Title 19 Part 176

Real estate courses and offerings may be given by any college or university accredited by the Commissioner of Education of the State of New York or by a regional accrediting agency accepted by said Commissioner of Education; public and private vocational schools; real estate boards; and real estate-related professional societies and organizations. No real estate course of study seeking approval may be affiliated with or controlled by any real estate broker, licensed salesperson, licensed or certified real estate appraiser, firm, or company or franchise, or controlled by a subsidiary of any real estate broker, real estate appraiser or franchise.

Applications for approval to conduct courses of study to satisfy the requirements for licensed real estate salesperson and broker shall be made 60 days before the proposed course is to be conducted. The application shall be prescribed by the department to include the following:

The education qualifications for real estate broker's license requires the completion of:

Before enrolling a student into an approved broker's course, the education coordinator must be provided with evidence of a signed statement from the student indicating that he/she has successfully completed the salesperson's course. Proof of the student's completion of the prerequisite course must be kept on file by the education coordinator. The following are the required subjects to be included in the course of study in real estate for licensure as a real estate broker and the required number of hours to be devoted to each subject:

Broker's Course

*

Program coordinators are not limited to these topics. They must, however, submit an outline and learning objectives for the two hours that will be presented to students. The outline and learning objectives must explain how local issues and concerns impact property values.

All approved instructors must use this course syllabus in conducting their program.

To meet the minimum statutory requirement, attendance shall be computed on the basis of an hour equaling 50 minutes. For every 50 minutes of instruction there shall be an additional 10 minute break. The time of the breaks shall be left to the discretion of the individual education coordinator. Breaks shall not be considered optional, nor are they to be used to release the class earlier than scheduled.

Each course shall be presented in such premises and in such facilities as shall be necessary to properly present the course. No course shall be presented in any real estate broker's office or the office of any association of real estate brokers except as otherwise may be permitted under this Part.

There shall be no change or alteration in any approved course of study of any subject or in any instruction staff without prior written notice to and approval by the department.

A duly authorized designee of the department may audit any course offered, and may verify attendance and inspect the records of attendance of the course at any time during its presentation or thereafter.

Evidence satisfactory to the department of the successful completion of a course of study at any accredited college or university in the United States of America, approved by the Commissioner of Education of the State of New York or by a regional accrediting agency accepted by said Commissioner of Education, which has a program leading to a recognized collegiate degree, which includes therein a major in real estate, may be deemed acceptable for the educational credit under sections 176.3 and 176.4 of this Part, provided attendance at such real estate course is not less than 120 hours in the case of an applicant for licensure as a real estate broker, and 75 hours in the case of an applicant for licensure as a real estate salesperson, and the applicant presents evidence of the issuance of a bachelor's degree and that he has passed the required course in real estate.

Within 45 days after the receipt of the application for approval of an offering, the department shall inform the entity as to whether the offering has been approved, denied, or whether additional information is needed to determine the acceptability of the offering. The department may deny, suspend, or revoke the approval of a real estate course or a real estate instructor, if it is determined that they are not in compliance with the law and rules, or if the offering does not adequately reflect and present current real estate knowledge as a basis for a level of real estate practice. If disciplinary action is taken, a written order of suspension, revocation or denial of approval will be issued. Anyone who objects to such denial, suspension or revocation shall have the opportunity to be heard by the Secretary of State or his designee.

All courses approved pursuant to this Part shall be open to all members of the public regardless of the membership of the prospective student in any real estate board, or real estate related professional society or organization.

Each school or entity shall pay an annual registration fee of $300 for each 12 months or part thereof, and an additional registration fee of $150 for each 12 months or part thereof for each location in excess of one where courses are to be given, said period to run from each September 1 to the subsequent August 31. For each teacher employed to teach the Real Estate Broker's or Real Estate Salesperson's course, each school or entity shall pay a one-time registration fee of $25. Fees shall be payable on submission of the application or applications, and are nonrefundable.

Distance education is defined as any educational process based on the geographical separation of instructor and learner (for example, CD-ROM, disk, on-line learning). Educational providers who wish to offer distance learning programs must have their programs evaluated and approved in accordance with the provisions of this Part, specifically sections 176.23, 176.24 and 176.25 of this Part.

Applications for approval to conduct distance learning courses of study to satisfy the requirements for licensed real estate salesperson and broker shall be made 60 days before the proposed course is to be conducted. The application shall be prescribed by the department to include the following: