How to Get Your Real Estate License in Ontario

One question lands in my inbox again and again. How do I get a real estate license in Ontario? I'm Moe Asgarian, Principal Real Estate Broker in Toronto and ranked number 47 worldwide at RE/MAX, and I want to walk you through the whole path, from zero to working as an agent in this province.

Two quick notes before the steps. First, this is about Ontario specifically, and rules differ from province to province. Second, the process reflects where things stand as of mid-2024. Some details shift over time, so if you are reading this much later, check that the current requirements still match.

One College, Seven Courses

To become a realtor in Ontario, you need a certificate from a college. Right now the only college in the province that offers it is Humber College in Toronto. The program runs online and is built from seven courses. Five are theory, and two are hands-on online workshops, often called simulations. Six of the seven end with an exam. That structure is the backbone of the whole process, so it helps to know it going in.

What Each Course Covers

Here is the shape of it. The first three courses cover the basics of real estate, mostly on the residential side. Course four is the first simulation, the practical workshop, and it stays with residential homes. Course five moves into commercial real estate, business, and selling a business. Course six is the second workshop, putting the commercial and business material into practice. So four courses lean residential and two lean commercial. Course seven is the last one, a short two to three hour course that teaches you how to start working and how to choose a brokerage.

Exams, Grades, and How Long It Takes

The passing grade is 75 out of 100. Hit 75 or above and you move on to the next stage. You have a maximum of two years to finish the whole program, and you can absolutely go faster. It depends on how quickly you read the material and clear the exams. Two years is the ceiling, but if you push, you can wrap it up in around a year.

Signing Up and Studying on Your Own

When you register, they ask for your education certificate or diploma. They mainly want to know your language and math are solid. If you do not have a language certificate, they test your language and math. If you have taken a language exam before or completed a marketing course, you can upload those and they count. The program is self-study. You go to the website, each course has its chapters and PDFs to download, and there is no teacher. You prepare on your own, then sit the exam. You can write the exam at home, but the conditions are strict. No one else can be in the house and the room has to be set up properly, which can be a hassle. Going in person to one of the announced centres is simpler.

Registering With a Brokerage

Once you pass every exam, you register through a brokerage, and until you do, you cannot start working. Registration has two parts. First you register with RECO, the Real Estate Council of Ontario, which requires a police clearance. Then you register with the local board where you plan to work. If you want to work in Toronto or the GTA, you register with TRREB, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board. If you plan to work in Ottawa, you register with the Ottawa board instead. Your brokerage handles this part for you. That is the quick tour of licensing in Ontario. There is a lot more to say about actually working in the Toronto market, and I hope to cover that another time.

If you are weighing this path and want to talk it through, fill out the form at the bottom of this page or book a free consultation, and I will point you in the right direction. Stay well and take care.