What’s the difference between renewing my license and Quadrennial Code of Ethics?

What’s the difference between requirements for renewing your real estate license and requirements under the NAR Quadrennial Code of Ethics? One recent caller to the Solutions Center was concerned that she “had not completed her 2.5 hours of Code of Ethics training required to renew her real estate salesperson’s license.”

Stop right there. The 2.5 hour Code of Ethics requirement pertains to membership in the Realtor® organization, not to licensing by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission.

Just to be clear, remember a few key points:

• All licensed PA real estate agents (which obviously includes Realtors®) must complete 14 hours of approved continuing education credits every two years. The current cycle began June 1, 2008 and will end May 31^st, 2010. Approved continuing education credits mean the courses and providers are approved by the licensing body, the PA Real Estate Commission.
• A newly licensed real estate sales person (licensed after January 1, 2007) will need to take a different 14-hour course specifically for new licensees.
• The National Association of Realtors® requires Realtors® (remember, not every licensed salesperson is a Realtor®) to complete 2.5 hours of Code of Ethics training every four years to maintain active membership (hence the name, Quadrennial Code of Ethics Training).The current cycle began January 1, 2009 and will end December 31, 2012. For more information on NAR and the Code of Ethics requirement, visit nar.realtor.

Do you have other vexing questions about membership or licensing? Give us a call at 1.800.555.3390.