Real estate schools offer valuable courses for both new and experienced real estate professionals. Business professionals who desire to enter the real estate field are required to take introductory real estate courses focused on general real estate concepts and licensing information. Experienced, licensed Realtors benefit from real estate classes designed to increase knowledge or offer additional certifications.

There are a variety of real estate courses available for all real estate career levels offered at a wide range of prices. Before enrolling in a real estate class, evaluate the pricing and costs of real estate schools and consider the following:

1. Invest in real estate classes from reputable real estate schools to begin your residential real estate career.

2. Shop around for competitive prices on commercial real estate training courses, which will provide you with an in-depth understanding of the commercial real estate market.

3. Enroll in competitively priced continuing education real estate training to increase knowledge, renew licensing or brush up on the latest real estate trends.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Make an investment in your career with high quality real estate classes

Real estate schooling is critical for anyone seeking a residential sales associate or broker's license. Pricing and costs of real estate schools vary depending on your geographic region, and can range from around $100 to more than $500. Pre-licensing course requirements also fluctuate, so be sure to check your state's licensing exam specifications.

I recommend: Learn how much it costs to get started in a real estate career based on a South Carolina case study at Real Estate School for Success. Enroll in residential real estate pre-licensing courses ranging from around $50 for an Exam Prep course to more than $200 for a comprehensive pre-licensing course at CareerWebSchool.

Enroll in competitively priced commercial real estate classes to advance your career

Like residential real estate education and training, commercial courses in real estate vary by region and are typically more expensive than residential real estate courses. Commercial real estate training classes cost from a couple hundred dollars to well over a thousand dollars, depending upon the scope, length and quality of the course.

I recommend: How To Run With The Big Dogs In Commercial Real Estate self-study course sells for around $1,000 at Top Dogs. Get started with a career in commercial real estate by taking the online Commercial Investment Real Estate Analysis course offered by CCIM Institute for around $200. Learn more about commercial real estate course topics offered at competitive prices at CRE Online.

Compare prices for continuing education real estate courses

In most states, licensed real estate sales associates must pass continuing education courses for license renewal. In additional to required courses, there are numerous continuing education real estate classes designed to help Realtors stay competitive, access the newest technologies and marketing trends or achieve advanced professional development skills. Class prices vary depending upon the course content and length of study.

I recommend: Take advantage of continuing education home study packages starting around $15 each at Real Estate Video Educational Institute. Learn more about the costs associated with renewing a real estate license at Alpha College of Real Estate.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many real estate schools offer online real estate courses. Online real estate courses are typically less expensive than classroom-based courses, so consider online real estate courses as a cost-effective education alternative.
• •  Before enrolling in real estate schools, be sure the school is recognized by your state as a legitimate educational institution. You can't acquire a real estate license if the real estate school you attend is not recognized by your state, which would be a costly mistake.

Start your real estate career on the right foot by enrolling in real estate school. Whether you want to obtain a license or participate in real estate continuing education, there's a real estate school for you. Online real estate schools and other forms of real estate education available via distance learning are increasingly popular options with today's real estate licensees and students.

Here are three considerations in choosing your real estate school: 

1. Online real estate schools offer a great, flexible way to get your real estate education while working full-time at another job.
2. The real estate school you choose must be accredited in your state, because real estate license laws vary by state.
3. Find online real estate schools that meet real estate prelicense and post-license mandates, as well as real estate continuing education requirements.   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find accredited online real estate schools

Check with your state real estate licensing agency for a list of the state-accredited real estate schools, and to find out if online real estate schools are permitted in your state.

I recommend: Visit the ARELLO (Association of Real Estate License Law Officials)  directory to find your local regulatory agency. Visit CareerWebSchool online real estate school to take real estate license courses.

Choose online real estate schools offering current and ongoing course requirements

An all-in-one real estate school offers prelicense, post-license (if mandated in your state) and continuing education courses. This makes it easy to keep track of your educational documentation and ongoing requirements, since everything is in one real estate school system.

I recommend: Check out online real estate schools, such as American School of Real Estate Express for dozens of prelicense, post-license, and continuing education courses offered in several states. America's Best has distance education available on CD-ROM, online and in print format, with real estate courses that vary by state.

Take advantage of free or inexpensive real estate education offerings

There are several respected real estate education web sites that offer free or low-cost real estate classes to enhance the real estate education you received from real estate schools; take advantage of these courses to build and practice your skills.

I recommend: The National Association of REALTORS Realtor University offers more than 80 inexpensive online courses. Check out Real Estate Champions for comprehensive sales training and free resources.

Earn special designations at online real estate schools

Once you complete your initial real estate education and earn your real estate license, you can choose to specialize in one of many ever-growing real estate niches, including commercial real estate, property management, and more.

I recommend: Check out the REALTOR Family Designation Programs, where you can become certified as a Certified Property Manager, an Accredited Buyer Representative, an Accredited Buyer Representative Manager, an Accredited Land Consultant, and more. Visit Open Directory Project's Real Estate Education and Training Schools, an invaluable portal of more than 100 real estate schools.

Stay up to date with real estate continuing education requirements

In every state except New Jersey, real estate agents and brokers must take a specified amount of continuing education to keep their licenses current. Check with your state regulatory agency for the specific number of hours and class requirements you'll need to fulfill real estate continuing education credits in your state.

I recommend: Check out CE2GO to search for accredited real estate continuing education offerings in your area. Allied Real Estate School offers real estate continuing education (and prelicense) training online.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Shop for guarantees: Some real estate schools promise a refund if you don't pass your state licensing exam; others offer placement services.
• •  Take it at your own speed: To accommodate those who already work full-time in another career, many real estate education courses are offered during weekends and evenings, through correspondence or through online real estate schools.
• •  Think ahead: Find a real estate school that offers real estate broker education and go the distance with your real estate education. (Note: in some states, a real estate salesperson may not earn a broker's license without first earning relevant work experience.)
• •  Have license, will travel: Many states have reciprocal real estate licensing agreements, so if you have a license in one state, you may not need to re-enroll in real estate school. You may only need to take a minimal state-specific portion of the licensing exam for another state.

Real estate schools offer valuable courses for both new and experienced real estate professionals. Business professionals who desire to enter the real estate field are required to take introductory real estate courses focused on general real estate concepts and licensing information. Experienced, licensed Realtors benefit from real estate classes designed to increase knowledge or offer additional certifications.

While courses in real estate offer important information, completion of a real estate education and training course does not give students a real estate license; rather the real estate course prepares students for the real estate licensing exam offered by each state. There are a variety of real estate courses available for all real estate career levels. Before enrolling in a real estate class, evaluate the course curriculum and consider these real estate schools basics:

1. Take residential sales associate or broker pre-licensing real estate classes to prepare for state licensing exams.

2. Gain an in-depth understanding of the commercial real estate market through commercial real estate training courses.

3. Attend continuing education training for real estate agents to increase knowledge, renew licensing or brush up on the latest real estate trends.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Prepare for state licensing exams with residential real estate classes

Real estate schooling is critical for anyone seeking a residential sales associate or broker's license. Real estate courses provide residential real estate fundamentals and teach concepts covered in state licensing exams. Pre-licensing course requirements vary by state, so be sure to check your state's licensing exam specifications.

I recommend: Get information about real estate education licensing courses for sales associates and brokers, and learn more about how to get a real estate license at Kaplan Real Estate Schools. Find out how real estate exam courses will help aspiring real estate professional achieve licensure at RealtyU.

Enroll in commercial real estate classes to advance your commercial real estate career

Commercial real estate requires coursework specifically geared toward commercial properties. Look for introductory classes that offer basics like analyzing investment properties and evaluating income generation. Experienced commercial agents will benefit from commercial real estate classes offering advanced certifications.

I recommend: Learn more about the course objectives involved in an introductory commercial real estate training class at Real Estate School Online. Get information about advanced commercial real estate certification courses like Certified Commercial Sales Specialist (CCSS), Certified Commercial Leasing Specialist (CCLS), Certified Land Sales Specialist (CLSS) and Certified Residential Investor Representative (CRIR) at Commercial Real Estate Institute.

Take continuing education real estate courses to renew your license or advance your career

In most states, licensed real estate sales associates must pass continuing education courses for license renewal. In additional to required courses, there are numerous continuing education real estate classes designed to help Realtors stay competitive, access the newest technologies and marketing trends or achieve advanced professional development skills.

I recommend: Check out the selection of continuing education courses designed to advance your real estate career at Continuing Education for Licensing. Get information about continuing education courses required for license renewal in your state at McKissock.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many real estate schools offer online real estate courses, and some real estate education institutions have moved to completely web-based learning environments. Online real estate courses offer the advantage of taking classes as your schedule permits. However, if you lack self-motivation, stick with a traditional classroom course.
• •  Before enrolling in real estate schools, be sure the school is recognized by your state as a legitimate school. You can't acquire a real estate license if the real estate school you attend is not recognized by your state.

Real estate schools provide a range of education in the field of real estate and property sales, marketing, management and development. They often help students obtain required licenses, such as a real estate salesperson license or a real estate broker license. There are often various terms associated with these schools that potential students should be familiar with ahead of time.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Real estate salesperson license

A real estate salesperson license is required in all states and in the District of Columbia for anyone who wishes to sell, market or represent buyers or sellers in real estate transactions. Individuals must take qualifying courses through an approved real estate school and then sit for an exam. A real estate salesperson works under a real estate broker.

I recommend: Visit the State of California website to learn more about the educational requirements for obtaining a real estate salesperson license.

Real estate broker license

A real estate broker license is required for any individual who wishes to be in a management level position within a real estate office or wishes to practice real estate without working under a broker. Each state and the District of Columbia place specific requirements on these individuals including real estate practice history, education and examinations.

I recommend: Visit your state's website or the Texas Real Estate Commission's site to learn more about obtaining a real estate broker license.

Real estate appraisal license

A real estate appraisal license is required for those who provide appraisal services. These individuals visit and give estimations on the value of real estate. Most real estate schools offer appraisal courses. States require students to take approved courses and then sit for an exam to obtain a license.

I recommend: Visit the California Office of Real Estate Appraisers to learn more about a real estate appraisal license.

Commercial brokerage

Real estate schools may provide state-approved courses in commercial brokerage. Those who work as commercial brokers specialize in income-producing properties. This may include retail facilities, rental properties and industrial parks. Individuals need to have specialized commercial licenses to provide this particular service.

I recommend: Visit Realtor.org to learn more about commercial brokers and their duties.

Property and real estate management

Some real estate schools also provide property and real estate management courses. These courses teach individuals to manage apartment buildings, community associations or retail facilities.

I recommend: Visit Career Overview to learn more about property and real estate management.

Urban planning

Urban planning careers allow individuals to work with government and civic groups to make plans for a city's growth. Urban planners help these organizations make decisions on how a city's expansion is handled, such as ensuring enough property is available to accommodate growth. Some real estate schools provide urban planning training and courses.

I recommend: Visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics to learn more about urban planning careers and education requirements.