How do I become licensed as an Associate Broker?

Broker licensing is an advanced, higher level of licensing than the entry level representative licence.  Individuals may wish to become licensed at the broker level as either an Associate broker or a Managing broker.  To do so an individual must successfully complete the Broker’s Licensing Course and Examination. 

In order to register for the Broker’s Licensing Course, licensees must have not less than six months’ licensed experience in British Columbia.  In addition, an individual must be licensed as a representative for two years in the five years preceding application for licensing at the broker level. 

Individuals may be licensed at the broker level for a single service licence category or a combination of service categories (e.g.: trading and/or rental and/or strata management services).  When upgrading to the broker level, generally an individual will continue to be licensed in the same categories that they were licensed for as a representative. Should an individual wish to add service categories to their licence, the appropriate Supplemental Course(s) must be completed. (Note: Licensees who have been licensed since 1994, or earlier, and wish to continue providing rental property management services at the broker level will be required to complete the Rental Property Management Supplemental Course and Examination in addition to completing the Broker’s Licensing Course and Examination.)

Step 1

Qualify for licensing as a broker by taking the Broker’s Licensing Course offered through the Real Estate Division at the University of British Columbia.  It is a self-paced correspondence course comprised of 15 assignments (some multiple choice and some short answer). There is a 3-hour written (short paragraph answer) final exam. Students have one year from the date of registration to complete the course however, on average, most individuals complete it within six months based on completing one assignment a week usually spending 10 – 12 hours per assignment.

For more information and online course registration, please visit the UBC Real Estate Division’s Broker’s Licensing Course webpage.

If you feel that you have previous education or experience that would exempt you from either the Broker’s Course or Examination, please review the Council’s Education Exemption Guidelines.

Step 2

After successful completion of the Broker’s Licensing Course and Examination, you must apply to change your licence status to Associate or Managing Broker with the Real Estate Council of British Columbia. 

Click on this link for the Application for Representative, Associate or Managing Broker Licence to upgrade your licence.

Click here for licensing fees.

Step 3 (Optional)

Complete the appropriate Supplemental Course and Examination through the Real Estate Division at UBC to add service categories (e.g.: trading and/or rental and/or strata management services).

Relicensing Education Program

The Relicensing Education Program (REP) requires licensees to complete a course during each two-year licensing period as a condition of continued licensing.  For further information, please see the REP page.

Budget

Making a commitment to becoming an Associate or Managing Broker also includes the following financial considerations. 

Broker’s Licensing Course – $875
Supplemental Course (if required) – $590
Licensing fees
Related business expenses, i.e. computer, cell phone, PDA, internet access, etc.