How to Become a Realtor in Vancouver
If you live in Vancouver and are considering real estate as a career, look into becoming a Realtor as well. In Canada, a Realtor is a licensed real estate agent who is a member of the Canadian Real Estate Association and adheres to a set of rules known as the Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practices. In addition to the degree of trust that is associated with the Realtor designation, you will have access to benefits not available to general real estate agents in Vancouver.
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Instructions
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Meet the language proficiency requirements. Go to the University of British Columbia web site to see if you meet the requirements for English-language proficiency. If you do not meet the requirements you will need to take the Language Proficiency Index exam. Register online to take the exam at the LPI office web site. Make payment by credit card at the time of registration.
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Complete the mandatory real estate courses. There are two courses that must be completed in addition to passing the LPI. The Real Estate Trading Services Licensing Course is a correspondence course offered by the University of British Columbia. For the second course, choose either the Residential or Commercial Trading Services Applied Practice Course depending on your goals. These are 30-hour courses developed by the British Columbia Real Estate Association and must be completed within six months of taking the first course. Proof of successful completion of both programs must be presented when applying for your real estate license.
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Apply for and obtain your real estate license. Download an application form from the Real Estate Council of British Columbia web site. If you have a brokerage for which you are planning to work, have it sign your application for licensing. Sign and mail your completed application, payment forms and two copies of identification to:
Real Estate Council of British Columbia
900 -- 750 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 2T8
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Join the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. When your application has been approved, as a licensed real estate agent you are able to become a Realtor. Visit or call the real estate board in Vancouver for information on how to submit an application for membership and application fees. Once your application is accepted you will automatically become a member of the BC Real Estate Association and the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). As a member of CREA, you are also now a Realtor.
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Tips & Warnings
The two pieces of identification submitted with your real estate license application are required for a criminal background check. The only acceptable forms of photo identification are a valid driver's license, a valid B.C. identification card, current passport or a permanent residence card. In addition you must also send one of the following: your birth certificate, BC care card or social insurance card.
If you do not send in two forms of approved identification or if the copies are not clear and readable, your application will not be sent for the criminal background check. Because of the amount of applications submitted to the Real Estate Council, you may not immediately receive notification of the problem, which will cause a delay in the approval process for your license.
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