New York Real Estate Salesperson/Broker Continuing Education

Licensees must successfully complete 22.5 hours of NYS Department of State (DOS) approved continuing education (CE) every two-years upon license renewal. New York allows distance learning for continuing education, such as online delivery and video courses. Classroom courses are also available. Individuals who sign up for courses online should check to see that the courses they want are approved by the DOS and meet the requirements for New York. Any course that promises that you can complete the hours in less than the required time is not following DOS regulations. Also, all online CE courses in New York must be approved by ARELLO.

A licensee may not apply the salesperson-qualifying course toward the 22.5 hour continuing education requirement. Salespersons must complete an additional 22.5 hours of continuing education during their two-year license period.

Salespersons may use the 45-hour broker-qualifying course for one two-year period to fulfill their CE. Licensees who completed the old 45-hour salesperson course may take the 30-remedial course for continuing education. Licensees who use the broker course or remedial course for continuing education must also complete an approved fair housing course discussed next. The drawback for some people with the broker or remedial course is that these two courses require an exam. CE courses generally do not have an exam. The DOS does not require an exam for CE. Also, with the fair housing requirement, the licensee far exceeds the minimum 22.5 hours.

Licensees must complete three hours of approved continuing education in fair housing and/or discrimination in the sale or rental of real property as part of their 22.5-hour continuing education requirement. This requirement does not apply to licensees who are exempt from CE.

Individuals exempt from continuing education are brokers licensed before July 1, 2008, who practice real estate full-time and have had no lapse in licensure for 15 years. A broker who does not have 15 years of consecutive licensure before July 1, 2008, is not eligible for the continuing education exemption. Brokers who are currently exempt but let their licenses lapse will lose their exemption. The licensed broker need not have been a broker during the entire 15 years but must have been licensed as a salesperson for part of that time. Attorneys are exempt from continuing education.

The Albany Center offers a wide choice of online and classroom formats for continuing education. Visit our website at http://www.cramforexam.net/.

The NYS Board of Real Estate-Next Meeting

The New York State Real Estate Board consists of fifteen members. These members include the Secretary of State and the Executive Director of the Consumer Protection Board together with thirteen additional appointed members from the real estate brokerage community and the public. Five of the appointed members are licensed New York real estate brokers. The Board has the power to make rules and regulations affecting real estate licensees with certain exceptions.

The public may attend Board meetings. Generally, there is a time set aside for public attendees to make comments. The next meeting of the Board is June 24, 2009 at 10:30am at the 10th floor Dept. of State (DOS) conference room at the Alfred E. Smith State Office Building in Albany, New York. The meeting will be webcasted with the NYC office of the DOS at 123 William Street. Contact Debra.Ryan-Campana@dos.state.ny.us to be added to the list of attendees.

The NYS Real Estate Broker License Exam

There are several reasons why individuals want to become a licensed real estate broker:

• to open their own real estate firm
• to become a principal in a real estate firm
• to become an associate broker in a real estate firm
• to open a property management company
• to become a manager in a real estate brokerage firm (Under a new law in NY, only licensed brokers can be an office manager in a real estate firm.)
  

Applicants who want to become a broker must complete 120 hours of qualifying education (unless exempt), have two years experience as a real estate salesperson, or three years equivalent real estate experience.

Like the salesperson exam, broker applicants must register at the Department of State website and set up an account with EAccessNY. This is the DOS online management system. Applicants must make an appointment to take the exam through EAccessNY and can also view their exam results through their EAccessNY account.

The Broker exam can be taken at any time, but it is best to complete the required course work first as this will prepare you for the exam. Exam sites are located throughout NY, but the exam is not given as often as the salesperson exam. The sites are listed on the DOS website. The broker exam is composed of 100 multiple choice questions that include information learned in the salesperson course and/or remedial course as well as the broker course. The pass grade of 70% is valid for two years.

You should bring two #2 pencils to the exam and a government issued photo ID. You will be thumb-printed. You should also bring the page you were requested to print when you scheduled the exam through EAccess NY. You can take the exam as many times as you need to. (Hopefully only once!!)

If you want to take the NYS Broker Qualiying course online, visit my website, cramforexam.net. Although you will be taking the course online, I am available throughout the course to assist you with the material and to help you review.

To prepare for the broker exam, I highly recommend my exam guide, Cram for Exam: Your Guide to Passing the NY Broker Exam. This exam contains 100 review questions and two sample broker state exams. It also fully reviews all of the key points in the course, all key terms, and has a number of other study short cuts. For a quick review, visit my website, where you can download sample state broker exams. Please contact me if you have further questions about the NYS broker licensure exam.

Can I have a Real Estate License if I have had misdemeanor or felony conviction?

A number of real estate students have expressed concern that they cannot have a real estate license if they have had a misdemeanor or felony conviction. Ultimately, it is up to the Department of State (DOS) to decide whether an applicant can have a license or not. The DOS has an investigative unit who reviews the court documents.

It seems likely that the factors the DOS would consider are:

• the license the applicant desires, e.g. salesperson, broker, appraiser, home inspector
• the nature of the misdemeanor or felony
• the court disposition papers

Applicants for a salesperson license for example, who have have been convicted of a misdemeanor must include a certified accusatory statement along with a disposition from the courtwith their license application. Applicants who have been convicted of a felony must include a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities and other documentation with their application.

You can write to the DOS at the following address:

NYS Department of State, Division of Licensing Services

P.O. Box 22001

Albany, NY 12201-2001(518)

or call: 474-4429 (customer service hours 9:00am - 4:45pm)

Visit the main office at:

Alfred E. Smith Office Building

80 S. Swan Street, 10th floor

Albany, NY 12210

If you need to speak with a certain individual, an appointment will probably be required.

Real estate licensure applicants who are denied a license have the right to file an appeal with the DOS.

Real Estate Educators Association

The Real Estate Educators Association is an organization for people involved in real estate education. It includes course providers such as proprietary schools and colleges, real estate instructors, textbook authors, and state regulatory commissions. The organization provides education and networking to its members. Anyone involved in real estate education is welcome to join. REEA offers the prestigious DREI (Distinguished Real Estate Instructor) designation to those who go through the DREI program and demonstrate excellence in real estate teaching.

REEA is now having its annual election of officers. One individual who is running for a volunteer position as Director at Large is Joe McClary. Joe is the Director of Technology, Education and Special Projects for ARELLO (the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials). ARELLO is an organization that sets policy for national standards for real estate license law. One of his many duties for ARELLO includes Joe's position as Director for IDECC (the International Distance Education Certification Center. IDECC implements and oversees standards for delivery of distance education courses not only for real estate but for other topics.

I cannot think of a person more qualified to serve on the REEA Board of Directors. Joe has attended REEA meetings for many years and shares course providers with information regarding ARELLO and IDECC standards and policy. Among his many other accomplishments, he was the co author and instructional designer of the Certified Distance Education Instructor course that individuals who teach an online course approved by ARELLO must complete. This was one of the most informative, useful, and well presented courses I have ever taken.

I urge all REEA members to vote for Joe McClary for a REEA Board of Directors' position. Members have a received an email to vote. The voting closes May 1st. To join REEA, go to REEA.org.

The Salesperson Licensure Exam

All real estate licensure applicants except for those exempt from licensure requirements, (for example, attorneys), must pass two exams:

the classroom exam given at the end of the 75-hour licensure course

the state licensing exam given by the NY Department of State (DOS)

Both the classroom exam and the state licensing exam questions are multiple choice with four choices for the answer. The classroom exam may have 75 or 100 questions depending on the preferences of the course provider. The state exam has 75 questions. You will have up to three hours for your classroom exam and 1.5 hours for your state exam. You will have more than enough time in both cases.

Generally, you will have one opportunity to take a make up classroom exam if you don't pass the first time. The pass grade may vary from school to school. Sometimes, if you fail the classroom exam twice, you may have to repeat some or all of the course. It depends on the policy of the course provider. You can take the state exam as many times as you want. The pass grade for the NY licensure exam is 70%. The fee to take the state exam is $15 each time.

You can take the state exam at any time by appointment and do not have to wait until you complete the course. But I recommend that you attend the full 75 hour course before you attempt the exam. You must make an appointment at the DOS website through eAccessNY to take the exam. You will create an ID and password. You can then register for the exam, choose your date, and location. You will also view your exam results through your eAccessNY account.

If you are well prepared and have attended the 75 hour course, your chances of passing both your classroom and state exam are very good. If you want an excellent review for your exams, I recommend my exam review: Cram for the Exam! Your Guide to Passing the NY Real Estate Salesperson Exam. This exam guide reviews the entire 75-hour course, has two sample state exams, and more exam information. Go to the Cengage Learning website to order a copy, ask your course provider, or email me. You can also go to my website http://www.cramforexam.net/ to download sample state exams.

What is eAccessNY?

eAccessNY is an occupational licensing management system for New York real estate professionals. It provides real estate brokers, salespersons, and the public, with access to 24-hour online services through the Department of State (DOS) website.

For those who hold a current or recently expired real estate salesperson or broker license, an eAccessNY account has been created for you by the DOS. Most licensees have received a temporary password from the DOS. Some have not. But everyone must first activate their account to perform online transactions. Whether you have received a temporary password or not, go to the DOS website:http://www.dos.state.ny.us/, and click on the Real Estate Professionals page to activate your account. You will create an ID and password. Licensees can use eAccessNY to renew their licenses and access other information.

If you are new to real estate licensure, you will need to create an ID and password in order to take your real estate exam, whether you intend to become a salesperson or a broker. Once your account is created you can apply to take your state exam. You can also apply for a real estate license online once you have completed your requirements. The DOS has created very easy instructions to help you through the activation process.

In addition, all real estate course providers should create an eAccessNY account. This account allows course providers to download certain forms, and renew continuing education courses.

Who needs the New York 30 Hour Remedial Course?

The 30-hour remedial course was created along with the new 75-hour salesperson qualifying course and implemented as of July 1, 2008. Licensure applicants who must take this course are:

• broker licensure applicants who have taken the old 45-hour salesperson course


• salesperson licensure applicants who took the old 45-hour salesperson course and now want a salesperson license.

The 30-hour course supplements the old 45-hour salesperson course with subjects such as commercial real estate, insurance, income and property taxes , and property insurance. Most proprietary real estate schools and colleges that hold the licensure courses also give this course. The course is also offered online at the Albany Center and by other course providers.

Real estate licensees may take the 30-hour remedial course to fulfill the 22.5 hour continuing education requirements. But those licensees who use this course for continuing ed must also take a required minimum 3 hour fair housing course to fulfill their CE requirement.

Salesperson licensees who wish to become a broker can fulfill their CE requirements and broker education requirements by completing both the remedial course and the fair housing course.

If you wish to take the remedial course and/or the fair housing course, the Albany Center offers both of these courses online. Visit our website: cramforexam.net to enroll. Purchase a copy of the 30 Hour Remedial Supplement from Cengage Learning.

New York Online Real Estate Courses

Real estate licensure applicants and continuing education students can take their required courses completely online. Continuing ed, for individuals already in the real estate business, has been in place for some time. The online licensure courses have been offered since July 1, 2008and include the:

• 75 hour salesperson qualifying course


• 45 hour broker qualifying course


• 30 hour salesperson remedial course

Applicants can choose from a number of course providers. The Albany Center offers all of these courses online. Applicants should consider the cost of the course, but also the support the provider offers during the course. These courses are not easy. A salesperson applicant who has no prior knowledge of real estate will most likely find the salesperson course rather challenging.

The online provider usually offers a hard copy textbook, ebook, and a variety of tutorials that are paid for within a course package or can be purchased separately.

In New York, all of the qualifying courses require a classroom exam that goes with the course. Even if you take your course online, you must go in person to a place designated by the course provider to take your exam. An classroom exam is required for the salesperson, broker. and remedial courses. Continuing education courses generally do not have an exam. You will also take a state exam for the salesperson and broker licenses.

Online courses have obvious advantages, but the disadvantage is that the student does not have the direct support of the instructor. At the Albany Center, I am the online instructor and hold the required CDEI Certification to teach the courses. I am very knowledgeable about these courses because I am the author of the New York textbooks for the salesperson, broker and remedial courses. Through the course management system, I can view your progress throughout the course. I stay in touch with my students several times weekly, and will tutor you personally through email and fax. I will help you to review for your exams. If you want to take an online course, please contact me through email or my website.

All online courses in New York must be approved by the Department of State and ARELLO. All online instructors must have a CDEI Certification from ARELLO.

Welcome to My Blog

Welcome to my blog! I will provide information and news about real estate licensure in New York. I welcome all questions and comments. This blog may be helpful to licensees, prospective licensees, and course providers and instructors.

Please understand that I am a New York real estate proprietary school owner and a real estate author. Readers should verify any information with the NYS Department of State, Division of Licensing Services at http://www.dos.state.ny.us/. Their phone number is 518.474.4429.

Also please visit my website http://www.cramforexam.net/. This site contains New York downloadable real estate practice exams, online course and classroom course schedules, my textbooks for purchase, and licensure information for New York and New Jersey.