New York Real Estate Education Changes/Requirements by Licensing Law - by Edward Smith

Prior to July 1, 2021, if you were a Real Estate Broker for 15 years or more you were exempt from taking Continuing Education courses, known as being “Grandfathered”. As of July 1, 2021, Grandfathering ended and all real estate licensees must take 22 ½ hours of continuing education, every two years, for license renewal. 

The change in the law also mandated that the 22 ½ hours must include 3 hours of Fair Housing or Discrimination training, 2 ½ hours of Ethics, 1 hour of Agency (2 hours if this is your first renewal) and 1 hour of Legal Updates.

On September 21, 2022, two more mandatory courses were added: 2 hours of Implicit Bias and 2 hours of Cultural Competency. Now for a total requirement of 11 ½ mandatory hours within the 22 ½ hours required for license renewal.

As of December 21, 2022 the State increased the pre-licensing course hours to 152 hours for Brokers and 77 hours for Salespersons. With the Salespersons hours required to include 6 hours of Fair Housing. 

As a result of these additional requirements, for both new Brokers and Salespersons the state no longer has direct reciprocity with other states.

Edward Smith, Licensed Real Estate Broker, CREI: CERTIFIED REAL ESTATE INSTRUCTOR