New York Real Estate Exam: Everything You Need to Know (2025 Guide)

The New York real estate exam is the barrier that students need to overcome to get their real estate license. If you want to take this exam and certify yourself as an agent, you will need to schedule your exam and pass it!

This guide provides every piece of information that you need to know about the New York real estate exam, including practical tips on how to pass it on your first try. We’ll cover:

• How to schedule the New York real estate licensing exam 
• How much the real estate exam costs
• The required documentation
• Where you can take the exam 
• What is covered on the exam 
• The difficulty level of the exam 
• Best tips on how to study

Take a Free NY Real Estate Exam

Here is a short 10-question New York exam to test your real estate knowledge. This free practice exam mimics our practice exams featured in our exam prep package. If you want the full package, tap the button below.

How to Schedule the New York Real Estate Licensing Exam

The New York real estate licensing exam can be scheduled online through your eAccessNY account. 

Aside from letting you schedule your exam online, this account also grants you access to view the details of your scheduled exam and your exam result when the exam is over. 

Candidates with disabilities who require extra accessibility information and require testing modifications should call 518-474-4429 before scheduling their exam. 

What is eAccessNY?

eAccessNY is the online occupational licensing management system for New York State. In the real estate industry, eAccessNY is used to do the following: 

• Schedule a real estate exam
• Check exam results 
• Apply for a real estate license 
• Renew licenses 
• Update license information
• Discover an accredited real estate school 

Requirements for the New York Real Estate Exam 

Let’s take a quick look at the requirements to register for the New York real estate exam: 

• You must be at least 18 years old. 
• You must have completed a 77-hour pre-licensing education from a Department of State-approved provider. 
• You must have a New York state driver’s license, a non-driver ID card, or a photo ID card.
• You must submit a complete application and the required application fee to the Department of State.

How Much Does the New York Real Estate Exam Cost?

Every candidate must pay a fee of $15 for the New York real estate exam, which can be made via credit card when scheduling online. If you do not pass the exam on the first try, subsequent retakes cost $15. 

However, it is essential to note that this fee is not the only one you’d be paying while getting your real estate license. Here are some other costs that you can expect to incur: 

• An agent license application fee of: $65
• Fingerprinting and scanning: $100

In total, you should expect to pay upwards to $180 for the New York real estate exam.

Where Do You Take the New York Real Estate License Exam?

All candidates must take the exam at an approved testing center. Here is a list of all the testing centers in the state: 

• Alb
• Binghamton
• Buffalo
• Franklin Square
• Hauppauge
• New York City
• Plattsburg
• Pomona
• Rochester
• Syracuse
• Utica

Can You Take the Exam Online?

You cannot take the New York real estate licensing exam online. All testing must be done at one of the approved locations throughout the state.

What to Bring on the Day of Your Exam

On the day of your exam, you are required to bring the following: 

• Government issued ID
• A printed copy of the Summary of Submission page that was provided after you scheduled your exam on eAccessNY. This page contains your candidate number and other important information 
• Calculators are allowed, provided they are silent, non-scientific, non-printing, solar/battery-powered, and do not have an alphabetic keyboard 
• Pencil

What Is on the New York Real Estate Exam?

The New York real estate exam is based on the topics covered in the 77-hour pre-licensing course. It covers the following topics: 

• State License Law and Regulations
• Law of Agency
• Legal Issues
• Contracts
• Finance
• Land Use
• Construction and Environmental Issues
• Valuation
• Fair Housing
• Insurance and Taxes
• Condominiums and Cooperatives
• Commercial and Investment Properties
• Property Management

While the questions mostly pertain to real estate practice within New York, it is not uncommon to see some questions based on national content.  

Will There Be Math on the Exam?

You can expect to come across a few math questions on your New York real estate exam. However, these questions are not likely to require complex calculations. If you encounter a math question you cannot quickly answer, the best thing to do is skip it and answer other questions. 

If you still have some time left on your timer after you’re done with other questions, then you can revisit the skipped questions and take a shot at solving them.

Is the New York Real Estate Exam Hard?

Many who have taken the New York real estate exam have described it to be moderately difficult, just as you may expect any professional licensing exam to be. If you take studying seriously and prepare adequately, you might not find it difficult and stand a good chance of passing on your first try. 

How Many Questions Are on the New York Real Estate Exam?

The New York real estate exam has 75 multiple-choice questions, and each candidate is given 90 minutes to complete the exam. You will need at least a 70% score to pass, which means you must answer 53 questions correctly. 

What is the Passing Rate for the Real Estate Exam in New York?

For the New York real estate exam, the first-attempt pass rate in 2024 is approximately 53% for salespersons and 52% for brokers. However, over 80% of candidates pass on their second attempt. With sufficient preparation and study, you have a strong chance of passing on your first try.

How Many Times Can You Take the Real Estate Exam?

You can take the New York real estate exam as many times as possible to pass it. All you have to do is log in to your eAccessNY account to schedule a new exam and pay the $15 fee. It usually takes around two weeks to get your result after the exam. Once the result is released, you can view it via your eAccessNY account, where you’ll see “Pass” or “Fail.”

How to Pass the New York Real Estate Exam

Becoming a real estate agent in New York is a big achievement. To increase your chances of passing this exam on your first try, here are some tips to be implemented into your daily preparation: 

Create a Study Schedule

Making a study schedule is crucial to passing the real estate licensing exam. A well-planned schedule can help you stay organized, effectively manage your time, and increase your chances of success. Here are some steps to help you create a study schedule:

• Calculate the time you have until the exam so you can pace your study by dividing your coursework into manageable chunks.
• Make a schedule that details your study hours and topics to be covered. As a general guideline, it's best to study for a short while every night or at least every other night and take frequent breaks to maintain consistency and prevent burnout.
• To keep things exciting and engaging, use various study techniques, including watching videos, flashcards, and reading textbooks.
• Plan regular review sessions of the material you've covered in your schedule to ensure you remember what you have learned.
• Schedule practice tests at regular intervals to assess your knowledge of a topic and determine where your study efforts should be concentrated. 
• When you achieve milestones in your study plan, treat yourself to something to stay motivated.

Get Guided Help

One of the best and simplest ways to prepare for your real estate licensing exam is to receive supervised assistance from a real estate school. With our exam prep, we've created a simple and enjoyable way to learn all you need to know to pass your real estate exam. 

Here are some benefits of using our exam prep: 

• 1,500+ New York  real estate exam practice questions
• Customizable practice state exams
• Vocabulary flashcards
• Video explanations
• E-book study guide

Final Thoughts on the Real Estate Exam in New York

The New York real estate exam is no doubt a challenging one. However, the difficulty it poses depends solely on the preparation you have put in. To increase your chances of acing the exam on your first try, follow all the tips we have provided above.

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