 Licensing & Renewals > Real Estate > New to the Industry
To become licensed as a real estate associate in Alberta for the first time, a person must:
- Have a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent;
- Fluency in English; and,
- Be at least 18 years old
Once the above requirements are met, individuals must complete pre-licensing education, the Real Estate Associates’ Program (REAP), facilitated through the Alberta Real Estate Association (AREA). For course information and registration, please contact AREA.
All 3 phases of REAP must be completed prior to licensing and registration:
- Phase 1: Introduction to a Career in Real Estate
- Phase 2: Fundamentals of Real Estate
- Phase 3: Real Estate Areas of Practice
- Residential Real Estate
- Commercial Real Estate
- Rural Real Estate
- Property Management**
**Those associates wishing to only conduct Property Management activities are required to take the first two phases of REAP and the Property Management Module of Phase 3.Those wishing to be a real estate associate, but who do not want to conduct Property Management activities, do not need to take the Property Management module of Phase 3.
Prior to licensing and registration with RECA, individuals must also obtain and provide to RECA a certified criminal record check. Full details on how to obtain a certified criminal record check can be found here. Individuals can start the application process for a certified criminal record check even before they have completed REAP.
Individuals must also complete the Understanding Designated Agency and Transaction Brokerage course, which is available online through RECA. For more information, click here. This course can be completed once Phase 2 of REAP has been completed.
Once REAP and the Understanding Designated Agency and Transaction Brokerage courses have been successfully completed, individuals are to complete an application for licensing and registration and provide it to the broker with whom they have obtained employment. The broker can then register the applicant with their brokerage using the RECA Online system.
If the individual has not yet received a certified criminal record check, the broker may still license and register him/her provided the applicant provides the following documents to RECA:
- a criminal record check based on legal name and date of birth obtained from a local police force. Note: the applicant must send the original criminal record check to RECA. Photocopies will not be accepted.
- a copy of fingerprints submitted in order to obtain the certified criminal record check; and,
- proof of application for a certified criminal record check (postal receipt, courier stub, etc.).
If the above three items are not provided to RECA, the broker will not be able to license and register the new associate until RECA receives the applicant’s certified criminal record check.
If the applicant has a criminal record, bankruptcy or disciplinary action by other organizations in their past, the executive director will need to determine the applicant’s suitability. Applicants may make application to the executive director for a suitability determination prior to completing the education requirements. In order to do so, an applicant is to complete the suitability form and forward it to RECA.
For more information about the fees payable to become a real estate industry member, please see the current fee schedule.
For additional information on the licensing process, education requirements, certified criminal record check and suitability issues click on the links below.
Licensing Process
Education Requirements
Certified Criminal Record Check
Suitability
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