REALTOR® Licensing & Costs in Alberta
It is important to do your homework to ensure you fully understand the licensing requirements and costs involved in starting a real estate career in Calgary and surrounding areas. The more prepared you are from the start, the better set you will be for a successful career.
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GETTING YOUR LICENSE
We have broken down the steps to get your Real Estate License in Alberta. RECA oversees the licensing requirements in Alberta. For more information, go to www.reca.ca
If anything from your past could prevent you from becoming licensed, you may request a Suitability Review from RECA.
Complete RECA’s online eligibility process. To meet eligibility requirements, you must:
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Be at least 18 years of age
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Hold the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma or higher (transcripts required)
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Be proficient in English
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Be able to lawfully study and work in Canada
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Have completed the free, online Real Estate Career Information Session
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All real estate licensees must complete the Fundamentals of Real Estate. Additionally, you will need to complete the practice course (or courses) applicable to the work you will be doing, and the accompanying exams to become eligible for licensing in Alberta. Real estate practice areas include:
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commercial
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property management
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residential
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rural (agri-business)
You will need to complete the required education through a recognized course provider. Some course providers may offer all of the practice courses for each specialization in real estate. Others may offer only the Fundamentals of Real Estate and/or the Practice of Residential Real Estate. You will need to research and evaluate the different course providers to determine which delivery methods, structure, course costs, and overall educational experience will be suitable for you.
Current recognized course providers are:
Alberta Real Estate Association (AREA)
REDI Canada + Haskayne School of Business
The real estate exams are handled by the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA). To help you with your decision making process, RECA publishes a list of the recognized course providers with the current exam statistics such as exam attempts, success rate, and average score. You can access the information here.
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Provide a Certified Criminal Record Check with fingerprinting and Third Party Waiver (direct to RECA from RCMP)
Obtain employment with a brokerage. Click here to know What to Ask When Looking for a Brokerage!
Complete the licensing and registration process with RECA and your broker
Complete the CREB® orientation and sign up for membership
ALBERTA LICENSING FEES
Below are the RECA fees for the 2024-2025 licensing year (excluding GST, some fees may be pro-rated)
Pre-Licensing Education
Fundamentals of Real Estate
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Must be completed by all new real estate associates entering the industry
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$600-$1,000 for online delivery
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Some course providers offer instructor lead training for an additional fee
Practice of Residential Real Estate
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Must be completed if you will be helping clients buy and sell residential properties
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This includes helping clients buy and sell up to four individual units
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Many agents begin their career with only this licence depending on the market they intend to serve
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$400-$900 for online delivery
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Some course providers offer instructor lead training for an additional fee
Practice of Rural Real Estate (Agri-Business)
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Must be completed if you will be helping clients buy and sell farms and ranches
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$400 for online delivery
Practice of Commercial Real Estate
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Must be completed if you will be helping clients buy, sell or lease office, industrial, retail properties
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This includes helping clients buy and sell multi-residential properties (more than four individual units)
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$400-$800 for online delivery.
RECA Licensing Fees
*Real Estate Council of Alberta*
Total New Licence & Registration:
$775
Includes: REIX fee, Assurance Fund Fee, Education Eligibility, Fingerprinting, RCMP Criminal Record Check Fee
AREA Licensing Fees
*Real Estate Council of Alberta*
New Member Initiation Fee:
$800
CREB®, AREA & CREA LICENSING FEES (ALBERTA WEST)
CREB® Calgary Real Estate Board*, AREA *Alberta Real Estate Association*, CREA *Canadian Real Estate Association*
*All Fee’s Subject to GST
CREB® Entry Fee
$110
CREB® Annual Dues
$110
AREA Annual Dues
$300
CREA Initiation Fee
$210
CREA Annual Dues
$200
Total: $920
Initiation Fee
CREB® Entry Fee - $110
CREA Initiation Fee - $210
Annual Dues
CREB® Annual Dues - $100
AREA Annual Dues - $300
CREA Annual Dues - $200
CREB®, AREA & CREA LICENSING FEES (CALGARY)
*All Fee’s Subject to GST
CREB® Entry Fee
$650
CREB® Annual Dues
$434
CREB® Mandatory Training
$57.75
CREB® Critical Illness Benefit Society (CIBS)
$45
CREB® Charitable Foundation
$45
CREB® AREA Annual Dues
$300
CREB® CREA Initiation Fee
$210
CREB® CREA Annual Dues
$310
Total: $2,051.75
CARA, AREA & CREA LICENSING FEES (RED DEER)
*All Fee’s Subject to GST
CARA Entry Fee
$360
CARA Orientation Courses
$150
CARA Annual Dues (Paid Quarterly)
$418.95
CARA AREA Annual Dues
$300
CARA CREA Initiation Fee
$210
CARA CREA Annual Dues
$310
Total: $1,748.95
LDAR, AREA & CREA LICENSING FEES (LETHBRIDGE)
*All Fee’s Subject to GST
Entry Fee
$250
Annual Dues (Paid Monthly)
$141.95
LDAR Fee
$100
AREA Annual Dues
$300
CREA Initiation Fee
$210
CREA Annual Dues
$310
Total: $1,311.95
RAE, AREA & CREA LICENSING FEES (EDMONTON)
*All Fee’s Subject to GST
RAE
$1,343.75
KTS Course
$567
EKey
$356.25
AREA Annual Dues
$300
CREA Initiation Fee
$210
CREA Annual Dues
$200
Total: $2,977
KELOWNA LICENSING FEES
*All Fee’s Subject to GST
Entry Fee
$1200
Annual Dues
$136
Zone Billing
$21
BCFSA FEES BELOW:
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First Time Licensing Fee
$2,000
License Renewal (every second year)
$1,650
Personal Real estate Corporate
(incorporated Individuals paid
every second year)
$1,700
CREA Initiation Fee
$210
CREA Annual Dues
$310
BCREA Initiation Fee
$495
BCREA Annual Dues
$12
Total: $7,734
