There aren't many agents who look forward to spending two days a year in continuing education classes in order to remain licensed, and for a variety of reasons.

Too many agents must travel out of their area to an state or city real estate association-sponsored location where facilitators can teach classes of continuing education curriculum more cost-effectively (for them!) But the agent and broker lose valuable time away from clients and family, in exchange for content that is seldom compelling, useful or interesting enough to be worth the trouble. Worse, the CE course may not have an effect on the REALTOR'S® daily work experience, but merely is an exercise in compliance with state mandates.

Even in those instances in which continuing education courses can be provided through distance learning (TV or PC) - as MRIS and other MLS organizations are attempting to do, or through satellite networks such as those offered by RE/MAX and other large brokerage firms, the agent still has to knuckle down and complete the course work, grateful only for saving the drive time. At least they can complete the course work that doesn't require proctoring in their pajamas.

Others complain that the content of such courses as New Contracts, and What You Can and Can't Say to a Buyer/Seller can easily be delivered a number of other ways - a memo, a morning meeting at the office or a publication. For them, the continuing education experience is a bureaucratic waste of time. Even the governing bodies who regulate the licensing requirements can no longer remember the purpose - does continuing education serve to protect the consumer from undereducated REALTORS® or the REALTOR® from an unsympathetic public? Did the state come first or the real estate association?

Grudgingly, agents will admit that CE and MCD courses are a necessary evil - they have done an excellent job of weeding out the part-timers and hangers-on, who have also been discouraged with rising fees and educational requirements to become licensed in the first place. These scammers are now busy getting Tax Identification Numbers and bugging the interior design industry instead. (Better they save money on taxes by buying sofas and lamps than earn money cutting into full-time REALTORS® salaries.) Now in the realm of physicians, and other white collar professionals who must be relicensed, REALTORS® appear comparatively more professional. But the real benefit to some agents and brokers is that they get their licenses renewed - not what they learn.

Do you learn something of importance when you attend continuing education classes? Or do you catch up on your contracts, update phone lists on your PalmPilot, or socialize? Do you feel your association works to create compelling content for its MEC's? What is the most important course you have taken and how did it benefit you and your clients?

Are continuing education courses a waste of time? Or do the educational requirements really benefit the agent, broker and their clients?

Please let us know your opinion. If you want your reply to be published in our follow-up poll results story, please include your name, agency, city, state and e-mail address.

Published: September 17, 1998

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. For more articles by Blanche, click here.