License Renewal FAQ

Who regulates my New York State Real Estate License?

Your license is regulated by the Department of State, New York (DOS) and NOT by any real estate school or trade organization.

What are the Continuing Education requirements for real estate agents in NY?

As of 9/21/2022. All licensees must receive 22.5 hours of continuing education every 2 years to stay licensed. NY Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons that were previously exempt from Continuing Education will no longer be exempt and will need to have completed the full CE requirements. The 22.5 hours must include:

  • 3 hours on Fair Housing &/or Discrimination
  • 2.5 hours on Ethical Business Practices
  • 1 hour on Recent Legal Matters governing the practice of real estate brokers and salespersons in New York, which may include statutes, laws, regulations, rules, codes, Department of State Opinions and Decisions, and Court Decisions
  • 1 hour on the Law of Agency (2 hours in the initial 2-year cycle)
  • 2 hours of Implicit Bias Awareness
  • 2 hours of Cultural Competency Training

Effective September 21, 2022, as part of the 22.5 hours of continuing education required to renew both real estate salespersons and brokers will be required to complete at least 2 hours of instruction pertaining to implicit bias awareness and at least two hours of cultural competency training. Implicit bias is defined as the attitudes or stereotypes that affect an individual’s understanding, actions and decisions in an unconscious manner. Cultural competency is defined as understanding cultural norms, preferences and challenges within our diverse communities.

Below lists the new requirements effective September 21, 2022.

Any real estate licensee submitting an application for renewal for a license expiring on or after September 21, 2022 must successfully complete 22.5 hours of approved continuing education. The education must include at least two hours on the subject of cultural competency, at least two hours on the subject of implicit bias, at least two and a half hours on the subject of ethical business practices, at least one hour of recent legal matters, at least three hours of instruction pertaining to fair housing and/or discrimination in the sale or rental of real property or an interest in real property and at least one hour of instruction pertaining to the law of agency except in the case of the initial two-year licensing term for real estate salespersons, two hours of agency related instruction must be completed within the two-year period immediately preceding a renewal.


Are there any exemptions for Continuing Education requirements for real estate agents in New York?

NY Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons that were previously exempt from Continuing Education will no longer be exempt and will need to have completed the full CE requirements, including the new subjects prior to submitting a renewal on or after 7/1/2021.

Does Lieb School report my completed credits to the Department of State (DOS)? Am I responsible for sending my course certificates to the DOS?

Credits received from Lieb School count towards the 22.5 required from the DOS for license renewal. Certificates provided at each class serve as proof of credit hours (think of them as a receipt). After each class, Lieb School submits to the Department of State, Bureau of Educational Standards, all licensee information for successful completion of each course. Upon license renewal, the DOS will require the original signed certificates if you are selected for an audit. Make sure that you keep your certificates in a safe place. In the event of an audit, the DOS will cross reference the certificates with the student completion records received by each school. You are responsible for completing all 22.5 credits by your license renewal deadline date.

How do I renew my New York State Real Estate License?

License renewals must be completed online through the Department of State eACCESSny website. Please note that the renewal process requires licensees to validate education completion by answering “Yes” to the Continuing Education question that confirms all CE requirements have been satisfied. If you mistakenly answer “No”, the DOS will not renew your license until they see all original course completion certificates. You also have to hold onto the original course completion certificates in the event of a license audit by the DOS.

How do I download a certificate for an online class I completed?

  • Login Here (if you forgot your password reset it here)
  • Click on Dashboard
  • Click on "Completed Courses"
  • Click on the class you need the certificate for
  • Scroll to the bottom of the page. You will see "Certificate". To the right click on "Download Certificate". The certificate will open as a PDF.

If I did not complete my continuing education requirements before my license expiration date can I get an extension?

Please refer to §177.6 in the Real Estate License Law. The Department of State will only grant extensions in bona fide hardship cases. Prior to your license expiration: you must submit to the Department of State, a written request for the extension, completed renewal form, fee, and original documentation demonstrating your hardship; i.e., medical documentation.

If I already completed a continuing education class, can I take the same topic again for credit with a different school in NY within the same license renewal cycle?

Real estate continuing education courses are assigned independent approval codes by the Bureau of Educational Standards, Department of State, State of New York. Licensed real estate agents may take multiple courses in the same topic within each "two year cycle of renewal" as long as each course has an independent approval code. Approval codes are assigned for each approved course, not school and not course topic. It is advised that you always check your records of previously completed approval codes prior to registration for new courses within your cycle of renewal.

If I already received credit for taking a continuing education course, can I get credit for taking the same exact course in a different license renewal cycle?

Yes. While New York State Real Estate License Law, 19 NYCRR 177.18(c), states: "No continuing education course will be considered for continuing education credit more than once within the two year cycle of renewal", there is no specific regulation precluding taking the same continuing education course anew in a subsequent and different license renewal cycle.

Will I receive credit for taking the same Lieb School titled course ONLINE and LIVE within the same license cycle?

Yes, Lieb School’s ONLINE and LIVE courses are assigned different and independent approval codes by the Bureau of Educational Standards, Department of State, State of New York. Therefore, they are considered distinct courses for purposes of your credits required for license renewal. You can receive credit for taking both types of classes.