N.Y. NAV Law § 92

§ 92. Examination of applicants. It shall be the duty of the\ncommissioners, before they shall grant a license to any person applying\ntherefor, to call such applicant before them, within one month\nthereafter, and in the presence of one or more pilots licensed for the\nwaters regarding which such applicant seeks to be examined, who shall be\nnotified to attend, examine such applicant or cause him to be examined,\nwith relation to his qualifications for the office of pilot. In case of\nthe nonattendance of any licensed pilot so notified, the examination may\nbe conducted in his absence. Each applicant shall be examined in\nparticular touching his knowledge of the tides, soundings, bearings and\ndistances of the several shoals, rocks, bars and points of land and\nnight lights in the navigation for which he applies for a license to act\nas a pilot, and also touching any other matter relating thereto which\nthe commissioners may deem proper. If upon the examination the person\nso applying shall be found to be of good moral character and temperate\nhabits, and possessed of sufficient ability, skill and experience, the\ncommissioners may grant him a license.\n