A Guide to Becoming a REALTOR® in Nelson

Becoming a REALTOR® in Nelson is a great career option. Whether you are looking for a new job or eager to find a satisfying career. One of the best parts about being a REALTOR® is that no two days are the same. For instance, on Monday you might do showings for a client, and on Tuesday you might help a buyer close their first home purchase. This makes the job highly interesting and maintains some diversity in one’s day-to-day life. If you’re interested in starting your career as a REALTOR® in Nelson, you may be wondering where to begin. To help you out, we wrote this guide and will continue to provide tips and advice to help you decide on a real estate-focused career.

Follow along with the post below to learn more!

The First Steps in Becoming a REALTOR® in Nelson

To become a REALTOR® in B.C. you must go through the process outlined by BCFSA (BC Financial Services Authority). They are the governing body that oversees the vetting, education, and licensing of agents in British Columbia. The first test that you will need to pass is an English language test. Proving your fluency in English is a critical first step to becoming an agent. Since English is the language used for real estate documents and communication, it naturally follows that a certain degree of fluency is required to obtain a career in this field. 

Once you’ve passed your English proficiency test, you’ll also need to pass a criminal record check. The BCFSA will not issue licenses to those whom they believe could put the public at risk. While they treat all criminal charges seriously, each person is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Any/all charges that a person has will be thoroughly investigated by the BCFSA and a license will not be issued unless they deem the person fit. Particular scrutiny is placed on charges that involve a lack of integrity, abuse of power, or crimes against another person. 

The last step you may want to take before starting the process of becoming a licensed REALTOR® is to budget. There are several costs that you will need to cover to become an agent in B.C. For example, the cost of the licensing course and supplemental fees, the English Language Proficiency Test, licensing fees, criminal record check, and real estate board fees. You’ll also want to consider how much additional cash you’ll need to support yourself during the process of becoming a licensed agent. 

Getting your Real Estate License in BC and Joining a Real Estate Firm

When you’ve completed the vetting process, you’re ready to begin your education. The BCFSA requires applicants to take two courses to become licensed. The first course is called the Real Estate Trading Services Licensing Course. This course is offered through the University of British Columbia and it teaches those enrolled about everything from mortgage law to land rights. Those enrolled in the course must complete it within a year. Tuition for this course (at the time of publishing) is $1,450. To complete the course you must write the final exam during one of the regularly scheduled times or at the CEC at UBC. After finishing this course, you will need to take either the Residential or Commercial Trading Services Applied Practice Course. Those planning on specializing in residential real estate should take the residential course and vice versa. 

After finishing the required education, you can start your application for licensing. To do so, you need to find a brokerage that you want to work for and have them sign your application. This brokerage must be a member of the real estate board in your locale. Once you have the application filled and signed, you’re ready to send it off to BCFSA for their review. It’s important to note that when they approve your application you will be a real estate agent but not a REALTOR®. 

To become a REALTOR®, you will need to join a real estate board. For instance, in Nelson, the governing board is the Association of Interior REALTORS®. Once you are a member, you will have access to lots of perks. For example, MLS® access, great statistics, educational opportunities, and more! 

Contact us About Career Opportunities in Nelson!

Are you ready to start working towards a career as a REALTOR® in Nelson? Start the process today by talking with one of our experienced team members to get a better idea of how to become licensed and how you might fit in at our brokerage! For more information about careers at our firm, contact us today. Be sure to check out our social media for the latest updates and more. Also, don’t forget to visit our blog next month for more real estate agent-related information.

We look forward to speaking with you about a potential career in real estate!