Real Estate Post License Education and Continuing Education Courses
What is Real Estate Post License Education?
An industry as dynamic and evolving as Real Estate demands the best from its professionals.
Be it salespeople, brokers, appraisers, or realtors, real estate industry professionals are required to keep themselves up-to-date and abreast with the latest laws, guidelines, and developments.
In the rapidly changing world of real estate, learning continuously to upskill is not a choice, but a necessity for real estate professionals.
Staying relevant is the key to surviving and sustaining in a fast-paced industry like real estate, especially as the field is getting more competitive every day.
Whether you are new to the industry or already have years of experience in the trenches, staying relevant and updated is a must for building a thriving career path.
This is where real estate post-license education comes into the picture.
Post licensing education is a must for professionals who want to equip themselves with the latest knowledge and skills, and maintain the validity of their license.
With post-licensing education, real estate professionals are exposed to the latest industry trends, skills, knowledge, and updates to help them stay competitive and confident in their roles.
If you are someone who has recently got your agent or broker’s license, you must be aware of the post-licensing education requirements and importance.
For professionals who are nearing the end of their real estate license’s validity, you too need to be aware of certain real estate continuing education requirements for renewing your license.
In this article, we are going to do a deep dive into the concepts of post-licensing and continuing education.
We will also discuss why they are important for career growth and how real estate professionals go about completing them successfully.
Definition of Real Estate Post License Education
In real estate industry terminology, post-license means anything that happens or occurs after you have obtained a state-approved and issued license.
Post-license education is an industry term that means any education or coursework that requires completion after obtaining a license.
Post-license is fundamentally different from pre-license education, as the latter is a must-do before obtaining a license while the former is a must after getting the license.
Post-license education is an umbrella term for a specific set of courses and topics which provide advanced, in-depth knowledge and training in the real estate industry.
It is the decision and responsibility of the state and national-level real estate regulatory bodies to enforce the latest curriculum and decide the course hours for post-license education.
Now that you have completed the monumental task of getting your real estate license, the next step is to meet the post-license education requirements.
But what exactly is the importance of post-license education after all? Isn’t completing the pre-licensing coursework enough to work in the real estate industry?
A lot of beginners and aspiring real estate professionals face these common questions - so we are going to answer these in detail next.
Importance of Real Estate Post License Education
Wondering why post-license education in real estate matters? Let’s take an example to understand it better.
Imagine you have a heart condition and want to consult a physician, someone who can give you a quick cure for your problem.
You visit the doctor and explain to them the symptoms you are facing. The doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes medicines to help improve your heart condition.
After a few months of taking the medicine, you notice that your heart problem persists. You decide to consult another doctor, who is a specialist in cardiology.
After reviewing your condition and the medicines, the doctor concludes that you have been provided with generic medicines, instead, you need to take specific treatment to get better.
This analogy drives home a simple fact - the more advanced and in-depth your knowledge is, the more beneficial you are for serving other people.
Just like we saw in the example of a patient-doctor scenario, even in real estate, a potential homeowner, seller, or buyer can benefit greatly from the services of experienced, up-to-date, and skilled professionals.
Post-license education plays a vital role in preparing new and emerging real estate professionals to become more skilled and proficient in their roles and responsibilities.
Be it a real estate agent, broker, or appraiser, here are some reasons why completing post-license education is important:
- Post-license education is a must to renew and maintain your real estate license. Without completing it, your license will stand the chance of becoming void or null.
- It helps you stay updated with the industry trends. The real estate market is constantly changing and thus it helps to keep you abreast with the latest developments and trends.
- It allows you to upskill and add to your knowledge. The real estate industry is highly competitive and to stay ahead, you must always be learning.
- It improves your chances of enhancing and growing your career. Completing classes and courses gives you the chance to grow your network and learn from fellow professionals.
- It enhances your trustworthiness and perceived professionalism in the eyes of the clients. The more knowledgeable you are, the more confident you appear to others.
Now that you have learned about the benefits of post-license education, the next step is to know how to go about completing it.
Requirements for Real Estate Post License Education
Real estate laws and regulations are subject to change at the state and federal level, thus different states have their own set of requirements.
When it comes to real estate post-license education, below are the common basic requirements applicable across the industry:
- Applicants must have a valid state-approved and accredited real estate license.
- Applicants must complete the pre-licensing coursework within two years from the date of activating a real estate license.
If you meet the above basic criteria, the next step is to fulfill the educational requirements.
It is important to note that not all states require you to complete the post-licensing education. Currently, more than half of the total states have made post-licensing education a mandatory step for license renewal.
As mentioned above, each state has its own set of post-licensing education requirements, including the total number of coursework hours required.
For example - Both The California Department of Real Estate (CDRE) and the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) require license holders to complete 45 hours of coursework.
On the other hand, states like Georgia and New York are more relaxed, requiring 25 hours and 22.5 hours of post-licensing course hours respectively.
Now if the number of hours has got you worried, do not stress. Thankfully, you can easily complete the post-licensing education by enrolling in an online course from any state-approved education provider.
Speaking of investing in a post-licensing education, the average cost is anywhere between $100 to $500, depending on the state and the education provider.
Understanding Continuing Education Courses in Real Estate
Another term that real estate professionals often come across is known as continuing education.
Wondering what exactly is continuing education and how is it different from post-licensing education?
One can think of continuing education as an additional upgrade to post-licensing education - a step up in terms of knowledge, skills, and training.
For the sake of an analogy - one can consider pre-licensing education as learning to ride a bike compared to continuing education which can be considered as learning to ride a car.
Let us dive deeper into understanding what continuing education is, and why it is important for real estate professionals.
Meaning and Purpose of Continuing Education Courses
Continuing education courses’ meaning is simple - completing specialty courses and gaining advanced knowledge as one progresses through their real estate career journey.
The purpose of continuing education is to expose active real estate professionals to an even greater depth of the industry, along with allowing them to specialize in their chosen electives.
Additionally, continuing education courses are also mandatory to keep your real estate license active and valid throughout your career. Thus, it must be completed during the term of an active license and before you submit your license renewal application.
However, note that continuing education is not required in the first two years of obtaining a real estate license.
Speaking of continuing education, most states and their respective real estate regulatory associations choose general trends and industry topics as part of the course curriculum.
Overview of Continuing Education Requirements for Real Estate Professionals
Although a vast majority of states have established and enforced continuing education as a mandatory step for license renewal and validity, the specific requirements may vary.
Further, the requirements also vary as per the type of license you are holding. For example - continuing education for an active sales agent will be different from an active broker.
For example - in California, you have to complete 45 hours of mandatory continuing education for first-time license renewals,
Whereas, in New York, you will have to complete 22.5 hours of continuing education for first-time license renewals.
Even the curriculum of the continuing education coursework can differ from state to state.
Thus, it is recommended to reach out to your state’s real estate regulatory body to get the most up-to-date information on continuing education.
Benefits of Taking Continuing Education Courses in Real Estate
If you have made it this far in the article, you should be aware of the importance of continuing education in advancing your real estate career.
However, if you are still not clear about the benefits, let us explain in detail below:
- Stay ahead of the competition: Real estate is a highly competitive field and to grow and stay ahead of the curve, you will need more than just a basic license. Continuing education can help you stay updated and abreast with the latest developments, industry trends, and market advancements.
- Build upon your knowledge: You completed pre-license education to get your license, and completing continuing education can help you level up your existing skills. By completing specialized courses, you can add to your knowledge and expand it more.
- Easier to complete: Continuing education should not scare you, as it is easier to complete as compared to pre-licensing training. You can opt for any real estate online continuing education course provider to get started and learn at your own pace.
Thus, if growing and advancing in your real estate career is your goal, then completing continuing education can help you get there.