How to verify a real estate license in New York

The five trades and where to check

Real estate agents and brokers

State law bars anyone from acting as a real estate broker or salesperson in New York without a license (Real Property Law § 440-a). A salesperson works under a licensed broker and “cannot operate independently,” according to DOS. Licenses run for two years.

DOS says brokers and salespersons are not in its general licensee search. Instead, go to eAccessNY and choose Public License Search. DOS also publishes the same population as an open dataset, “Active Real Estate Salespersons and Brokers.” Each row lists the license holder’s name, license number and type, license expiration date, and the business name and business address. License types include salesperson, associate broker, individual broker and several kinds of broker entity. The dataset covers active licenses only, so a person who is absent from it holds no active license.

What to confirm: the name matches the person you are dealing with, the type is right (a salesperson should be tied to a broker’s business), and the expiration date is in the future.

Home inspectors

New York requires a license to perform a home inspection for pay, with narrow exceptions such as architects and engineers acting within their professions and government code enforcement officials (Real Property Law § 444-d). Applicants need a DOS-approved 140-hour course or 100 supervised inspections, an exam, and proof of liability coverage of at least $150,000 per occurrence and $500,000 aggregate. Licensed inspectors complete 24 hours of continuing education every two-year term (DOS). For what an inspection costs, see home inspection cost.

Appraisers

DOS issues appraiser certificates for general or residential real estate, on a two-year term. DOS’s Licensee Search lists Real Estate Appraiser as a searchable type, and the federal Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) keeps national registries of appraisers. Your lender orders the appraisal, but you can still check the name on the report. See home appraisal cost.

Mortgage loan originators

Banking Law § 599-c bars anyone from working as a mortgage loan originator on New York residential property without a license, renewed annually, and requires an NMLS unique identifier. DFS says to check status on NMLS Consumer Access, and that only an originator shown as “Approved” with “Yes” under “Authorized to Conduct Business” may originate loans. A “Pending” status does not allow origination (DFS Industry Letter, February 4, 2011).

Land surveyors

Practicing land surveying or using the title “land surveyor” in New York requires a license from the State Education Department’s Office of the Professions. Requirements include education, three exam parts and experience (Education Law Art. 145, § 7206-a). Use the “Verify a License” search on the Office of the Professions land surveying page. For pricing, see land survey cost.

How to use the DOS search

The DOS Licensee Search offers three routes: by ID number, by name (last name, first name, and optionally city, ZIP code or county), or by business name. DOS states that searches are limited to active licenses. Its database was marked current through October 10, 2026 when we looked. DOS does not include residence addresses, which are protected by privacy law. DOS also says its data cannot be guaranteed complete or accurate, so for a disputed license, contact the DOS Division of Licensing Services.