Becoming Licensed

Before registering in a licensing course or applying to RECBC for licensing, review this information to make sure you have considered all the requirements for becoming a real estate professional in BC.

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Hoping to become a real estate professional?

BC real estate professionals must hold a licence and renew it every two years.

The focus of the RECBC licensing process is to ensure that candidates have demonstrated they possess the required entry-level competencies, in order to provide real estate services effectively and in the public interest.

Professional competence is achieved through a combination of knowledge, skills, abilities and judgment. Before registering for a licensing course or applying for a real estate licence, we strongly recommend that candidates review the information on these pages to ensure they are familiar with the requirements for licensing as a real estate professional in BC.

Before You Begin

Before registering in a licensing course or applying to RECBC for licensing, carefully review the following information to make sure you have considered all the requirements for becoming licensed as a real estate professional in BC.

Good Reputation, Suitability and Fitness Guidelines

Make sure you’ve reviewed RECBC’s Good Reputation, Suitability and Fitness Guidelines before applying for licensing. If you are concerned about whether you satisfy these requirements, you may wish to seek legal advice.

Read the Good Reputation, Suitability and Fitness Guidelines

English Language Proficiency

Before you can write a licensing exam, you must meet the English language requirements. We recommend that you ensure that you satisfy these requirements before registering in a licensing course.

Learn about the English Language Proficiency Requirement.

Eligible to work in Canada?

To apply for licensing as a BC real estate professional, you must be eligible to work in Canada. Are you:

  • a Canadian citizen
  • a Permanent Resident
  • or do you have a valid work permit/visa that does not have restrictions that would preclude you from engaging in real estate.

Budgeting

Before applying for a license, make sure you’ve budgeted for the costs you may encounter:

Also take into account the costs and time to establish a practice. Make sure you have sufficient capital to support yourself if your personal goals are not met as soon as you would like.