Being your own boss, helping individuals through an important time in their life, and meeting new people makes real estate work an exciting career. Being a real estate agent or broker isn’t just fulfilling, though; it also comes with financial incentives. While the median annual wage was $62,000 in 2022 for real estate agents, the highest 10% earned more than $113,000 annually. In comparison, the median annual wage was $36,000 for real estate brokers, while the top 10% earned over $173,000.
More experience often comes with more financial rewards for real estate agents, but it also comes with the need for continuing education. Today, continuing education (CE) courses can be completed online and are often accompanied by positive impacts on your business.
This article will go over the importance of real estate continuing education and the types of real estate CE classes available. Additionally, we’ll discuss continuing education requirements and how these courses can benefit your career.
Within the last year, median listing prices increased by 3% compared to the previous year. Today, the market has increased demand and low supply, resulting in the perfect storm for a changing market. The world changes, and so does the real estate world, which is where continuing education comes into play.
Managing important financial moments in someone’s life, maintaining a code of ethics, and keeping informed of the latest laws make CE courses necessary for realtors. Aside from helping you stay competitive and updated on pertinent information and developments, it’s often a requirement.
In addition to pre-licensing requirements, all real estate professionals will need to complete post-licensing continuing education. Before we jump into CE requirements, it’s important to note that every state has different rules and regulations for license renewal. Just like many other professions, realtors are required to maintain their skills through continuing education courses.
Luckily, there are many online courses available to simplify the renewal process. The right programs should offer you a variety of core and elective courses for realtors, covering essential topics like:
As you can see, you can complete a variety of online CE courses to maintain your license. Although your goal of taking CE courses and exam prep might be to complete your state’s required credits, you can also gain many valuable skills. However, not all real estate schools are the same. Below are some top-rated online real estate schools:
Regardless of which state you have your licensing in, you’ll need to fulfill post-licensing requirements. The exact continuing education requirements vary by state. For example, Louisiana requires 12 credit hours of CE to be completed every 12 months, while New York requires realtors to complete 22.5 hours of coursework every 24 months. As you can see, the exact continuing education credits and requirements can vary greatly.
Below is a list of some real estate license continuing education requirements in different states:
Besides fulfilling state real estate licensing requirements, continuing education can positively affect your career. CE courses offer a convenient way to stay updated with industry best practices, including learning how to use social media to find new clients. Ultimately, learning how to navigate tricky situations, the financial aspect of realty, and other topics can help you become a better real estate agent.
Not only will this ensure your current clients are happy during the home-buying process, but it can also help you land new clients. A lot can be said for word of mouth, especially in real estate.
In addition, continuing education helps you prepare for the future of real estate. The world is changing, and it will continue to do so. Want to learn about sustainable housing practices or eco-conscious options? Are you up to date with your state’s real estate laws and disclosure requirements? Laws change, and you want to ensure you’re prepared for your future in this constantly evolving industry.
Ensuring you’re aligned with the latest legal requirements, prepared for the future of work, and caught up on continuing education courses are essential in professional development — so treat it as such. Showcasing that you’re current on licensing requirements is a good idea because it indicates that you’re ready to work.
Additionally, listing additional certifications and continuing education courses highlights new skills you’ve developed. Showcase your professional development courses in the education section of your resume.
As a general tip, your most recent experience should be placed higher up on your resume. Although it’s wise to include continuing education courses in your resume, do so sparingly. A resume should never be a dumping ground for all the courses you’ve ever taken. Instead, highlight the most relevant and important continuing education courses you’ve completed.
In real estate, continuing education is essential to stay caught up with state requirements. Additionally, it helps you develop skills, setting you apart from other professionals.
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