Should licensing be easier or harder?

Should licensing be easier or harder?
by Kaushik Sirkar, Chandler AZ REALTOR
Chandler Arizona Real Estate

I had run across an article by Greg Swann of Bloodhound blog recently in the Arizona Republic. To summarize, Greg suggests (and Greg please feel to disagree if my synopsis is inaccurate) he states that licensing requirements for real estate agents is a joke. No disagreement here! He points out that passing the test only proves a persons ability to remember rather useless bits of information and in no way predicts future success as a Real Estate Agent. He backs this up by stating that more than 90% of licensees do not renew their licenses. Complete agreement so far Greg - the licensing process is a relative joke.

• It does not prepare one to sell real estate
• It is not an indicator of future success or competency with regards to selling real estate

But rather than promote stricter licensing requirements, as folks typically seem to do (myself included) Greg suggests that licensing for real estate agents should be completely eliminated. All prospective Real Estate Agents should get positions with established top-producers and subsequently be hired by clientele post internship/apprentice ship when they have gained the necessary skills to actually sell real estate.

I had been planning to blog about this topic for a little while...lo and behold Jonathan Dalton beat me to the punch! He discussed this topic and stated that, though he was in agreement with Greg regarding the poor makeup of the test, he did not want the test to be eliminated.

Greg - I completely agree with you about the status of the current licensing exam. However, I will side with Jonathan here and expound further as well. I think the test is a relative joke. But eliminating licensing? Then wouldn't we all just go in the direction of used car salespeople? I believe the test MUST remain for some of the points Jonathan makes. At a bare minimum, it weeds out criminals and makes people put forth a minimum level of effort to attain the ability to sell Real Estate. As a matter of fact, I think licensing should become more strict as there are obviously many people who obtain their licenses that have ZERO business ATTEMPTING to sell real estate. How to make the test more difficult/comprehensive? This is likely the topic of another blog.

With licensing in place, I then have no problem with one of the items that Greg points out, ie an apprenticeship/internship period. As a matter of fact, I have blogged about something similar in the past where the first year in real estate really could/should be considered an internship! Maybe not let the new licensee 'practice' real estate on their own until the completion of said internship or probationary period?

What does everyone else think?

Thanks for Reading :)

Kaushik Sirkar, Chandler AZ REALTOR
http://www.homesphx.com