According to the National Association of REALTORS 2001 Member Profile, most Realtors start in other careers. But Las Vegas high school senior Robert Marroquin would like to make real estate a first-choice career. What kind of education is going to benefit him the most?

Marroquin wrote to Realty Times asking for advice.

"Hi. I am a senior at Bonanza High School in Las Vegas. I am searching for the best school to attend to study real estate as a major. I have a grand interest in real estate work and plan to become a real estate broker. My mom works for a big residential company - Trophy Homes - here in Las Vegas but I am not sure where to study. If you can offer any advise as to good schools to attend or any other information that might help me to reach my goal of gaining a career in real estate, I would profoundly appreciate it. Thank you for your help."

Las Vegas Association of Realtors regulator Bill Thorne, responded to Marroquin's question, "I would be more than happy to try to help. My first suggestion for studies would be the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Their College of Business has a department, The Lied Institute of Real Estate studies, that does an absolutely fantastic job preparing students for real estate related occupations. The Director of Lied is a great person, Debra March."

As Marroquin learned, local REALTOR organizations can be a terrific place to find out about educational programs to become licensed to sell or manage real estate. Real estate is a state-licensed activity, and so learning requirements for licensure should be pursued in the state where the future real estate professional wishes to practice.

In addition, many universities in most states offer curriculum that can be credited toward licensure. In some states, a bachelor's degree is sufficient to allow students to sit for the state's broker examination, which is supplied by the state licensing department. To find the state licensing department in any state, as well as licensing requirements, visit Arello.org.

To start a real estate career as a salesperson, licensing courses can also be fast-tracked when they are offered by independent schools and local community colleges.

Many Realtors, members of the National Association of Realtors, have transitioned from other careers to real estate. According to the 2001 NAR Member Profile, 88 percent of Realtors have some college education, compared to 51 percent of the adult U.S. population. Twenty-six percent hold Bachelor's degrees, while an additional 19 percent have either done some graduate work or finished a graduate degree.

Realtors with Bachelor's degrees have incomes that are 30 percent higher than those without degrees.

The profile also finds that seven percent of members chose real estate as their first career, while others came from management, sales, administration, education, homemaking, medical marketing, military, and law enforcement backgrounds.

Published: December 13, 2002

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