LearnCycle FAQ
Frequently asked questions about LearnCycle, the free NYDOS-approved 77-hour New York real estate salesperson course, and the New York licensing process.
About LearnCycle
Is LearnCycle legit?
Yes. LearnCycle is a New York Department of State (NYDOS)-approved real estate qualifying education school. Our 77-hour salesperson course is registered under NYDOS Course Approval Code D01104 and ARELLO Course #11674. You can verify both on the NYDOS-approved course providers page. The Certificate of Completion we issue is the same regulatory document any paid NYDOS-approved school issues.
Start here: free NYDOS-approved New York 77-hour real estate course.
Is LearnCycle approved by the New York Department of State?
Yes. Our 77-hour salesperson course is approved under NYDOS Course Approval Code D01104 and is designed to satisfy New York's full pre-licensing education requirement. The same course also carries ARELLO Course #11674—ARELLO (the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials) is the international standard for real estate regulatory education.
Why is LearnCycle's New York real estate course free?
New York sets the required 77-hour curriculum for every NYDOS-approved school. LearnCycle offers the full qualifying course at no cost, and learners can complete it for free by using License Essentials with a no-cost approved in-person proctor. Paid packages are optional. Finish From Home ($99) adds remote course-final proctoring, while License & Launch ($199) also includes New York State salesperson exam prep, Listen Mode, the Pass-the-First-Try Guarantee, and the New Agent Success Package.
What's the catch with the free course?
There isn't one. License Essentials includes the full 77-hour NYDOS-approved course and a Certificate of Completion after you meet the course requirements and pass the proctored course final exam. You do not have to purchase a paid package to complete the course or earn your certificate. With the free option, you arrange an approved in-person proctor. These independent third-party proctors are not affiliated with LearnCycle and may charge their own fees, although many public libraries offer proctoring at no cost. Finish From Home and License & Launch are optional paid packages.
How does LearnCycle make money if the course is free?
LearnCycle earns revenue from two optional paid packages. Finish From Home is $99 and includes remote course-final proctoring. License & Launch is $199 and includes remote course-final proctoring, New York State salesperson exam prep, the Pass-the-First-Try Guarantee, Listen Mode, and the New Agent Success Package. License Essentials itself remains free, and learners can complete the course at no cost by arranging a no-cost approved in-person proctor. LearnCycle does not use affiliate links, sponsored content, or paid recommendations to subsidize the free course.
Costs and Fees
How much does it really cost to get a New York real estate license?
With License Essentials and a no-cost approved in-person proctor, the minimum cost to become licensed is $80 in required New York fees: a $15 New York State salesperson exam fee and a $65 license application fee. Fingerprinting is not required for a New York real estate salesperson or broker license.
Approved in-person proctors are independent third parties and are not affiliated with LearnCycle. Some charge their own fees, although many public libraries offer proctoring at no cost. Your total will also be higher if you choose Finish From Home, License & Launch, or another optional preparation or support product. These are education and service costs, not state licensing fees.
→ Read the full guide: How Much Does It Cost to Get a New York Real Estate License? (2026 Breakdown)
What are the unavoidable state fees for a New York real estate license?
New York requires two licensing fees totaling $80: the $15 New York State salesperson exam fee and the $65 initial salesperson license application fee. These fees go to New York State, not to LearnCycle, and apply regardless of which education provider you choose.
Fingerprinting is not required to become licensed as a New York real estate salesperson or broker.
→ Read the full guide: How Much Does It Cost to Get a New York Real Estate License? (2026 Breakdown)
Is fingerprinting required for a New York real estate license?
No. The New York Department of State has confirmed that fingerprinting is not required to become licensed as a real estate salesperson or broker. Applicants are responsible for the $15 New York State salesperson exam fee and $65 license application fee. Applicants must still answer the application's character and background questions accurately and provide additional documentation if requested by the Department of State.
Is LearnCycle's free curriculum the same as the curriculum at paid schools?
Every NYDOS-approved school must cover the same 77-hour curriculum and 19 required topics, including the required implicit-bias instruction. Schools can still differ in how they teach the material, the learning tools they provide, their support, proctoring options, exam preparation, and additional services. LearnCycle provides the complete required curriculum at no cost through License Essentials.
→ Read the full guide: Best NY Real Estate Course: An Honest 2026 Comparison
About the Course
How long is the New York 77-hour real estate salesperson course?
The course includes 77 hours of qualifying education, as required by the New York Department of State. You complete the lessons online at your own pace and then pass a proctored course final exam. License Essentials learners arrange an approved independent in-person proctor, while Finish From Home and License & Launch include remote course-final proctoring.
Is the LearnCycle course self-paced and fully online?
The 77 hours of coursework are self-paced and online, so you can study on your schedule and resume across supported devices. Your path to the course final exam depends on your package. License Essentials learners arrange an approved independent in-person proctor, while Finish From Home and License & Launch include remote course-final proctoring. A fully online path to course completion is therefore available with either paid package.
Is the course final exam proctored, and where do I take it?
Yes. The school-administered course final exam must be proctored. License Essentials learners take it with an approved independent in-person proctor. These third-party proctors are not affiliated with LearnCycle and may charge their own fees. Finish From Home and License & Launch include remote course-final proctoring. After you pass the course final exam, the separate New York State salesperson exam is scheduled through eAccessNY and taken in person at a state testing location.
What is the difference between the course final exam and the New York State salesperson exam?
They are two different exams serving two different purposes. The course final exam is the school-administered exam you must pass to earn your Certificate of Completion for the 77-hour qualifying course. The New York State salesperson exam is the licensing exam administered separately by the Department of State through eAccessNY. Passing the course final exam makes you eligible to move on to the New York State salesperson exam, but it does not itself grant a license.
→ Read the full guide: NY Real Estate Exam: Pass Rates, Format, and What to Expect
How long is the course final exam?
The course final exam allows up to 3 hours to complete 75 questions, and you need a score of 70% or higher to pass. Most students pass on their first attempt, but it should still be treated seriously because you cannot receive course completion credit until it is passed under the required proctored conditions.
What happens if I fail the course final exam?
You have up to two 3-hour exam windows to earn a passing score. Each window includes a 75-question exam, and a score of 70% or higher is required to pass.
During each window, you may click Submit as many times as needed. After each submission, you’ll see whether you passed; however, the system will not identify which answers were incorrect or reveal the correct answers. If you did not pass, you may return to the exam, review and revise your answers, and resubmit until you pass or the 3-hour window expires.
If your first exam window expires before you submit a passing score, you will receive one additional 3-hour window. The same submission and revision process applies during the second window. If the second window expires before you submit a passing score, you will be required to re-enroll in the course before attempting the exam again.
When do I receive my Certificate of Completion?
You receive your Certificate of Completion after you complete the course requirements and pass the proctored course final exam. That certificate is what allows you to move on to scheduling the New York State salesperson exam through eAccessNY.
Does LearnCycle report my course completion to NYDOS?
No. NYDOS does not provide a direct reporting mechanism for providers to submit course completions. Students should keep a copy of their Certificate of Completion for their records, and providers are required to maintain attendance records for 3 years.
How long do I have to complete the course after enrolling?
Course access is not currently subject to an automatic expiration deadline. License Essentials, Finish From Home, and License & Launch each include at least two years of unlimited access. After you complete the course and pass the proctored course final exam, your Certificate of Completion is valid for eight years, although we recommend taking the New York State salesperson exam while the material is still fresh.
Getting Licensed in New York
What are the steps to becoming a licensed real estate agent in New York?
Five steps: (1) complete the 77-hour NYDOS-approved qualifying course; (2) pass the school's proctored course final exam, either remotely or with an approved independent in-person proctor depending on your package; (3) schedule and pass the in-person New York State salesperson exam through eAccessNY; (4) find a sponsoring New York broker; and (5) submit your license application through eAccessNY. Completing the course is the first part of the licensing process, not the final step.
→ Read the full guide: How to Become a Real Estate Agent in New York: Complete 2026 Guide
How long does it take to get a New York real estate license from start to finish?
Most students take 2-4 months. The 77-hour course typically takes 4-8 weeks at a self-paced 10-15 hours per week. After the course, scheduling the New York State salesperson exam usually adds 1-3 weeks depending on testing center availability. Finding a sponsoring broker can take a day or several weeks—that's often the variable step. Aggressive students finish in 6-8 weeks; many take longer.
→ Read the full guide: How to Become a Real Estate Agent in New York: Complete 2026 Guide
Do I need a sponsoring broker before I can take the course?
No. You can complete the 77-hour course, pass the course final exam, and pass the New York State salesperson exam without a sponsoring broker. You only need a sponsoring broker when you submit your license application through eAccessNY. Many students start interviewing brokerages while studying for the New York State salesperson exam so sponsorship is lined up by the time they're ready to apply. It can be advantageous to reach out after completing the course, when you are closer to licensure and can demonstrate your progress to prospective sponsoring brokers.
→ Read the full guide: How to Become a Real Estate Agent in New York: Complete 2026 Guide
What is the New York State salesperson exam pass rate?
NYDOS-published data has generally shown that about 51-54% of all New York State salesperson exam attempts result in a pass. That figure includes first attempts and retakes, so it should not be described as a first-attempt pass rate. The practical takeaway is that the exam deserves focused preparation, including timed practice exams and careful review of missed topics.
→ Read the full guide: NY Real Estate Exam: Pass Rates, Format, and What to Expect
How do I schedule the New York State salesperson exam?
Through eAccessNY, the state's online portal for real estate licensing. After you've earned your Certificate of Completion, create an eAccessNY account, register for the New York State salesperson exam, pay the $15 exam fee, and select a testing center. Testing locations are available throughout New York City, Albany, Buffalo, and other cities. Most students get a slot within 1-3 weeks of scheduling.
→ Read the full guide: NY Real Estate Exam: Pass Rates, Format, and What to Expect
Eligibility
Who can take the New York real estate course?
Anyone 18 or older can enroll in the LearnCycle 77-hour course. There's no residency or citizenship requirement to take the course itself. To ultimately be licensed by New York, you must be at least 18, be of "good character" per the Department of State's review process, and have a sponsoring broker who is licensed in New York. Specific identification requirements are confirmed during the eAccessNY application.
Can I get a New York real estate license with a criminal record?
Possibly—it depends on the offense and circumstances. New York does not automatically disqualify applicants with a criminal history. The Department of State conducts a character and fitness review for each applicant, weighing the nature of the offense, time elapsed, evidence of rehabilitation, and relevance to real estate practice. Applicants with prior convictions should be prepared to submit documentation as part of the review.
Do I need a high school diploma or college degree to become a real estate agent in New York?
No. New York does not require a high school diploma, GED, or college degree to become a licensed real estate salesperson. The only education requirement is the 77-hour NYDOS-approved qualifying course. That's part of what makes real estate one of the most accessible licensed professions in the state—no degree, no apprenticeship, just the course, two exams, and a sponsoring broker.
→ Read the full guide: How to Become a Real Estate Agent in New York: Complete 2026 Guide