Information for foreign-trained real estate agents and salespersons
(6232) Verified: 2008 11 07
Information on requirements to practise
The occupations of real estate agents, brokers and salespersons are regulated in all provinces and territories. Whether you specialize in the sales of residential or commercial and industrial properties, in order to become a licensed Realtor®, you must complete the course of study required under the Real Estate Act of the relevant provincial/territorial regulatory body. In addition, in British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, you must also have a residence in that jurisdiction in order to practise. Once you know where you will settle and work, you should contact the appropriate regulatory body (see list below) for information on licensing procedures.
For The provincial/territorial real estate boards, that set the standards for certification and licensing, are represented nationally and internationally by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). For general information about the profession, contact
- Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)
- 200 Catherine Street, 6th Floor
- Ottawa ON K2P 2K9 Canada
- Phone : (613) 237-7111
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-842-2732
- Fax : (613) 234-2567
- Email : info@crea.ca
- http://crea.ca/
The Real Estate Institute of Canada (REIC) is the professional association that provides training and certification leading to professional designations for individuals with experience in the real estate industry. Membership in REIC is available but voluntary.
- Real Estate Institute of Canada (REIC)
- 5407 Eglinton Avenue W., Suite 208
- Toronto ON M9C 5K6 Canada
- Phone : (416) 695-9000
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-542-7342
- Fax : (416) 695-7230
- Email : infocentral@reic.com
- http://www.reic.ca/
Information on assessment of qualifications
Although REIC and CREA will provide information on the profession in Canada, they are not set up to assess foreign credentials before you arrive.
If you need to have your credentials assessed before coming to Canada, you may contact an evaluation service and consult our Fact Sheet No. 2, "Assessment and recognition of credentials for the purpose of employment in Canada." Although the evaluation services offer expert advice on how qualifications obtained abroad compare with credentials obtained in a Canadian province or territory, the evaluation is advisory only and does not guarantee recognition of your qualifications for employment or certification purposes in Canada. Please note that they charge a fee for their services.
Other relevant information
For a general description of duties and employment requirements, you can refer to the information prepared by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada regarding:
Specific Provincial/Territorial Information
List of provincial/territorial regulatory bodies
Alberta
- Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA)
- Suite 350, 4954 Richard Rd. SW
- Calgary AB T3E 6L1 Canada
- Phone : (403) 228-2954
- Phone (alternate): 1 888 425-2754
- Fax : (403) 228-3065
- Email : info@reca.ca
- http://www.reca.ab.ca
British Columbia
- Real Estate Council of British Columbia (RECBC)
- 750 West Pender Street, Suite 900
- Vancouver BC V6C 2T8 Canada
- Phone : (604) 683-9664
- Phone (alternate): 1-877-683-9664
- Fax : (604) 683-9017
- Email : info@recbc.ca
- http://www.recbc.ca/
Manitoba
- Real Estate Advisory Council, Manitoba Securities Commission
- 500-400 St. Mary Avenue
- Winnipeg MB R3C 4K5 Canada
- Phone : (204) 945-2528
- Fax : (204) 948-4627
- Email : bill.baluk@gov.mb.ca
- http://www.msc.gov.mb.ca/real_estate/ra_council.html
New Brunswick
- Real Estate Association of New Brunswick (NBREA)
- 22 Durelle St., Unit 1
- Fredericton NB E3C 1N8 Canada
- Phone : (506) 459-8055
- Fax : (506) 459-8057
- Email : info@nbrea.ca
- http://www.nbrea.ca/
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Real Estate Section - Government Services, Gov't of Newfoundland & Labrador
- Financial Services Regulation Division
P.O. Box 8700
Confederation Building, West Block, 2nd Floor- St. John's NL A1B 4J6 Canada
- Phone : (709) 729-5879
- Fax : (709) 729-3205
- Email : GBURKE@gov.nf.ca
- http://www.gs.gov.nl.ca/real_estate/
Northwest Territories
- Real Estate - Municipal & Community Affairs, Gov't of the Northwest Territories
- Box 1320
1st Floor, Laing Building
- Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 Canada
- Phone : (867) 873-7118
- Fax : (867) 873-0309
- Email : Jeff_Polakoff@gov.nt.ca
- http://www.maca.gov.nt.ca/resources/forms/
Nova Scotia
- Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission (NSREC)
- 7 Scarfe Court
- Dartmouth NS B3B 1W4 Canada
- Phone : (902) 468-3511
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-390-1015
- Fax : (902) 468-1016
- Fax (alternate): 1-800-390-1016
- Email : licensing@nsrec.ns.ca
- http://www.nsrec.ns.ca
Ontario
- Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO)
- 3250 Bloor Street West, Suite 600, East Tower
- Toronto ON M8X 2X9 Canada
- Phone : (416) 207-4800
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-245-6910
- Fax : (416) 207-4820
- Email : registration@reco.on.ca
- http://www.reco.on.ca
Prince Edward Island
- Consumer, Corporate and Insurance Division, Office of the Attorney General, PEI
- 95 Rochford Street, 4th Floor
- Charlottetown PE C1A 7N8 Canada
- Phone : (902) 368-4550
- Fax : (902) 368-5283
- Email : rabradley@gov.pe.ca
- http://www.gov.pe.ca/oag/ccaid-info/index.php3
Quebec
- Association des courtiers et agents immobiliers du Québec (ACAIQ)
- 6300 Auteuil, Bureau 300
- Brossard QC J4Z 3P2 Canada
- Phone : (450) 676-4800
- Fax : (450) 676-7801
- Email : info@acaiq.com
- http://www.acaiq.com
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan Real Estate Commission (SREC)
- 237 Robin Crescent
- Saskatoon SK S7L 6M8 Canada
- Phone : 1-306-374-5233
- Phone (alternate): 1-877-700-5233
- Fax : (306) 373-2295
- Email : ajacobson@srec.ca
- http://www.srec.ca/
Yukon
- Community Services, Government of Yukon
- P.O. Box 2703
- Whitehorse YT Y1A 2C6 Canada
- Phone : (867) 667-5811
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-661-0408
- Fax : (867) 393-6295
- Email : inquiry@gov.yk.ca
- http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/consumer/pl.html