Brokerage Licensing

Once eligible, you can begin laying the foundation for your business. Before applying through myRECA, make sure you have the following in place:

Choose Your Business Location

Your brokerage must have a registered business office located in Alberta.

Register Your Business (if applicable)

Depending on your brokerage structure, you may need to:

• Register your corporation with Alberta Registries 
• Register a trade name with Alberta Registries
  • Before choosing a name, search existing brokerage names using the RECA ProCheck tool on RECA’s website.
  • Your name must be clearly distinct from any other brokerage.
  • Review RECA’s Brokerage Trade Name Policy for guidance.

Prepare Your Policies and Procedures

Every brokerage must have documented policies and procedures. To make this easier, RECA provides templates you can download in our Resource Hub under Brokerage Policies and Procedures Manuals. 

Mortgage Brokerages: Get E&O Insurance

If you are opening a mortgage brokerage, you must obtain errors and omissions (E&O) insurance.

Important notes:

• Only insurers approved by RECA may provide this coverage.
• Your insurer must send proof of insurance directly to RECA.
• Premiums are set by the insurer, not RECA.

You can review RECA’s Errors and Omissions Insurance Guidelines or browse approved providers.

Once your business setup is complete, log in to myRECA and select Open a Brokerage on your Current Licences page.

Before you begin the application, gather the documents you’ll be required to upload. The list varies depending on your brokerage structure:

Required Documents

If your brokerage is a corporation and you own more than 50%:

• Signed Brokerage Licence Suitability Questions
• Corporate Summary
• Proof of corporate registration
• Proof of trade name registration (if applicable)
• Proof of domain registration (if your brokerage name includes a URL)
• Franchise Agreement (if applicable)

If your brokerage is a corporation and you own 50% or less:

• Signed Broker Management Acknowledgement (Real Estate, Mortgage, Condominium Management) 
• Signed Continuing Guarantee or Irrevocable Letter of Credit (Real Estate, Mortgage)
• Signed Brokerage Licence Suitability Question – New Applicant
• Corporate Summary
• Proof of corporate registration
• Proof of trade name registration (if applicable)
• Proof of domain registration (if applicable)
• Franchise Agreement (if applicable)

If your brokerage is a partnership:

• Signed Partnership Agreement
• Proof of partnership registration
• Signed Broker Management Acknowledgement (Real Estate, Mortgage, Condominium Management) 
• Signed Continuing Guarantee or Irrevocable Letter of Credit (Real Estate, Mortgage)
• Signed Brokerage Licence Suitability Questions – New Applicant
• Partnership Summary
• Proof of domain registration (if applicable)
• Franchise Agreement (if applicable)

If your brokerage is a sole proprietorship:

• Proof of trade name registration
• Proof of domain registration (if applicable)

When you have everything ready, log in to myRECA, click Open a Brokerage, upload your documents, and pay the Brokerage Licensing Review Fee.

If you’d like step-by-step help, watch the Opening a Brokerage tutorial on reca.ca.

If you need more detail about required documents, contact us anytime at registration@reca.ca.

Real Estate Brokerage

Enrollment in the Real Estate Insurance Exchange (REIX) Errors and Omissions insurance program is automatic upon the issuance of a licence through RECA. 

Mortgage Brokerage

Below is a simplified summary of key FAQs:

Where is this requirement set?
Sections 117–118 of the Real Estate Act Rules

What coverage do I need?
Minimum:

• $500,000 per claim
• $1,000,000 aggregate (365-day period)
• Includes fraud coverage

Who is covered?
The brokerage, its licensed associates and brokers, employees, and former licensees/employees.

Do associates need their own insurance?
No. They are covered under the brokerage’s policy.

Are premiums the same for all brokerages?
No. They vary by insurer and risk profile.

What if my insurer won’t renew?
Policies include a minimum 12-month extended reporting period (ERP) at no extra cost.

What if I close my brokerage?
You receive a 60-day ERP, and extended protection can be purchased.

Does REIX cover mortgage brokering?
No. Mortgage work requires a separate approved E&O policy.

Explore Approved Errors and Omissions Insurance Providers.

Condo Management 

Under the Real Estate Act Rules s. 118.1–118.3, Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance is mandatory for condominium management activities.

What coverage is required?
Minimum $1,000,000 aggregate coverage within a 365-day policy period.

Who must be covered?
The brokerage, its licensed associates, associate brokers and brokers.

Do associates need their own policy?
No. They are covered under the brokerage’s policy.

Are premiums the same for everyone?
No. They vary by insurer and risk profile.

What if my insurer won’t renew, cancels, or the policy lapses?
You must immediately notify the Registrar if your policy is not renewed, is cancelled, or lapses for any reason.

Does REIX cover condominium management activities?
No. REIX does not cover condominium management activities.

Condominium management requires a separate E&O insurance policy, even if you are also licensed in real estate and covered under REIX for real estate activities.

A Change of Broker begins when the current broker emails RECA to notify us that they are stepping down.

Why a broker might step down:

• Injury, illness, or other medical considerations
• Bankruptcy proceedings
• Internal brokerage issues preventing the broker from fulfilling their responsibilities

What the outgoing broker must provide

• A Notice of Brokerage Amendment(s) form 
• A signed resignation or termination letter, including the intended effective date
• If the broker is deceased, an authorized individual (director, officer, shareholder, or partner) may submit the form.

What the incoming broker must provide

• A Change of Broker Application
• If they are already a broker at another brokerage, they must confirm whether that brokerage is closing or appointing a new broker
• Supporting documentation for suitability “Yes” responses (if required)
• Signed Broker Management Acknowledgement (Real Estate, Mortgage, Condominium Management) if they own 50% or less of the brokerage
• Signed Continuing Guarantee or Irrevocable Letter of Credit (Real Estate, Mortgage) if they own 50% or less
• Original Certified Criminal Record Check (CCRC) if they haven’t been registered in Alberta within the last 12 months
• Payment of the licensing fee and brokerage amendment fee through myRECA

To update your brokerage’s corporate or trade name, the broker must start the process by emailing registration@reca.ca.

You’ll need to provide:

• Notice of Brokerage Amendment(s) form
• Corporate name changes: certificate of amendment from Alberta Registries
• Trade name changes: proof of registration from Alberta Registries
• If the name includes a URL (such as .ca or .com): domain registration proof

Before submitting a new name, we recommend checking existing brokerage names using RECA ProCheck. Names must be distinct and must not mislead consumers.

If your brokerage’s partnership structure changes, the broker must send a summary of the update to registration@reca.ca.

Depending on the change, RECA may request:

• Notice of Brokerage Amendment(s) form
• Updated partnership agreement
• Proof of filing from Alberta Registries
• Updated Continuing Guarantee and Broker Management Acknowledgement (Real Estate, Mortgage, Condominium Management) (if applicable)

If your brokerage’s corporate access number will be changing, contact registration@reca.ca before making updates. We’ll guide you through the required steps.

If your brokerage’s registered business address changes, the broker must change it through myRECA.

If your brokerage’s corporate structure changes, the broker must change it through myRECA.

Email Practice Review with your request at audit@reca.ca to notify them of the fiscal year-end change.

The insurance provider will notify RECA of any changes to the broker’s Errors and Omissions coverage. The broker should ensure that this notification has been completed and properly recorded.

When you cease a brokerage, all associates and associate brokers registered with your brokerage are automatically cancelled.

You should notify your brokerage’s registrants before submitting the Cease Brokerage application so they can plan their next steps.

1. Log in to your myRECA account.
2. Go to the My Brokerage tab.
3. Select Cease Brokerage and follow the prompts.

Once submitted, your brokerage licence will be cancelled.

Within 30 days after the brokerage ceases you must provide a Closing Audit will be required.