Real Estate License from New York to Ohio: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Ohio accept a New York real estate license?
Yes — Ohio recognizes real estate licenses from all states, including New York. Apply to the Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing (Ohio Department of Commerce) for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.
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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Full reciprocity
Ohio honors licenses from every state, so your New York license qualifies you to apply; it is not an automatic transfer. The work that remains is Ohio-side mechanics: the application, the background check, the state-law exam where required, and affiliating with an Ohio brokerage to activate the license. None of it is difficult; all of it is sequential — start the license-history certification first, it has the longest lead time.
What's different between New York and Ohio
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Ohio. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
New York to Ohio (this page): Full reciprocity.
Ohio to New York (the reverse move): Full re-application.
The two directions differ: New York and Ohio do not give each other's licensees the same route.
- Does coming from New York matter?
Coming from New York does not change the answer: every origin (the other 49 states and DC) gets the same result for a move into Ohio.
- Application fee
Ohio lists $81 for an out-of-state applicant and New York lists $65 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Pre-license education
Ohio's first-time-applicant standard is 100 hours of pre-license education; New York's is 77.
Ohio's is 23 education hours higher than New York's.
- Exam rules on record
Ohio and New York carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Ohio (this move): National portion waived: out-of-state applicants qualifying under Options 1-3 pass only the Ohio state-law portion of the salesperson exam; standard new applicants (Option 4) take the full Ohio salesperson examination.
- New York (the reverse move): None — no current reciprocity. All applicants, including out-of-state licensees, must pass the New York State salesperson examination. An education waiver of the 77-hour course may be granted on written request, but the state exam is never waived.
What changes, New York → Ohio
| New York (current) | Ohio (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-license education | 77 | 100 |
| Application fee | $65 (Initial salesperson application/license fee. Separate: $15 written exam scheduling fee via eAccessNY.) | $81 (Salesperson examination/application fee paid to the Division; excludes WebCheck/FBI background-check fees and the PSI exam fee.) |
| Processing time | NYDOS does not publish an application processing-time range | Division does not publish a processing-time estimate for out-of-state applications |
| Licensing authority | New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services | Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing (Ohio Department of Commerce) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Ohio sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Ohio's current requirements on the Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing (Ohio Department of Commerce) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing (Ohio Department of Commerce) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Be sponsored by a licensed Ohio real estate broker.
- Complete Ohio (BCI) and FBI criminal background checks with no disqualifying convictions.
- Provide letters of good standing for every jurisdiction where you hold a license or certification.
- Complete a consent to service of process statement.
- Option 1: hold a substantially similar out-of-state license for at least 1 year and be active in at least 1 of the past 5 years.
- Pass the Ohio state-law portion of the salesperson examination.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep selling in New York after I'm licensed in Ohio?
Yes — real estate licenses stack. Keep the New York license active (renewals and CE continue separately) and you hold both; many border-market agents do exactly this.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Ohio DREPL - Out of State Licensed Salesperson Applicants (new law effective Dec. 29, 2023) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Ohio DREPL - Requirements for an Ohio Real Estate Salesperson's License ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Ohio Revised Code Section 4735.09 (salesperson licensure / pre-license education) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NYDOS — Real Estate Salesperson FAQ ('The Department of State does not currently have reciprocity with any other state'; education waiver, exam still required) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NYDOS — Become a Real Estate Salesperson (77 qualifying hours; $65 application + $15 exam; eAccessNY) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NYDOS — Real Estate Salesperson (2-year term; must work under a sponsoring broker) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NYDOS — Real Estate Broker FAQ (identical 'does not currently have reciprocity' statement) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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