Georgia Real Estate Licensing - Steps

Georgia Real Estate Licensing - Steps How to Become a Real Estate Agent in GA If you are interested in how to become a real estate agent in Georgia, you have to be aware of the requirements. Meeting all of these standards will take some time, effort and a little bit of money. But when you reach the end of the process and are on the verge of scoring your first client, you will realize that it was all worth it. What Do You Need To Know Before Becoming a Real Estate Agent in Georgia? This profession is a fantastic way to make good money while helping people find and sell properties. You will deal with buyers and renters from all walks of life, establish meaningful relationships and have a blast. Lets take a look at exactly what one must do to meet the states unique real estate agent standards. The State of Georgia Those who would like to become real estate agents in the state of Georgia must meet all sorts of stringent requirements. This is not a quick and easy process that can be completed with little personal investment. Rather, there is a relatively substantial level of commitment required of each candidate. Without further adieu, here is a picture of the current real estate industry in Georgia and information regarding exactly what one must do to become a real estate agent in Georgia. How Many Real Estate Agents are There in Georgia? There are thousands of real estate agents scattered across the state of Georgia. How Many Real Estate Brokers are There in Georgia? There are more real estate agents than real estate brokers in the state of Georgia. However, it is not difficult to find a trustworthy broker if one begins his search for a sponsor early on in the licensure process. How Much is the Salary Range for Real Estate Agents in Georgia? According to Salary.com, the general salary range for Georgia real estate agents is between $37,969 and $49,437. Real Estate Regulatory Board for Georgia The Real Estate Regulatory Board for Georgia is an agency that strives to verify the legitimacy, accomplishments and general competency of potential real estate agents. The organization also exists to help promote an honest market that is fair to buyers, sellers, renters, agents and brokers alike. The Georgia Real Estate License Requirements General Requirements To obtain the salesperson real estate license in Georgia, an individual must pass a background check. He must be 18 years of age, be able to prove that he is a lawful resident of the United States of America and hold a high school diploma or a GED. The candidate must present a valid drivers license or one of the following documents: a United States passport a US Permanent Resident Card a US military ID an Alien Registration Receipt Card a United States Certificate of Naturalization a United States Certificate of Citizenship He is also required to fill out and submit an application, complete an educational course, pass the states licensure exam and align with a broker for sponsorship. Those who fail to find a broker will not be able to activate their license. Course Requirements Georgia offers three unique educational paths for those who desire to become real estate salespersons. Candidates can complete a 75-hour class called the “Salesperson Prelicense Course”. The second option is to finish 10 quarter hours/6 semester hours worth of real estate coursework successfully. The coursework can also focus on real property, contract law or agency. This course of study must be completed at an accredited college, university or law school in the United States or Canada. The candidates transcripts must be presented to the testing agency AMP to be verified. The third option is to provide proof that one has finished a minimum of 75 hours of prelicensing coursework in a state outside of Georgia or in a Canadian province. The documents that prove this accomplishment must show that the class was approved by the state or provinces real estate regulatory agency. Georgia Prelicense Packages Georgia 75 Hour Ultimate Success Package Georgia 75 Hour Premium Package Steps on how to get a Real Estate License in Georgia The Georgia Real Estate Commission provides a number of different real estate licenses. There are unique requirements for each type of license. The four types of Georgia real estate licenses are Salesperson, Community Association Manager, Broker, and Associate Broker. The first step in obtaining the license is to register for a pre-license education course. Be sure to check out 360training.coms pre-license course packages. These helpful online interactive classes will help you prepare for the exam properly and pass it with flying colors. Youll enjoy the benefit of brand new questions with each practice exam, a thorough explanation of answers, and youll also have access to uber-intelligent licensed instructors. 360training.com even provides comprehensive study guides to help you perform your best when exam time rolls around. The vast majority of candidates also choose to take the 75-hour Salesperson Prelicense course from one of Georgias approved educational institutions before they sit for the exam. The course is offered online as well as in a brick and mortar classroom. There is no single schedule for this educational pursuit. Prospective real estate agents of all backgrounds and lifestyles will be able to find a convenient time to complete this course. If you are curious as to which schools in Georgia are approved to provide the course, contact the Georgia Real Estate Commission. When selecting a school, do not look strictly at the cost. Take in the bigger picture regarding the breadth of services offered by each school. Elite programs offer practice tests, extensive assistance, tech support, etc. Get the Approval to Take the Exam Once you have completed your course, the real estate school you attended will send a message to the organization that administers real estate test in Georgia, Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP). When this step is complete, you will be ready to register for the examination. It is worth noting that those who completed their educational requirements through collegiate coursework or in a state other than Georgia are required to fill out and send an application to AMP by USPS mail. The application must include supporting documentation that proves the coursework was successfully completed. Once these documents are sent, the candidate will have to wait for the official approval before he is able to sit for the exam. Register for the Exam Those who completed their pre-exam course at a school approved by the state of Georgia and desire to pay by credit card will be able to register for the exam on the world wide web at www.goamp.com. Alternatively, individuals in this position can register for the exam by calling AMP. Dial (800) 345-6559 to reach a representative. The exam is exclusively available at AMP testing centers. It costs $115 and is only administered to those who set an appointment in advance. The typical schedule allows for a prospective real estate agent to arrange for testing to take place in as little as two days from the moment he makes his phone call. It is important to note that those who took alternative style coursework and those who cant pay with a credit card are required to submit an application, the exam fee in the form of a money order /cashiers check and all necessary supporting documents through the USPS. It will take between a week and seven days for processing. Once this time period is reache d, the candidate should call AMP at (800) 345-6559 to confirm that his application was received. He should then establish a test appointment. Prepare for the State Real Estate Exam Do not assume that you will pass the state real estate exam because you completed all of the educational requirements. Plenty of aspiring real estate agents fail the exam because they did not properly prepare. Or, they failed to take the test seriously enough. Review all of your coursework, lean on the experts at 360training.com for valuable assistance and take as many practice tests as possible. Bring all Required Documentation to Your Exam Appointment To sit for the exam, a candidate must present some documents. He is required to bring two forms of identification. One of these must be government issued and display the candidates name, photograph, and signature. The other piece of identification is required to show the candidates name and signature as well. An example of such documentation is a signed credit card. If ones identification shows a name that is different from that listed on his registration, he will be required to supply proof of his name change before taking the test. Complete the Exam and Receive Your Score The Georgia Real Estate Salesperson Exam lasts 4 hours. It consists of 152 multiple choice questions. The test is made up of two distinct parts, both of which are graded as either “pass” or “fail”. The initial section is the real estate salesperson national exam. To pass this section, the test-taker is required to answer a minimum of 75 questions out of 100 correctly. The second section of the test is specific to the state of Georgia. The test taker is required to answer a minimum of 39 out of the sections 52 questions adequately to pass. Schedule a Retake Once you complete the exam, you will receive your score right away. If you fail either section of the exam, do not feel bad. This is not a simple test. You can still pass the exam if you successfully retake the failed section within a full calendar year. However, the makeup test cant be scheduled on the same day in which you failed. Instead, re-register by logging onto the AMP website or give them a call. Georgia Real Estate License Requirements: Obtain a Georgia Crime Information Center (CGIC) Report Once you have sat for your exam, you will have 60 days to get a certified criminal history report, commonly referred to as the CGIC. This document includes data about crimes you have or have not committed. It will list arrests, sentences, judgments and other details about your criminal record or lack thereof. This report can be secured at the majority of police stations and sheriffs offices throughout Georgia. Those who have past criminal convictions or any disciplinary actions resulting from a regulatory or licensing agency will be required to fill out and submit a document known as the Background Clearance Application. The point of completing this document is to provide information that explains what happened in each incident listed in the CGIC report. Explain the circumstances of the event, whether there is restitution owed and so on. Choose a Broker To Sponsor You Once you pass the exam, it is time to find a broker to sponsor your activities as a Georgia real estate agent. This requires a signed statement that proves you will be operating under the supervision of a licensed broker. Pick a quality mentor who is willing to bear the burden of your initial mistakes. Start your broker search early on in the licensing process to find the best possible sponsor. Activate Your License If you pass the exam, you can receive your license on the day of the test. The license costs $170 if obtained in the first 90 days after the exam. This fee jumps to $340 if obtained between 90 days and a full year after the test. Those who wait beyond 12 months to attempt to obtain their license will be required to retake the exam. Obtaining the license requires a valid photo ID, the fee above and a Sponsoring Broker Statement Form signed by your sponsor. Source http://www1.salary.com/GA/real-estate-agent-salary.html https://www.realestateexpress.com/prelicense/ga/staterequirements.asp https://www.grec.state.ga.us/grec/relicense.html http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Your-Georgia-Real-Estate-License http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/real_estate_license/Georgia.asp