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12 FREE ONLINE CE COURSES | LICENSE RENEWAL | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
12 FREE HOURS OF ONLINE CE COURSES - C.A.R.'s NEWEST MEMBER BENEFIT
What is the Online 12 Hours of CE Courses Member Benefit?
C.A.R. is making 12 FREE hours of online CE education courses to members as part of their membership dues. This allows members a choice of courses they can take to become better educated on the issues important to their business. And with online delivery, members can take the courses at any time, 24/7, on a computer or tablet device.
What is Continuing Education Credit (CE)?
It is education that is required to maintain and renew your real estate license. Continuing Education courses are taken after licensing and are accredited by the California Department of Real Estate (DRE). The number of CE credits assigned to a course is determined by the number of hours it takes to complete the course.
Who is required to take CE classes?
All licensees are required to take 45 hours of CE accredited courses every 4 years to renew their license unless you are 70 years of age or older and have been "licensees in good standing" for 30 continuous years.
Can I take the 12 FREE hours of CE classes even if I don’t need CE credit?
Yes, you are eligible to take these 12 FREE hours of online CE classes whether you need CE or not. In fact, we encourage you to take advantage of this C.A.R. Member Benefit to increase your professional development and knowledge.
Are the 12 FREE hours of CE courses offered online?
Yes. Online courses allow busy REALTORS® the opportunity to learn at their convenience 24/7. Distance learning is the way most adult education is delivered and according to our surveys, it is also the preferred method for taking classes for the majority of our members.
What if I prefer to learn in a classroom?
For now all 12 FREE hours of CE are only offered online. However, you are always welcome to purchase and participate in C.A.R. Education’s live lecture classes held at your local Association or at C.A.R. We do encourage you to try the online classes available to you through your C.A.R. membership and see why so many of our members prefer on-demand distance learning.
Where do I sign up for the 12 FREE hours of online CE?
Beginning January 1, 2013, please visit store.car.org/12FreeCE to get started.
Can I take more than the free 12 FREE hours of online CE?
Yes. C.A.R. Education offers additional courses for a fee including bundled courses that will allow you to study and earn more than 12 hours in 2013. You may choose from a variety of course options by visiting store.car.org/12FreeCE, click on the "12 FREE Online CE Courses" icon to left.
I just renewed my license. Can I still take the 12 FREE hours of online CE courses?
Yes, any accredited CE courses you complete after the date of your license expiration date will count toward your next four-year renewal.
Must the 12 FREE hours of online CE courses be taken in 2013?
Yes. All 12 hours must be taken in 2013.
My license doesn’t expire until 2016 – Will I get 12 FREE hours of online CE each year?
C.A.R. budgets on an annual basis so the 12 FREE hours of online CE courses are currently approved for 2013 membership only.
How does an Online class work?
You connect to an Online course from a link in a confirmation email after you’ve selected or purchased your courses. Once you access the course, you will follow the prompts on each page to read, understand and move through the course materials. The Online course materials will include text, images, charts, graphs and occasionally video clips. At the end of each section of the course there will be a short quiz to help make sure you understand the material in that section. You may go back and forward throughout the course materials at your own pace.
Is there a certain amount of time that I must spend in a course?
Yes, the California DRE has a seat time requirement that licensees must spend 50 minutes of an hour in an online course. This is the equivalent of 2½ hours for a 3 credit course or 5 hours for a 6 credit course. There is a timer in the lower left hand corner of the online class to help you monitor the progress of the seat time. If you have completed the course and there is still time left over you can go back and review any lesson materials so that you will keep accruing the time until you reach the minimum seat time amount. Once the seat time is met, the course will flow over into the survey and then the digital signature portion.
Once I start a course, do I need to do it all in one sitting?
For our online CE Member Benefit courses, you have the freedom to start and stop a course at your own convenience. When you need to exit the online course/class before you have completed it, you can select the “Save Progress & Exit” option in the upper right hand corner. This will save your work so that you can continue where you left off the next time that you log in. The only exception is if you are in the middle of a quiz or final exam, it must be completed in the allocated time. This is to ensure the integrity of the exam and the course itself.
What are the final exam requirements?
The California DRE requires a minimum grade of 70% to pass the final exam. Students are given two attempts to pass the final exam. If the exam is not passed the second time, the licensee must re-purchase (or use any of their remaining free 12 hours) to re-take the entire course, including the final exam. Students should also know that the California DRE requires a timing mechanism so that 1 minute is allotted per question. After the exam is completed, students will be given their score but they will not be able to view the specific exam results per the California DRE regulations
How and when will I receive my completion certificate? What if I lose the certificate?
Completion certificates are emailed to the student immediately after the course is completed. The certificates can also be obtained by clicking on the red and gold ribbon next to the name of the corresponding course taken.
Does C.A.R. report my completions to the California DRE or do I report them?
C.A.R. Education does not report completions for students. It is the student’s responsibility to do that when he or she completes the renewal application with the California Department of Real Estate. The specific approval number that is used to report a course completion can be found on the corresponding completion certificate. To find your certificate number for our online CE Member Benefit courses, click on the red and gold ribbon next to the name of the corresponding course taken.
Where do I find classes to renew my license?
Any class that offers CE can be viewed from store.car.org/12FreeCE. Click on the format you'd like to learn from. After you complete the course a completion certificate will be issued to you. You must sub
How do I know when my license expires?
To check to see when your license expires, visit the website at: www.2.dre.ca.gov/PublicASP/pplinfo.asp and enter in your name (starting with your last name and then first name). Next, select the find button. With the next screen, your name and License ID will come up. Click on the License ID and it will list several pieces of information, including the license expiration date.
How many credits do I need to renew my real estate license?
In order to determine what credits you need for renewal of your real estate license, please visit the Department of Real Estate Web site at www.dre.ca.gov . The courses required are found by clicking on “Renewing Your License” under the “Licensees” tab. We offer all the required courses needed, please visit store.car.org/12FreeCE to view classes available.
I’m over 70, do I have to take courses to renew my license?
The California Department of Real Estate does not require continuing education for persons over 70 years of age who have been licensed in good standing for at least 30 years. This is called the 70/30 Exemption, and you need to apply for it in order to be exempt from continuing education requirements. To learn more about this exemption and to download the necessary forms, please visit www.dre.ca.gov and type 70/30 exemption into the search field.
Where do I go to renew my license online?
You must renew your license with the California Department of Real Estate (DRE), and can do so online through their eLicensing system. Please visit www.dre.ca.gov and click on “eLicensing.” Completion certificates will be issued to you for each course you pass. You must submit all the certificate numbers at the same time through the DRE's eLicensing system with your application for real estate license renewal. You may not begin your real estate license renewal process earlier than 90 days prior to your license expiration date.
I purchased the program to renew my license and someone is supposed to send me an email and I never got it?
If you have not received your confirmation email from C.A.R. Business Products, it may have gone into your “junk” or “spam” folder. For additional assistance, please email C.A.R. Customer Service at cs@car.org.
I purchased the home study license renewal course. How do I take my exams?
Your exam keys are listed on the first page of your book or PDF. Log onto www.car4exam.com/exams.html and enter the key for the exam that you want to take. Do this for each exam.
What happens if I fail a quiz or final exam?
If you do not pass an exam the first time you are entitled to one free re-take. You will be provided with instructions after you complete the first exam.
How long do I have to wait before taking a final exam?
The California Department of Real Estate regulations require that you wait 24 hours from enrollment before taking a final exam, and you may only complete 15 credit hours within any given 24 hour period.
How do I get my certificate?
You can print out your certificate as soon as the course has been completed (online only). For exams taken in a classroom, your certificate will be emailed to you.
I waited until the last minute to renew my license. Can I finish in time?
The DRE requires that you may only complete 15 credit hours of testing within any given 24 hour period.
How many CE credits do I need to take to renew my license?
A total of 45 hours every four years is required to renew a license.
Real estate Salespersons and Brokers who qualified by passing the examination and/or submitted a license application on or after 10/1/2007, and are renewing an original license for the first time, must complete 45 clock hours of DRE-approved continuing education consisting of:
For all subsequent renewals, all real estate brokers and salespersons must comply with the above requirements but can substitute one eight-hour survey course that covers the five mandatory subjects (Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, Fair Housing, and Risk Management) instead of taking the courses separately.
What type of classes count towards the 45 hour requirement?
The 45 hours of CE credit are broken down into the following categories
Once I start a course, do I need to do it all in one sitting?
For our online CE Member Benefit courses, you have the freedom to start and stop a course at your own convenience. When you need to exit the online course/class before you have completed it, you can select the “Save Progress & Exit” option in the upper right hand corner. This will save your work so that you can continue where you left off the next time that you log in. The only exception is if you are in the middle of a quiz or final exam, it must be completed in the allocated time. This is to ensure the integrity of the exam and the course itself.
For additional license questions, please contact the Department of Real Estate at (877) 373-4542.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES
What is a C.A.R. Education Professional Development course?
All post-license education is considered professional development, some courses certification or designation. Please visit our course catalog at www.car.org/education/coursecatalog/ for details about each course C.A.R. Education offers.
I have already purchased a C.A.R. Professional Development Course, where can I log on to the website to take my class?
To begin your online Professional Development Courses, visit C.A.R. Education's Designations and Certifications page at www.car.org/education/designations/.
I understand that NAR requires members to take an Ethics class. Is that true?
Yes. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) requires all members to take an Ethics class. C.A.R. has worked with NAR to allow the C.A.R. Ethics class to qualify for the NAR requirement and also qualify for your DRE required course. Taking the C.A.R. Ethics class will satisfy both the NAR and DRE requirements. You can find C.A.R.’s Ethics training at store.car.org.
I’m interested in an NAR Designation course and would like to know some details?
The designation is earned in two parts – a two-day class, plus a six-hour elective online (separate fee). You can learn more about this NAR Designation at www.car.org/Education.
I have a question regarding my GRI.
Questions regarding GRI can be answered by visiting www.edesignations.com or by calling Professional Realty Institute at (888) 785.4800.
