NYC Real Estate Exam | Study Guide with
Questions & Answers | Real Estate Licensing Prep
2026 | Various Authors
Question 1: Which New York State agency administers the real estate
salesperson licensing exam?
A. New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal
B. New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services
C. New York State Real Estate Commission
D. New York State Attorney General's Office
Correct Answer: B. New York Department of State, Division of Licensing
Services
Rationale: The New York Department of State (DOS), through its Division of
Licensing Services, is the state agency responsible for issuing and regulating real
estate licenses and administering the salesperson licensing exam. Unlike most
states, New York does not use a private testing vendor such as PSI or Pearson VUE;
the DOS administers the exam directly at its own proctoring sites. The Division of
Housing and Community Renewal handles rent regulation matters, the Attorney
General's office handles certain real estate enforcement actions, and there is no
independent "Real Estate Commission" that administers the exam in New York.
Question 2: What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a New York real
estate salesperson license?
A. 17 years old
B. 18 years old
C. 19 years old
D. 21 years old
, Correct Answer: B. 18 years old
Rationale: New York requires applicants for a real estate salesperson license
to be at least 18 years of age. Notably, New York does not require a high school
diploma or GED, which distinguishes it from many other states. The minimum age
for a broker's license is 20 years old, and there is no 17 or 21 age requirement for
salespersons.
Question 3: How many hours of approved pre-license education must a New
York real estate salesperson complete before sitting for the state exam?
A. 45 hours
B. 60 hours
C. 75 hours
D. 77 hours
Correct Answer: D. 77 hours
Rationale: Effective December 21, 2022, the New York pre-license curriculum
was expanded from 75 to 77 hours. The additional 2 hours cover fair housing,
implicit bias, and cultural competency content, which is now built into the
required curriculum rather than being a separate add-on. The 75-hour figure is
outdated, and the 45-hour and 60-hour options are below New York's
requirement.
Question 4: What is the passing score for the New York real estate salesperson
exam?
A. 65%
B. 70%
C. 75%
D. 80%
Correct Answer: B. 70%
, Rationale: The New York salesperson exam requires a score of 70% to pass.
With 75 questions on the exam, this means answering at least 53 questions
correctly. The 65%, 75%, and 80% options are incorrect passing thresholds. Note
that DOS reports results only as pass or fail, with no numerical score released to
the candidate.
Question 5: A New York real estate salesperson may receive compensation for
licensed activities:
A. Directly from the buyer or seller
B. Directly from the landlord or tenant
C. Only through the sponsoring broker
D. Through any party to the transaction
Correct Answer: C. Only through the sponsoring broker
Rationale: New York law requires that a salesperson receive compensation for
licensed real estate activities only through their sponsoring broker. A salesperson
cannot accept payment directly from a buyer, seller, landlord, or tenant. This rule
ensures that the broker, who bears legal responsibility for the salesperson's
activities, controls the flow of commissions.
Question 6: How often must a New York real estate salesperson license be
renewed?
A. Every year
B. Every 2 years
C. Every 3 years
D. Every 4 years
Correct Answer: B. Every 2 years
Rationale: New York real estate licenses (both salesperson and broker) renew
every 2 years. During each 2-year renewal cycle, licensees must complete 22.5
, hours of approved continuing education. The annual, 3-year, and 4-year renewal
options are incorrect for New York.
Question 7: What is the total continuing education requirement for a New York
real estate salesperson during each 2-year renewal cycle?
A. 15 hours
B. 22.5 hours
C. 30 hours
D. 45 hours
Correct Answer: B. 22.5 hours
Rationale: New York requires 22.5 hours of approved continuing education
(CE) every 2 years. This includes specific required topics: 3 hours of fair housing, 1
hour of agency, 2.5 hours of ethics, 1 hour of legal matters, 2 hours of implicit
bias, and 2 hours of cultural competency. The other figures do not match New
York's CE requirements.
Question 8: Which of the following acts would require a New York real estate
license?
A. An owner selling their own property
B. An attorney performing real estate activities as part of legal practice
C. An auctioneer selling land at auction
D. A bank selling a foreclosed property
Correct Answer: C. An auctioneer selling land at auction
Rationale: Selling land at auction requires a real estate license in New York.
Exemptions from licensing include an owner selling their own property, an
attorney admitted to the New York bar performing real estate activities as part of
legal practice, and certain court-ordered foreclosure sales. A bank selling a
Questions & Answers | Real Estate Licensing Prep
2026 | Various Authors
Question 1: Which New York State agency administers the real estate
salesperson licensing exam?
A. New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal
B. New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services
C. New York State Real Estate Commission
D. New York State Attorney General's Office
Correct Answer: B. New York Department of State, Division of Licensing
Services
Rationale: The New York Department of State (DOS), through its Division of
Licensing Services, is the state agency responsible for issuing and regulating real
estate licenses and administering the salesperson licensing exam. Unlike most
states, New York does not use a private testing vendor such as PSI or Pearson VUE;
the DOS administers the exam directly at its own proctoring sites. The Division of
Housing and Community Renewal handles rent regulation matters, the Attorney
General's office handles certain real estate enforcement actions, and there is no
independent "Real Estate Commission" that administers the exam in New York.
Question 2: What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a New York real
estate salesperson license?
A. 17 years old
B. 18 years old
C. 19 years old
D. 21 years old
, Correct Answer: B. 18 years old
Rationale: New York requires applicants for a real estate salesperson license
to be at least 18 years of age. Notably, New York does not require a high school
diploma or GED, which distinguishes it from many other states. The minimum age
for a broker's license is 20 years old, and there is no 17 or 21 age requirement for
salespersons.
Question 3: How many hours of approved pre-license education must a New
York real estate salesperson complete before sitting for the state exam?
A. 45 hours
B. 60 hours
C. 75 hours
D. 77 hours
Correct Answer: D. 77 hours
Rationale: Effective December 21, 2022, the New York pre-license curriculum
was expanded from 75 to 77 hours. The additional 2 hours cover fair housing,
implicit bias, and cultural competency content, which is now built into the
required curriculum rather than being a separate add-on. The 75-hour figure is
outdated, and the 45-hour and 60-hour options are below New York's
requirement.
Question 4: What is the passing score for the New York real estate salesperson
exam?
A. 65%
B. 70%
C. 75%
D. 80%
Correct Answer: B. 70%
, Rationale: The New York salesperson exam requires a score of 70% to pass.
With 75 questions on the exam, this means answering at least 53 questions
correctly. The 65%, 75%, and 80% options are incorrect passing thresholds. Note
that DOS reports results only as pass or fail, with no numerical score released to
the candidate.
Question 5: A New York real estate salesperson may receive compensation for
licensed activities:
A. Directly from the buyer or seller
B. Directly from the landlord or tenant
C. Only through the sponsoring broker
D. Through any party to the transaction
Correct Answer: C. Only through the sponsoring broker
Rationale: New York law requires that a salesperson receive compensation for
licensed real estate activities only through their sponsoring broker. A salesperson
cannot accept payment directly from a buyer, seller, landlord, or tenant. This rule
ensures that the broker, who bears legal responsibility for the salesperson's
activities, controls the flow of commissions.
Question 6: How often must a New York real estate salesperson license be
renewed?
A. Every year
B. Every 2 years
C. Every 3 years
D. Every 4 years
Correct Answer: B. Every 2 years
Rationale: New York real estate licenses (both salesperson and broker) renew
every 2 years. During each 2-year renewal cycle, licensees must complete 22.5
, hours of approved continuing education. The annual, 3-year, and 4-year renewal
options are incorrect for New York.
Question 7: What is the total continuing education requirement for a New York
real estate salesperson during each 2-year renewal cycle?
A. 15 hours
B. 22.5 hours
C. 30 hours
D. 45 hours
Correct Answer: B. 22.5 hours
Rationale: New York requires 22.5 hours of approved continuing education
(CE) every 2 years. This includes specific required topics: 3 hours of fair housing, 1
hour of agency, 2.5 hours of ethics, 1 hour of legal matters, 2 hours of implicit
bias, and 2 hours of cultural competency. The other figures do not match New
York's CE requirements.
Question 8: Which of the following acts would require a New York real estate
license?
A. An owner selling their own property
B. An attorney performing real estate activities as part of legal practice
C. An auctioneer selling land at auction
D. A bank selling a foreclosed property
Correct Answer: C. An auctioneer selling land at auction
Rationale: Selling land at auction requires a real estate license in New York.
Exemptions from licensing include an owner selling their own property, an
attorney admitted to the New York bar performing real estate activities as part of
legal practice, and certain court-ordered foreclosure sales. A bank selling a
