EDUCATION

Professional Development

Being a REALTOR® means committing to a standard of professionalism that goes beyond regulatory requirements. Under the Professional Development Program (PDP), BCREA and the eight real estate boards facilitate REALTOR® professional development in BC, providing opportunities to enhance skills, confidence, and knowledge within the profession.

The BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA), also known as the regulator, is responsible for all aspects of licensing. Looking to register for Legal Update, Ethics – Building Trust, or the Applied Practice Course with BCFSA? Click here.

About the Professional Development Program


Each PDP cycle, REALTORS® are required to complete a minimum of 18 hours of professional development. The PDP cycle is two years in length. REALTORS® can fulfill these requirements by taking a combination of accredited and self-directed professional development opportunities.
HOURS
12
Accredited Professional Development
12 HOURS

Accredited professional development has been accredited by the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Committee and contributes to the fundamental skills, experience, and knowledge required of REALTORS® throughout the province.

REALTORS® are required to complete at least 12 hours of accredited professional development each PDP cycle. You can find a list of all accredited professional development opportunities here.

Are you a REALTOR® and need more information about accredited professional development? Click here.

Are you a vendor and have a course that you’d like accredited? Click here.


HOURS
6
Self-Directed Professional Development
6 HOURS

Self-directed professional development has not been accredited by the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Committee but enhances your professional practice. It allows you to be recognized for professional development that meets your individual needs.

To count toward your self-directed PDP hours, a professional development opportunity must:
      1. Enhance your professional practice
      2. Be verifiable and auditable by your board
      3. Be a minimum of one hour of learning

REALTORS® can use 6 hours of self-directed professional development toward their 18 required PDP hours each PDP cycle. REALTORS® may choose to fulfill all 18 hours with accredited professional development opportunities.

Click here for a short video on self-directed professional development.

Are you a REALTOR® and need more information about self-directed professional development? Click here.

Are you a vendor and have a self-directed professional development opportunity? Click here.



Find a course

Browse the course calendars to find instructor-led and self-paced online professional development opportunities being offered across the province.

BCREA and the real estate boards have developed self-paced online and instructor-led professional development opportunities to suit the diverse learning styles and dynamic schedules of REALTORS®. These opportunities will help you enhance your skills, confidence and professional knowledge.


REALTOR® Education

Who does what?
BCFS BC Financial Services Authority

Licensing education is the education that’s required by real estate licensees to earn and maintain their real estate trading services license. The BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) is responsible for all aspects of licensing education, including the Applied Practice Course and the Legal Update Course.

UBC’s Sauder School of Business hosts the online portions of these courses on behalf of BCFSA.

BCREA BCREA

BCREA develops and offers professional development opportunities to support commercial and residential REALTORS® throughout their careers.

BCREA is also the steward of REALTOR® professional development in BC. Working with the province’s eight real estate boards, BCREA ensures BC’s professional development framework for REALTORS® reflects best practices in adult learning and accredits professional development opportunities developed by third-parties.

MemberBoards Real Estate Boards
(Member Boards)

Real estate boards (also called member boards) host professional development opportunities in-person and on Zoom. Some also develop their own accredited and self-directed professional development opportunities.

Click here to learn more about BC’s eight real estate boards.


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