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Education Frequently Asked Questions

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Continuing Education Questions

What are the CE requirements for license renewal?
If your license expires before September 21, 2022, you must complete at least 22.5 hours of continuing education (CE) credit including 3 hours of fair housing and 1 hour of agency (2 hours if you’re in your first license cycle), 2.5 hours of ethical business practices and 1 hour of recent legal matters. REALTORS® must also take an approved Code of Ethics course every three years to maintain REALTOR® membership eligibility.

Are CE requirements changing?
YES. Effective September 21, 2022, 3 hours of fair housing and/or discrimination in the sale or rental of real property or an interest in real property, 1 hour of agency (2 hours for new licensees,) 2.5 hours in ethical business practices, and 1 hour of recent legal matters is still required. Also, continuing education must now include 2 hours of instruction in cultural competency and 2 hours of instruction pertaining to implicit bias as part of the 22.5 hours of mandatory continuing education.

After completing the core requirements, licensees will be responsible for completing an additional eleven hours of continuing education courses covering an approved topic. The effective date of the law is September 21, 2022.

Note: The DOS will look at the actual date the license expires, not the date you submit your renewal application. Licensees whose expiration date is on or after September 21, 2022, will not be able to circumvent the new requirement merely by submitting their renewal before September 21, 2022.

How do I know if I need to meet this new requirement?
It’s simple – as of July 1, 2021, no real estate licensee is exempt from CE requirements with the exception of attorneys admitted to the New York State Bar. If your license expiration date is ON or AFTER July 1, 2021, you are required to have completed 22.5 hours of continuing education (CE) credit, even if you were exempt in the past. And, if you want to avoid taking the required CE credit by renewing early, you can’t.

So, what classes do I need to take to satisfy the CE requirement?
The requirement is the successful completion of 22.5 hours of CE credit, which must include:

  • 1 hour on agency
  • 2.5 hours on ethical business practices
  • 3 hours on fair housing law
  • 1 hour on recent legal matters
  • 2 hours of cultural competency
  • 2 hours of implicit bias

We recognize this change may be overwhelming, and you may not know where to find the resources you need. NYSAR has taken the guesswork out of this for you and created a chart to help you navigate what classes you need for license renewal. Start by picking which membership category you fall in, then read below to find the classes, dates, and times to meet your needs. Once you know what classes you need, simply go to NYSAR.com/Education/NYSAR Course Schedule to register.

Salespersons

Satisfy your license renewal requirements mixing/matching the following courses to gain the appropriate combination of credits:

Free Legal Update Course* – 1 hour CE
Satisfies 1 hour of recent legal matters for license renewal.

  • January 17
  • February 21
  • March 21
  • April 23
  • May 23

*for more dates, please visit www.nysar.com/education/

GRI-1 ETHICS – 7.5 hours CE
Satisfies NAR’s mandatory ethics training requirement for membership and NYS requirement for membership and NYS requirement for 2.5 hours of ethical business practices for license renewal.

  • January 30–31
  • March 2–3
  • June 21–22
  • August 30–31

GRI-3 AGENCY – 7.5 hours CE
Satisfies two hours of agency training for license renewal.

  • February 23–24
  • May 11–12
  • August 7–8
  • October 25–26

GRI-5 BUYERS – 7.5 hours CE
Satisfies 3 hours of NYS fair housing training and two hours of agency training for license renewal.

  • March 15–16
  • June 26–27
  • August 23–24
  • October 30–31

At Home with Diversity – 6 hours CE

Satisfies NYS requirement for 2 hours of cultural competency plus 3 hours of Fair Housing for license renewal.

  • April 19–20
  • June 5–6
  • November 1–2

Celebrate Diversity! – 2 hours CE
Satisfies NYS requirement for 2 hours of cultural competency.

  • January 27
  • May 23
  • July 21
  • October 27

Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing – 2 hours CE
Satisfies NYS requirement for 2 hours of implicit bias. 

  • January 25
  • March 24
  • May 19
  • July 10
  • September 7

Brokers (includes Associate Brokers)

Satisfy your license renewal requirements by taking broker/manager-focused education: ABR, CIPS, CRB, e-PRO, GREEN, GRI, RSPS, SRES.

To satisfy the required topics for license renewal, you’ll need to complete the first two courses below and you’ll earn 8.5 hours of CE credit. Mix and match the remaining five to meet your core course requirements.

Then you can visit: www.nysar.com/education/designations-certifications/ and take the remaining CE hours with NYSAR’s other prestigious courses taught by top-notch instructors. NAR no longer grants New York State CE credit for their online designation and certification courses.

Monthly Legal Update* – 1 hour CE
Satisfies 1 hour of recent legal matters for license renewal.
Class is taught by a NYSAR Attorney

  • January 17
  • February 21
  • March 21
  • April 23
  • May 23

*for more dates, please visit www.nysar.com/education/

How do I find ALL the CE credits I’ve taken?
The Department of State (DOS) does not maintain your CE records. That is your responsibility as a licensee. You should maintain a hard copy or electronic file of all classes you complete. If you are seeking past records, you must contact the individual schools where you have taken classes.

Where can I get my CE certificates; I need to send them to the DOS?
The Department of State does not require CE certificates to be sent to them unless you are audited. If you are audited, you will need to contact the schools where you completed courses during your license cycle to request signed and sealed copies of your course completion certificates.

Where can I get my NYSAR CE certificates?
Go to portal.nysar.com. Use your NRDS ID number and last name to log in, as the instructions indicate. Select “My Classes & Meetings” and then “My Classes”. You’ll find all the NYSAR-sponsored classes you’ve registered for and/or attended. Select the class to print or download the pdf of the certificate for each class you have successfully completed.

I went to Triple Play, and I need my credit to send to the DOS, can you help me?
If you are required to submit your certificates to the DOS in response to an audit, you must contact NYSAR by emailing [email protected] and request that signed and sealed copies be sent to you.

I went to Triple Play, but I did not receive my CE certificates. What should I do?
If you attended CE sessions at Triple Play in December, you should have received an email by January 1 with a link to download or print your certificates. If you did not receive an email from NYSAR with a link to your certificates and you simply wish to keep them for your records, go to portal.nysar.com. Use your NRDS ID number and last name to log in, as the instructions indicate. Select “My Classes & Meetings” and then “My Classes.” You’ll find all the NYSAR-sponsored classes you’ve registered for and/or attended. Select the class to print or download the pdf of the certificate for each class you have successfully completed.

If I’ve taken a class already, can I retake that class and get CE credit?
Yes, as long as it is in a different license cycle then when you originally completed the course.

Appraisers

New York Appraisers are required to complete 28 continuing education hours every 24 months including the National USPAP Update Course.

What are the Newly Adopted Continuing Education Requirements effective January 1, 2022?
All real estate appraisers and assistants are required to successfully complete 28 hours of approved appraiser continuing education courses within their two year license renewal period.  The education must include the seven-hour National USPAP update course and a course of study pertaining to Fair Housing and Fair Lending.

A licensee who previously completed an approved course of study in Fair Housing, Fair Lending and Environmental Issues (RE-2) or (GE-1) prior to January 1, 2022, must complete either the designated four hour or seven hour course on Fair Housing and Fair Lending prior to renewal.

A licensee who has NOT completed RE-2 or GE-1 prior to January 1, 2022, MUST complete the designated seven hour course on Fair Housing, Fair Lending prior to renewal.

For all subsequent renewals, licensees must complete the seven-hour National USPAP update course and either the four hour or seven hour course of instruction pertaining to Fair Housing and Fair Lending within their two-year license/certification period prior to renewal.

GRI Designation and Other National Designation Questions

How do I earn my GRI Designation?
To earn your GRI Designation you must complete 60 hours of core GRI classes. This includes eight 7.5-hour GRI courses, available to members at just $125 per course and $350 for non-members. All of these courses carry CE credit and some even include the topics required for license renewal.

You must also take 30 hours of elective credit – these are any CE classroom courses completed at your local board or NYSAR including any other NAR designation courses – within 5 years of your application. Online certification/ designation courses taken through NAR do not offer NYS CE credit.

Experienced REALTORS® may substitute two GRI classes by passing challenge exams (see below).

How do I Challenge a GRI course?
If you have experience in real estate and would like to challenge one or two GRI classes, call NYSAR at 800.239.4432 to sign-up. The cost to challenge is discounted to $50 each for 2020 only (regularly $125 each). Upon payment, you’ll receive a copy of the manual and you’ll be able to take the exam online when you are ready.

Can I take GRI elective classes online?
Yes, you may use online NAR designation and certification courses, NYSAR-sponsored live broadcast designation, and certification courses, and CE programs offered in-class at your local board of REALTORS® office. Please note: NAR online designation and certification courses are no longer accredited for CE in New York State.

How much time do I have to complete all GRI designation requirements?
You have five years to complete your GRI designation. To apply for your Graduate REALTOR® Institute designation (GRI), once you’ve satisfied all the requirements, contact NYSAR at 800.239.4432. Please note that a $25 application fee applies.

I started working on my GRI in 2016. Can I use those courses to complete my designation?
No, your designation must be completed within five years.

If I already have the GRI designation, can I retake a GRI course?
GRI designees can take a refresher with the latest information for just $50 (includes CE credit if taken in a new license cycle).

Will you be offering more GRI classes this year?
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we are currently offering GRI classes via live broadcast only. If the pandemic allows for in-person training, we will resume classes at that time. Please check out the education page at NYSAR.com for updates and more information regarding education.

I have taken other NAR designation courses. Can any of them be substituted for GRI courses?
Yes, any of these substitutions may be made:

  • GRI-1 Ethics – Full-day NYSAR Code of Ethics and Professional Standards
  • GRI-5 Buyers – ABR or CRS202
  • GRI-6 Sellers – CRS201 or SRS
  • GRI-7 Property – Appraisal R1, R2 or R3 or PSA
  • GRI-8 Technology – CRS206 or e-PRO certification

Can I take other NAR designation classes online?
Yes, most National Association of REALTORS® designation and certification courses are available online here:

Center for REALTOR® Development

Online designation and certification courses taken through NAR no longer offer New York State CE credit. If you would like your designation/certification course credits to count towards your NYS CE requirements, you may want to consider taking them through NYSAR or your local board.

I took a NAR designation class. Can I use the designation on my business cards?
No, you can only use a national designation or certification once you have completed all the course work, submitted your application (with any required documentation on closed transactions and with payment, if applicable), and received the designation or certification. Only then can you begin to use it on business cards, in your email signature, on letterhead, or other promotional materials.

Once I earn a NAR designation or certification, do I have to pay dues to use it?
The GRI designation does not require the payment of dues, beyond REALTOR® membership. All other national designations require the payment of annual dues in order to continue to use the designation. For example, to maintain the ABR designation, you must pay annual dues to the Real Estate Buyers’ Agent Council (REBAC) in addition to your REALTOR® dues in order to continue using the designation. NAR certifications, once earned, do not require the payment of dues, beyond REALTOR® membership annually but there is an application fee required for each certification.

What is the difference between a NAR designation and a certification?
Typically, a designation is earned by taking a series of courses, applying for the designation, and paying annual dues to the sponsor of the designation. For example, you must pay REBAC dues to use the ABR designation. You must also maintain REALTOR® membership in order to use the NAR designation. A certification is usually quicker to earn (requiring only one or a few classes) but you must complete an application and submit it with an application fee. Once you have earned the certification, you may continue to use it at no additional charge, provided you maintain REALTOR® membership.

Class Cancellation Policy

What is the cancellation policy?
You may cancel out of a classroom course up to 10 days before the class begins without any penalty. Ten or fewer days before the class begins, you may transfer into another class without a penalty or you can cancel and incur a $25 cancellation fee.

I registered for a class and now I’m not able to attend, how can I get a refund?
You can cancel yourself. Go to portal.nysar.com. Use your NRDS ID number and last name to log in, as the instructions indicate. Select “My Classes & Meetings” and then “My Classes.” You’ll find all the NYSAR-sponsored classes you’ve registered for. Select the class and you’ll be able to cancel your registration. You will be charged a $25 cancellation fee if you cancel 10 or fewer days before the class.

If you have difficulty canceling or extenuating circumstances necessitating your cancellation, NYSAR staff would be happy to assist you by calling 800.239.4432 or by emailing [email protected].

I’ve recently had to cancel a class but I haven’t received a refund yet. What should I do?
You may call NYSAR’s Education Department at 800.239.4432 or email [email protected].

Department of State/License Renewal Questions

My license renewal date is tomorrow, will I lose my license if I don’t have enough CE credits yet?
No, there is a 30-day grace period, but you cannot transact any real estate business until your license is renewed. Review what you need in order to satisfy your license renewal requirements and complete the needed courses. Once complete, then renew your license through eAccessNY. Be sure to answer the CE question with “Yes, I have completed the required CE.” DO NOT RENEW YOUR LICENSE WITHOUT TAKING YOUR CE CREDIT AND ANSWERING THE CE QUESTION TRUTHFULLY!

After the grace period expires, you still have two years to take the required CE credit and renew your license, however, you cannot transact any real estate activity during that time.

YOU WILL BE AUDITED IF YOU RESPOND “No, I have not completed the required CE.” If you are audited, you will need to provide signed and sealed copies of all of the necessary CE completion certificates to the DOS.

I don’t have enough CE credits yet, should I go online and renew my license anyway?
No, you will not be able to answer that you completed the required CE credit for license renewal and your negative response will trigger an audit. If you transact business without a valid license, you are breaking the law and will be subject to audit, fines, and license suspension.

I have not been able to complete my CE requirements to renew my license due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. What should I do?
Due to the current circumstances, the DOS may grant a six-month extension to complete the education. If you suffered a hardship that prevented you from completing the required education, you may submit a request for a hardship extension prior to renewing your license. You will be required to submit proof of your education, once completed. The request should be sent to [email protected] and the request should indicate that you are unable to complete your education due to the COVID-19 circumstances. Once you complete your education, continue with your license renewal.

Also, please be advised that pursuant to Executive Order 202.11, any license issued by the Division of Licensing Services that expires on or after March 27, 2020 shall remain in effect until May 26, 2020. You will need to meet the requirements for renewal and submit your completed renewal application and fee by May 26, 2020, to avoid a lapse in licensure.

I hear the CE requirements are changing. What do I need to renew my license?

On October 23, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed into law an amendment to Real Property Law §441(3)(a). The amendment eliminates the exemption or “grandfathering” of brokers from having to complete continuing education. In addition to the three hours of fair housing and/or discrimination in the sale or rental of real property or an interest in real property and one hour of agency (two hours for new licensees) the amendment also adds two and one-half hours of ethical business practices and one hour of legal updates to the core requirements as part of the twenty-two and one-half hours of mandatory continuing education. After completing the core requirements, licensees will be responsible for completing an additional fifteen hours of continuing education courses covering an approved topic. The effective date of the law was July 1, 2021.

Note: The DOS will look at the actual date the license expires, not the date you submit your renewal application. Licensees whose expiration date was on or after July 1, 2021, will not be able to circumvent the new requirement merely by submitting their renewal prior to July 1, 2021.

I am trying to contact the DOS but have been put on hold for long periods. How else can I contact them?
Visit DOS FAQ. You may find the answer to your question there. Alternatively, you can email the DOS at [email protected]. You may also be able to leave a message at 518.474.4429.

I have two licenses. Do I have to take 22.5 hours of CE for both?
No, you should complete the CE credit for your initial license, and the CE for that license will carry over to your other license(s).

I didn’t renew my license last year, what do I have to do to reactivate my license?
First, be sure to complete all your required CE credit including the core topics required for license renewal (agency, ethics, fair housing, and legal). Next associate yourself with a broker. Then log in to your eAccessNY account at DOS.ny.gov.

Logging in involves the last email address you provided to the DOS. If you have forgotten your password, click Forgot Password and you’ll be sent a link to reset it. If you have joined a different brokerage than the one you were previously affiliated with, you will probably need to call the Department of State at 518.474.4429 to change your email address in order to complete the process.

I took the salesperson’s qualifying course four years ago and passed the course exam, but I never took the state licensing exam. What do I need to do now to get licensed?
The course and exam are valid for eight years. You should go to DOS.ny.gov and set up an account in eAccessNY. Then you can register to take the exam at a location near you. Upon passing the exam, you can associate with a broker and apply for your license. Please note that you must have valid proof of your successful completion of the qualifying course and exam.

I stopped selling real estate 10 years ago and I want to get back into it. What do I need to do?
Provided you can prove your previous licensure, you do not need to retake any qualifying course(s). You will need to successfully complete the state licensing exam and re-apply, based on your former license.

Financial Assistance

Is there financial assistance available to me for continuing education/designation courses?
The New York State Real Estate Education Foundation provides scholarships to NY REALTORS® twice a year. Visit www.NYSREEF.org for eligibility information and an application.

I received a NYSREEF Scholarship. How can I register without being charged?
Please call NYSAR’s Education Department at 800.239.4432 or email [email protected]. The Foundation does NOT reimburse for classes already paid for, so be sure to contact NYSAR to register.

NYSAR Website Questions

I can’t get into certain parts of your website. What should I do?
Go to portal.nysar.com. Use your NRDS ID number as your User Name and your last name (capitalize the first letter) to log in, as the instructions indicate. If you are a new member, have logged in before and changed your password, but don’t remember it, or are not sure if you have a login, simply click the Get Started button.