Not that it is such a high hurdle that you would expect someone who you are trusting with your financial future to clear, but the California Association of Realtors and the California State House have made a token effort to tighten up the criteria for attaining ones real estate license.
Now instead of attaining a conditional license with one class taken and passing a very simple test, you have to take 3 classes and pass a very simple test. Is it any wonder that 1 in 50 Californians has a real estate license. Maybe with the slowdown in the market and these tougher restrictions the cartel can get the number down to 1 in 60 and raise the professionalism.
Nah, never mind, that is just madness on my behalf…
Beginning Oct. 1, the state will tighten its licensing requirements for real estate agents. Signed last year by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Assembly Bill 2429 mandates that applicants complete three college-level courses before taking the state real estate license exam. It was sponsored by the California Association of Realtors.
A soon-to-be-eliminated alternative allows applicants to seek a conditional license after taking a single class and passing the state exam. The remaining course work must be completed over the next 18 months. Under the new law, “there is no more conditional license,” said Alex Creel, chief lobbyist of the realty group. via The San Diego Union-Tribune
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
In the October 2007 issue of California Real Estate, Commissioner Jeff Davi wrote, "Let's take advantage of this market change to weed out the wrongdoers who tarnish the entire industry."
Complaints against agents by consumers are up, but they want us (licensed agents) to make formal complaints against other agents and name names. They've requested that we no longer make anonymous complaints. They are serious about getting the numbers down.
All states need to follow California's lead…it's too easy to get a license. Also, the mandatory continuing education class structure needs to be tightened up!
When the market is going up, everyone wants to be a real estate agent. Easy money-people come to the branch. (And the wrong thing the do)
We had, year 2005 in the Malaga region here in Spain, around 27.000 real estate agents. Today, after our slowdown last year only 15.000 agents left. It’s necessary to raise the education level for the future.
I think that at least an assoicates degree should be required to become a licesned agent. Its way too easy for people to become licensed real estate professionals. Just my 2 cents.
I am a real estate broker in New York. It is far too easy to get licensed here too. This past year the requirements were raised from a 45 hour course to a 90 hour, but that is not enough.
How can an unlicened agent who was hired to appraise a water company, represent a seller and two buyers who are also water companies, I m a licenced realtor who so far may have to take a back seat in this sale, even though qualified for that sale, to an un licenced realtor who is working by the hour…