How to Get Careers in Real Estate in Alberta?

Obtaining careers in real estate is a simple process for those who take the time to complete each step. Becoming a real estate agent is a highly rewarding and in-demand career. One of the biggest questions that we receive about becoming an agent, is what the process is like to get your real estate license. It can be hard to find the correct information about starting your journey as a REALTOR®. However, that’s why we wanted to write this article about how you can obtain your real estate license in Alberta. In this post, we cover the most up-to-date information about the initial process of becoming a real estate agent. Follow along below to learn more about this topic!

Step 1: Meet the Eligibility Requirements for Careers in Real Estate

The first step to becoming an agent is to meet the minimum requirements for eligibility. It’s important to get approved by the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) before you enroll. In fact, at RECA, they’ll check your eligibility requirements to ensure that you are able to enroll. In order for a person to qualify by RECA’s standards, you must:

  1. Be 18 years of age or older
  2. Be able to study or work in Canada lawfully
  3. Be able to provide specific government-issued identification
  4. Have a minimum of a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent
  5. Must be proficient in English

Next, you’ll need to set up a myRECA account. This account allows you to access the myRECA educational platform that allows you to take real estate exams in Alberta. Accounts are free and it only takes a few minutes to create. 

Once you’ve created your account, navigate to the “Education Eligibility Application”. This is how you’ll submit your application to RECA.

Requirements for education and English ability are different for those who received a Canadian education Vs. an international education. If you meet the requirements for education, then you’ll be required to take an English language proficiency test. Again, the language proficiency test differs depending on whether you received a Canadian or international education. 

After you’ve been approved for the education and English language requirements determined by RECA, you’ll need to partake in a brief information session. These sessions are usually done in video format and are provided by RECA. Typically, the video is around 10 minutes in length and covers all of your options as a future real estate agent. This video should serve as a guide for the type of real estate licensing you’d like to obtain.

Step 2: Start your Pre-Licensing Education

Once approved by RECA, you need to complete the pre-licensing education. Your pre-licensing education is critical in obtaining your real estate license. In order to get your license and apply for pre-licensing, you must take a minimum of two courses with RECA. 

As part of your two-course minimum, you must complete the Fundamentals of Real Estate class. This is a mandatory, online course that all applicants must take. Within this course, you will learn foundational skills and knowledge to ensure that you can practice real estate in Alberta. The curriculum is laid out into 10 different units with activities and quizzes to track your progress. This class is conducted online and costs $1250. You can register for this course via the RECA website. Furthermore, the course fee includes access to online course materials like the e-textbook and course manuals. 

Exams can be taken at any authorized exam centres. You can book your exam and check where the nearest exam centre is to you via your myRECA account. 

Besides the mandatory course mentioned above, you will also need to take a specialty course of your choice. This course will determine what area of real estate you’d like to focus on. Some of the options include:

  1. Residential real estate
  2. Commercial real estate
  3. Rural real estate
  4. Property management 

You must take one of these courses to get your real estate license. However, you are more than welcome to take additional specialty courses. Most individuals begin with a specialty in residential real estate and then take further courses later on when they want to expand their area of expertise. Moreover, each course costs $800.

These courses are not to be completed at your own pace! You must finish your minimum two courses within 1 year of being enrolled in them!

Contact us Today About Careers in Real Estate!

If you are looking for careers in real estate, contact us today! RE/MAX Alpine Realty is happy to help you get started in a career in real estate. For more information about the process of becoming an agent, check back on our blog next month for part two of obtaining your real estate license. Additional information about becoming an agent can be found here. Be sure to stay tuned to our social media for more exciting content! And don’t forget to meet the team!

/0 Comments/by

New Year’s Resolutions for Those With Jobs in Real Estate!

2023 is finally here! And, we are excited to bring you fresh blog content for the new year. Our team has been working hard to plan tons of new and helpful content. Everything from agent advice to buyer and seller tips are coming your way in the next few months. To kick off this year’s content, we wrote an introductory post with some new year’s resolution inspiration for those with jobs in real estate! Being an agent comes with all sorts of challenges. So, it is important to set yourself goals to stay on track and ensure that you are always progressing. If you are an agent who is looking for some goal-setting inspiration for 2023, continue reading the article below for more info!

Goal Setting for Jobs in Real Estate.

  1. Be Proactive

Being proactive rather than reactive is a great resolution to implement in 2023. Nothing says professional better than an agent who is well-prepared and level-headed. Especially in the face of adversity. One of the best ways to become proactive is by setting goals and breaking them down into smaller chunks so that you can achieve them easier. For example, if your goal is to sell 25% more houses in 2023, you might set smaller goals to reach this like:

  • Go to a networking event every month
  • Build a better social media presence by producing monthly content
  • Strengthen your relationship with the local community by attending events and volunteering
  1. Build Brand Awareness

Brand awareness is an integral part of any business. Whether you are a real estate agent or a baker, building brand awareness is of the utmost importance. Having people actively recognize who you are and what your values are will drastically increase your chances of gaining leads. But how can you build brand awareness in 2023? The answer is simple—time and content. The best way to build brand awareness in today’s digital society is online. So, creating social media content, building out a blog, and having a strong website can be all you need!

  1. Create Relationships

Another great goal to set for yourself in 2023, is to create more relationships with potential buyers and sellers. One of the best ways to create relationships with people in your community is to attend local events. Getting yourself out there so that community members begin to recognize you is half of the battle. Furthermore, if you are looking to build more relationships, try picking up a new hobby. Hobbies are a great way to meet new people within your community. 

More Goals to Set!

  1. Better Your Customer Experience

Customer experience is key to client retention. Moreover, a good customer experience means that you are more likely to get a referral or a good review. Since the real estate industry is built off of relationships and who knows who, good customer service is critical to your success as an agent. But how can you better your customer experience? Here are some of the ways you can improve client satisfaction in the new year:

  • Be communicative and respond to clients in a timely manner
  • Update key information like contact info and faqs so everyone is in the loop
  • Be available as much as possible
  • Be personable when interacting with clients
  1. Build Your Knowledge

Many business professionals get all too comfortable after years of working in the same position. This is a recipe for hitting a plateau and often results in a decline in sales. In order to stay on top of the competition and continue to build your success, you must have a student mentality. In essence, in order to grow you must build your knowledge on a regular basis. Learning about new property trends, best practices, and new legislation is crucial in your development as an agent. 

  1. Update and Refresh

If you are still using the same headshot, website, and logo from 2001, it might be time for a refresh. Updating your headshot can breathe new life into the look and feel of your brand. Furthermore, refreshing your website can attract new leads and improve customer experience. Overall, it is good practice to update and refresh key elements of your brand in order to stay relevant and make sure everything is functioning properly. 

Contact Us Today!

If you are looking for jobs in real estate in 2023, contact us today! We’d be happy to help you get started with a career in real estate. For more information about what goals to set as an agent in the new year, be sure to reach out to one of our team members. We look forward to helping everyone from agents to buyers and sellers in the next 12 months. Be sure to stay tuned to our blog and social media for more exciting new years content. Wishing everyone the best in 2023!

/0 Comments/by