Using the Code to Solve Ethical Dilemmas
While conducting real estate business, have you encountered a situation in which you weren’t sure what the proper course of action was? What the right thing to do might be? Or maybe you’ve heard your colleagues’ stories and got that uncomfortable, itchy feeling that an action they took wasn’t quite on the up and up.
Let’s look at an uncomfortable truth: real estate agents have a small tarnished image problem. With every transaction being unique, real estate licensees often face ethical gray areas. Some real estate professionals simply don’t understand how to handle complex issues in the most ethical manner, and others bend the rules if they think it’ll keep a transaction on track or a commission in their bank account and not a competitor’s.
Aligned to the requirements of the current NAR cycle, this three-hour course helps licensees deepen their knowledge—and practice—of ethical rules of conduct according to the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice. The code isn’t applicable to REALTORS® only, who are duty-bound to uphold the code as a privilege of membership. The code’s guidance serves anyone possessing a real estate license, and licensees who heed the code’s various articles and standards of practice can do the greatest good of all: protecting consumers while also bolstering the reputation of all the industry’s professionals.
Course highlights include:
- Laws vs. morals vs. ethics
- Top articles of the code involved in the most complaints (plus a few more)
- A candid look at the industry’s image problem
- Common ethical dilemmas and using the code to solve them
- Foundation and enforcement of the code
- Competency in real estate practice as a matter of ethics
- Steering clear of procuring cause disputes
- Ethics concerns with technology and social media
- Tips and best practices to keep your reputation polished to a high shine
*This course was designed by us to meet the REALTOR® Code of Ethics Training Requirement. Please confirm that your local association, who administers the Code of Ethics training, will accept this course.
State Requirements For Washington
Washington State Requirement Details for Real Estate Continuing Education
Renewal Date: Every two years
Hours Required: 30 hours
Renewal for Brokers:
First Renewal:
- 30-hour Advanced Practices Course
- 30-hour Real Estate Law Course
- 3-hour Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate Course
- 6-hour Wasington Real Estate Fair Housing Course
- 21 hours of other approved continuing education
You must start these hours after the date you're first licensed. If you haven't taken the initial 6-hour Washington Real Estate Fair Housing course, you must take it first.
- Once you've taken the initial 6-hour course, you must take the 3-hour Washington Real Estate Fair Housing course each time you renew.
- At least 30 hours, including:
- 3-hour Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate Course
- 3-hour Washington Real Estate Fair Housing Course
- At least 27 hours other approved continuing education
- At least 15 hours must be completed within 24 months of your renewal date.
- You may also use up to 15 hours of unused continuing education completed within 48 months of your renewal date.
Inactive renewals
- No Continuing Education required to renew an inactive license.
- If you want to activate your license, you may need to meet the education requirements for an active license.
Renewal for Managing Brokers:
- At least 30 hours, including:
- 3–hour Core Course
- 3-hour Fair Housing Course
- At least 24 hours other approved continuing education
- At least 15 hours must be completed within 24 months of your renewal date.
- You may also use up to 15 hours of unused continuing education completed within 48 months of your renewal date.
- The hours must be started after the date of first licensure as a managing broker.
Washington State Department of Licensing
Street Address: 2000 Fourth Avenue West, Olympia, WA 98502
Mailing Address (Forms with no payments): P.O. Box 9021, Olympia, WA 98507-9021
Mailing Address (Forms with payments): P.O. Box 3917, Seattle, WA 98124-3917
Telephone: 360.664.6488
Fax: 360.586.0998