Amazing!   Absolutely amazing...as a matter of fact...astounding...even scary!

Thank you, Don!  I am glad someone agrees with me and hope others will as well.  You are right ... it is scary at best!

Oregon requires 120 hours of class and you have to pass a 200 question state test.  Those were the requirements as of 2002. Newer agents know the basics, but there is still a lot to know.

Thank you, Melina!  Michigan only requires a 40 hour class, and a 100 question state-administered test.  On top of that, they only require 6 hours of continuing education per year.  Pretty frightening, eh?  I love the idea of 200 hours ... 40 is simply MUCH to little.

Here in AZ it takes 90 hours of class time, pass the school's test. Then you can take the 100 question national test, and 60 question state test. It only takes 24 hours of CE classes to renew your license.

Personally I thought it was pretty easy to get my license. I think more hours to get your license and more hours of CE classes would help make better agents.

Thank you, Ulises!  I completely agree with you and am seeing a pattern here.  Michigan obviously needs to beef-up their requirements, which I wish they would. 

Dude.. It's nice to see you on here learning..  I told you you would get addicted!! Keep up the good work!

Interesting.  I have employed and trained many new agents, all who believed it was going to be so easy, until they were faced with writing their first contract and froze.

They often try to get experience through CE.  I keep telling them that you'll learn 10 times more by selling real estate. 

I still learn something on every single home I sell. 

Thank you, Lenn!  I am honored that you stopped by and wrote.  Yes, I aim to learn something everyday, and ideally teach others as often as I can.  I just wish the oversight was there to turn people out into this industry more prepared then is taking place right now...

Derek, I just got licensed in '04.  I work with my husband who's been a Grand Rapids realtor since '89.  He agrees that it's too easy to get licensed BUT in the class I took there were many who had failed the state exam 2 or more times.  Now THAT's scary.   

Thanks, Karen!  You and your husband are absolutely correct.  Michigan needs to take a long look at their requirements and come to expect more out of the Real Estate professionals.

Derek, as you know from reading my post/rant there is a gapping need in our profession to step up to the plate and raise our level.  This will be an interesting year when those agents in your example either step up or step out

I don't think the cNC course is too easy.  During the entire pre-licensing phase they constantly raise the bar to weed out those who won't be committed.  We had people just not showing up towards the end because they thought it would be easier.  By the time the final test was given, probably half the class had already excused themselves.  You will never learn everything you need to know in a class.  Hands-on is the best teacher you can get.

Joe - Yes, sir!  You are absolutely correct!  I hope to run for State Senate one day and change the way things are done here.  We need to expect more, and the public should expect more.  The sad thing is, the public doesn't know what they don't know...

Derek - The funny thing about it is that it this same situation is true for many industries.  I've noticed Virtual Assistants who ask questions that I think "why don't they know  that?" However, as with Realtors(c), the requirements to become a Virtual Assistant are very lax.  Now, I'm not complaining as I have no college degree and have made a great living for myself as a VA.  I'm sure there are also Realtor's who were ecstatic to be able to find a career that would not take them long to get into it!  The problem is that, in all industries, you get people who don't want to put forth the effort to learn everything they can to keep up with the industry - to make yourself the best _________ (fill in the blank) you can be.  I think the problem is not lenient requirements to get into the game. The problem is people who decide to put forth the least amount of effort and expect to get the greatest return.

~Renae

Renae - Thank you for your comments and for taking the time to make them.  In short, I agree with you ... but with the following caveat.  Let's take two licensed professions ... Real Estate and Cosmetology.  If someone messes up a haircut, it can and will eventually be fixed.  If someone messes up a Real Estate transaction ... let's say they failed to represent their buyer in learning and disclosing that the house sits on an old landfill ... well that would take longer to fix, if ever.  What we do everyday has long-reaching implications to people and the lives of their families.  Thank you for stopping by and for sharing ... that is what I love about this website!

In Oklahoma as of Nov 1st 2007 Pre- and post license is 90hrs each.  You take a pre-test before you go to OKC and take a verrryyyy long test.  The thing is it's multiple choice so it's fairly simple if you paid attention and also the fact that you only have to have a 75 to pass.  I think that requirement (75%) should be raised.  You must take 24 hours of CE within your first 3 years...(after your 1st year which is a provisional) Yes, I think it is really easy to get your license but to becoma an actual "REALTOR" takes alot of hard work and committment!

Kelly - Thank you SO much for your comments!!!  Would you believe in Michigan one only needs to pass a 40 hour class and a state-administered test, then there is only a 6 hour per year requirement for CE ?!?  True story ...

Derek, I think more educational requirements should be expected, and I also think that Brokers should have more responsibility with the development of their agents.  I better watch out for the shots on that one.  Great post.