5 Steps to Becoming a Real Estate Agent in Ontario

Interested in becoming a real estate agent? You’re not alone. Ontario’s real estate industry has grown quite substantially over the past decade. Today, there are over 82,000 agents working across the province. 

While entering an entirely new industry can seem overwhelming, with the right skills and dedication, you can build a career you love and make a great living. 

Here are the five essential steps to beginning your career as a real estate agent in Ontario. 

Are you thinking about making a career change? Check out 9 things you should know before becoming a real estate agent here. 

1. Find Your Passion

While anyone can be a real estate agent, great agents usually have an existing passion or interest for certain industry elements before they begin their careers. This could be interior design, architecture, renovation projects or simply the prospect of supporting people and their families through a big life change. Staying motivated is an important part of a long-term career in real estate, so ensuring you’re truly passionate about the field is essential. 

Given the unique nature of real estate as a business, there are also a handful of personal traits and qualities that can make agents successful. For instance, extrovertedness is an important part of both networking and communicating with clients. Markets can change fast, and so do buyers and sellers. Therefore, adaptability and tenacity are positive qualities to possess. Of course, real estate agents should also feel comfortable and confident engaging in critical negotiations. 

2. Education 

Next, there are some formal education requirements for becoming a registered real estate agent in Ontario. These educational requirements, known as pre-registration programs, are mandated by the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), which governs agent licensing. 

In order to become a registered agent in Ontario, you’ll be required to take the “Pre-Registration Learning Path” program from Humber College. This program is flexible, with different schedule options including remote learning. It can be completed in as fast as 9 months or as long as 2 years. As of 2022, the costs for this program are just shy of $4,200. 

It’s important to note that you will need a high school diploma or GED certificate in order to qualify for the necessary pre-registration programs. 

Thinking about selling your home soon?  Check out these helpful blog posts to learn more about the sales process. 

• What do Home Buyers Look For?
• The Dos and Don’ts of Selling Your Home
• How Much Does it Cost to Sell Your Home?

3. Find a Brokerage

After completing the pre-registration learning path, you’ll need to choose a real estate broker to work with. As a new agent, finding the best brokerage for you is an important process. 

As an agent, a brokerage can support you in a number of ways, including ongoing training and educational resources, supportive team culture and transparent commission models. Plus, they’ll play a big role in building your industry network and early lead generation.

No two brokerages are the same, so it’s important to do your research before making a decision. A great brokerage will help you get your career off to a strong start, however, a not-so-great brokerage can potentially hinder or stall your real estate journey. 

From training to team support, working with a brokerage will be an important part of elevating your career early on. Check out our tips on what to look for when choosing a brokerage here. 

4. Register

After completing the educational requirements and finding a great brokerage, you can officially register as an agent with RECO and your local real estate board. This will require an application fee of around $600. You are required to register within 12 months of completing your pre-registration courses. Otherwise, you’ll need to begin all over again. 

5. Post Registration Requirements

Once you’ve registered with RECO you’re officially an agent! You’re ready to begin your journey and explore all of the exciting things the world of real estate has to offer. That being said, you will need to meet some additional ongoing requirements in order to maintain your registration. 

During the first 2 years of your career, also known as the post-registration phase, you are required to take some continuing education courses through RECO directly. After that, you’ll be able to renew your registration, becoming a fully-licensed sales representative.