Ontario’s regulator has announced that four institutions will deliver real estate registration education across the province, with new student enrollment beginning in the summer of 2025.
The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO)has named Algonquin College, Career College Group, Humber Polytechnic and Fleming College as approved providers.
More choice for education
According to RECO, this initiative is intended to provide learners with greater flexibility and choice while maintaining the education standards required for real estate professionals in Ontario.
“Since 2014, RECO has been committed to elevating real estate education in Ontario through its research and industry consultations,” said Joseph Richer, registrar at RECO. “This latest initiative aligns with our long-term vision and marks a significant step forward, offering learners greater choice while maintaining the rigorous education standards required for the real estate services sector to meet the needs of those they represent and engage with.”
New curriculum will include TRESA
The real estate education program, redeveloped in 2019, features “experiential learning and mandatory simulation sessions based on real-world transactions that better prepare learners for the demands of trading in real estate,” according to a press release from the regulator.
RECO says that the curriculum has been updated to reflect recent legislative and regulatory changes to the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA). Some providers may also offer additional courses and networking opportunities. Assessments across all education providers will be standardized, with Meazure Learning administering examinations as part of the transition to multiple institutions.
The changes mark a shift from the current model, in which NIIT Canada, in collaboration with Humber Polytechnic, has been the sole education provider. NIIT/Humber Polytechnic will cease accepting new learners in the spring, and students currently enrolled in the program will be able to complete courses through September.
RECO has stated that transition plans are in place, with exact dates to be confirmed in the coming weeks. Supplemental TRESA content will be incorporated into pre-registration and post-registration courses for current learners.