While you sit bored, or twiddling your thumbs in a continuing education class, you can feel your business slipping away with every hour. If only the classes would cover something meaningful - like how to put more money in your pocket, protect your business and keep from getting sued....

Is this how most REALTORS® feel about mandatory continuing education(CE) Or is there another reality?

According to the results of our survey, " Are Continuing Education Classes a Waste of Time?," Realtors do believe CE is worthwhile (over 68%.) Where they differ is the reason. Although most respondents were in agreement that MCE courses could stand to improve in content, most think they are worthwhile as a tool to filter out mediocre agents, update older agents who stuck in the past with methods and attitudes, keep up on changing trends in the industry, and empower agents with knowledge.

Brian Wering with Durkins Realty, Lexington Park, Md. writes, "I think continuing education is a good thing. All professions have some type of training to keep employees up to date, and you are able to provide a better service the more educated you are. And the better service we provide the more return/referrals from customers we will get. "

More than a few agents wrote that the ones who can benefit most from MCE are older agents, who think they already know it all.

"The last several sales I've put together, I've had to ask "older die hard real estate agents" for the Lead Base Paint Disclosure form. They are the listing agents and this should be done at the time of the listing! They say, "Well, I'll have to get it for you, like you are asking them something they have never heard of before. We all need CE, we can never take it for granted we know it all."

Another complaint against older agents who don't learn new tricks also came from a new agent. "I'm finding out that people who fall under the "old grandfather laws" do not know the new updated laws! If you try even to explain a dual agency to them, they look at you like you are nuts. I think everyone should have to take continuing education courses."

"Things change so fast, we have to keep on top to truly service our clients," insists an agent, "I go to classes even when I don't have to. And we only have to when we need to renew our licenses."

"Knowledge is power," writes one agent. "Anytime that we, as professionals, have an opportunity to further our education and acquire knowledge about our profession, we should grab it."

And those that agreed that the courses are a waste of time (32% of respondents) have a number of observations that could help improve education delivery, beginning with an attitude change on the part of Realtors.

"A Continuing Education experience, in the hands of a dedicated and professional presenter is worth more than the time and expense of the class, writes George Rink, CRB,GRI of Fairfax, VA, "My classes are constructed to provide information, motivation, networking and excitement. One of the underlying purposes of CE is to communicate that real estate education is different and attempts to encourage the students to take classes for reasons other than regulatory requirement."

Another agent points out that sometimes it is the agents' fault if they don't get anything out of the class. "The key is for agents to take some responsibility for selecting the courses they take. Not just show up because on that day or moment they had some time to waste. Planning their CE would be a plus."

It could also be the system's fault for not putting more teeth into MCE requirements, according to one MCE instructor who writes, "I work very hard to bring information that the agents can use and work to make the courses as interesting as possible. The problem is that most people do not want to be in class and either sleep or read a book or magazine. MCE courses need to have a test at the end of the course so that the students will pay attention."

One agent agrees. "There is no exam to prove you learned something useful. Without an exam, there is no requirement to stay awake."

But contentis the problem, according to some Realtors.

"The content of many of these so-called CE classes are the same material with a different course number and/or name," writes Carla Hill, GRI, Century 21/Mohler Realty, Plano, IL. "I do agree our industry is ever-changing and we need to seek out information to stay on the cutting edge of what is going on. However, I have yet to sit through a CE class that provides that information to me."

"One more course on Fair Housing or Advertising Guidelines will do nothing to increase my professionalism," complains Barbara Stephens, CRS, GRI, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, Pittsburgh, PA.

Ulterior motives may be coloring the quality of CE content to a few in the industry.

One agent wonders why there is no reciprocity among the states for renewals. "It would save time and we would be learning the same thing."

"It seems most States want the continuing education to collect the money for the course and then the money for the renewal. I recently had to take a two-day course in Texas for a broker's license renewal. I knew more than the instructor did," says one agent wryly.

Some agents felt that the requirements to become an agent should be stricter, that the problem with agent education to improve the industry is better addressed when allowing people to become Realtors.

"It seems it is very easy for anybody to decide to get a license and do it in as little as 6-8 weeks or less," points out one agent. " Why don't you consider making it harder for someone to obtain a license?

One agent summed up the CE experience. "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."

It's clear continuing education requirements won't go away. But, If you want to get more out of the CE experience, pick your classes carefully, attend additional classes even when you don't have to, and stay awake.

Published: October 23, 1998

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