Real Estate NewsCanadian Mandatory Education Offers Benefits for All
Canadians typically think "back to school" when it comes to September, but most real estate professionals have education on their mind all year long.
The introduction of mandatory education requirements for obtaining and renewing a real estate license has raised the value and accessibility of real-estate-related learning for Canadian brokers and salespeople. Many pursue additional professional designations to ensure they offer the quality and range of services valued by the clients they target. Professionals and consumers both benefit from the higher standards that go hand-in-hand with lifelong learning.
The next time a real estate business card ends up in your hand take a close look at the initials after the person"s name. Today"s real estate professional must know more about legal, environmental and financial issues than most consumers realize.
In more and more cases, you"ll meet real estate professionals with mainstream educational credentials like Bachelors of Arts or Science and Masters of Business Administration or Education. There are also a host of real estate designations, including those associated with the Real Estate Institute of Canada:
FRI - Fellow of the Real Estate Institute
CLO - Certified Leasing Officer
CRES - Certified Real Estate Specialist
CPM - Certified Property Manager
CMOC - Certified Manager of Condominiums
CRF- Certified in Real Estate Finance
The 51-year-old Real Estate Institute of Canada (REIC) identifies itself as "Canada"s original membership organization for professional real estate training and accreditation." According to REIC, its mission to advance opportunities for those in real estate is achieved through:
Providing lifelong learning
Maintaining a relevant resource centre
Awarding professional designations
Creating networking opportunities
Additional professional designations in appraisal, property management, finance and development are offered through trade associations, universities and provincial real estate associations.
The mandatory continuing education credits essential to licence renewal are offered through these sources, as well as real estate boards and a wide range of recognized educators and resource organizations which include Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Since individuals originally applied for registration on different dates and professional licenses are usually renewed on two-year cycles, real estate courses must be available year round.
Attendance at conferences and special education programs may also earn mandatory education credits. Professionals demand high-quality programs that keep them up-to-date on issues relevant to their residential, commercial or industrial clients. Many practitioners take significantly more courses than the minimum mandatory continuing education requirements for renewal.
Ask your real estate professional what programs they have attended recently and learn more about the value these professionals offer in the process. You might also inquire whether some of the courses are available to consumers. For instance, programs on mold and Healthy Home strategies may be useful for those contemplating renovations or faced with allergy problems.
Disclosure: PJ Wade regularly presents the three mandatory continuing education programs she created and developed: Boomers & Their Parents: What Do They Want?, Riding The Age Wave: Emerging Trends and Strategies for Success and Sharpen Your Communication Edge: Why Would a Buyer or Seller Choose You?
Source: REIC, CMHC, RECO