What is Covered in the New York Real Estate Pre-Licensing Course?

Quick answer: The New York real estate pre-licensing course is 77 hours and covers 19 required topics set by the Department of State. The largest sections are agency law (11 hours), legal issues (10 hours), and commercial/investment properties (10 hours). You'll also study fair housing (6 hours), finance (5 hours), contracts (3 hours), and real estate math (1 hour). After completing the coursework, you must pass a proctored school exam before scheduling your state licensing exam.

New York 77-Hour Pre-Licensing Curriculum

Major Topic	Hours
Law of Agency	11
Legal Issues (estates, deeds, liens, title)	10
Commercial and Investment Properties	10
Human Rights and Fair Housing	6
Real Estate Finance	5
All other topics (14 additional areas)	35
Total	77 hours

The remaining 35 hours cover contracts, construction and environmental issues, condos and co-ops, taxes and assessments, land use regulations, valuation, property management, insurance, real estate math, mortgage brokerage, licensee safety, and municipal agencies.

Source: NY Department of State Real Estate Salesperson SyllabusSystem Files Documents 2022 12 Re Salesperson Syllabus.pdf Dos.ny.gov

What You'll Actually Learn

The curriculum isn't just theoretical—it prepares you for real situations you'll face as an agent. Here's what the major sections cover and why they matter.

Law of Agency (11 hours): This is the foundation of how you'll work with clients. You'll learn the difference between representing buyers vs. sellers, fiduciary duties (loyalty, confidentiality, disclosure), dual agency rules, and how to properly disclose your role in every transaction. New York requires you to provide an Agency Disclosure Form before any substantive conversation with a client.

Legal Issues (10 hours): Property ownership, deeds, liens, easements, and title transfers. You'll learn the difference between fee simple and leasehold estates, how to read a deed, what title insurance covers, and what happens at closing. This is essential knowledge for explaining transactions to clients.

Commercial and Investment Properties (10 hours): Even if you plan to focus on residential sales, you'll learn how commercial leases work, how to calculate net operating income, cap rates, and cash flow. This section also covers different property types—office, retail, industrial, mixed-use.

Human Rights and Fair Housing (6 hours): Federal and New York State fair housing laws, protected classes, prohibited practices like steering and blockbusting, and your legal responsibilities as an agent. This section includes implicit bias training and anti-discrimination practices.

Real Estate Finance (5 hours): Mortgage types, loan qualification, interest rates, points, and how financing affects transactions. You'll also learn about predatory lending practices and how to help clients avoid them.

Course Format and Final Exam

You can complete the 77-hour course through an approved online provider like AceableAgentNew York Real Estate License or in a traditional classroom setting. The NY Department of StateReal Estate Salesperson Dos.ny.gov maintains a list of approved course providers.

Online courses let you work at your own pace—finish faster if you're motivated or take your time if you're balancing other commitments. Classroom courses follow a fixed schedule but offer in-person instruction.

Important: After completing the coursework, you must pass a proctored school final exam with a score of at least 70%. This is separate from the state licensing exam and must be taken in person at an approved location within New York State.

What Happens After the Course?

Once you pass your school exam, you're ready to schedule the New York state licensing examNew York New York Real Estate Exam Career Center through the