Thread: Any body get their license online?

I didn't even know I could get licensed online. I did the traditional "Have my husband supervise daughter's homework and cook dinner at the same time while I'm in class" kinda thing.

I did real estate school online and I would highly recommend you take the in classroom version. It takes much longer online and you can't ask questions about certain concepts. I am a fast reader and thought I'd finish in half the time online and it actually took me months and months to do it online because I never made time for it, life gets in the way, whereas if you have a class to attend, you just do it.

Interesting..."earning" a real estate license online.

As a real estate licensee, the licensee represents a client under the umbrella of a fiduary relationship, which imposes certain duties upon the licensee; such as trust, loyalty, and financial responsibility, to mention a few.

If I were a member of the public, and if I had prior knowledge of a broker or an agent earning their credentials online, most likely, I would skip over them. The same goes if I were seeking an attorney, the same principle applies.

A part of the public already holds real estate licensees in low regards. With the internet changing the way business is conducted, especially in the real estate industry, we need to demonstrate our competency and level of professionalism from the moment we decide to enter the industry. In my opinion, those who approach the real estate profession with the lax attitude of "I can do this online - it isn't all that important," well, to express myself nicely, I would never hire them to work at my firm. There are differencing opinions on this issue, however, this is mine.
As real estate licensees, we represent many people and many concerns in one of their largest financial investments. Truth be told, I wouldn't trust one of my largest investments in the hands of someone who earned their "credentials" online.

I do pass my 14 hours online, making sure I keep my FL license updated.
Since I'm in TN, it's much easier for me.
I use dearborn for that. Cost: $19.95

You do understand that its just the 63 hour course that's online, right, and that you do still have to take the same tests, etc. that you do in the classroom version? You still have to take the state exam, etc. to earn your license and go through training with a brokerage, etc.

I am not sure why you would not hire someone who did it online. For many of us its not that we think its a fast way to make a buck, it was just simply more convenient than sitting in a classroom when you are learning the exact same material - and all the material is the same statewide. Personally, if I had it to do over again, I would have gone to the classroom because doing it online took me much longer than I expected and was actually harder than the classroom in my opinion. But I don't think its fair to discriminate against a potential licensee just because they chose the online route. I understand what you are saying about having a fiduciary relationship, but to me it makes no difference if you are learning the laws in person from a teacher or online if the material is the same. I am still a highly motivated individual and hopefully potential brokers will recognize that and take the time to train me & develop my talents, regardless of where my state mandated education in real estate came from.



[quote=JChristin]Interesting..."earning" a real estate license online.

As a real estate licensee, the licensee represents a client under the umbrella of a fiduary relationship, which imposes certain duties upon the licensee; such as trust, loyalty, and financial responsibility, to mention a few.

If I were a member of the public, and if I had prior knowledge of a broker or an agent earning their credentials online, most likely, I would skip over them. The same goes if I were seeking an attorney, the same principle applies.

A part of the public already holds real estate licensees in low regards. With the internet changing the way business is conducted, especially in the real estate industry, we need to demonstrate our competency and level of professionalism from the moment we decide to enter the industry. In my opinion, those who approach the real estate profession with the lax attitude of "I can do this online - it isn't all that important," well, to express myself nicely, I would never hire them to work at my firm. There are differencing opinions on this issue, however, this is mine.
As real estate licensees, we represent many people and many concerns in one of their largest financial investments. Truth be told, I wouldn't trust one of my largest investments in the hands of someone who earned their "credentials" online.

Depending what state you are in, online classes are available. I'm in Michigan and know a couple people that did it online and they wished they didn't. Main reason being they didn't have anyone to bounce questions off of.

In Oregon, there are five topic courses; each course having a requirement of 30 instructional hours, for a grand total of 150 hours.

The licensee typically interacts with attorneys, land use planners, environmental consultants, and various kinds of contractors, jurisdictional personnel and financial professionals (from the get-go). In my opinion, the licensee ought to be empowered to enter the industry with a minimum level of knowledge that will allow them to interact with other professionals (speak the language), and for the betterment of their client

Well, sounds like Oregon has many more requirements than they do here in Florida. In Florida only 63 hours of prelicensing education are required and you don't interact with anyone but the instructor in the classroom - so this is why I feel its not as important to attend in person versus online.

I understand what you are saying but even your example of contracts, at least in Florida, you don't learn that much about how contracts are constructed in the real estate school curriculum, I assume that's more taught to new agents in the field, so I don't know why it makes a difference where you take your curriculum, online or classroom.

And as far as comparing an attorney's education to a real estate agent's, attorneys go through 4 to 8 YEARS of higher education, so to even compare 63 or even 150 of pre-licensing hours to the years of education an attorney goes through and the responsibilities they have - well, there's no comparison. That's just comparing apples to oranges in terms of the amount of education that is required for the two fields. And as far as helping people with the largest investment - a home - that is why its prudent to recommend a real estate attorney and title insurance, to protect yourself as the agent in that fiduciary role.

[quote=JChristin]In Oregon, there are five topic courses; each course having a requirement of 30 instructional hours, for a grand total of 150 hours.

The licensee typically interacts with attorneys, land use planners, environmental consultants, and various kinds of contractors, jurisdictional personnel and financial professionals (from the get-go). In my opinion, the licensee ought to be empowered to enter the industry with a minimum level of knowledge that will allow them to interact with other professionals (speak the language), and for the betterment of their client

Originally Posted by RealtorToBe

I understand what you are saying but even your example of contracts, at least in Florida, you don't learn that much about how contracts are constructed in the real estate school curriculum, I assume that's more taught to new agents in the field, so I don't know why it makes a difference where you take your curriculum, online or classroom.

And as far as comparing an attorney's education to a real estate agent's, attorneys go through 4 to 8 YEARS of higher education, so to even compare 63 or even 150 of pre-licensing hours to the years of education an attorney goes through and the responsibilities they have - well, there's no comparison. That's just comparing apples to oranges in terms of the amount of education that is required for the two fields.

The licensee is the first professional involved in the preparation of the written contract. The licensee fills in the blanks and writes any additional terms and conditions not included in the preprinted sales agreements, amendments, and addendums, and which expresses the wishes of the parties to the contract. When a land sales contract will be prepared by an attorney, the attorney will be guided by the sales agreement prepared and submitted by the licensee. Oftentimes, the licensee may write several pages to express any additional terms or conditions not expressed in the preprinted forms. As a licensee, you can be held accountable for poorly written agreements and other documents - as well as in the area of due diligence. The client’s best interests must always come first.

Real Estate licensees are held accountable for their actions; much in the same fashion attorneys are held. Licensees are not like car salespersons or popcorn vendors at the circus. Licensees are held to a stricter and higher standard than the “ordinary” salesperson. Perhaps an internet search for “real estate broker lawsuits” would be more convincing. As for an attorney’s education, I finished my JD in four years (part-time), the average time being three years. So when it comes to selecting the fruit to be use in a comparison model, I think I choose well – most of the time anyway.

I wish you well after you pass your exam and move into the industry. Remember, there is more to the industry than residential sales. The ability to move around and gain experience in different areas: corporate, industrial, commercial, investment, telecommunications, asset management and more are available (much like the different area of the laws for attorneys to move about). It would be interesting to hear from you in one, two and three years after you commence your practice and how it has reshaped your ideals.
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