Real Estate Trading Services Licensing Course

Real Estate as a Career

Your decision to undertake a career in real estate, as with the choice of any vocation, merits very careful consideration. Before you register for a real estate course, you should read the Real Estate As A Career information provided by the Real Estate Council of British Columbia (RECBC). This may help you determine whether or not the real estate vocation is for you. Please note that in order to be eligible for real estate licensing in the province of British Columbia, section 10(b)(i) of the Real Estate Services Act requires that an applicant for licensing is at least 19 years of age.

A Step By Step Guide and Budget

In order to become licensed to sell real estate in British Columbia, individuals must complete a number of requirements. The Real Estate Council of British Columbia (RECBC) provides a Step By Step Guide and Budget for individuals who would like to become licensed.

Course Overview and Course Content

The Real Estate Trading Services Licensing Course is administered on behalf of the Real Estate Council of British Columbia (RECBC). The course is designed to provide the licensing education requirements for those individuals who wish to become licensed as a trading services representative. In short, this course introduces all aspects of the operation of real estate markets. For detailed course content information, please view the Table of Contents. Please note that new students who wish to become registered as a sub-mortgage broker in British Columbia MUST register in the Mortgage Brokerage in British Columbia Course.

Course Format and Course Requirements

All Licensing Courses are offered by correspondence in a self-paced format. This format allows students to register and begin the course at any time and to work at their own pace. Although there are no due dates for assignments in the courses, students must complete all of the assignments within one year of registration in their course or face mandatory suspension. Course materials are usually dispatched via courier within three to five business days of registration.

Students are encouraged to take advantage of the Student Support Services included in the course tuition. Students who require face to face instruction to master or review course topics can attend lectures at no extra cost. Lectures are offered throughout the year in different locations within British Columbia. Students also have access to online video tutorials to assist in learning course concepts.

The Hewlett Packard (HP) 10BII+ calculator will be used in the demonstration of analytical techniques in the program of studies; however, there are a variety of pre-programmed financial calculators on the market, some of which will perform more sophisticated calculations or have greater programming capacity. You may use any financial calculator for the course and examination, providing it is silent, cordless, handheld and not alphanumeric and programmable. Many stationary and department stores sell the HP 10BII+ and you are encouraged to "comparison" shop because discount or sales prices are often available. If you are unable to locate the HP 10BII+ calculator in your area, one can be purchased online at the Real Estate Division Bookstore.

All students must have access to a personal computer, a printer, and the Internet (including email) when taking any Real Estate Division course. You will find that a computer is a very helpful tool in submitting your assignments, viewing your assignment answer guides, and for creating effective study notes to help you prepare for your examination. As well, all Real Estate Division courses include online resources and if you do not have internet access or an email address, you will not be able to take advantage of these resources. Please note that a current web browser (equal to or higher than Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 2, or Safari 4) is needed to view the Course Resources webpage.

Language Proficiency Requirement

There are no pre-requisites to register in the licensing course; however, the Language Proficiency Requirement must be satisfied prior to exam registration. LPI documents may be submitted after course registration or at least two months before exam registration. Please note that LPI documents will not be returned. Therefore, students wishing to keep original documentation will need to send notarized copies of the original documents.

Click on the link below to find out more about the Language Proficiency Index (LPI) requirements:

Tuition

Your tuition fee includes all of the appropriate course materials (e.g. manual, workbook, and handbook), access to student support services (e.g., lectures), and your first examination registration provided it is on a regularly scheduled examination date. Calculators are sold separately.

Real Estate Trading Services Licensing Course: $875

Please note that tuition fees are subject to change and a minimum withdrawal reduction of $200.00 will apply once your registration has been processed. No refund of course fees will be available unless a withdrawal request is received by our office within one month of your registration date.

Student Support Services

Tutorial assistance with the course material is available from our course specialists, through a toll-free number and through email. Classroom and online lectures are also included in the course tuition fee. These lectures are designed to assist students in mastering and/or reviewing the concepts covered in the course manual. As well, the Course Resources section of our website contains learning resources designed specifically for licensing course students, including announcements, updates, lecture and exam schedules, and tutorial information. Students also have access to online assignment submission, downloadable answer guides and other internet tools which enhance their learning experiences.

External Tutors/Lectures

Students are encouraged to take advantage of the Tutorial Assistance and Lectures provided with their course rather than spending additional money on external tutors/lectures. Online video tutorials are also included with your course for a number of topics, including the HP 10BII Calculator.

It is important to note that the Real Estate Division has no ties with tutorial classes provided by other members or organizations of the real estate industry and does not monitor or check the services they provide. Therefore, the Real Estate Division cannot be responsible for any information provided by these individuals or companies.


Examination

At the end of the course, you must write a final examination. To be eligible to register for the final examination, all assignments must be submitted, marked and passed within 12 months of your initial registration in the course. As well, Real Estate Trading Services Licensing course students must satisfy the Language Proficiency Requirement prior to registration for the examination.

Regularly scheduled examinations take place at various times throughout the year. The Real Estate Division has a number of established exam centres across British Columbia, however, students who wish to write in a location other than an established exam centre may apply for a Special Examination Centre (please note that Licensing examinations are not offered outside of Canada). The fee to have a Special Examination Centre established within Canada is $200. Due to the complexity of establishing new centres in numerous locations, the Real Estate Division cannot guarantee your choice of location but will endeavour to accommodate you.

Students may choose to write their exam at the Computerized Examination Centre (CEC) located at the University of British Columbia rather than writing on the regularly scheduled examination dates. The CEC allows students the option of writing examinations in a quiet, comfortable environment, and at a time that may be more convenient for them.

In order for you to be permitted to write an examination, you must be able to present, at the examination centre on the day of the examination, an Examination Admission Ticket with your Passport Photo attached (no exceptions). You must also be able to present acceptable secondary photo identification.

Examination Rewrite/Deferred Candidates

The following candidates are considered to be rewrite or deferred candidates:

  1. Rewrite Candidates - Those who have previously written the examination and failed and wish to rewrite.
  2. Deferred Candidates - Those who have successfully completed all of their assignments and were scheduled to write the examination but postponed and did not write.

If you are a rewrite or deferred candidate, please read the Real Estate Trading Services Challenge Package and Examination Information. Students may wish to purchase the Challenge Package before registering for the examination.

If you would like to register for the next regularly scheduled examination or at the CEC, please download the Special Examination Registration Form. If you have registered for the challenge package, please submit your exam registration online through your course resources webpage.

DO NOT download the special exam registration form if you are currently registered in the Real Estate Trading Services Licensing Course.

Course Completion

Completing the Real Estate Trading Services Licensing Course satisfies the licensing educational qualification in British Columbia for a representative ’s license restricted to provide real estate trading services, and will qualify you to work for a licensed brokerage. In order to open your own brokerage, you will be required to either satisfy the requirements for a broker ’s license, or hire a managing broker for your company. For information on these requirements, please contact the Real Estate Council of British Columbia at (604) 683-9664 or toll-free at 1-877-683-9664.

Residential Trading Services Applied Practice Course (Post-Licensing) Information

After you pass the Real Estate Trading Services Licensing exam, you will need to complete the Residential Trading Services Applied Practice Real Estate Course offered by the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA). This course, which must be taken by all trading service representatives, is intended to build upon the technical knowledge provided in the Real Estate Trading Services Licensing course. For more information on the Applied course, including tuition and course schedules, please contact the British Columbia Real Estate Association at (604) 683.7702.

Exemptions/Challenges

In certain cases, course exemptions are available based on previous related experience or education. Details are set out in the Real Estate Educational Guidelines provided by the Real Estate Council of British Columbia.

If the Real Estate Council of British Columbia has provided you with permission to challenge the course by writing the examination only, please read the Real Estate Trading Services Challenge Package and Examination Information. Students may wish to purchase the Challenge Package before registering for the examination.

If you would like to register for the next regularly scheduled examination or at the CEC, please download the Challenge Examination Registration Form. If you have registered for the challenge package, please submit your exam registration online through your course resources webpage.

DO NOT download the challenge exam registration form if you are currently registered in the Real Estate Trading Services Licensing Course.

Challenge Package

The Challenge Package, which costs $350, assists students who have received permission to challenge the examination or those who have outdated materials from which to study from. The Challenge Package includes the course materials (such as the course manual, student handbook, course workbook, answer guides and the exam study guide), access to the Course Resources webpage and the central tutor support service.

The following candidates are eligible to purchase the Challenge Package:

  1. Individuals who have been provided with a written confirmation of a course exemption from the Real Estate Council of British Columbia.
  2. Students who have successfully completed all of their assignments and were scheduled to write the examination, but postponed and did not write or those who have previously written the examination, failed, and wish to rewrite.

Eligible candidates should read the Real Estate Trading Services Challenge Package and Examination Information.

If you would like to purchase the Challenge Package, please download the Real Estate Trading Services Challenge Package Registration Form.

Please note that if you prefer, you can purchase some course materials individually from the Bookstore, however, the course workbook, answer guides, student handbook and access to the Course Resources webpage are only available with the Challenge Package.

Real Estate Trading Services Supplemental Course

The Real Estate Trading Services Supplemental Course is available to those licensees wishing to become licensed to provide additional real estate services. You may register in the supplemental course if you have successfully completed the full Rental Property Management Course, Strata Management Course, or Mortgage Brokerage in BC Course (previously Mortgages: A Real Estate Financing Course), including the exam. Students who are not currently licensed or who have not written a full licensing exam within one year will be required to write the full three hour exam. The Course Schedule gives you an indication of the topics and lessons which make up your Real Estate Trading Services Supplemental Course. Tuition is $590.

Inter-Provincial Candidates

Visit the Real Estate Council of BC's Jurisdiction webpage for more information.

Real Estate Services Act Relicensing Education Program (REP)

The Real Estate Council of British Columbia has determined that to satisfy the Relicensing Education Program elective course requirements, licensees may choose licensing supplemental courses and exams (Trading Services, Rental Property Management or Strata Management) or the Broker’s course and exam. As well, licensees may choose courses in the following UBC Real Estate Division programs. For information regarding these courses and their registration requirements, please follow the appropriate links:

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities

The Real Estate Division's goal is to ensure fair and consistent treatment of all students, including students with a disability, in accordance with their distinct needs and in a manner consistent with academic principles.

Services are available through UBC Access and Diversity, and candidates who have physical, sensory or specific learning disabilities are encouraged to contact the Real Estate Division to make appropriate arrangements. Students requiring special exam accommodation must contact the UBC Disability Resource Centre at least 2 months prior to their examination date.

Course Regulations

View a copy of the full Course Regulations from the Real Estate Division Student Handbook.

Registration

If you would like to register for this course, either online or by registration form, please go to the Registration webpage.