Georgia Real Estate Post License Requirements – A Detailed Overview
A Lowdown of the Real Estate License Requirements in Georgia
Georgia is home to a steady, thriving real estate market and it continues to provide growth and income opportunities for professionals.
According to real estate data and property listings, more people are moving and migrating to Georgia than before, with the state population increasing by 10% since the last decade.
The reason behind Georgia’s growing real estate market is multi-faceted. Firstly, the state is geographical diverse with an eclectic mix of urban cities to rural towns. Secondly, there are property options for all types of budget and lifestyle needs.
If you are a real estate agent or broker working in Georgia, now is a great time to prepare yourself for the upcoming year so you can make the most of upcoming opportunities.
Fulfillthe Georgia real estate post license requirements and you are good to go.
If you are someone who has completed a few years in the industry and are now wondering how to go about completing the mandatory post license education, then this article is for you.
We are going to walk you through all the steps and requirements to successfully complete your Georgia post license education.
What is a Post License Requirement?
Whether you are a real estate agent, broker or appraiser, you might have come across the term post license education in your career already.
Wondering what is a post license in real estate and how is it relevant for your career?
Post licensing education is an umbrella term which requires real estate license holders to complete a specific set of courses as a means to complete the transfer of their license from probationary status to a full license status.
You can think of the post-licensing education as the final step in completing your education journey in real estate and transitioning from an agent to a broker.
Thus, post licensing is a way to upskill yourself and keep your knowledge in lieu with the industry trends and developments. Further, it is the only way you can leapfrog in your career by becoming a certified licensed real estate broker.
If you are willing to invest in your career and reap benefits in the long run, then completing post licensing education is what you need to succeed.
Importance of Post License Requirements
As per the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC) & Appraisers Board, all active salespersons must complete the mandatory 25 hours of post-license education within one year of obtaining their license.
Completing the post license education is a prerequisite for all real estate agents who want to avoid any lapses in their license status and do not want to end up paying late fees charges.
Wondering what is the importance of completing a post license real estate course in Georgia?
The Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC) has established the post license education requirement to help agents equip themselves with a strong foundation for their future.
As part of the 25 hours of education, professionals can expect to learn a great deal about important topics and subjects and how to merge theoretical knowledge in everyday situations.
By completing the post license education requirements, agents can expect to understand more about the workings and grooves of the real estate industry, including the rules, regulations and guidelines.
This education will help you fill the gaps between knowing the concepts and applying them in real-world situations with ease.
Once you complete the coursework, it will be easier for you to present yourself as a knowledgeable, confident and highly skilled real estate professional.
This way, the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC) ensures real estate agents and salespeople are always learning and adding to their knowledge to perform at their best. All this while maintaining and upholding the highest standards of professionalism, honesty and transparency.
Now that you have learned about the importance of the post licensing education requirements, let us dive deeper into the details of the course.
Georgia Real Estate Post License Course
An Insight into the Post-license Course in Georgia
A post license real estate course in Georgia is an optimized way to gather more knowledge and skillsets about the real estate industry.
Newly licensed salespersons will be exposed to an in-depth course pedagogy which will train them to deal with real-world applications in the industry.
If you are curious to learn more about what the course curriculum, here’s a checklist of the course highlights:
- Property condition disclosures, buyer’s representation and listing process
- Process of mortgage and predatory lending
- Purchase agreements and contracts
- Principles and Practice of Ethics
- Mitigation of Risks
- Comparative Market Analysis
- Property Appraisals
- Real world application and scenarios
You are required to complete the pre-licensing course within 1 year from the date of activating your sales license in Georgia.
Course Duration and Format
As we have discussed so far in this article, in order to renew a real estate license, you are required to complete the post license education course in Georgia.
The course duration is 25 hours in total and you can complete the course by enrolling in a state-approved real estate college or you can join an online course as well.
Most students prefer opting for online courses for completing their post licensing training as it helps them pace themselves and manage their schedule easily. The format is flexible and it is totally up to you on how you wish to learn.
Another key advantage of choosing the online route is that you can have access to your instructor and trainers from anywhere, and you can easily clear your doubts anytime virtually.
Course Content
So, what exactly can you expect to learn in the post licensing course in Georgia? There will be a broad array of topics, some of which include the following:
- How to start you real estate business
- Building a database of potential clients and associates
- Understanding contracts and agreements
- Introduction to Lead generation and prospecting
- Understanding the role and usage of social media and online marketing platforms
- Working with sellers and preparing listings
- Marketing and Closing your listings
- Working with buyers and negotiating offers
- Learning how to price property using comparative data
As you can see, this is a well-rounded course curriculum designed to help students advance their knowledge and understanding of the real estate industry.
Examination
Once you satisfy the 25 hours of post license real estate course in Georgia, the final step will be to take and successfully pass the proctored final exam.
According to the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC), you will be required to schedule the exam in the presence of a third-party, state approved proctor who will administer your exam.
After completing and passing the exam, you will be granted a certificate of completion by the GREC.
The final exam will have 50 questions in total. Note that in order to complete the exam, you will need to score at least 75% or above.
Georgia Real Estate Continuing Education Requirements
Overview of Georgia Real Estate Continuing Education Requirements
Real estate professionals who have successfully completed 4 years of work experience, are required to complete their continuing education for the renewal of their license.
As per the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC), completing the continuing education requirements is a must for every real estate professional.
The good part is that it can be completed online without having to sit through in a classroom environment.
As part of the Georgia real estate continuing education requirements, you will need to take 36 hours of coursework which will be divided into mandatory and elective courses.
Let’s take a detailed look at the type of courses you will cover in your continuing education.
Continuing Education Courses
Out of the total 36 hours of continuing education, 33 hours are reserved for mandatory courses whereas 3 hours are elective courses.
As part of your training, you can expect to learn about a diverse range of topics, some of them including:
- Georgia Mandatory License Law
- Ethical Excellence
- Residential Property Management
- Section 1031: Tax Deferred Exchanges
- Marketing, Advertising and Social Media Compliance
- Property inspection issues
- Fair share practices and rights
- Tools and Technology
- Trends and Risk Management
Completing the continued education courses will definitely help professionals level up in their real estate career. Moreover, they are made mandatory for anyone who has an active Georgia state license.
Types of Continuing Education Courses
If you are prepared to advance in your career with a continuing education course, here are some of the elective courses that you can opt for:
- Georgia Real Estate License Law
- Agency Law
- Contract Law
- Fair Housing
- Marketing for Real Estate
- Real Estate Financing for Clients
- Working with Real Estate Investors
- Introduction to Property Management
In addition to fulfilling the Georgia real estate continuing ed, completing these courses will certainly help you add to your existing knowledge and skills in a competitive industry.
Hours and Content Requirements
As per the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC) guidelines, you are required to complete the 36 hours of coursework to fulfill the continuing education requirements.
Completing the coursework successfully will also enable you to renew your real estate license.
Regarding content delivery, the best part about completing the continuing education is that you can enroll in an online course or college and learn from anywhere.
There is no mandatory need to attend and complete the training physically in a classroom environment. The continuing education course hours can be completed at your own pace.
Renewing a Georgia Real Estate License
Completion and Submission of Continuing Education Credits
As per GREC, real estate agents and brokers in Georgia will be eligible for renewing their license after completing the continuing education.
Once you have received your certificate of completion of continuing education from a state-approved course provider, you will be all set to submit your license renewal application.
Renewal Process
In order to renew your license every four years, you will need to complete the renewal process which is pretty straightforward and simple.
Simply report the completion of your course credits as a proof along with a lawful presence verification form. You can do this process online on the GREC website.
Note that you will be charged a license renewal fee of $100 for the same.
Late Renewal
In case you fail to get your real estate license renewed before the expiration date, you will have to fill a license reinstatement application.
Along with the application and a proof of completion of your continuing education, you will have to pay a minimum of $225 as a late renewal fee.