Real estate agents usually require a college diploma and on-the-job training. Although you are not required to have a college degree to become a real estate agent, some advanced education in business studies and marketing can help you prepare and be successful. University-level business accounting, administration, marketing, and communications courses can help you learn the basic skills used as a realtor.

Real estate agents are regulated in each province and territory in Canada. The first step in becoming a real estate agent is to complete the basic real estate licensing course in the province where you live – each province administers their own certification courses through sanctioned real estate councils or association boards. Find out the requirements for each province or territory.

Each province handles educational certification differently. British Columbia provides real estate education through UBC Sauder’s Real Estate Division. Manitoba, on the other hand, offers training through the Manitoba Real Estate Association.

While education requirements, institutes and courses vary between provinces, the basic real estate licensing requirements are consistent.

Here are the three requirements to become a realtor in Canada:

• Minimum age: The minimum age requirement to become a realtor in Canada is 18 years old.
• Education: The education requirement for aspiring realtors in Canada is to have a high school diploma or GED equivalent, which you can attain from graduating high school.
• Citizenship: It’s essential that anyone pursuing a career as a realtor in Canada is typically either a Canadian citizen or permanently residing in Canada.

Although it’s not a requirement to earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree to work as a realtor, you must meet a few standard real estate agent education requirements. Almost every province requires a minimum number of coursework hours, which you may complete online or in person. The duration of the course can range depending on where you live. Most courses throughout Canada last for 18 months.

Next, you must find an agency to sponsor your real estate license application. It’s a good idea to meet with various brokers to find the ideal fit. Ask questions about their work style, agency setup and brokerage fee structure.

Since you’ll likely work with this agency for at least the first couple of years, you will want to ensure that you enjoy the work environment and staff. With your new-found agency to sponsor your application, submit your application for a real estate license. While licensure varies across provinces, most provinces require a written licensing exam to receive your real estate licence.

You will need to pay your licensing fee if your application is approved. In some provinces, you could also be required to become a member of a professional organization and pay applicable dues.

Errors and omissions insurance

In order to become a fully licensed real estate agent, you’ll need to get errors and omissions insurance through your province’s real estate association. This will insure you against any mistakes, damage or other mishaps while on the job.

Apply for licensing and take the licensing exam

With an agency to sponsor your application, submit your application for a real estate licence. While licensure varies across provinces, most provinces require a written licensing exam to receive your real estate license.

If your application is approved, you must pay your licensing fee. In some provinces, you could also be required to become a member of a professional organization and pay applicable dues

Real estate salespersons need to have a unique combination of soft skills that range from staying calm during stressful negotiations to helping clients decide when it’s better to walk away from a property than overbid or succumb to high-pressure negotiations. They also need good technical skills, including business math skills and the ability to communicate both verbally and written.

The profession demands that people in the job be organized, have integrity, and have flexibility in working with a wide range of people. They should be good communicators, practice active listening, have patience and be tactful.

Other necessary skills include:

Communications: Realtors work with various types of clients, usually simultaneously. Managing multiple personality types and helping each client find a home or workspace they are looking for requires strong communication skills.

Negotiation: As a realtor, it is important to instruct clients about negotiating for a better deal. It’s also crucial that realtors know when to move on from a deal and minimize losses for themselves and their clients.

Patience: Selling a house is often a waiting game, as it may take several months or even years to sell. Following leads can also require a great deal of patience.

Time management skills: Typically, realtors have multiple appointments a day, and it’s essential to be on time to make a good impression on clients. Responding to clients promptly and providing the necessary information they need can also help with client impressions.

There are a variety of options when building a career in real estate. From roles that support the sale of real estate to those that help manage real estate portfolios and commercial real estate sales, there are a variety of possible career paths.

Real estate developers buy land and build property on it. They do everything from planning the construction to managing the team that helps get the project to completion, which often includes architects, engineers, contractors, construction teams, leasing agents, and lawyers. If you have a specialized skill set such as engineering, architecture, or urban planning, overseeing an entire build from start to finish might be something you would be interested in doing.

Real estate appraisers determine the value of commercial and residential property. They’re skilled in considering the characteristics and location of a property in comparison with other similar properties. This career path also allows for flexibility, as appraisers can work through an agency or independently.

Real estate marketing specialists work with agents and brokers by managing their marketing needs and developing the brand. Duties may include social media, digital content creation, email marketing, advertising, and more.

Real estate consultants help real estate investors and other companies reach their real estate goals by advising them on smart investments, real estate trends, and the future of the markets.

Home inspectors play an important role in the real estate industry by ensuring that any issues or faults that could cause trouble for the sale of a property are identified and recorded.

Working as a real estate agent is not a nine-to-five job. Real estate agents often choose the profession to have a more flexible lifestyle. However, it can also require working during extended hours and, in particular, evening hours and weekends when clients are more readily available to view properties. Offers to purchase can also often come in after regular business hours, and negotiations can go late into the night. Viewings happen all the time, and homes become available all the time. That means agents must be ready to react quickly to help their clients.

Being a real estate agent is similar to being self-employed. Although they are part of a team of agents and support staff, success depends on individual performance. While your boss may give direction and advice, your paycheque is based on your ability to buy and sell. You must be self-driven even if your agency is giving you leads, and you must develop your own schedule and structure.

Real estate sales can also be competitive, especially during lean times when there are few listings and buyers are cautious about entering the market. During a booming market where conditions are good for buyers and sellers, it can mean working long days without time off and counselling clients during high-stakes competitive bid periods.

A career in real estate requires constantly generating new business, promoting yourself, tracking leads, handling complex paperwork, providing excellent customer service and advice, and understanding and keeping on top of various market dynamics.

Most real estate agents are paid on a commission-only basis, so there is always the potential of working without a paycheque during lean times.

Real Estate agent salaries vary by region across Canada, but the average real estate agent salary in Canada is $116,000 per year, according to jobs site Indeed. Entry-level positions start at $32,000 annually, while median salaries range from $39,500 to $61,000.

Real estate agents in Canada are commission-based, meaning that the amount they make will depend on how many properties they sell or help buy. Having a commission-based salary means that agents are in control of how much money they make, but it also doesn’t guarantee a base salary.

Real estate brokerages usually take a percentage commission split from real estate agents. Buyers usually make more per transaction than listing agents, but being a buyer agent takes more time and effort per transaction.

Commissions in Canada range from 3 percent to 7 percent of the final purchase price. However, this whole amount doesn’t go to one realtor. It is often split between the seller’s and buyer’s agents.

For example, if the final purchase price of a home is $500,000 and the commission rate is 5 percent, the total commission comes to $25,000. That amount gets split between the two realtors totalling $12,500 each. Earning for real estate agents can also vary depending on market conditions.