The Professional Development Program (PDP) is the framework that outlines best practices and requirements for REALTOR® professional development in BC. The PDP cycle aligns with the licensing cycle and is also two years in length.
Each PDP cycle, REALTORS® are required to complete a minimum of 18 hours of professional development. REALTORS® can fulfill these requirements by taking a combination of accredited and self-directed professional development opportunities.
Out of the 18 hours of professional development, REALTORS® are required to complete a minimum of 12 hours of accredited professional development each PDP cycle. Accredited professional development is learning that has been accredited by the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Committee and contributes to the fundamental skills, experience, and knowledge required of REALTORS® throughout the province.
REALTORS® can use six hours of self-directed learning toward their 18 required professional development hours each PDP cycle. Self-directed professional development is learning that has not been accredited by the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Committee, but it enhances your professional practice. It enables REALTORS® to have flexibility in focusing on their individualized professional development needs.
To count toward your self-directed PDP hours, a learning opportunity must:
If you prefer not to do self-directed learning, you can choose to fulfill all 18 professional development hours with accredited learning opportunities.
The BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA), known as the regulator, is responsible for all aspects of licensing. To gain your real estate trading services licence, you must successfully complete BCFSA’s Real Estate Services Licensing course and Applied Practice course.
Continuing education is the education that is required of real estate licensees to maintain their real estate trading services licence. The Legal Update course and Ethics – Building Trust course are both mandatory courses that must be completed in every two-year licensing cycle.
BCFSA creates and administers these courses. It is important to note that BCREA and the real estate boards and associations do not offer any licensing-related continuing education.
