How to Get Real Estate License in Canada
While dealing with the buying and selling of houses might not seem like too difficult a task, a lot goes into becoming a licensed real estate representative, particularly in Canada, where the standards are extremely high. In order to get a real estate license in Canada, you are required, under the Real Estate Act of your resident province, to begin by undertaking and successfully completing a course of study designed specifically for this purpose.
The procedure for obtaining a license is different in each province. For example, if you are looking to get a real estate license in British Columbia, you will need to begin by enrolling in the real estate trading services licensing course which is offered at the University of British Columbia’s Real Estate Division. A correspondence course, this includes 20 multiple choice assignments (which take 10-12 hours to complete) and a 3 hour multiple choice final exam. A serious, gruelling course, it covers topics such as mortgage finance, building construction, and a variety of laws, among many other subjects. Only 63% on average sit the final exam after enrolling, and out of these, only 46% manage to pass. In addition to the exam, all students need to prove their language proficiency, by meeting certain requirements.
After passing the exam, students can move on to applying for a license to the Real Estate Council of BC, by filling out the Application for Representative, Associate, or Managing Broker License Form. Finally, the student needs to register for a 5-day course titled Residential Trading Services Applied Practice Course from the BCREA (British Columbia Real Estate Association). The registration needs to be done within 30 days of receiving the license, and the course must be completed within 6 months at most.
Every province has its own procedures, rules, and regulations for granting real estate licenses. In order to find out about the licensing requirements in your resident province, you will need to contact the relevant provincial governing bodies.
Alberta
Tel: (403) 228-2954
Fax: (403) 228-3065
Email: recainfo@reca.ab.ca
Web: www.reca.ab.ca
British Columbia
Tel: 1-877-683-9664 or (604) 683-9664
Fax: (604) 683-9017
Web: www.recbc.ca
Manitoba
Tel: (204) 945-2562
Fax: (204) 948-4627
Email: realestate@gov.mb.ca
Web: www.msc.gov.mb.ca/realestate
New Brunswick
Tel: 506-455-9733
Newfoundland and Labrador
Tel: 709-729-2595
Fax: 709-729-3205
Email: gsinfo@gov.nl.ca
Web: www.gs.gov.nl.ca/real_estate/licensing_agent.html
Nova Scotia – Governing Body
Tel: 1 (800) 390-1015 or (902) 468-3511
Fax: (902) 468-1016
Email: licensing@nsrec.ns.ca
Web: www.nsrec.ns.ca
Nova Scotia – Licensing Education
Tel: (902) 468-2515 or 1-800-344-2001
Fax: (902) 468-2533 or 1-877-220-2533
Email: education@nsar.ns.ca
Web: www.nsar.ns.ca
Northwest Territories
Municipal & Community Affairs
Government of the Northwest Territories
Box 1320
Yellowknife, NT X1A 2L9
Ontario – Governing Body
Tel: 1-800-245-6910 or 416-207-4800
Fax: (416) 207-4820
Email: registration@reco.on.ca
Web: www.reco.on.ca
Ontario – Licensing Education
Tel: 416-445-9910
Fax: 416-445-2644
Email: collegeinfo@orea.com
Web: www.orea.com
Prince Edward Island
Tel: (902) 368-6478
Email: rabradley@gov.pe.ca
Quebec
Tel: (450) 676-4800
Fax: (450) 676-7801
Email: info@acaiq.com
Web: www.acaiq.com
Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 787-8971
Yukon
Tel: (800) 661-0408
Email: consumer@gov.yk.ca
