Real Estate License from Pennsylvania to New York: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does New York accept a Pennsylvania real estate license?
No — New York has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Pennsylvania real estate license holders. You must apply to the New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services as a new applicant and meet New York's full licensing requirements, including any exams it requires that you have not already passed.
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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Full re-application
There is no transfer mechanism from Pennsylvania into New York — not because of anything about Pennsylvania; New York recognizes no state's licenses. The path is the new-applicant track with your experience as an accelerant: the pre-license education can usually be completed online before you move, the exam draws on knowledge you use daily, and your transaction history means the coursework reads as review. Budget months, not weeks, and start the education first.
What's different between Pennsylvania and New York
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into New York. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Pennsylvania to New York (this page): Full re-application.
New York to Pennsylvania (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.
The two directions differ: Pennsylvania and New York do not give each other's licensees the same route.
- Does coming from Pennsylvania matter?
Coming from Pennsylvania does not change the answer: every origin (the other 49 states and DC) gets the same result for a move into New York.
- Application fee
New York lists $65 for an out-of-state applicant and Pennsylvania lists $97 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Pre-license education
New York's first-time-applicant standard is 77 hours of pre-license education; Pennsylvania's is 75.
New York's is 2 education hours higher than Pennsylvania's.
- Exam rules on record
New York and Pennsylvania carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- New York (this 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.
- Pennsylvania (the reverse move): An applicant actively licensed as a salesperson or broker in another state within the last 5 years takes and passes only the Pennsylvania state portion of the exam (national portion waived); a non-resident reciprocal license requires no Pennsylvania examination.
What changes, Pennsylvania → New York
| Pennsylvania (current) | New York (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-license education | 75 | 77 |
| Application fee | $97 (Standard salesperson initial fee = $72 licensure + $25 application; reciprocal-license fees are billed through PALS. Renewal is $96 biennially.) | $65 (Initial salesperson application/license fee. Separate: $15 written exam scheduling fee via eAccessNY.) |
| Processing time | Commission does not publish a fixed timeline; see its Licensure Processing Guides and Timelines | NYDOS does not publish an application processing-time range |
| Licensing authority | Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Department of State) | New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — New York sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review New York's initial-licensure requirements on the New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services website (linked below).
- Expect to meet New York's education/experience requirements and pass any required exams you have not already passed — a national exam you passed often still counts, as can prior out-of-state licensure toward experience.
- Submit the standard (new applicant) application with fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
- Allow NYDOS does not publish an application processing-time range.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep selling in Pennsylvania after I'm licensed in New York?
Yes — real estate licenses stack. Keep the Pennsylvania 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.
- 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)
- PA - Real Estate Salesperson Licensure Snapshot (requirements, exam waiver, reciprocity, Act 41) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PA State Real Estate Commission - main page ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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