How to Become a New York Real Estate Broker
New York requires a license for real estate sales professionals. Licensed real estate salespersons can sell real estate only under the supervision of a real estate broker. Applicants for a New York real estate broker's license must attend an approved real estate course. They must also gain experience as a real estate salesperson and pass a real estate broker's exam. Individuals who have the experience and complete the educational and testing requirements can become an independent real estate broker in New York.
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Things You'll Need
- Internet access
- School certificate of completion
- Application for broker's license
- Real estate course materials
Instructions
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Obtain at least two years of experience as a licensed real estate salesperson or three years in the general field of real estate. You must also earn the number of points specified on the "Real Estate Broker/Associate Broker Application" form. Refer to the three experience supplements near the bottom of the application. Add up the points for the activities in which you have experience to determine if you have earned enough experience points. You may also use the "C" supplement to combine your points for general work in the real estate field and work as a licensed salesperson.
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Complete a 75-hour real estate salesperson course and 45-hour real estate broker course. The Secretary of State approves and licenses New York real estate courses. Find approved courses with the public license search. Click on the "Search by Name for a Specified License Type" link and select "Real Estate Course: Pre Lic Sales" or "Real Estate Course: Pre Lic Broker" options on the next page. On the next page, enter "sales" if looking for approved salesperson courses or "broker" if looking for approved broker courses. Click the "Search" button and click on the links in the results to find approved real estate schools. Contact the schools individually to find out how and when to enroll.
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Take and pass the New York real estate broker's exam. You must schedule your exam online with the eAccessNY licensing management system (see Resources). Register to create an account. Log in and click on "Apply to Take an Exam" from the main menu. Follow the instructions to schedule your exam. The Division of Licensing Services creates the exam based on material covered in the approved courses. Use the study materials from your courses to prepare for the exam. As of 2010, the exam fee is $15, payable by credit card. You may schedule more exams with the online system if you do not achieve the passing score of 70 per cent.
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Fill out the "Real Estate Broker/Associate Broker Application" form. Apply as an associate broker only if you will work as an employee under the supervision and name of another broker with a New York real estate license. Obtain copies of school certificates from your approved schools.
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Send the application, fees and school certificates to the New York Department of State. As of 2010, the fee is $150, payable to the "Department of State" by check, money order, or credit card. Fill out a "Credit Card Authorization" form to pay by credit card. Use the following contact information:
NYS Department of State
Division of Licensing Services
P.O. Box 22001
Albany, NY 12201-2001
518-474-4429
dos.state.ny.us
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Tips & Warnings
New York allows some brokers licensed in other states to obtain a New York broker's license by reciprocity. Refer to the list of available states on the "Real Estate Reciprocity" page.
You may request a waiver from the course requirements if you have completed similar prelicensing courses or a degree program with a real estate major. Submit a written request for waiver, an original transcript and a course description for each course. Send the waiver request to the same address used for the application.
References
Resources
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