional in New York is high - thus, these exams are designed to be harder, so as to weed out the undeserving applicants.
Taking the help of a New York state real estate practice exam is a good way to boost your preparation and measure your level of knowledge of the concepts and topics.
Completing practice exams will also help you get better at managing time and attempting as many questions as possible in the limited duration on the day of the test.
Put simply, the more practice tests you take, the better you will get at performing on the day of the final exam.
Here are some additional tips and advice on how to ace the state real estate license test:
- Many pre-license education providers offer additional exam prep training and resources. Make sure to invest in a dedicated exam preparation course material.
- Take and review class notes as you progress through the coursework. You can also make note cards and flashcards to review important concepts and topics.
- Find a study partner to prepare alongside for the licensing exam. Learning with a study buddy can help you stay motivated and accountable during your preparation.
- Reach out to teachers and trainers for doubt-clearing and seek answers to your questions. Make sure you understand the solution clearly so you can remember it.
The key to acing any exam is to plan for it in advance and avoid the common pitfalls to ensure you are focused and well-prepared.
Complete NY continuing education requirements
Simply getting your license is not enough to grow your career in NY real estate, you must continue to invest in your education and career.
After obtaining your NY salesperson license, the next step is to meet the post-license education requirements for successful NYS real estate license renewal.
Post-licensing courses and continuing education refer to an umbrella term that comprises special courses with in-depth, advanced knowledge for real estate professionals.
These courses go beyond the fundamental principles and topics to give professionals a more nuanced, detailed knowledge.
Completing NY continuing education is a must to renew and maintain your real estate license. Without doing so, your license will stand the chance of getting voided or null.
The NYSDOS requires you to complete 22.5 hours of coursework every two years to successfully renew your license.
Some of the courses you will cover are - Fair housing and discrimination, Ethical business practice, Cultural competency and Implicit bias training.
Plus, these courses help you stay updated with the latest laws and industry regulations for professionals, while giving you the opportunity to upskill and grow your knowledge.
Students have the flexibility to complete their additional course credits by enrolling in a NY real estate continuing education online at their own convenience.
This means that if you are working professionally in NY real estate, you can easily complete the course credits from anywhere with the help of online courses.
Remember that completing continuing education is a mandatory requirement to renew your license, and thus, you must consider it seriously to avoid getting your license voided.