Absolutely too easy to get a license - even with the ultra high education requirements here in Texas.  I would like to see not only more education required, but a required mentor program where one must be an apprentice for at least a year or a specific number of transactions before you can go it alone.

I think it's way too easy to get licensed (despite the fact that there's probably a 50% failure rate on the first attempt to pass the state exam). Don't know about more CE, but I do think the requirements for the license should be toughened up.

William.

Our CE courses in California are fairly boring and they repeat themselves over and over again, and they are not that useful in terms of practical learning.  I do think that should be revamped and make the education fit the times.  A

Way too easy to get, I think that most of the complaints that you hear of could be eliminated with a higher level of entry.

I always thought, it is just a way of making many for a department and state. It is easy to get in, but it is not easy to stay and make living. 

I do think there should be more extensive education requirements. It looks so easy and that is part of the reason there isn't a commitment and people are quick to get out.

WA state made it more difficult within the last few years and the drop out rate is still high. I'd like to see more of a formal apprenticeship status for new licensees though. 

It is very easy to obtain a real estate license.  Too bad they don't teach in school more of what you REALLY see in the field.  And go into more detail about the costs associated with holding a license.

States differ in the hoops necessary to gain a RE License. For Florida, it should be MUCH more difficult. California is about right with all the courses they require.

Absolutely yes. Just yesterday a friend told me he had failed the class test and I asked how that was possible. He told me he never studied. This is a serious profession and should be tightened up with more education and higher demands on the professional.

Good morning William. I don't think the number of hours in a class is going to make that much difference. It has much more to do with DNA.

When I went to real estate school, there was nothing about it that was easy to me. At that time our requirement was 54 hours.  Now it is 90 hours plus an additional 80 hours required in the next two years.

I have taken tests for four states and I feel they were too easy and none of them addressed much about true knowledge of real estate.  They all concentrated on rules, regulations and punishments.  The tests seem designed to perpetuate state bureaucracies. Another example of too much government doing no good at all.

As Joan Cox  mentioned, the classes and tests should cover what you see in the field,

Five other members have expressed the idea of an apprenticeship or internship.  I have endorsed that idea for years.  It will not solve all the problems but would be a step in the right direction. (I tried to tag all five but AR says there is a limit of tags in the body)

As to CE classes, they need to address what we face in the field and should be more challenging that they currently are.

I've been through the RE exam twice now (once in the 90s and once in April/May).  It was sad how easy it was.  They even asked the same question SIX times (and it wasn't a difficult one!).  I'm shocked that the average person STILL takes 3 attempts to pass!  I've also passed the Life & Health insurance exam way back in the day, same deal.  Easy-peasy.

Degree requirements are nice, but not good if you want to get in at 18 like I did.

As to CEs, they annoy me.  I tried to take a personal safety one through CA state.  Took the three section quizzes and scored 100% without reading the material (I teach that stuff) and it wouldn't let me take the exam unless I had spent 3 hours in the thing!  INSANE!  I miss the IT ones where you just attended a webinar and got the credit.

Yes.  We need to raise the bar for entry into our profession.  I believe it is 18 and a pulse here in Arizona.  No education requirements.  For example, apprasiers here now must be a college graduate.   I dont have all the answers but I do wish we would raise the bar for entry.

Too easy, too cheap, not enough CE. Newer agents should have an internship period like appraisers do, before they are unleashed on the public.

I don't know. I think a lot of agents think the business is easy, but it isn't. For some taking the classes and getting a license is a waste of time and money, because they don't realize how hard they have to work. Maybe having an intro course into what this business is really like is the answer. 

Way too easy. In CA I think 50% of people can pass.  

If they mandate like engineering profession-a BS with X years of working experience. For RE 2 years working experience with college courses in business etc.  

I don't believe a college degree requirement is un-reasonable. You are handling a lot of $$.  In CA if one has a college degree or mba one needed not to have 2 years of experience to go for broker license-THEY NOW changed the requirements. The experience definition was not defined.

It is pretty easy to get, but I do not think more classes will solve anything. Maybe an apprenticeship with an experienced agent after you have a license before going of on your own could be a better idea.

William - I think it is too easy to obtain a real estate license, and that is why there are so many people who get into selling real estate, and so many who do it part-time, while working another full-time job.

However, I am not sure that more CE classes would solve the issue.

I've heard the RE test is a lot harder than it use to be.

William Feela I think the board can surely decide to have more hours for CE.

I am fine with 12 hours of CE every two years in MA.

Depends on the state. Some are as low as 16 hours and I believe that Texas just went over 900. Regardless real estate is on the job training and hooking up with the right broker and a REALTOR® mentor makes the most difference.

Ours in the State of Tennessee and Virginia have gotten tougher in the past few years ....I know several that have failed!

Depends on the state and their licensing requirements! Maybe more yes than no!

Yes & Yes.  

Not sure about more CE but closer supervision by brokers is in order with awareness of how new an agent is...revew the offer, listing etc.. BEFORE it goes live.

It is too easy and the CE should be more interesting for sure

I am not sure that CE classes are the best way to obtain the educational levels that will provide the best background for a real estate career.

definitely too easy - and yes there should be more CE Classes for all of us

The courses and exams have very little to do with the actual practice of real estate, IMHO.

If I were Queen... 

I'd still require the courses and tests, but would not let a new agent show houses, write up a deal, or manage a transaction until they completed a year long mentorship program, then re-tested. 

Much too easy and it often shows. There should be an "apprenticeship" period of sorts and more education. The amount of training is hugely inconsistent between different areas of the country. The RE laws and training should be standardized to improve quality all around.

IN light of what we have seen over the last few years I agree on both accounts...Harder to get and more CE

Yes . it is easy to get a license.

I think it is to easy and to easy to keep a license.

While the license is not difficult to obtain the real lesson in this business comes afterwords.  Dealing with people and their wants and needs takes time and help from those who have been in this business.  Seek out and listen to those people with experience is the best teacher.  Mose CE classes only if they deal with how to obtain knowledge in dealing with clients.

I think new and seasoned agents should continue their education continuously.... and the licensing exam doesn't hinder anyone from getting licensed...some take the exam numerous times until they pass it...

Even if you gave real estate licenses and all the "how to" classes away for free, the cream will always rise to the top. Real estate is a business just like any other. You either have business sense or you don't. Those who treat is as a hobby will earn hobby wages. Those who treat real estate as a business will never have to worry where their next deal is coming from.

I don't think the issue is whether it is easy or not easy.  If they don't apply themselves and have a brokerage involved, new agents won't be a hinderance to other agents.  I have seen many get their licenses and are working in a fctory within a year, because they couldn't afford the fees and didn't close any or enough trnsactions to live on.

I don't know. It's really not that hard to be good at this. More classes might create less volume, not sure though. 

No.

Such talk can be attributed to those who want to exclude new people from the real estate business (exclusionists) and promote 'raise the bar' or 'more education' remedies that have no possibility of changing the outcome.

If you see something that needs FIXED, start with the BROKERS who broke it, not the agent.

Only two things would be needed and the problem would be SOLVED.

Agents must display status as Intern or Agent based on annual transactions.
Limit the number of Intern status a broker can keep on board.