Personally, I believe there should be such a requirement for future agents. Grandfather in the older agents. Most professions (accounting, appraising, financial advising, tax, etc.) require a college degree. We deal with huge assets so why do we have such a low common denominator in our industry for entry?

Frank, Minimally, an AA degree should be required. Presently, in Florida a H.S. diploma is required. I've written on this before and received more comments for NOT increasing the requirements. This would be a good way to "thin the herd" of marginally qualified agents.

Some may say additional education equals elitism, I respectfully disagree.

I am in agreement with Nina

I really like Nina Hollander  's response. Experienced agents - grandfathered in. New Agents - education requirement in a related field. It's required of everyone else, so why not real estate. It's not a matter of producing an "elitist" mentality. Hopefully, the education requirement will encourage career professionals because they have some skin in the game. It's just a question of weeding out the individuals who come in quickly when the market is hot and disappear just as quickly when it is not and leave a disaster in their wake.

No, I think we just need to raise the ante of how much it costs to get into this buisness.  If it cost $5K per year, we would all be better off. 

Frank don't take my comment personally, I know you are just repeating a question offered yesterday. If you REALLY believe your higher standards question..read on...

"mandate a college education"

This is the chatter of those with an elitist mindset.

People like this are always looking for ways to PROTECT THEIR TURF.

Which is ALWAYS disguised by suggesting it will improve the quality of service.

Tp further support my position, the 'degree' is not identified to contain the words real estate or business or administration or anything!.  So how does a degree in culinary arts help the real estate industry?

This proposal is an elitist attempt to exclude others. Don't fall for it...unless you are an elitist.

By the way, what's the brokers role in the real estate transaction?

Frank Rubi, MBA - 'requirement' is a big word! Some agents are good even without a degree and some agents are not-so, even when they have a big degree or college education.

Since this is people business, I have a designation for myself which I share at my client consultation: PNP - Pretty Nice Person!

No. Many college majors and degrees wouldn't be any help in real estate sales.

Absolutely.

No.

I am no one to take that call.

I do feel where I work, my industry could use more education and real life work experience.  Not sure requiring a college degree (which I have) really helps a lot in my daily job, but it taught me many good lessons while I worked towards earning it.  I do think there needs to be more education in our industry where I work.

I have the educational requirements for every state and it is a crazy quilt. In one state it is 60 hours, and I bleive Texas just went from 630 to over 900 hours to give you a contrast. I talked to an educator from another state and they only need 12 hours continuing in their cycle. This is something that NAR is trying to tackle right now but the resistence in states is strong. Too many schools want students, commissions want tests, board want dues, and borkers want transactions. We need to break the money chain emphasis to get this turned in the right direction. 

Oh yeah, I guess that is the problem...

No, anybody can be a successful real estate agent if they put their attention to it.

NO, I know a lot of agents that have noting more than a High School ed. and are great agents.   but I do believe that it is to easy to get a license to help people make the biggest financial decision of their lives.  Heck, it takes 9 months for a barber to get a license and if they make a mistake it grows out in a couple of weeks.

I am in favor of restricting the license but I'm not sure that a college degree is the answer.  How do you measure for common sense? People skills? Ethics? College does not necessarily teach these things.