DCA Licensing
Center 42 Broadway, 5th Floor New York, NY 10004 For more information,
call 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside of New York City). LICENSE DESCRIPTION: You 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 which individuals need 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.
When You File Your DCA License
Application: Below are requirements when filing your license
application:
Basic Individual License Application
NEW: Sightseeing Guide applicants
can now submit new license applications online. Applying
for the license online does not mean the license is automatically approved. A
major credit card is required to submit applications online. Service fees apply.
After reviewing application requirements, please click the Apply Online link at
the bottom of this Web page to submit your application online.
Photo Identification (ID) of License Applicant Acceptable forms
of ID include:
driver’s license or a non-driver’s license identification issued by a
State Department of Motor Vehicles
license or permit issued by a government agency
passport
alien card/green card
a City, State, or Federal employee ID card
Sightseeing Guide Exam and Exam Fee Applicants
must take the Sightseeing Guide exam. Download a Study Reference to help prepare
for the exam. The exam consists of 150 questions. You must answer a minimum of
97 questions correctly to pass. The exam is given between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00
p.m. Monday through Friday at the DCA Licensing Center. The fee is $50. The
exam fee is separate from the license fee and is non-refundable. If you fail
the exam twice, you must pay the exam fee again in order to retake the
exam.
Please note that you will be required to pay
the exam and license fees as one total fee payment if you submit your license
application online.
Current color passport-size photograph of License
Applicant License Applicants can be photographed in the DCA
Licensing Center at no cost.
Please note that you can upload an
image file if you submit your license application online.
License Fee For in-person application submissions, the
License Fee must be paid by credit card, money order, or check. Cards accepted
include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card. Checks or money
orders must be 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, 2009, 2011, etc. An even year is any year ending in an even digit;
for example, 2010, 2012, etc.
Please note that service
fees apply if you submit your license application online. A major credit card
is required to submit applications online.
Sightseeing Guide License
License Term
License Expiration Date
If You File Your Application Between These
Dates:
Your License Fee is:
2 years
March 31 Even years
From April 1 in an even year to September 30 in an even
year
$50
From October 1 in an even year to March 31 in an odd
year
$38
From April 1 in an odd year to September 30 in an odd
year
$25
From October 1 in an odd year to March 31 in an even
year
$13 OR *$63
*Note:
If you are applying for the license between October 1 in an odd year
and March 31 in an even year, you can pay the prorated fee for the license
period about to end ($13) PLUS the fee for the new two-year license period
($50), for a total of $63. If you pay both fees, you will not need to
renew the license until March 31 of the next even
year.
Online Applicants: If you submit your license
application online between October 1 in an odd year and March 31 in an even
year, you will be required to pay the combined fee totaling $63. You will
not need to renew the license until March 31 of the next even
year.
APPLICATION FILING
PROCESS:
ONLINE
SUBMISSION: Please make sure that you have
reviewed and recorded the information required to submit a license application
online before clicking the button below. Note: After
successfully filing the application form online, Sightseeing Guide applicants
must visit the DCA Licensing Center within five (5) business days to take the
Sightseeing Guide Exam. As outlined in the “When You File” section, applicants
must submit a photograph. Please note that the image file you upload must be
digital passport photo quality. A digital camera with a resolution of 1
mega-pixel will be more than adequate. If you do not upload the photograph as
part of the application form submission, you must e-mail the photograph or visit
the DCA Licensing Center to be photographed at no cost within five (5) business
days after successfully filing the application form online. Applicants should
follow instructions on the printed confirmation page. Your license application
will not be complete without these requirements.
You will be routed to the New York City Business Express
Web site.
IN-PERSON SUBMISSION: Applications may be filed in person at the DCA Licensing Center
at the address above between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday and Friday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on
Wednesday.
