Changes are coming to Washington! Starting July 1, 2010, a new licensing law will take effect, impacting licensees. Reminds me a lot of when Oregon changed their license laws a few years back and ProSchools was busy developing new courses and answering calls.

Here are some of the Washington License Law changes:

• A salesperson license will be considered a broker license.
• An associate broker, branch manager, or designated broker license will continue to be in effect, but will be considered a managing broker license.
• Licensees will have to take a transition course which will be approved for continuing education. The requirements for course content and the course length will be determined by the Real Estate Commission and Department of Licensing.  My guess it will be 30 hours. 
• A new broker license will be issued to current salespeople after they complete the transition course and when they renew their license for the first time after the law takes effect.
• New people coming into the business wanting to obtain a Washington broker license will need to complete 90 hours of education covering Real Estate Fundamentals and Real Estate Practices. They will have to pass the broker license exam and complete a background check too.  Brokers can be licensed to only 1 firm. They will need Advanced Real Estate Practices and Real Estate Law for their first renewal.
• Managing brokers will need 3 years’ full-time experience as a real estate broker, plus complete 90 hours of education, consisting of Advanced Real Estate Law, Business Management, and Brokerage Management.  He or she must also pass the managing broker license exam. A managing broker may be licensed to only 1 firm.
• A Designated broker may act for more than 1 firm, and must be a managing broker.

So the bottom line on Washington: New people wanting a Washington real estate license will need 90 hours of education (not 60 hours) and will start out as a broker.  Current salespeople will need a transition course when they renew. Those wanting to become a managing broker will need 3 years experience, 90 hours of education (not 120 hours), plus pass a managing broker exam.  

Whew!  ProSchools is getting ready for the change now! Most of our courses are ARELLO approved, even if Washington does not require it. Will keep you posted as we learn more about the timeline of these changes.

Tags: ARELLO, Fundamentals, Managing Broker, Managing Broker license, ProSchools, Real Estate Practices, Transition course, Washington Broker license, Washington Department of Licensing, Washington Real Estate Commission

This entry was posted on Friday, April 10th, 2009 at 5:26 pm and is filed under Real Estate Industry News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.