Is New York DOS Requesting Copies of Your Continuing Ed Certificates?
This article is specifically for New York real estate brokers and salespersons who received an email from NY DOS requesting copies of their credits be submitted.
There are two reasons that you may be requested to supply the NY DOS with copies of your certificates. The second reason is more common than the first, but it is important that you read this entire article so you can completely understand what you need to do with the NY real estate continuing education certificates you earned from Keep Me Certified or any other approved provider in New York.
The first reason is that you, a New York real estate licensee, are being audited, which is something that is periodically done. If you are audited, simply provide them a copy of the certificates you earned. Attach all/any of them to an email and click send, it’s that simple.
The second more likely reason is because you misread the question asked when you renewed your real estate license. When you are logged in to the NY elicense portal. Their system asked you a very specific yes/no question prior to submitting your payment information for the renewal fee. They asked Did you complete the required continuing ed prior to renewing your license or are you a NY State licensed attorney? You likely answered no to this question because you skimmed the question and was answering only the part about whether you are an attorney. This happens more often than you think, which is why we wrote this article.
If you mistakenly (or on purpose) answered “no” then you automatically received the email (included below) requesting copies of your continuing education certificates. In either case, all you need to do is reply to their email and attach your continuing education certificate(s) to substantiate your credit completions.
Here is the email you received from New York Department of State:
DEAR _________:
The Department of State acknowledges receipt of your renewal application, wherein you indicated you did not complete the required continuing education prior to renewal.We are unable to approve your application renewal due to your failure to complete the 22.5 hours of approved continuing education required for renewal of your Real Estate license as prescribed by New York State Rules and Regulations 19 NYCRR, Part 177. THIS E-MAIL IS TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR LICENSE IS NOT RENEWED.Approval of your renewal application will not be granted until copies of your certificate(s) evidencing successful completion of the required continuing education or proof that you are an Attorney admitted to the New York State bar are submitted to the Bureau of Educational Standards by email at dos.sm.LCNS.eAccessNY.edmailing@dos.ny.gov for review and approval. Once approval has been granted you’ll be notified by email. You must submit your documentation WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS EMAIL. Please be sure to include a copy of this e-mail in your response. Please note: You must meet the continuing education requirements and renew your license within two years from the date of your license expiration or you will be required to pass the state written examination and submit a new salesperson/broker application and fee. No continuing education will be required to repeat the licensing process again.Please contact the Bureau of Educational Standards at dosedmailing@dos.ny.gov if you have any questions regarding this matter.Sincerely,
Bureau of Educational Standards
Department of State
Division of Licensing Services
One Commerce Plaza
99 Washington Avenue
PO Box 22001
Albany, NY 12201-2001
Once again, all you have to do is reply to the email (shown above) with a copy of each certificate you earned. If you earned multiple certificates, attach all of them. Schools do NOT submit certificates to the state on your behalf. This is a common misunderstanding amongst NY licensees. Only the licensee can supply NY DOS with copies of their certificates in response to this email.
If for any reason you did not complete the requisite continuing education credits and still need to complete them, Keep Me Certified is a fully approved online real estate school offering all of the courses (CORE and Elective) needed to satisfy the education requirement and renew your New York real estate license.
