Becoming Licensed - Overview
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.

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.
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.
Budgeting
Before applying for a license, make sure you’ve budgeted for the costs you may encounter:
- Licensing course and Supplemental Fees — will open in a new tab
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Test — will open in a new tab
- Licensing Fees
- Criminal Record Check
- Real Estate Board Fees — will open in a new tab
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.