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Home / How to Become a Real Estate Broker New York

How to Become a Real Estate Broker New York

Do I need to be licensed?
Generally, Article 12-A of the Real Property Law provides that anyone who, on behalf of another and for a fee, 1) negotiates a sale, exchange or rental of real property, 2) collects rent, or 3) negotiates a commercial loan secured by a mortgage must be licensed as a real estate broker.

What is a Real Estate Broker?
A real estate broker is responsible for the supervision and conduct of the real estate brokerage business. He or she applies for and holds the license on behalf of the brokerage. This person is known as the "representative broker." All listings, although perhaps negotiated by a salesperson, are accepted by the representative broker.

How do I become a Real Estate Broker?

In order to qualify for licensure as a Real Estate Broker, an applicant must have at least two years of experience as a licensed real estate salesperson or at least three years of experience in the general real estate field ,or a combination of the both, meet the minimum points required for the experience type, (e.g., buying and selling your own property, managing property owned by your employer), have satisfactorily completed both the qualifying salesperson course of 75 hours and an additional 45-hour real estate broker course as approved by the Secretary of State, and have passed a qualifying examination administered by the Department of State. Please see application instructions for more detailed information. Please see application instructions for more detailed information.

NOTE: The 75 hour salesperson qualifying and 30 hour remedial courses are valid for 8 years past the course completion date and must be used to obtain a license or will expire and must be retaken.

Please note, that completion of a school administered proctored examination is required in addition to the qualifying examination administered by the Department of State. If you have any questions about the school proctored examination, please contact your school provider.

Once either of these courses have been applied towards a license, they will not expire and can be used for upgrade.

How do I obtain a waiver from the 75-hour salesperson or 120-hour broker course requirement?
You must submit a written request stating the waiver you are applying for along with ORIGINAL proof of course completion, a detailed outline listing topics and hours, and a course description. (Home-study/correspondence courses are not accepted.) The prelicensing salesperson's course must be at least 75 hours of classroom instruction and the broker's course, 120 hours.

In addition, if you have a Bachelor's Degree with a concentration in real estate, you may qualify for a 120-hour qualifying course requirement waiver. Please submit an official transcript with your waiver request.

What are the Current Continuing Education Requirements?
All licensees must successfully complete 22.5 hours of approved continuing education.  The education must include at least 2.5 hours on the subject of ethical business practices, at least 1 hour of recent legal matters, at least 3 hours of instruction pertaining to fair housing and/or discrimination in the sale or rental of real property or an interest in real property and at least 1 hour of instruction pertaining to the law of agency except in the case of the initial two-year licensing term for real estate salespersons, 2 hours of agency related instruction must be completed within the two-year period immediately preceding a renewal.

Any salesperson who successfully completes an approved broker qualifying course (which requires passing the final exam), within their current term, will receive continuing education credit for completion of that course.

Please note : If completing the broker course for continuing education, you must also complete 2.5 hours of ethical business practices and 1 hour of recent legal matters topics to satisfy the requirement.

A recent legislative amendment REMOVED the 15-year real estate broker continuing education exemption and now requires all brokers who were previously exempted to complete continuing education starting July 1, 2021.

Who licenses mortgage brokers?
The license is issued by the Department of State. Anyone who negotiates or attempts to negotiate any mortgage loan other than a mortgage loan on residential property, in the state of New York, is required to be licensed as a real estate broker, or as a salesperson associated with a real estate broker.

When is registration with the Department of Financial Services Necessary?
To negotiate a mortgage loan on residential property (one to four family building) registration with the Department of Financial Services is required.

If I am a real estate management company, do I need a real estate broker's license?
That depends on what services you provide. If you collect rent or place tenants in vacant spaces on behalf of your landlord client, the answer is yes. If, on the other hand, your services are strictly maintenance, the answer is no. you are not acting as a fiduciary (not handling another person's money).

Whom do I call if I am not sure whether I completed my 22.5 hours of continuing education during my license term?
Contact the school(s) you attended. Schools are required by law to maintain course completion records for three years. You may request duplicate certificates from the school(s) in the event you are audited.

In order to renew my salesperson license, I completed the 45-hour broker qualifying course to satisfy my 22.5 hour continuing education course requirement for this two-year license term. Can I apply the extra 22.5 hours to my next license term?
No. The law clearly states that continuing education must be completed within each license term.

I could not complete the continuing education, but I wish to renew my license anyway. Can I apply for an extension?
Please refer to §177.6 in the real estate law booklet. Extensions will only be granted in bona fide hardship cases. You must submit the following, preferably prior to your license expiration: a written request for the extension, completed renewal form, fee, and original documentation demonstrating your hardship; i.e., medical documentation.

What happens if I do not renew my license?
If you do not renew your license, you cannot conduct any real estate activities that require a New York State real estate license in accordance with Article 12-A of the Real Property Law. There are no grace periods that allow you to continue working while not licensed. You have two years from the date your license expires to renew your license. If you fail to renew within that period, you will be required to pass the state written examination. No continuing education will be required to repeat the licensing process again.

If you are applying for your broker's license, you must submit ORIGINAL proof of your 75-hour salesperson course and 45-hour broker course, or a copy of your expired broker's license.

I have been a real estate licensee for many years. Am I exempt from the continuing education requirements?
Effective July 1, 2021, all real estate licensees, with the exception of Attorneys admitted to the New York State Bar, must complete 22.5 hours of continuing education.

What Commission Rate Should I Expect to Pay?
The commission or compensation of a real estate broker is not regulated by statute or regulation, therefore the amount and terms are negotiable. A real estate broker shall never offer a property for sale or lease without the authorization of the owner. Therefore, prior to the listing or marketing of a client's real property, it is incumbent upon the real estate broker and the client to mutually agree on a reasonable rate of compensation.

Can brokers pay rebates to customers and offer other incentives?
The payment of cash or offering an incentive to encourage a consumer to do business with a broker is permitted.  The Real Property Law prohibits brokers from sharing commissions with unlicensed individuals.  It is often misinterpreted as prohibiting the payment of cash or offering another business generating incentive to a consumer.  This law prohibits a broker from sharing a commission as compensation for activity that would require a real estate license.

Can real estate brokers keep records in electronic format?

eAccessNY FAQS

User Registration (Create-Access)
Who are first time NEW licensees or registrants?
First time NEW licensees or registrants are individuals who have never been licensed and have not scheduled an exam through eAccessNY and want to schedule an exam. These individuals should create an account. It is important that individuals with a license DO NOT create an account but rather access their existing account.

How do I create an account as a first time applicant?
You should select the link on the Department's website (www.dos.ny.gov) entitled"eAccessNY." Once on the eAccessNY page, select the link "Create My Account" which is under "Options:". (This link will take you to the eAccessNY "Create Account" page.

On the Create Account page, enter your details and press "Preview" to continue. Press "Save" to save the registration. Press "Change" to change the registration details or press "Cancel" to cancel the registration and return to the Create Account page. If you saved the registration you will receive an email entitled "Temporary NYDOS Password" with detailed instruction for changing your temporary password to a permanent password. After you change the password you will be able to apply for the exam.

I received an email for a "Temporary NYDOS Password." Why did I get this email and what do I do with it?
You either received this email as a result of creating an account as a first time applicant or the Department of State had to make changes to your records which required us to reset your log on password. Whichever the case, you should click on the link in the email and carefully follow the instructions in the email. On the eAccessNY Public Services Main Menu page enter your "User ID" (your email address) and your temporary "Password" exactly as noted in the email and then press "Log On". Your "User ID" and temporary "Password" are case sensitive and must be entered exactly as shown in the email. You may wish to "copy and paste" your "User ID" and temporary "Password" from the email into the boxes provided to ensure the correct characters are being entered. Upon pressing "Log On", you will be directed to the Change Password page.

On the Change Password page, once again enter your temporary "Password" exactly as noted above in the "Old Password" box provided. Next, enter in the "New Password" box, a new "Password" which you must create. (The "Password" you create must be a minimum of eight characters, must not be equal to or a derivative of your "User ID" and must contain at least one alphabetic and one non-alphabetic character.) Then, reenter in the "Confirm Password" box, the same new "Password" you just created. Then press, "Ok". (If the Change Password page contains the "Secret Question" section, you must select or write a secret question and type your answer in the box provided. Once this is done, click "Ok".) You are now on the Main Menu page of the system. Be sure you keep a record of your "User ID" and new "Password" since you will need to use them each time you access your eAccessNY account. If you are a first time applicant as indicated above you may now apply for an exam.

How long does it take to receive the password?
You should receive your temporary password within 5 minutes after notification that a temporary password will be e-mailed to you.  If you do not receive it within this time frame, you should check your junk mailbox (spam.)  The email address which sends the temporary password is [email protected].   See below for suggestions on how to prevent emails received from this email address from going into your junk mail(spam) folder in your email account.

How do I modify my email settings to prevent a specific sender email address ([email protected] from going to my junk mail(spam)?
Every email account service provider is different.  Below are some suggestions on modifications that can be made depending on your email service provider:
1.  Add the above email address to your contact list
2.  Add the above email address to your safe sender list
3.  Configure your spam filter to allow this above email address
For further assistance with this issue, contact your email administrator for instructions.

I have already created or accessed my account. How do I log on to eAccessNY?
If you have already created or accessed your account, you should click on the "Access My Account" link found on the eAccessNY page of our website. You may access your account by using your User ID (email address) and your permanent password.

Apply to Take an Exam

How do I apply to take either a sales or broker exam?
If you do not already have an account, you will need to create an account. Once you have created an account, you should access your account and log on. From the Main Menu, click on "Apply to Take an Exam" and then follow the instructions. Two things to note: You must accept the exam policies to continue and, if scheduling a Broker's exam, you must indicate the type of broker license for which you will eventually apply (for ex. Individual, Corporate, Partnership, etc).

View Scheduled Exam Details

How can I get my exam details again if I forgot to print my confirmation page?

Log on to your account. From the Main Menu, click on "View Scheduled Exam Details."

Reschedule My Exam

How can I reschedule my exam?

Log on to your account. From the Main Menu, click on "View Scheduled Exam Details." As long as you are within the allowable reschedule time frame (6 days prior to your currently scheduled exam date), you can click on the "Reschedule" button on the bottom right and then follow the instructions. If you are not within the allowable reschedule time frame, you must wait until the exam date has passed and make a new appointment.

View Exam Results

How do I View My Exam Results?

Log on to your account. From the Main Menu, click on "View Exam Results." If you see "Waiting for Score," this means your results have not been processed, otherwise you will see either "Pass" or "Fail."

Public License Search

Which link takes me to the Public License Search Function?

Click on eAccessNY from various locations throughout our website and then select "Public License Search" Main Menu, Clicking on the Public License Search link will launch the search function

What criteria do I use to find an individual or organization?

You may use the information from the person/organization's license or simply use their name.

What type of information is provided in the search results?

License data found in the search results, includes: Name, License Number, License Type, Status (of current license) and Expiration Date. Not applicable to School Searches. Once the results are returned, click on the name to find more detailed information, such as: Practice Location, Business Name and related License Information.

How do I Search by Name?

You can perform a search either by the name of the individual or an organization. You cannot perform a search using both the name of the individual and an organization. To do a search by name of individual, click on the "Search by Individual" button and perform the following steps:

• If you do not know the spelling of the last name, try entering the first two or more letters of the last name. You must enter at least the first two letters of the first name. The search will always return names that begin with the letters you have entered.

• If you do not know the spelling of the first name, try entering at least the first two letters of the first name to limit the number of names returned by the search. If you do not know the name of the organization, try entering at least the first word (four character minimum) of the organization name. If you enter both a name of an individual and the name of an organization, then the search only uses the last name. You cannot search using both name types.

• If you receive too many licenses for your search, try using some of the Alternate Search Parameters such as, License Type, City or County. This will reduce the number of licenses returned by the search.

What is a License Number?

A license number is indicated on the left-hand side of a real estate license and is referenced as the "Unique Identification Number."

How do I search by License Number (UID#)?

When searching by License Number (UID#), you must enter the entire unique identification number. If the license number includes two letters, then the letters must be capitalized. If you know the specific License Type, you can select these from the drop down arrow to limit the search results. Selecting the License Type is not necessary.

How do I Search by City or County?

You can search for licenses by License Type within a City or County. You must always select a License Type and a City or County. This search will always return licenses for the selected type within the city or county.

Are names searches case or character sensitive?

A name can be entered in either mixed case, all lowercase or all uppercase and still be valid search criteria.
Apostrophes(') and Hyphens (-) should be eliminated in your name search. They are considered invalid characters. If the name you want to search is O'Brien, then enter the name as: obrien.

Apply for Initial Salesperson License (qualifying by Exam only)

How do I apply for an Initial Salesperson License online (qualifying by Exam only)?

Please note: If you are applying based on reciprocity, attorney status, requesting an additional salesperson license, or having been previously licensed, please submit a paper application by regular mail. If you completed education outside of New York State and have received an education waiver, you must pass the state examination and submit your application to our Licensing office for processing.

To apply for an initial salesperson license online, perform the following steps:

  1. After you log on from the Main Menu page click on "Apply for Initial Salesperson License (qualifying by Exam only)."
  2. Press "Next Step' to continue.
  3. Enter your details and press "Next Step" to continue.
  4. Enter the sponsoring broker license number (UID#). When typing the UID# of brokers, using upper case for any alpha characters is required (i.e., 31BR9999110).
  5. Find the correct broker license that matches the company name and address and select that office by clicking on the circle in front of the desired office and address and then press "Next Step" to continue.
  6. Enter all required information and press "Next Step" to continue.
  7. Enter the name of the school by using the dropdown menu and enter the completion date of the pre-licensing course and press "Next Step" to continue.
  8. Affirm the application by checking the "I Agree" box at the bottom of the page and press "Next Step" to continue.
  9. Enter your credit card details and press "Submit" only once to submit your payment.
  10. Print the "Summary of Your Submission" page.
  11. Press "Return to Main Menu."

Your principal broker must log on to their personal online account and authorize your application. After the broker authorizes your application the Department of State will review your application to make sure it is complete and meets the qualifications for a real estate salesperson license.
Upon successful review of your application by our office, your license will be mailed to your business address.

If I apply online for my initial salesperson license, should I also mail my application?

Applicants who apply online do not need to submit their application or follow up paperwork to our office unless the applicant is sent a letter specifically requesting additional documentation.

Authorize Initial Salesperson License

I am a Principal Broker. How do I authorize a pending online salesperson application?

The broker (who is indicated on the salesperson's online application) must log on to their own personal real estate online account and click on "List of Licenses"; a listing of all your License(s) and License Number(s) (UID#'s) will be listed. Click on the appropriate broker license. Under "Functions", click on "Authorize Initial Salesperson License".

If a broker has anyone listed under "Authorize Initial License" they should:

  1. choose to "Accept" or "Deny" authorization of the individual listed. If the broker is not ready to make a decision to either accept or deny, they may click on the "No Action" circle.
  2. If the applicant was "Accepted," then click on the "Next" box.
  3. To authorize your acceptance, press the "Authorize" box below.

An "Authorize Initial License - Summary" page will appear. The broker can click on the "Return" box to return to the License Menu.

When the Department of State approves the salesperson online application, a license will be generated by Licensing Services and mailed to the office location indicated on the application.
Please note that the applicant's name will remain in the in box of the broker (even after the broker has authorized them) until the Department of State has approved the application in our office. Once the name is no longer displayed, the salesperson will receive their license in the near future.

List of Licenses

Which link takes me to the List of Licenses function?

From the Main Menu screen of your eAccessNY Account, click on "List of Licenses." A listing of all your License(s) and License Number(s) (UID#'s) will be listed.

Why aren't all my licenses listed after clicking "List of Licenses?"

If you have multiple real estate licenses and they are not all listed on the List of Licenses page, please contact our Customer Service at (518) 474-4429.

What functions can I perform by clicking on the "List of Licenses" link?

Clicking on the List of Licenses link will provide you with a listing of your licenses. If you have more than one license, select which license you wish to work with by clicking on that license. This will provide you with more detailed information about the selected license as well as those functions that can be performed (e.g., renew your license, change your address, etc.)

Renew My License

Why should I renew online?

In accordance with New York's Green Initiative to reduce paper use, all Real Estate Licenses must be renewed online.

Why must I renew my license?

If you do not renew your expired license, you cannot conduct any real estate activities that require a New York State real estate license in accordance with Article 12-A of the Real Property Law. There are no grace periods that allow you to continue working while not licensed. You have two years from the date your license expires to renew your license. If you fail to renew within that period, you will be required to pass the state written examination and submit a new salesperson/broker application and fee. No continuing education will be required to repeat the licensing process again.

How do I know when I should renew my license?

Your license expiration date is printed on the license. You are eligible to renew your license three months prior to the expiration date. If you are an associate broker or salesperson you must have a sponsoring broker to be eligible for license renewal.

Three months prior to your license expiration date, you are sent an email and post card reminder that it's time to renew your real estate license. Both reminders provide you with written instructions on how to renew your license online through your eAccessNY Account.

If my license has expired and no longer appears on the website, can I still log into my account and renew my license?

Yes. Your eAccessNY account is always available for you to log into and find out the status of your license and perform license transactions.  Your renewal application is generated three months prior to expiration and the renewal link remains available for you to access and to  renew your license for two years after the expiration date of your license. If you are an associate broker or salesperson you must have a sponsoring broker to be eligible for license renewal.

If I have an associate broker or salesperson license but no sponsoring broker, can I still log into my account and renew my license?

No. You must have a sponsoring broker to be eligible for license renewal. If you have a sponsoring broker who has not associated you with their license, they must do so through their eAccessNY Account. Once you are associated with a sponsoring broker you can renew your license through your on line Account.

How do I renew my real estate license?

After you log on, from the Main Menu page click on "List of Licenses (Access your license here)." A listing of all your License(s) and License Number(s) (UID#'s)will be listed. If you have more than one license, click on the license you wish to renew.

1. Click on "Renew License" and then "Next Step" to renew the license.
If the Office/Sponsorship information listed is incorrect, DO NOT continue with this renewal until your new broker has submitted a change of association for you. If you are changing association or the business address, those changes must be performed, by the principal broker, prior to renewing your license online. Proceed with this online renewal ONLY if the information listed is correct.

2. Answer the questions and press "Next Step" to continue.

3. Affirm the application by checking the "I Agree" box and press "Next Step" to continue. When you affirm your application, you are indicating that you have met the requirements for renewal. Therefore, your continuing education must be completed prior to submitting your online renewal.

4. Enter your credit card details and press "Submit" ONLY ONCE to submit your payment. Your card will be charged with the total amount displayed.

5. You will get a "Confirmation" page indicating your renewal has been submitted. Print the page for your records. Submission does not constitute an approval. Your renewal application will be reviewed by the Department to make sure it is complete and meets the qualifications for renewal.

What if I don't have a printer? Can I save a "confirmation page" to my computer?

Yes, you can save any web page to your computer. For most browsers, click on "File" in the menu bar, then click on "Save As." When the "Save As" dialogue box appears, save the page as a web page or as a text file, to the location on your computer you choose. After you save it, you can open the file at any time without being connected to the Internet.

What if I answer no to the continuing education question when renewing my real estate salesperson/broker license in eAccessNY?

If you answer no to this question, your renewal application will not be approved. You will receive notification from the Department acknowledging receipt of your renewal application. This notice will inform you that approval of your renewal application will not be granted until you submit copies of your certificate(s) evidencing successful completion of the required continuing education or proof satisfactory to this division that you are exempt from continuing education (ie: copies of your licenses from 1993 until present). Submit the document(s) to the Bureau of Educational Standards by email to [email protected] for review and approval. Once approval has been granted you'll be notified by email.

You must submit this proof even if you have answered no to this question in error. By answering NO when submitting your on line renewal, you have affirmed that you have not completed the required education and that you are not exempt from this requirement..

How do I know my license was renewed successfully online?

After completing all of the steps on your renewal check list (including payment), you will submit your online renewal for processing. At the end of the renewal process you will get a Confirmation page indicating that your renewal has been submitted. This does not mean your license is renewed. Your renewal application will be reviewed to make sure it is complete and meets the qualifications for renewal.
You should access your account to see if the license shows as current. If you check "Application Status Display" and that license is still showing "in progress", then your renewal application is still waiting to be reviewed by the Department of State. If anything additional is required, you will be contacted by the Department.

View Application Status

What information do I need to view the status of my application?

Click on the "Application Status Display" on the Main Menu of your account. If you have submitted an online original salesperson application or an online sales or broker renewal application, this link will indicate if the application is still pending (in progress).

Once a renewal application is created in our office, three months prior to expiration, the renewal will indicate "in progress" (which simply means it is eligible for renewal).This will be the status of the renewal application until the licensee completes and submits the online renewal and the fee, the broker authorizes it (if licensee is a salesperson/ associate broker) and the Department of State reviews and approves the application.

Termination/Change Association

Who can terminate/change a salesperson's or associate broker's association and how are these functions performed?

All terminations and change of associations for salespersons and associate brokers must be completed online. It is a Department of State policy to terminate a licensee within five days from the date they leave the broker's employment. Licensing requires the termination of a salesperson or associate broker by the existing representative (principal) broker prior to the performance of a change of association by a new broker agency. The broker will need the license number (UID#) of the individual they are terminating or who will be working for their company. A fee is not required to complete a termination transaction.

If a license is expired and the licensee wishes to renew their license with a different broker, they must have the new broker change their association online prior to renewal. In this case, since the license is expired, a termination by the previous broker will not be required.

To terminate a licensee, the existing principal broker must log on to their personal online account to perform this function.

  1. Click on the "List of Licenses (Access your licenses here) link on the Main Menu page of your eAccessNY Account. Click on the appropriate broker license. Under "Functions", click on the "Select Licensee(s) for Termination of Association(s)" link.
  2. Click on the licensee hyperlink to add the licensee to the Terminate Association Request list. It is important that you add the licensee only once. Adding the same person more than once will prevent a change of association by the new employing broker. ( continued on next page )
  3. A Request Termination page will appear. Check the box below to "Terminate" association from the office.
  4. Press "Request Termination" to submit the request to terminate.
  5. A Request Termination - Summary page will appear. Press "Return" to return to the "Select Salesperson/Associate Broker" Screen.
  6. If you have another licensee to terminate, repeat steps 2-5.
  7. When you are finished adding licensees to the list, press "Complete Termination Association" on the Select Salesperson/Associate Broker page to complete the transactions.
  8. Check the "Terminate" check boxes to terminate the selected licensees.
  9. Press "Next" to continue.
  10. Print the "Termination Association - Summary" page or save the web page to your computer. For most browsers, click on "File" in the menu bar, then click on "Save As." When the "Save As" dialogue box appears, save the page as a web page or as a text file, to the location on your computer you choose. After you save it, you can open the file at any time without being connected to the Internet. Press Return to return to the main menu.

Once the termination is completed, the new employing principal broker can perform the change of association. There is a $20 fee for this transaction.

The new employing principal broker can change the licensee's association by performing the following steps:

  1. From the principal broker's License Menu page, click on the "Change Associations" link.
  2. Press "Add" to associate a new agent to an existing practice location.
  3. To find a Salesperson or Associate Broker to associate with, enter their License Number (UID#) (use uppercase letters, if any) and press "Lookup Another."
  4. Click on the circle in front of the desired practice location for the agent and press "Add" to add to the association list.
  5. A Change Associations page will be displayed. The licensee is already selected as "Accept."
  6. If you want to add another licensee press "Add" instead of "Next" and repeat steps 3 and 4. If you are finished adding licensee, then press "Next." to "Accept" the change of association(s).
  7. On the "Change Associations - Fee" page press "Pay Now" to pay the fees for accepting the new associations. There is a $20 fee for each new association.
  8. Enter your credit card details and press "Submit" ONLY ONCE to submit your payment. Your card will be charged the total amount displayed.
  9. Print the "Change Association - Summary" confirmation page for your records or save it to your computer.

Your submission does not constitute an approval. If approved, any changes will be applied to the appropriate license(s) and a new license will be mailed to the new business address. If anything additional is required, you will be contacted by the Department.

Change broker's principal or branch office address

How does a broker change the principal or branch office address?

The Principal broker must log on to their personal online account to perform this function.

  1. From the Main Menu select "List of Licenses."
  2. Click on the license hyperlink for the license address you wish to change.
  3. From the License Menu select "Change Broker Addresses."
  4. Click on the address hyperlink for the address you wish to change.
  5. On the "Change Broker Addresses - Update Main Address page, edit the address data and press "Continue."
  6. On the "Change Broker Addresses - Update Main Address Listings, press "Continue."
  7. Press "Continue" to continue. At the time of the change, you must pay for the address change for all current licensees located at the address prior to the system allowing the transaction to take place. A $10 fee must be paid for each transaction.
  8. On the "Change Office Addresses - Fee Summary page, press "Pay Now" to submit payment.
  9. Enter your credit card details and press "Submit" ONLY ONCE to submit your payment. Your card will be charged with the total amount displayed below. Double clicks on the submit button may result in multiple charges.
  10. A "Change of Addresses - Update Summary page will be displayed. Print this page for your records using the print function of your browser or save it to your computer.

Each licensee will be mailed a new license.

How does a broker change the company name?

If you want to change the name of your company, you must submit a new broker application. New broker applications cannot be submitted online.

Change My Main Address (Residence)

Which link allows me to change my residence address?

Real estate salespeople and brokers must log into their personal online account to perform this function.

Salespeople and Associate Brokers can change their residence address by completing the following steps:

  1. Under the Main Menu click on the List of Licenses link.
  2. Next, click on your license and then select "Change of Main Address (Residence address) " under the License Menu. Edit the address data and press Continue. A Main Address - Update Confirmation page will appear.
  3. Next, press "Continue" to continue. There is a $10 fee for this transaction. The next screen you will get will read "Main Address - Fee Summary.
  4. Press "Pay Now" to submit for payment.
  5. Enter your credit card details and press "Submit" ONLY ONCE to submit your payment. Your card will be charged with the total amount displayed.
  6. Print the "Main Address - Update Summary" confirmation page for your records or save it to your computer.

Principal brokers can change their residence address by completing the following steps:

  1. Under the Main Menu press the List of Licenses link.
  2. Click on one of your licenses, but not an associate broker license.
  3. Select "Change Broker Addresses" under the License Menu.
  4. Click on the hyperlink for your name which is the first link listed.
  5. Edit the address data and press Continue. A"Change Broker Addresses - Update Main Address Listings" page will appear.
  6. Next, press Continue. A "Change Broker Addresses - Update Confirmation" page will be displayed.
  7. Next, press "Continue" to continue. There is a $10 fee for this transaction. The next screen you will get will read "Change Residence/Office Addresses - Fee Summary".
  8. Press "Pay Now" to submit for payment.
  9. Enter your credit card details and press "Submit" ONLY ONCE to submit your payment. Your card will be charged with the total amount displayed.
  10. Print the "Change Broker Addresses - Update Summary" confirmation page for your records or save it to your computer.
  11. Press "Return" to return to the License Menu page.


R equest a Duplicate License OR Photo ID Card

How do I request a duplicate license or photo ID card?

From the Main Menu press the List of Licenses link. A list of all your licensees will be displayed. Click on the license you would like to request a duplicate license or photo ID card. In the License Menu, click on the "Duplicate License or Photo ID Card" link. Click on the circle in front of your name and then press "Next Step." There is a $10 fee for this transaction. Enter your credit card details and press "Submit" ONLY ONCE to submit your payment. Print the "Duplicate License or Photo ID Card - Confirmation." Your new duplicate license or Photo ID Card will be mailed to your business address within one to two weeks.

Course/School Information

How do I find a school to take a pre-licensing or continuing education course?

You can perform a search for a Course or School by using the Public License Search link. You can search for a school or course by: Name, Name for a Specified License Type, License Number (course code number), City or County.

To search for a particular school by "Name" and determine the course(s)/location(s) they currently have approved, perform the following steps:

  1. Click on the "Public License Search" link from the Public Services Main Menu.
  2. Click on "Search by Name."
  3. Select "Search by Organization" and then select the maximum lines to be displayed per page and press "Search."
  4. Type in the Name of the School you are interested in attending.
  5. From the name(s) listed, click on the school you want to search.

The "License Details" will be displayed including all courses the school has approved and the approved location(s) for each course. Call the school's phone number for further details regarding a course schedule or how to register for computer-based courses.

To search for a real estate continuing education course by City, perform the steps:

  1. Click on the "Public License Search" link from the Public Services Main Menu.
  2. Click on the "Search by City" link.
  3. Next you will need to select the "License Type." Select "Real Estate Course: Cont Ed Misc" and press "Continue." (Cont Ed Misc are courses under 22.5 hours in length. A combination of courses may be completed to satisfy the 22.5 hours continuing education requirement.)
  4. Enter the name of the "City."
  5. Next select the maximum number of rows of information you want displayed per page and press "Search."

The search results will be display: The License Type, City, Name, License Number (course code number), and Status of course.

Click on the "Name" of the course to see course details. All of the approved locations will be displayed. Call the school's phone number for further details regarding a course schedule or how to register for computer-based courses.

To search for a real estate continuing education course by a specific course topic, perform the following steps:

  1. Click on the "Public License Search" link from the Public Services Main Men
  2. Click on the "Search by Name" for a Specified License Type.
  3. Next you will need to select the "License Type." Select "Real Estate Course: Cont Ed Misc" and press "Continue." (Cont Ed Misc are courses under 22.5 hours in length. A combination of courses may be completed to satisfy the 22.5 hours continuing education requirement.)
  4. Type in the name of the course topic.

Click on the Course Name to see course details. All of the approved locations will be displayed. Call the school's phone number for further details regarding a course schedule or how to register for computer-based courses.

Q: How can I determine if a continuing education course has been approved to meet the 3 hour fair housing requirement needed as part of my 22.5 hours of continuing education required for renewal of my real estate license?

You can find courses which have been approved to meet this requirement by selecting the Public License Search function link located on the eAccessNY public services main menu.

Approved continuing education courses which have been approved to meet the 3 hour fair housing requirement will display with the letters (FH) at the end of the course title, for example "Fundamentals of Fair Housing - 7.5 Hr (FH)".

Maintain User Profile

How do I maintain my User Profile?

You may click on the Maintain User Profile function listed on the Main Menu page. You may edit your email address, password or the secret question and answer. See the frequently asked question "Change My Main (Residence) Address" for instruction on how to change your residence address.

My Account

If I forget my User ID or answer to my secret question, can I go online and establish a new account?

No. If you cannot remember your User ID (which is your email address) or answer to your secret question, you must contact our customer service number at (518) 474-4429 or email us at [email protected] You will be required to provide your name, address and license UID as proof of identity. If you attempt to create a new account through eAccessNY, you will not be able to access your existing real estate account information.

What if I forgot my Password?

Go to the eAccessNY Public Service Main Menu or log on screen, type your User ID (which is your email address) in the space provided and click "here" next to Forgot Password. A new temporary password will be emailed to you within 5 minutes for you to use to access your account.

What should I do if I have a new email address?

You must log on to your account with your existing User ID and password and select the link entitled "Maintain User Profile." Select the "Edit" key next to your email address and change the User ID to your new email address. The next time you log on to your eAccessNY account, use your new email address as your User ID and your existing Password.

How do I enter my NYS DMV ID number into my account?

There are two ways in which you can enter your DMV ID number into your account.

1. You can click on the Maintain User Profile function listed on the Main Menu Page, click on the edit button in the NYS DMV ID Number section and enter your nine digit DMV ID number.
2. If your license is within three months of expiration, you can log into your account and select the renew license link. You can enter your DMV ID number into the space provided in your online renewal application.

What should I do if the information found under my account is inaccurate?

You should verify the information contained on your account against your current license(s). If you still find the information is not correct, please contact customer service at (518) 474-4429 or email our office.

Technical Support

Why am I sometimes disconnected from the website?

You could be disconnected either because your website session has "timed out" or you have lost your Internet connection. If your session is inactive (i.e. no keystrokes, or browsing) for 15 minutes, your session will end. You must log on again.
If your Internet connection is lost, you will be unable to connect to any website. To test this, navigate to another website such as www.google.com. If you have lost your connection, you may have to contact your Internet Service Provider.

Why can I connect from home but not from work?

Your workplace may have Internet restrictions in place to prevent navigation to certain websites or types of websites. Check with your network administrator at your workplace.

Why do I receive an error message saying "can't locate web page?"

You may have "bookmarked" an old web page. Go to the Department's home page (www.dos.ny.gov) and navigate to the log on screen. Once you are on the home page, re-bookmark the page.

Which Internet browsers does this website support?

Our website supports most Internet browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Netscape. It is recommended you have the most recent version of your browser installed, as older versions may not support all features.

Why are there parts of the web page missing, such as images?

This happens occasionally when downloading a web page. Refreshing the page should resolve the problem.

How can I see what the page will look like before I print it?

As you navigate through the various screens, you may want to print a page for your records, such as a confirmation page. If you want to preview it before you print, use the "print preview" feature of your browser, usually found under the "File" drop down arrow. You may have to use the "page setup" feature (also under the "File" drop down arrow) to adjust the settings so portions of the page don't get cutoff.

Why do I sometimes receive this error message, "You have reached the maximum number of invalid attempts. Close this browser window?"

If you use an invalid username or password three times, our website prevents further log on attempts. This is a security feature used to prevent unauthorized access. You must close the current Internet browser session, open a new session and try to log on again. If you have forgotten your password, use the Forgot Password feature, which is located under the log on box.

Privacy and Security Information

How is my license information protected?

Other than the public license search function, the website is restricted to those who have provided a valid User ID and password. Your User ID is uniquely tied to all your license information, so only you have access to it. In addition, the Department, as a matter of policy, utilizes strict network security practices in the transaction of data.

How can I protect my license information?

As with any Internet use, you can employ safe practices when utilizing our website. These practices include, but are not limited to:

Do not share your User ID, password or forgotten password hint information with anyone.
When creating or editing your account, make sure your password and forgotten password hint information is something known only by you.

Make sure to log off when you are finished. Don't walk away from your computer with a "live" session open.
When using a computer in a public place (such as an Internet Café), be aware of your surroundings and who may be looking at your information. In addition, when using a wireless connection, ensure your computer is properly secured (firewall, password, etc.).

What Are the Department's policies governing the use of this website?

You can view the Department's Accessibility Policy or Privacy Policy by clicking on the appropriate link.

Contact Information

How can I contact the Department of State?

Please send your comments and/or questions to [email protected] In order to better serve you, please include your name, license number, and daytime phone number in your e-mail message.

How to Become a Real Estate Broker New York

Source: https://dos.ny.gov/real-estate-broker#:~:text=In%20order%20to%20qualify%20for,the%20experience%20type%2C%20(e.g.%2C