The Virginia Association of Realtors sent out the following notice recently. This is totally unbelievable. How long this went on before being discovered isn't mentioned. I would say there had to be cooperation from the licensing testing company. So how many people received a license that never studied and had someone else take the test for them? Will these people have their licenses revoked or suspended until they are re-tested and prove they deserve to be licensed?
I wonder if the " few individuals in Northern Virginia" who organized and orchestrated this scheme were charged with any crime? How many members of the public have dealt with these fraudulently licensed agents?
Just a disgrace to the industry. DPOR should identify these agents that used or attempted to use fraud to get licensed to the public.
"VAR-"The Business Advocate for Virginia Real Estate Professionals. We want to share this news with you: The Virginia Real Estate Board recently added a new requirement for real estate candidates pursuing a license. As an increased security measure, a candidate must now submit a photograph to their pre-license education provider. In turn, the education provider will have to submit that same photo to PSI, the real estate license test administrator, prior to the candidate taking the exam. This new requirement came about as a result of systemic fraud across several professions regulated by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. The scheme was highly organized and coordinated by a few individuals in Northern Virginia. In general terms, the scam consisted of identity fraud, as well as false verification of education and experience by real estate professionals, cosmeticians, contractors, tradesmen, and others. In some cases, another individual took exams on behalf of the candidate. Specifically, the Real Estate Board will now require that candidates for initial licensure by examination in Virginia submit, at the time of pre-license course enrollment, a 2" x 2" passport compliant photograph to their Board-approved pre-license education provider. The candidate's photo must be a full-face view, directly facing the camera with a neutral facial expression in front of a plain white background. The Board-approved pre-license education provider will be responsible for submission of the photograph at the time they upload the course completion information for each candidate. PSI Exams, Inc. will train the Board-approved pre-license education provider in this process in addition to providing a template with the specific naming convention required to match the photograph to the individual candidate's record. Those who offer Board-approved pre-license education courses will be hearing soon from a PSI Exams representative concerning this matter."
Jeff Pearl | Lic in VA
Remax Distinctive | McLean VA
703-727-4876
Homes | Land | Farms | Historic
www.jeffpearlhomes.com
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