Real Estate Salesperson and Brokers

All NYS Real Estate Salesperson/Broker licensees are required to successfully complete 22.5 hours of approved continuing education, including at least 3 hours of instruction pertaining to fair housing and/or discrimination, 2 hours  of instruction pertaining to implicit bias awareness and at least two hours of cultural competency training, 1 hour of instruction pertaining to Law of Agency, two hours if it is your first licensing cycle, within the two-year period immediately preceding a renewal.

NEW LAW AS OF September 21, 2022

A new law regarding continuing education for real estate salespersons and brokers was recently adopted. Below is a summary of the major changes.

• The amendment changes the course requirements for renewal. Specifically, new mandatory hours of education now include: “at least 2.5 hours of instruction pertaining to ethical business practices, at least 1 hour of instruction pertaining to 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”. With this change, effective July 1, 2021, all licensees will be required to successfully complete 22.5 hours of approved continuing education. The education must include at least 2.5 hours on the subject of ethical business practices, at least I hour of recent legal matters, at least 3 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 1 hour of instruction pertaining to the law of agency except in the case of the initial two-year licensing term for real estate salespersons, 2 hours of agency related instruction must be completed within the two-year period immediately preceding a renewal.

Exemption Removed July 1, 2021

• The amendment also REMOVES the 15 year real estate broker continuing education exemption and now requires all brokers who are currently exempted to complete continuing education starting July 1, 2021.

• 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.

• For the purposes of implementing the changes, the new requirements are effective on the actual date the license expires rather than the date the renewal application is submitted for processing. If the expiration date printed on your license is on or after September 21, 2022 you must meet the new requirement before you can renew.

• Real Estate Salesperson/Broker Continuing Education: Total hours of required topics if it’s your first renewal cycle is 12.5 hours, second or subsequent, renewal cycle is 11.5 hours.

Real Estate Appraisers

New York requires Assistant, Licensed and Certified Appraisers complete 28 hours of approved continuing education, to include the 7-hour USPAP Update course, prior to license renewal every two years. Our 7-hour USPAP courses include a textbook rental. If you wish to purchase the textbook you can do so directly from the Appraisal Foundation.

19 NYCRR § 1107.2. is amended as follows:

Section 1107.2. Individual continuing education requirements

(a)For State license and certification periods that commence on or after January 1, 2000, real estate appraisers and real estate appraiser assistants who hold State licenses or certifications must successfully complete 28 hours of approved continuing education, every two years including the seven-hour National USPAP update course, or its equivalent, as prescribed by section 1107.9 of this Part, in order to renew their licenses or certifications.

(b) Effective January 1, 2022, every licensed or certified appraiser, within the requirements of subdivision (a) of this section, must successfully complete a course of study in Fair Housing and Fair Lending, or its equivalent, as prescribed by sections 1107.33 and 1107.34 of this Part, in order to renew a license or certification.

New Section 1107.33 is added to Title 19 of the NYCRR as follows:

1107.33. Mandatory Continuing Education in Fair Housing and Fair Lending

(a) For State license and certification periods that commence on or after January 1, 2022, real estate appraisers and real estate appraiser assistants who hold State licenses or certifications must successfully complete an approved course of study in Fair Housing and Fair Lending, every two years, or its equivalent, as required in subdivisions (b) or (c) of this section, in order to renew their licenses or certifications.

(b) Any person holding a real estate appraisal license or certification that prior to January 1, 2022 completed an approved course of study in Fair Housing, Fair Lending and Environmental Issues (RE-2) or (GE-1), pursuant to sections 1103.9(b) or 1103.11(a) of this part, or its equivalent, may renew a license or registration by completing a course of study in Fair Housing and Fair Lending pursuant to either subdivision (a) or (b) of section 1107.34 of this part.

(c) Any person holding a real estate appraisal license or certification that prior to January 1, 2022 has not completed an approved course of study in Fair Housing, Fair Lending and Environmental Issues (RE-2) or (GE-1), pursuant to sections 1103.9(b) or 1103.11(a) of this part, or its equivalent, may renew a license or registration by completing a course of study in Fair Housing and Fair Lending pursuant to subdivision (a) of section 1107.34 of this part. Any real estate appraiser or real estate appraiser assistant seeking to renew a subsequent renewal, after satisfying the requirements of this subdivision, may thereafter renew such license or certification by completing a course of study in Fair Housing and Fair Lending pursuant to either subdivision (a) or (b) of section 1107.34 of this part.

Home Inspectors

Home Inspectors are required to complete 24 hours of approved continuing education within their two-year license renewal period prior to the expiration date in order to renew their license.

Sole Appointed Assessors & County Directors

An average of 12 continuing education credits are required to be completed each year by certified appointed and sole elected assessors as well as certified county directors of real property tax services in New York State. The 7 hour National USPAP Update is approved for the Assessor Ethics requirement.