How To Become A REALTOR® in Edmonton, AB.

This information is current as of September 2022. The licensing and education process changed as of June 2022 in Alberta. 

Real estate can be a rewarding business that can help you achieve your personal and professional goals. In Alberta, real estate professionals are called “Real Estate Associates” and are licensed by the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA).  REALTOR® is a registered trademark term owned by the Canadian Real Estate Association that applies to all those licensed with them in Canada.

The process can often be confusing, so let us quickly sum up the general process into a few main steps specific to Edmonton, Alberta (detailed explanations below):

  1. Meet the eligibility requirements and create your myRECA.ca account 
  2. Complete the licensing course (online & self-guided through a recognized course provider)
  3. Join a Brokerage (we hear RE/MAX River City is awesome!) 
  4. Launch your real estate sales career! With continued practical training 

This may seem like a quick and easy process, however, this may take you several months to get to step three – all depending on how much time you have available to commit to the program. Let us go through the steps in more detail here for you.

If you have any questions, at any time, please do not hesitate to contact our leadership Team, Shane Parent, Robert Biddlecombe or John Carter at 780-439-7000 or email here. 

FREE Instant Downloads

  • 15 Career-Building Tips from Real Legends 
  • New Agent Success: How to Start a Career on the Fast Track
 

Detailed Explanations Below

Step 1 – Meeting the Eligibility Requirements & Create your myRECA.ca Account

There are a few minimum requirements prior to completing the application that are required by RECA.

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Able to lawfully study and work in Canada
  • Able to provide specific government-issued identification (ID)
  • Canadian high school diploma or equivalent (post-college diploma or university degree)
  • Be proficient in English

Do you meet these requirements? 

Go to www.myreca.ca and follow the steps to CREATE an Account

Submitting your Enrollment Application

There, you will also find the link to apply for eligibility. There is a non-refundable $100 fee.  If there is anything in your past you think may prevent you from becoming licensed (eg. Criminal record, bankruptcy, disciplinary history), you may request a suitability review – click here.

You will eventually require a Certified Criminal Record Check

A Certified Criminal Record Check (CCRC) is a certified fingerprint-based criminal record search for non-criminal purposes conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Ottawa, in which digital fingerprints are compared against the central repository of Canadian criminal records.  Please ensure you request a CCRC, not a vulnerable sector search. The CCRC must contain your complete legal name and date of birth as it reads on your birth certificate, citizenship card or permanent residency card.  RECA must receive your original CCRC directly from the RCMP in Ottawa. Complete a Third Party Waiver of Consent when you apply for your CCRC so the RCMP can send it directly to RECA.

Where can you get your fingerprints taken? Click Here for a list of Accredited Fingerprint companies.

SUPER IMPORTANT

Your Certified Criminal Record Check

Your CCRC must be no older than 6 months at the time you submit an application for licensing. Therefore, it is essential that you time it so that it is done before you finish the course yet doesn’t expire before joining the Brokerage. Expect 3-4 weeks for completing and receipt of results by RECA – this estimate can fluctuate based on how busy the RCMP are.

Step 2 – Complete the Licensing Course (Online & Self-Guided)

Once your eligibility has been determined, you will start your formal education. 

Individuals hoping to become licensed will need to complete the required education through a third-party recognized course provider.

RECA’s board of directors recognizes courses and course providers that meet RECA’s set requirements. However, course providers have the freedom to structure and organize their courses as works best for their institutional and instructional needs.

The most important consideration for learners when choosing a course provider is that the course will prepare you to pass RECA’s exam to protect the public and to provide competent service in your chosen industry sector.

Courses could vary in number of hours to complete, quality of instruction and materials, course modality—virtual, classroom, or a combination—and more. Not only can these elements affect the cost of the course, but they can also affect the suitability of the course for individual learners.

What might seem like a great deal financially, could simply reflect fewer learning resources available to individuals. Education is an investment in yourself and your career. Investing not just money, but time—time in understanding your learning needs, in researching course options, in building your knowledge—can set you up for long-term success in protecting the public and providing competent service.

Learn more about pre-licensing education and choosing a course provider.

Course 1 – Fundamentals of Real Estate

This course gives you the foundational knowledge and skills that you will need for the Practice course(s). Depending on the course provider, costs and time to complete vary and new course providers are being added in future. To give you an idea, the course takes 70-125 hours to complete and costs range from $800-$1,250. 

Course 2 – Choose an Area of Real Estate Practice

You must take at least one of these courses before getting licensed (you may choose all). We highly recommend completing the Practice in Residential Real Estate at a minimum.  This course takes between 70-100 hours and costs vary by provider, from $400 to $2,000

      • Practice of Residential Real Estate
      • Practice of Commercial Real Estate
      • Practice of Rural Real Estate
      • Practice of Property Management

We Recommend

As of September 2022, based on feedback from newly licensed Associates with our brokerage, the AREA program is the best.

Step 3 – Join a Brokerage

You’ve almost made it! The Real Estate Act requires you to be licensed under a Brokerage. Joining the right Brokerage is key! You are encouraged to contact our Broker/Owners to get the ball rolling. As part of your membership with RE/MAX River City you are also required to maintain your license and professional memberships. Here are the regulatory and professional registrations that are required.

Summary of all costs

Who – What How much When
RECA – Eligibility application fee $   100Upon application
Course – Fundamentals of real estate  $ 800-$1,250Upon enrollment into the course 
Course – Area of practice (ex: residential) $ 400-$2,000Upon enrollment into each course 
RECA – Registration of license $   475Initial, then every year Oct 1st
REIX – Prof. liability insurance $   275Initial includes $100 Assurance fund levy (one time), then $175 every year Oct 1st
CREA – Initiation Fees $ 210Initial only 
RAE/CREA – Membership $ 1,677Initial, prorated based on below*
RAE – Keys To Success course  $   595Mandatory orientation course
RAE – keypad rental $   374Initial, lease for equipment. Prorated based on below* 
AREA Dues $800+275 = $1,075Initial registration fee, then $275 for your first year and annual by December 31 thereafter.

TOTAL

 $ 6,000 – 7,960

After that, your annual costs are $275 to AREA every Feb28 + $2,052 every Mar 31st to RAE/CREA + $750 to RECA/REIX every Sep30 = $3,077 per year. 

Breakdown of costs when you signup with the Brokerage

Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) $475
This covers the cost of your actual license. Regardless of when you get licensed, you are required to renew your license by October 1st every year.

Real Estate Insurance Exchange (REIX) $275
REIX provides you with professional liability insurance which is a mandatory requirement of RECA. This is paid every year when you also renew your RECA license. 

Alberta Real Estate Association (AREA)                                 $800 registration + $275 annual dues = $1,075
As the provincial professional association, they support Alberta’s 11,000+ REALTORS® through member-centric services, advocacy and professional development. Sometimes confused with RECA, AREA is your advocate in the industry; where RECA’s mandate is to protect consumers.  www.albertarealtor.ca

REALTORS Association of Edmonton (RAE)
Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) – www.crea.ca
These organizations provide us with the many tools and services that you will depend on to conduct your business. This includes the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®), forms and contracts, key boxes, continuing education, professional standards, etc.
www.realtorsofedmonton.com

The initial membership is adjusted based on when in the year you join. You then pay dues annually every March 31st for the following 12-month period. 

*2024 Rate Schedule (incl. GST) & the Services for Success Course:

January 1 – February 28                $1,413.04
March 1 – March 31                         $2,463.04
April 1 – June 30                             $2,099.48
July 1 – September 30                    $1,755.60
October 1 – December 31               $1,411.73 

PLUS Ekey Lease:
January 1 – February 28                $74.81
March 1 – March 31                         $374.06
April 1 – June 30                             $299.25
July 1 – September 30                    $224.44
October 1 – December 31               $149.63

Step 4 – Continue Your Practical Training

Only once you are licensed will you start to learn on how to do real estate. This is where you will experience the best that RE/MAX River City has to offer you. Our new and ongoing experienced real estate training programs will help ensure your success. As what we offer is as varied as it is numerous we recommend that you meet with our Broker to discuss which programs are best suited for you.

Learn More: REALTOR Training

Mentorship Program

RE/MAX River City is proud to offer an exclusive mentorship program that caters to all agents.

The life long dedication to education in our industry is one of the pillars here at River City, and we believe the mentorship program is the ideal program for anyone looking to kick start their business, or who might be looking for a re-boot.

To learn more about how the program works, the investment, and see testimonials from past apprentices click the button below.

Learn More: Mentorship Program

Team Opportunities

Considering working on a team or creating your own? Learn about the 4 main types.

There are many team structures in real estate sales. The video summarizes a discussion between Shane Parent, Associate Broker & Owner and John Carter, Broker & Owner of RE/MAX River City in Edmonton, AB. of the four main types.

  1. Partnerships
  2. “Master and Minion”
  3. Collaborative
  4. Single Agent with support staff
Learn More: REALTOR Teams

FREE Instant Downloads

  • 15 Career-Building Tips from Real Legends
  • New Agent Success: How to Start a Career on the Fast Track
 

Learn More – Next Steps

Meet the Broker  –  REALTOR® Testimonials  –  Tour Locations  –  Why REMAX  –  REALTOR® Training

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