New York Salesperson Licensing

The first step is to take the the NYS Salesperson's 75 hour Qualifying Course which is offered at the Greater Syracuse Association of REALTORS (GSAR). Click on the link at the bottom of this page to download the Salesperson's Course brochure. Our next course will begin January 12, 2009. Here is a list of the course instructors with their biographical information.

A licensing candidate may take the course final examination only upon satisfactory completion of the attendance requirements. An exam score of 70% must be achieved in order to successfully complete the course. A make up exam is available in the event the course exam is not passed. Successful completion of both attendance and exam requirements entitles the licensing candidate to sit for the New York State examination.

Course Fee: $495, including text book
$527.39 with text book and Total Recall Learning, GSAR's multimedia study guide. 

January course dates:
January 12-16: 9am-5pm
January 20-21: 9am-5pm
January 22: 9am-4pm
January 23: 9am-5pm
January 26: 9am-6pm
January 27: 9am-3pm class, 3pm-5pm review
January 28: 9am-11am Exam

Download brochure below for other course dates and registration form

SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE! The Greater Syracuse Association of REALTORS, Equal Opportunity Committee, offers a Salespersons Course Scholarship. Congratulations to the 2008 scholarship winner, Thy Bui of Clay, NY. 
The 2009 scholarship deadline is yet to be determined. The scholarship is for the cost of our Salespersons Course, and start-up costs! This includes GSAR dues, CNYIS dues, token fee, and lockbox fees. This totals around $1,200, depending on when the student joins GSAR. This is a great opportunity for someone to get into the business, that otherwise would not be able to afford the costs associated. We are looking for someone that is going to bring diversity to our REALTOR membership. 2009 Application to come.

Registration Information: Download and print the below brochure and mail or fax it to the GSAR with payment. You may also register online by clicking here. If you are unable to download the below brochure, please contact Sue at (315) 457-5979 x24

GSAR Location: Get driving directions to the GSAR here.

Salesperson's Course Topics:

• License Law & Regulations
• The Law of Agency
• Legal Issues
• The Contract of Sales and Leases
• Real Estate Finance
• Land Use Regulations
• Construction and Environmental Issues
• Valuation Process and Pricing Properties
• Human Rights and Fair Housing
• Real Estate Mathematics
• Municipal Agencies
• Property Insurance
• Taxes and Assessments
• Condominiums and Cooperatives
• Commercial and Investment Properties
• Income Tax Issues in Real Estate Transactions
• Mortgage Brokerage
• Property Management

NYS Requirements for Licensing as a SALESPERSON are:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be a United States citizen or be a legal, permanent resident
• Have no felony convictions (contact NY Department of State for clarification)
• Complete the 75-hour licensing course
• Pass the NY Department of State Salesperson licensing exam ($15)
• Have a sponsoring New York State Broker
• Apply for a Salesperson license ($50 for two years)

As of July 1, 2008, the Salesperson and Broker's requirements have changed. Click here for more information.

If you have any questions in regards to the Salesperson Course please contact Sue at 315.457.5979 x 24

To contact the New York State Department of State with licensing questions, call 315.428.4258.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I take the course but am not ready to apply for my license? Your 75 hour course completion certificate is good for eight years. If you are not ready to apply for your license at the end of the course, you must hold on to your certificates until you are ready. Remember the NYS exam results are good for two years.

I had a license many years ago but let it lapse. Do I have to go through the licensing procedure again? If you took the 45 hour licensing course before July 1, 2008, this certificate is still valid. You will need to also complete the 30 hour supplement course, in order to make up the 75 hours that is required. If your license expired more than two years ago, you will have to take the NYS exam again before you can renew your license. If your license expired less than two years ago, you only need to compete the 22 1/2 hours of continuing education before you renew your license. In either case, your broker must sign the renewal form.

If I miss a portion of the Qualifying Course what happens? According to the New York Department of State, you must complete 90% of the class time in order to pass the course. In other words, if you miss more than 7.5 hours of the entire class, you will automatically fail.

Who needs a license? According to Article 12-A of the Real Property Law,“anyone who negotiates any form of real estate transaction for another and for compensation of any kind in the State of New York” needs a license.

What is the difference between a broker and a salesperson? A broker is the owner or corporate officer of the firm. The broker sponsors, trains, and supervises all the real estate activities of the agents for which he/she is responsible. A salesperson works for and under the direction of the sponsoring broker.

Do I need a sponsoring broker to take the course? No, many people take the course for personal reasons and have no intention of getting a license. You also do not need a sponsoring broker to take the State exam, you do need one to apply for your license.

For more FAQ's on licensing click here.