The three license classes

Apprentice, 173.2(e)(1)-(3)

• At least 14 years old. Under 18 requires a parent or guardian to sign the application.
• Must have a sponsor: a licensed General or Master falconer in New York with at least two years of experience as a licensed General falconer.
• Must be under the sponsor's direct supervision on at least the first two occasions hunting with a raptor. The sponsor may require more.
• May possess one raptor, and may obtain one replacement per calendar year.
• May possess only an American Kestrel or a Red-tailed Hawk taken from the wild, and may capture them only under the sponsor's direct supervision.
• May not capture or possess nestlings, at all.

General, 173.2(e)(4)-(5)

• At least 18 years old. Not 21.
• At least two years practising falconry with wild raptors at the Apprentice level or equivalent, including maintaining, training, flying and hunting the raptors at least four months in each year.
• A written summary to the department of experience maintaining falconry raptors, including which species were held and how long each was possessed.
• A written recommendation from the sponsor and from at least one other New York General or Master falconer who has evaluated the candidate in the field.
• May possess three raptors, and take or obtain two replacements per calendar year.
• May sponsor no more than three Apprentices at once, and only after two years as a licensed General.

All four of those qualification items apply together: the exam asks it as a "select which apply" question and the answer is all of them. Note also that no falconry school or education program shortens the two years.

Master, 173.2(e)(6)-(9)

• Five years as a licensed General falconer or equivalent, having possessed a raptor for at least three of those years.
• Written recommendations from three Master falconers who have evaluated the candidate in the field.
• Written approval for advancement from the Falconry Advisory Board.
• May possess up to thirteen raptors, of which no more than five may be taken from the wild; may take no more than two wild replacements per calendar year; may obtain any number of captive-bred replacements provided they are trained on wild game and hunted.
• May possess white-tailed or Steller's sea eagles only with a written account of large-raptor experience, two letters of reference, and Falconry Advisory Board approval, and no more than three of those species at a time.
• May sponsor no more than three Apprentices at once.

The Falconry Advisory Board

Established under ECL Article 11, Title 10, Section 11-1005, with not less than five members. It advises the Commissioner on the qualifications of applicants, and it approves Master advancements and eagle possession.