In every state, there are thousands of licensed real estate professionals competing over prospective clients.
To set yourself apart from others, you need to hone your skills and acquire new ones. You need new knowledge to be able to serve your clients better.
One of the best ways to become a well-rounded realtor is to take CE courses.
Now, there are hundreds of online real estate schools offering continuing education courses. How do you pick out the best one?
We’ve compiled a list of the four best online real estate continuing education in Maryland. Let’s go over each one of them to help you decide which best suits you.
Note: To renew your real estate license, Maryland law requires that you take the CE courses with a physical school. Most online CE courses are for supplementary learning only.
The 4 Best Online Real Estate Continuing Education Courses in Maryland
Here is a list of the four best online real estate schools that offer continuing education in Maryland:
Let’s see what each school has to offer.
McKissock
McKissock is part of the Colibri Group, a family of e-learning platform brands offering professional education. It is one of the early adopters of online real estate education, with over two million professionals served.
McKissock is known for its continuing education courses, which are available throughout the US.
The school offers two types of CE programs - online self-paced and webinars. The former pertains to self-paced courses, and the latter, to instructor-led live classes. Fees range from around $35 to $99.
At the moment, McKissock only offers non-credit courses. However, these courses are still good sources of industry knowledge. They are also a great way to learn personal skills that you can put to use in your profession.
McKissock has a pro-series of webinars led by real estate expert Sherri Johnson. The webinars focus on hot topics and career-oriented skills.
The CE Shop is a one-stop shop for the courses you will need throughout your real estate journey.
It offers high-quality pre and post-licensing packages. However, as its name suggests, it is best known for its continuing education programs.
From sign up to course completion, the school has a simple process.
When you look up state-approved programs for your area on the website, it will show the licensing requirements applicable to you. And, it will display the packages the school offers and whether or not they satisfy your state’s mandates.
You will also see a list of individual courses you can purchase separately.
The CE Shop uses LEAP 2.0 learning platform, which breaks down information into smaller, digestible pieces.
The coursework covers the essentials without being text-heavy, as it integrates videos to keep students from getting bored.
What’s more, the school updates its course content continuously.
Apart from the above features, The CE Shop offers a five-day risk-free trial.
Note: for license renewal requirements, you can ask your local association if they will accept this course or not.
Academy of Real Estate is a real estate school located in Maryland that also offers online CE courses.
It is led by Steve Weiler, a 30-year real estate veteran and graduate of the University of Maryland. Steve is a successful agent who is now an ARELLO Certified Distance Learning Instructor.
The school’s online continuing education packages cost around $145 and include all the required 15 CE hours.
Note: to receive credit hours from the online course, you must complete an affidavit and bring it to the Academy of Real Estate’s physical school. This must be done within 30 days of completing the final exam.
If you prefer distance learning that enables social interaction, you can opt for their live CE classes, which are held in Zoom.
Live CE classes have additional requirements, though, and you will need a good Internet connection to avoid getting disconnected.
The biggest downside with the Academy of Real Estate is its customer service. While they have hotlines for customer concerns, they are best reached via e-mail. And since it is smaller compared to other online real estate schools, its customer support may be limited.
Founded in 2015, Tristar Academy used to be the educational arm of Tristar Realty, Inc. Its mission is to share industry knowledge and experience with real estate agents to carry on its legacy.
Tristar Academy is now an independent organization approved in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.
The school offers live online classes priced from around $15. You can purchase one or multiple courses at a time and receive credit hours for CORE and electives.
Note: since this is a physical school, their online classes might satisfy license renewal requirements. Just make sure to ask permission first.
Licensed real estate professionals with real-world experiences facilitate the Zoom classes and share essential knowledge and skills that will help you succeed in your career.
Tristar Academy may not be the best choice if you are a busy person. Following strict schedules for the live classes may not work to your advantage.
Maryland Continuing Education FAQs
What are the requirements for renewing a real estate license in Maryland?
All licensed Maryland real estate salespersons must complete 15 hours of continuing education to renew their licenses. The required hours include 3 hours of legislative credits, 3 hours on brokerage relationships and disclosure, 3 hours on ethics, 1.5 on fair housing, and the remainder for elective courses. The renewal cycle is two years.
What happens if you let your real estate license lapse?
You may reinstate an expired license without re-examination for up to three years, provided:
- You are compliant with CE requirements during the period of non-licensure.
- You have paid all past-due renewal fees.
- You have paid the reinstatement fee of around $150.
Can out-of-state CE credits be considered in Maryland?
If you hold a real estate license in another state, your CE credits may be considered in Maryland. You will, however, need to inquire with the Real Estate Commission by faxing your course completion certificates.
Conclusion
Continuing education is important for your real estate career.
Not only will it keep you up-to-date with trends, but it will also help you further in the business. It will equip you with the skills and knowledge you will need to make it in a highly competitive industry.
We hope the above list helped you decide which school to choose for your continuing education.