SIGHTSEEING GUIDE (021)

DCA Licensing Center
42 Broadway, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10004
For more information, call 311.

A person must have a Sightseeing Guide license to guide or direct people to any place or point of public interest. This description is only a general explanation of who needs to have a Sightseeing Guide license.

Note: New York City businesses must comply with all relevant federal, state, and City laws and rules. All laws and rules of the City of New York, including the Consumer Protection Law and Rules, are accessible using the Public Access Portal. For convenience, sections of the New York City Licensing Law (and Rules, if enacted) are available as a downloadable handout. The Law (and Rules) are current as of January 2009.

Please note that businesses are responsible for knowing and complying with the most current laws, including any City Council amendments. The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is not responsible for errors or omissions in the handout. The information is not legal advice. You can only obtain legal advice from a lawyer.

Below are the requirements for obtaining this license. All documents listed below must be submitted when filing your application. Applications must be filed in person at the DCA Licensing Center, 42 Broadway, 5th floor, in Manhattan between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To speed processing, please submit documents in the order listed below.

• Basic Individual License Application (download).

• Current Photograph. Come in person with required Photo ID (described below) to the DCA Licensing Center, 5th floor, to be photographed. Photographs are taken at no cost to you.

• Photo ID of applicant. Acceptable identification includes:

• a driver's license or a non-driver's ID issued by a State Department of Motor Vehicles
• a passport
• an alien card/green card
• a license or permit issued by a government agency
• if applicant is a city, state or federal employee, a current employee identification card

• Exam. You must take a written exam to obtain this license. The exam fee of $50 is in addition to the license fee. The exams are given daily between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The exam consists of 150 questions. To receive a passing grade, you must answer 97 questions correctly. If you fail the exam twice, you will be required to pay another $50 to retake the exam. This fee is payable by check or money order to NYC Department of Consumer Affairs. Note: Download important information about the Professional Licensing Examination for New York City Sightseeing Guides.
  
  
• Notarized Child Support Certification form (download).
  
  
• License Fee. Must be paid by check or money order payable to NYC Department of Consumer Affairs. The chart below lists the amount due depending upon when your license application is filed. Note: An odd year is any year ending in an odd digit, for example, 2005, 2007, etc. An even year is any year ending in an even digit, for example, 2004, 2006, etc.