(WENY) -- If you're hoping to fly across the U.S., you have exactly one month from today, April 7th, to get your Real ID. If your New York or Pennsylvania license doesn't have a star in the corner, then you don't have a Real ID-compliant document.

While a Real ID is optional, if you want to fly domestically after May 7th or need to go into certain federal buildings, it will be required.

This change was actually a long time coming, as Congress passed the Real ID Act back in 2005. The Act establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses, permits, and ID cards and prohibits federal agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) from accepting cards for official purposes from states that don't meet these standards.

To get your Real ID in New York, you will need six points of ID when you go to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This means you will need to bring your original state-issued birth certificate, current license, social security card, proof of any and all name changes, and two documents proving your current address.

To get a Real ID in Pennsylvania, you'll need one document to prove who you are, one document to prove your social security number, and two documents proving you live in PA.

If you're heading to the DMV in New York, to get a Real ID, it doesn't cost you any more than a regular driver's license. The exception is if you're upgrading to an Enhanced License in New York, it'll cost you an extra $30. In Pennsylvania, there is a one-time fee of $30 on top of the state's renewal fee for a non-commercial driver's license.

If you already have an Enhanced ID in New York state, you don't need to do anything as it's automatically Real ID Compliant.

A passport can also be used in lieu of a Real ID as a form of identification.