On and after the first day of July, nineteen hundred thirty-four, no person, copartnership or corporation shall engage in or follow the business or occupation of, or hold themselves or itself out temporarily or otherwise as a real estate broker or real estate salesperson in the county of Putnam, without first procuring a license therefor as provided in this article, except that such license in such county shall be granted and issued, without the written examination provided in this article, to a person, copartnership or corporation who was engaged in business as a real estate broker or real estate salesperson in such county prior to the first day of January, nineteen hundred thirty-four.