Sec. 177.2. Approved entities

Continuing education 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 approved by said Commissioner of Education; public or private vocational schools; real estate boards; and real estate-related professional societies and organizations. Courses, including sales or technology, that increase the competency of a licensee as it relates to the real estate transaction shall be acceptable as meeting continuing education requirements subject to the restrictions set forth in subdivision (d) of this section. No real estate course of study seeking approval may be affiliated with or controlled by a real estate broker, salesperson, firm or company or real estate franchise, or controlled by a subsidiary of any real estate broker or real estate franchise. The following types of instruction shall not be acceptable as meeting continuing education requirements:

(a) general training or education to prepare a student for passing a real estate broker's or salesperson's examination which is not part of an approved course under Part 176 of this Title;

(b) offerings in mechanical office and business skills, such as typing, basic computer skills training, instructional navigation of the world wide web, instructional use of generic computer software, speed reading, memory improvement, report writing, personal motivation, salesmanship and sales psychology;

(c) sales promotion meetings; and

(d) subjects that are not real estate related.