When people ask how long it takes, they usually mean two things: how long the course takes, and how long everything after it takes. The course is the part you control. The rest depends on exam seats, your sponsoring broker and the Department of State, and that’s where most of the waiting happens.
The Short Answer
Most people go from enrolling to holding an active New York salesperson license in about two to three months. The 77-hour course takes anywhere from two to ten weeks, depending on how many hours a week you can give it. The state exam, your broker’s authorization and the Department of State’s review make up the rest.
If you study full time, get an early exam seat and have a broker lined up, one month is possible.
The Timeline at a Glance
| Stage | Typical time | Who sets the pace |
|---|---|---|
| 1) 77-hour qualifying course | 2 to 10 weeks | You |
| 2) School final exam | A day or two | You |
| 3) Getting a state exam seat | Depends on open dates | Exam site calendar |
| 4) Sitting the state exam | 1.5 hours | You |
| 5) Broker authorizes your application | As soon as they log in | Your broker |
| 6) Review and license issued | No published timeline | Department of State |
The course is the only long stage you control. That’s why two people who finish the course in the same week can end up licensed a month apart.
How Long is Real Estate School in New York?
New York requires 77 hours of approved qualifying education before you can sit the state exam. The state sets that number, so every approved school’s course is the same length. What varies is how fast you get through it.
With an online, self-paced course, you choose the pace. REEDU’s salesperson course is split into 20 sessions you can take in any order, starting any day. Here’s how long 77 hours takes on three common schedules:
Full Time
~2 weeks
Seven to eight hours a day, Monday to Friday. Realistic if you’re between jobs or have taken time off.
37.5 hrs/week
Weeknights
~5 weeks
Three hours a night after work, Monday to Friday, with weekends off.
15 hrs/week
Weekends Only
~10 weeks
Four hours each Saturday and Sunday. The slowest schedule, but it fits around a full-time job.
8 hrs/week
These figures cover the course hours only. Leave yourself a few days of review before the school exam too, because completing the hours doesn’t mean you’re ready for the test.
