Real estate agents and salespersons

Real estate agents and salespersons must be 19 years of age or over, have completed secondary school, and be licensed by the province or territory where they work. In B.C., people in this career must complete a licensing course through the University of British Columbia, as well as the Residential or Commercial Trading Services Applied Practice Course.

In B.C., licences are renewed every two years. Real estate agents and salespersons must also take professional development training every two years.

Those who apply for a licence must be “of good reputation.” This means that during the licensing process, applicants must answer questions about their general business and personal reputation, including any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings. They must also provide a criminal record check.

People who work in this career must pass the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program general test.

Real estate agents and salespersons need to stay up to date on the latest technology since they use this every day. To be classified as a REALTOR®, a person must belong to a regional real estate board, which means that they also belong to the provincial real estate association and the Canadian Real Estate Association.

Real estate agents and salespersons who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.

For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.

Contact the BC Financial Services Authority for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

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The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

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The real estate market directly affects employment in this career. When property sales go up or down, the number of jobs for real estate agents and salespersons follows that trend a few months later.

Currently, homebuyers and sellers can find a great deal of property information on their own by going online. As a result, real estate agents and salespersons are gaining more value for their real estate knowledge; understanding of local communities; relationships with mortgage brokers, insurance brokers, lawyers and other professionals; and their negotiating skills.

Technology has made it possible for people in this career to be more mobile—although regular contact with their managing broker (supervisor) is still needed.