Are you ready to become a real estate professional?

Are you looking for a rewarding business?

Did you wake up excited this morning?

If you answered YES then you should follow these steps to become a Licenced Real Estate Professional with Realty ONE Group Metro.

First of all, do you know the difference between a Real Estate Agent, Associate and a REALTOR^®?
Members of the public quite often use these three terms interchangeably. In Alberta, real estate professionals or agents are called “Real Estate Associates” and are licenced by the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA).  Once you get your licence, you will most likely join a real estate association like the REALTORS Association of Edmonton (RAE) and this gives you the designation of a REALTOR^®. 

What we have done below is compiled all the steps between the various organization's websites to help you navigate the process from start to finish:

1. Meet the minimum requirements
2. Complete the licencing course 
3. Join a Brokerage
4. Continue your professional development

The length of time it takes to complete this process will depend mostly on your ability to commit the time to complete the courses. If at any point of the process you have any questions or need any kind of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our Broker, Shami Sandhu, at 780-306-5700 or via email here.

Step 1 – Meeting the Minimum Requirements

First, you will need to complete the “Real Estate Career Information Session” before you are eligible to be enrolled in the Real Estate Associates Program (REAP).  The online information session is a pre-requisite and offered by Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA), it is completely free of charge and can be taken online by clicking here.  Complete the questionnaire at the end then fill out your name and email address to receive your certificate of completion.

There are also a few minimum requirements prior to completing the application that is required by RECA.

• at least 18 years of age
• able to lawfully study and work in Canada
• able to provide specific government-issued identification (ID)
• have a minimum of Canadian high school education or equivalent
• be proficient in the English language

Submitting your Enrollment Application
Do you meet these requirements? To find out, go to www.myreca.ca and follow the steps to CREATE an Account. When you log in for the first time it will take you through the process of ensuring you meet the eligibility requirements mentioned above plus ask you additional questions regarding your personal history including criminal charges, past disciplinary and membership with professional/regulatory organizations, court judgements and any current or past bankruptcies. You will be asked to upload documentation to prove your eligibility.
The total fee for an Education and Suitability Review Application is $300.

You will eventually require a Certified Criminal Record Check

As you near the completion of your pre-licensing education, or, if you are applying for labour mobility, once you receive your approval, contact a private, accredited fingerprint agency or your local law enforcement to request a Certified Criminal Record Check (CCRC). These agencies will fingerprint you and forward them to the Royal Canadian Mountain Police (RCMP) in Ottawa, who will perform the check. RECA must review and accept your CCRC before you can become licensed.

RECA must receive your original CCRC directly from the RCMP in Ottawa. Complete a Third Party Waiver of Consent when you apply for your CCRC so the RCMP can send it directly to RECA.

Where can you get your fingerprints taken? Click Here for a list of Accredited Fingerprint companies.

Your CCRC must be no older than 6 months at the time you submit an application for licensing. Therefore, it is essential that you time it so that it is done before you finish the course yet doesn’t expire before joining the Brokerage. Expect 3-4 weeks for completing and receipt of results by RECA – this estimate can fluctuate based on how busy the RCMP are.

Now you should be ready to enroll in the “Pre-Licensing Education Program”, which is also called the “Real Estate Associate Program (REAP)”. 

Step 2 – Complete the Online Licensing Course 

Once your eligibility has been determined, you will start your formal training. You have a maximum of 18 months to complete the education requirements from the date you enroll in the first course, Fundamentals of Real Estate. Here are the courses you need to complete.

Course 1 – Fundamentals of Real Estate

The Fundamentals of Real Estate provides you with the knowledge and skills needed for the practice courses and ultimately for your practice.

The course fee is $1,250, which includes access to the Required Online Course, support from Learner Support Services, an eBook, a practice exam, and one final exam. Learners can purchase a textbook at an additional cost. Authorized exam centres deliver the exams, and you are responsible for the exam proctoring fees.

Course 2 – Choose an Area of Real Estate Practice

You must take at least one of these courses before getting licensed (you may choose all). We highly recommend completing the Practice in Residential Real Estate at a minimum. All courses can be accessed through www.myreca.ca and cost $800. 

• Practice of Residential Real Estate
  The course includes relevant content, practical examples and thoughtful activities to prepare you for representing buyers and sellers in real estate transactions. The course fee is $800, which includes access to the Required Online Course, support from Learner Support Services, an eBook, a practice exam, and one final exam. Learners can purchase a textbook at an additional cost. Authorized exam centres deliver the exams, and you are responsible for the exam proctoring fees.

• Practice of Property Management
  This course provides the basic knowledge and skills needed for a career in property management. It covers such topics as leasing, tenant selection, relevant legislation, property operations, residential tenancies, and trust accounting. The course fee is $800, which includes access to the Required Online Course, support from Learner Support Services, an eBook, a practice exam, and one final exam. Learners can purchase a textbook at an additional cost. Authorized exam centres deliver the exams, and you are responsible for the exam proctoring fees.

• Practice of Rural Real Estate
  The course discusses the complexities of selling and buying rural properties of an agribusiness nature, such as farms, ranches, as well as crop and livestock operations. The course focuses on matters that apply to rural sellers, buyers, and transactions. These matters include agribusiness operations, soil and climatic conditions, land descriptions, utility services, water management, waste management, tax implications, and a range of environmental issues and related legislation. The course fee is $800, which includes access to the Required Online Course, support from Learner Support Services, an eBook, a practice exam, and one final exam. Learners can purchase a textbook at an additional cost. Authorized exam centres deliver the exams, and you are responsible for the exam proctoring fees.

• Practice of Commercial Real Estate
  This course describes the skills required in commercial real estate and the various aspects of commercial practice. It discusses the attributes of commercial, industrial and investment properties, basics of investment decision-making and ownership options for buyers and sellers. The course fee is $800, which includes access to the Required Online Course, support from Learner Support Services, an eBook, a practice exam, and one final exam. Learners can purchase a textbook at an additional cost. Authorized exam centres deliver the exams, and you are responsible for the exam proctoring fees.

Step 3 – Join the Brokerage

You are almost there! Once you have your course requirements completed and your CCRC is returned to RECA, we will schedule a one-one meeting. The Real Estate Act requires you to be licensed under a Brokerage. All Real Estate Associates in Edmonton must maintain their licence through RECA as well as membership with our professional organizations such as the REALTOR^® Association of Edmonton (RAE). 

Total Summary of Training, Licencing, and Membership Costs

REALTOR^® Association of Edmonton (RAE)
Membership with RAE includes membership with Alberta Real Estate Association (AREA) and Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)
These organizations provide us with the many tools and services that you will depend on to conduct your business. This includes the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), forms and contracts, key boxes, continuing education, professional standards, etc. The initial membership is adjusted quarterly and is renewed every year on April 1^st.

2020 Rate Schedule (incl. GST) for New members including the Services for Success course and Keypad rental.

January 1 – March 31                    $2,335.73
April 1 – June 30                             $3,065.47
July 1 – September 30                   $2,713.72
October 1 – December 31              $1,968.22  

Step 4 – Continue Your Professional Development

Once you have completed your licencing with RECA and join Realty ONE Group Metro, we can put you on the path for success. Our goal is to help you develop into the kind of real estate professional you want to be.

Onboarding
We will set you up for success by training you on all the tools, technology and processes within our organization. By making sure you are trained on all these, it will ensure that you maximize the benefits of Realty ONE Group.

ONE.University
During your onboarding, you will be introduced to ONE.University. This is our online training platform that hosts the 120 Program. The 120 program is ideal for agents to ensure that they have the fundamental business practices and systems implemented to succeed.  You will also be sent invites for webinars that are hosted by our Training team or the office and they cover a wide variety of topics.

RECA, RAE and AREA
These organizations will regularly set-up courses to help you with your regulatory and general skill set. Some of these courses may be a mandatory requirement for membership or licence renewal. 

Mentoring
We have Associates in our office that are willing to help you with some mentoring. Mentoring is also referred to by some industries as on-the-job training. Joining one of our successful agents in listing and buyer appointments will bring you different perspectives on how various people practice real estate, manage their business and interact with their clients.

Since we offer a multitude of programs, please feel free to contact our Broker at any time to discuss your professional training needs.