N.Y. Nav. Law § 92
It shall be the duty of the commissioners, before they shall grant a license to any person applying therefor, to call such applicant before them, within one month thereafter, and in the presence of one or more pilots licensed for the waters regarding which such applicant seeks to be examined, who shall be notified to attend, examine such applicant or cause him to be examined, with relation to his qualifications for the office of pilot. In case of the nonattendance of any licensed pilot so notified, the examination may be conducted in his absence. Each applicant shall be examined in particular touching his knowledge of the tides, soundings, bearings and distances of the several shoals, rocks, bars and points of land and night lights in the navigation for which he applies for a license to act as a pilot, and also touching any other matter relating thereto which the commissioners may deem proper. If upon the examination the person so applying shall be found to be of good moral character and temperate habits, and possessed of sufficient ability, skill and experience, the commissioners may grant him a license.
N.Y. Nav. Law § 92