There is also an educational requirement for a real estate license, which consists of a college-level course in real estate principles plus two additional courses approved by the Department of Real Estate. Applicants who have completed only the real estate principles coursework may qualify for a provisional license through the examination process, but must complete the other two courses within 18 months of license issuance. To prepare for the sales agent license examination, candidates may take real estate courses in community colleges and private real estate schools. There are now Board approved correspondence courses, some featuring video taped training sessions. These programs are especially helpful to new agents who must complete course requirements while working hours that may conflict with traditional classroom training.
Many brokers now express a preference for agents whose background includes some college.
Many employers have classroom and continuing in-house training for both beginning and experienced agents. Real Estate Agents must perform several tasks to complete transactions. They help buyers find the appropriate property that meets their needs and financial resources. They obtain property listings and make preliminary estimates to determine the selling price of the property. To anticipate prospective buyers' questions, agents must be thoroughly familiar with the physical condition, features, and special characteristics of the property as well as the availability of transportation, schools, and shopping.