How to become a realtor in BC

Q: What do you need to get in?

Minimum 19 years of age; Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or valid work permit status; Satisfy English Language Proficiency Requirement (ELPR); Criminal record check through the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA). Some schools ask for more; check the school page.

Licensed Real Estate Trading Services Representative (REALTOR®) · British Columbia

Help people buy and sell homes. You need a licensing course, an exam and registration with the regulator.

How long

3 to 6 months (self-paced coursework)

Cost

$1,500

1 school

Who licenses it

BCFSA

🏫Where you can take this: 1 school

🏢UBC Sauder School of Business (Real Estate Division)

THE ROUTE

The route at a glance

STEP 1

BCFSA Eligibility & Language Requirements

Verify age 19+, reputation & English proficiency

STEP 2

UBC Sauder Real Estate Licensing Course

Complete UBC Sauder Real Estate Trading Services Course

STEP 3

BCFSA Provincial Licensing Examination

Score 70%+ on the 3-hour UBC Sauder licensing exam

STEP 4

Join a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage

Secure sponsorship with a licensed real estate brokerage

STEP 5

Residential Applied Practice Course (RAPC)

Complete Residential Applied Practice Course (RAPC)

JOB

Licensed REALTOR® & Board Membership

Trade as a Licensed Real Estate Professional (REALTOR®)

STEP 1

BCFSA Eligibility & Language Requirements

Verify age 19+, reputation & English proficiency

STEP 2

UBC Sauder Real Estate Licensing Course

Complete UBC Sauder Real Estate Trading Services Course

STEP 3

BCFSA Provincial Licensing Examination

Score 70%+ on the 3-hour UBC Sauder licensing exam

STEP 4

Join a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage

Secure sponsorship with a licensed real estate brokerage

STEP 5

Residential Applied Practice Course (RAPC)

Complete Residential Applied Practice Course (RAPC)

JOB

Licensed REALTOR® & Board Membership

Trade as a Licensed Real Estate Professional (REALTOR®)

This is the overview. For the courses to take, the entry rules, the exams and the schools, open the full route.

See the full route, step by step →

THE JOB

What the job is like

Pay and outlook from WorkBC.

Pay

$58,400 / year

Job outlook

7,020 forecasted job openings (2025–2035) · 2025–2035

Where the work is

Mainland / Southwest, Vancouver Island, Thompson-Okanagan

What a day looks like

You represent buyers and sellers, host property viewings and open houses, and draft legally binding real estate contracts.

Watch out for

Follow personal safety check-in protocols during solo showings and ensure strict anti-money laundering compliance.

Where it can lead

You can complete the broker licensing course to become a managing broker supervising an entire real estate office.

You can also specialize in commercial real estate, land assembly, and multi-family developments.

Source: WorkBC career profile, NOC 63101

JOBS

Find jobs

Live postings on the big job boards, searched for this job in British Columbia.

Job Board

WorkBC job board

Search “Realtor” in BC →

Job Board

Job Bank (Government of Canada)

Search “Realtor” in BC →

Job Board

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Job Board

Indeed

Search “Realtor” in BC →

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Common questions

How long does it take to become a realtor in BC?

About 3 to 6 months of training. The main steps are BCFSA eligibility & language requirements, UBC sauder real estate licensing course, BCFSA provincial licensing examination, join a licensed real estate brokerage, residential applied practice course (RAPC), licensed REALTOR® & board membership.

What do you need to get in?

Minimum 19 years of age
Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or valid work permit status
Satisfy English Language Proficiency Requirement (ELPR)
Criminal record check through the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA)

Some schools ask for more; check the school page.

How much does a realtor make in BC?

The WorkBC median is $58,400 / year. 7,020 job openings are expected in BC over 2025–2035.

Do you need a licence?

Yes. You register with BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA). Before that you pass BC Real Estate Trading Services Licensing Examination (3 hours, 100 questions, 70% passing mark).

WHERE TO TAKE THIS

Approved colleges, universities & providers

Accredited British Columbia institutions offering recognized programs and courses for this career.

Browse all BC institutions

🏢

UBC Sauder School of Business (Real Estate Division)

Vancouver & Online across BC · Online / BC-Wide

Course / Exam Prep

Real Estate Trading Services Licensing Course

Mandatory statutory course administered by UBC Sauder for the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA). Covers Real Estate Services Act, contracts, and agency law.

Duration3–6 months

FormatOnline / Distance

Est. Cost$1,500

See the full page: Realtor licensing course →

Direct Enrolment Portal

How to become a realtor in BC

The route at a glance

BCFSA Eligibility & Language Requirements

UBC Sauder Real Estate Licensing Course

BCFSA Provincial Licensing Examination

Join a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage

Residential Applied Practice Course (RAPC)

Licensed REALTOR® & Board Membership

BCFSA Eligibility & Language Requirements

UBC Sauder Real Estate Licensing Course

BCFSA Provincial Licensing Examination

Join a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage

Residential Applied Practice Course (RAPC)

Licensed REALTOR® & Board Membership

What the job is like

Find jobs

WorkBC job board

Job Bank (Government of Canada)

LinkedIn

Indeed

Common questions

How long does it take to become a realtor in BC?

What do you need to get in?

How much does a realtor make in BC?

Do you need a licence?

Approved colleges, universities & providers

UBC Sauder School of Business (Real Estate Division)

Real Estate Trading Services Licensing Course