Frequently Asked Questions

REAL ESTATE COUNCIL  OF ONTARIO  (RECO)

How may credits are required every two years to renew my license ?
Within 24 months after your license renewal date you  are required to complete courses  for 24 credits.

How many credits can I get from Sunjog ?
With 3 courses you can get 18 credits. Each course gives 6 credits.

What is the maximum number of credit hours that can be claimed for any one course?
You can claim one credit hour for each hour of classroom time . There is no limit on the number of credit hours you may claim for any one course. Six hours of the 24 credit hours that must be completed in each two-year registration cycle must be the RECO Real Estate Update course. Also, there is a maximum carry-forward of 8 credit hours into each registration cycle.

What type of proof of registration is required?
RECO will be looking for material that states that the member has successfully completed the requirements of the course. The member's registration number, name of the education provider, course name and date, for example, should be included on any documents retained by the member.

What happens if I don't have the required 24 credit hours by the time my registration must be renewed?
Your registration license  will not be renewed.

Does the MCE cycle begin in the year I renew or is it the month and year?
The MCE cycle is the same as the registration cycle. For example: if you renew on March 24, 2000, you will need to complete the MCE requirements (24 credit hours) prior to March 24, 2002. The year, month and day are all relevant.

If I am carrying forward credit hours for a course, can I take it again and claim credit for it in the same registration cycle?
No. You may not receive credit for the same continuing education course/seminar more than once in any two-year registration cycle. It is important to note that since the RECO Real Estate Update must be taken in each registration cycle, credit hours for this course cannot be carried forward.

What about members in their first registration cycle? Do they have to complete the MCE requirements as well as the courses required for the Articling Phase?
A member who first becomes a member on or after January 1, 2000 and who successfully completes the 3 education courses required to be completed in their initial two-year registration cycle, is exempt from taking any continuing education courses during that cycle. The required courses do not count towards the 8 credit hour carry forward.

What are the requirements?
All registrants are required to complete 24 credit hours of real estate related education in each two-year registration cycle. The 24 credit hours include the mandatory "RECO Real Estate Update" (6 credit hours) and 3 credit hours for each specialty designation being maintained. The balance of the 24 credit hours will consist of self-selected courses/seminars.

When does the program begin?
Mandatory continuing education comes into effect on January 1, 2000. The 24 credit hours of continuing education must be completed during your first complete 2-year renewal period following that date. For example, if you renew on January 15, 2000 you will have until January 15, 2002 to complete the 24 credit hours. If your renewal is December 1, 2001 you will have until December 1, 2003 to complete the 24 credit hours.

If I was registered prior to January 1, 2000, do I have to complete the requirement?
All registrants, regardless of how long they have been registered, will have to meet the 24 credit hour requirement. There are no exemptions.

Are there any guidelines for the self-selected courses/seminars, which make up the balance of the 24 credit hours?
As a starting point, a list of appropriate course/seminar subject areas for credit courses has been developed. However, this is a non-exhaustive list. Credit courses must meet at least the following requirements:

• They are provided by a RECO-approved education provider
• They are at least one hour in length
• They are real estate related

Subject areas that are not acceptable for continuing education credit include:

• Motivational training
• Manipulative selling skills
• Philosophical or psychological self-improvement
• Training or education not related to real estate
• In-house sales training programs

Will I be able to carry forward credit hours for courses I take prior to my first complete two-year registration cycle after the mandatory continuing program commences?
Yes. Registrants will be able to carry forward a maximum of 8 credit hours for courses/seminars provided by approved or pre-approved education providers as long as these credit hours were earned in 1999 or later.

Will I be able to carry forward credit hours from one registration cycle to the next?
Yes. A maximum of 8 credit hours may be carried forward if more than the required number of credit hours is completed in any two-year registration cycle.

How do I inform RECO when I have met the 24 credit hour requirement?
For registration renewals on or after January 1, 2002, all registrants must submit a "Declaration of Continuing Education"  as part of their renewal application. Proof of completion of the "RECO Real Estate Update" must be attached. For other courses/seminars, registrants must retain proof of registration/enrollment for each course/seminar for a period of four years.

What happens if I do not complete the 24 credit hours of continuing education during the two-year registration cycle?
Failure to complete the Mandatory Continuing Education Program requirements is a breach of the Membership By-law, approved by the members on January 13, 1999, and is subject to the discipline provisions of the Membership By-law including, termination or suspension of membership in RECO.