Recent Consultations

RECA is committed to ensuring that it consults with its stakeholders in accordance with its consultation policy when it is considering changes to the standards of practice. Over the last few months, RECA conducted consultations on:
• the Real Estate Regulators of Canada (RERC) Canadian Competencies for Real Estate Professionals
• Alberta’s Pre-licensing Education Framework

We truly appreciate all the stakeholders who take the time to provide their input on these consultations—after all, it’s what self-regulation is all about!

RERC Consultation on Canadian Competencies for Real Estate Professionals

In May 2021, the Real Estate Regulators of Canada (RERC) invited real estate licensees across Canada to contribute to setting national competencies for new real estate licensees by completing a validation survey. RECA sent out the survey to its licensees on behalf of RERC.

Purpose of the Competencies

RERC developed these Pan-Canadian Competencies for real estate professionals for many purposes, including:
• assisting provincial regulators develop competency profiles and examinations/ assessments
• designing educational programs
• regulating real estate professionals at entry-to-practice, re-entry to practice, and for the purposes of continuing professional development
• providing orientation and on-boarding of new licensees or support staff
• managing performance and identifying quality assurance, continuing competency, and professional development needs

The competencies will be used by a variety of stakeholders including regulators, educators, examiners, employers, individual real estate licensees, and those seeking to practice in Canada.

Invitation

More than 145,000 were invited by RERC to participate in the survey, which opened on Monday May 10, 2021. The survey ran for 22 days, closing on June 1, 2021.

Respondents

Licensees in all jurisdictions except for Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Prince Edward Island responded to the survey.

Of the 4,222 people who opened the survey, 98% were licensed to trade in real estate in their jurisdiction. A small number of individuals did not hold a license but were interested in the competencies because of related professions.

Alberta licensees accounted for 18% of the respondents, with 4.5% of those licensed in Alberta participating in the survey.

Survey Engagement

Given the length of the survey—135 questions—respondents had the option to skip sections. Because of this, incomplete submissions that include responses from more than just the demographic questions were deemed valid and were included in the analysis. Thirty-five percent (1,471 respondents) completed the entire survey.

Outcomes

A convincing majority of respondents “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that the competency profiles describe the professions well and will contribute to a clear understanding of what is required from a typical real estate practice now and in the future. Visit RERC online for more information on the National Competencies.\

n Alberta, RECA’s Residential Real Estate Broker Industry Council, the Commercial Real Estate Broker and Commercial Property Manager Industry Council, and the Residential Property Manager Industry Council will use this feedback to develop competency profiles for commercial real estate associates, residential real estate associates, and real estate brokers.

RECA Consultation on the Pre-licensing Education Framework

As part of the amendments to the Real Estate Act that came into force on December 1, 2020, RECA must divest itself of the delivery of licensing education by December 1, 2022. All licensing education will be delivered by third-party course providers who meet the Course and Course Provider Requirements to be set out by RECA.

Purpose of the Framework

The purpose of the framework is to ensure an orderly disposition of pre-licensing education, where Industry Councils will retain the full authority to develop real estate industry licensee competencies and course requirements. Also, the Board, in consultation with Industry Councils, will as part of the licensing process retain all authority and processes for licensee examinations, including new licensees, and renewing licensees.
RECA’s Board and Industry Councils are committed to ensuring:
• the divestment process is fair to all potential course providers—associations,
universities, colleges, etc.—allowing for fair competition
• course providers can offer courses in multiple formats (e.g., eLearning, classroom)
• the education creates competent licensees who can serve the public, regardless of the provider
• the education is available to everyone, regardless of affiliation or membership status with trade associations

RECA Industry Councils are responsible for prescribing the competencies required by licensees for their respective industries. While the competency consultations will take place separately, the Industry Councils and the Board are looking to provide a common framework.

Invitation

In May 2021, RECA invited potential education providers, trade associations, and brokers to give their input on the draft pre-licensing education framework which includes the Pre-Licensing Education Philosophy, Course and Course Provider Requirements, as well as an Examination Blueprint for Education. The survey opened on May 21, 2021 and closed at 11:59pm MST on June 11, 2021.

In total, 105 stakeholders participated in the survey.

Survey Engagement

To ensure that RECA’s Board of Directors and Industry Councils were able to focus on items in the Framework that required improvement, respondents were asked to simply agree or disagree with each requirement as it was drafted at that time.

Respondents were then invited to provide rationale or input when they disagreed with the requirement as stated. This allowed respondents to offer suggestions for any and all draft requirements without having to consider whether or nor those edits meant they disagreed or strongly disagreed with the requirement.

Outcomes

Stakeholders generally approve of the draft RECA Pre-Licensing Education Philosophy, Course and Course Provider Requirements and the Examination Blueprint documents. All requirements outlined in the survey received between 83% and 100% approval rating.

From the feedback received, RECA’s Board and Industry Councils were able to make edits to the requirements, where necessary, and put together a list of next steps and future opportunities.

RECA appreciates respondents for taking the time to provide thoughtful feedback that
will help us move forward with divesting pre-licensing education.