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Real Estate Education-the Bar Is To Low I have made comments on numerous threads about what I perceive as a major problem with the real estate industry, that problem being the minimal requirements to become a licensed agent. I believe that this problem is a significant contributor to the poor reputation that real estate agents in general have. I also believe that this problem is a significant contributor to the plethora of under-educated and incompetent real estate agents. I realize that each state makes it's own laws for real estate agent education requirements. Below are the current minimum education requirements in Tennessee to become licensed or certified in some selected professions:
I am curious to know what the State requirements in other State's are for similar professions and would appreciate feedback on that. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how low the bar is for someone to become a real estate agent. Additionaly, once a person gets their license, all they have to do is send the NAR their annual dues, take a COE course, and they are a Realtor. I realize that the NAR doesn't make State law. However, there are a number of things that the NAR could do that would raise the bar in order to become a Realtor. Some of these could be a required mentorship, minimum transactions, earning certain designations, etc. I believe that something along these lines would greatly improve the credibility and reputation of Realtors. I'd like to hear your comments on any of the above. |
In NC is WAS 90 hours but, has recently changes as we are an all-broker state now. I do agree that we have far too few hours of training in this business. We are held so accountable (well, the good ones are!) that we all feel that a bit more education would be most helpful in our professional development. I'm very surprised that more is not expected in all states.
George,
This is a great post because it takes a certain amount of pride in our business to speak up with facts to back your opinion up.
Debe, above has written a post or two that hits close to home on this subject.
Here is the bottom line.
NAR and our State REALTOR Associations are all about numbers. The higher the numbers, the more revenue is generated.
Until we, as current members, step up to the plate and make our points to our current "leaders", we will not have any higher standards than we insist on from this gallery.
The place to start our revolution is not NAR, but our Real Estate Commissions. They set the licensing rules along with our State legislatures. Get to your State congress people and make your point.
George, you or someone, needs to send your post to NAR Legal Dept. along with all the comments you generate, which I hope will be a lot.
This belief of yours goes along with the highly debated discussion of "part-time vs. full-time" agents. It is a bad practice to encourage any Profession to welcome with open arms, under-educated part-time participants with the lax licensing laws we all currently have.
Now, if you could only get each one of us to follow-up with our statements and make an important contact in our government, we'll see some progress. My bet is it will be the same years from now without some sort of powerful drive from those of us that make real estate a CAREER.
You've raised the bar just by talking about it.
Don-I appreciate your comments and agree with what you are saying. I realize we have got to take this issue to the State Legislatures. At the same time I believe there is an opportunity for the NAR to distinguish itself, which may not be a bad idea with all of the heat it has been taking lately. I believe that Realtors should not only be held to a higher standard than non Realtor agents, but also should have a higher bar for entrance to the Realtor profession than a real estate agent that is not a member of the NAR. I believe that the NAR could act more quickly than all of the State Legislatures in raising the bar, and they don't have to wait on the States to make the necessary changes. I believe that to become a Realtor who is competent, educated, ethical, has credibility, and is in a profession that is looked up to that the NAR should have stringent requirements over and above State licensure in order to be certified as a Realtor. I suggested some possible requirements in my original post.
I would like to hear from anyone who agrees with this and might be interested in pursuing this.
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