Congrats on completing the training class !  Nice tidbits in there - I did not know some of the items : )   We just recently finished our CE credits for Pennyslvania - it was brutal.  I always find it hard because when I am away for a period of time I have a ton of emails and voicemails that I have to attend do afterwards.... otherwise, more CE classes would be of interest.  ~ Chris

Hi Midori;

Great post, I thank you for sharing................................................

Hey Midori... I'm done, I took it online last year...  There are a lot of REALTORS that use the term "client" loosely... they don't get it.

Principal and ethics class.  I feel like I am back in school again.

Hi Midori,

We renew every 4 years in CA, that's when most people take it. Every now and then we mandate a class after a hearing when someone if found in violation.

Just took mine last week for the very first time.  Very informative and I got to meet several other Realtors.  I'm good for the next year!

The term "Client" is used in Article 1 of the Code of Ethics.  Where did they remove it from?

Would we get an email saying when we need it?

SO I am assuming this online coarse will still count towards your CE hours required?  Is that correct??  IF so, what is the cost of the coarse?   THANKS Midori.

Katrina

Randy-thank you for pointing that out..you've saved me from any further embarrassment.

FLorida RE law states principal is single agency..customer transaction brokerage..yet Code of Ethics refers to all consumer's as clients...implications..in regards to the different types of agency vs. the code.  A little discrepency there. 

In the state of Florida there is no such thing as in clients..

FLORIDA LAW

(d)  "Customer" means a member of the public who is or may be a buyer or seller of real property and may or may not be represented by a real estate licensee in an authorized brokerage relationship.

(h)  "Principal" means the party with whom a real estate licensee has entered into a single agent relationship.

Not client!

I hand wrote this post in class..we kept comparing the code of ethics with Florida Law..not sure how I came up with that..maybe I need another vaca! :)

I took 14 hours in classroom..and I had to take the NAR Code of Ethics..another associate took the 14 hours online and they too were notified they must take the COE..I renewed my license last year..I had to do this before the end of this year..it states it on the site...REALTORS.ORG...your local board will know whether you will need it or not..it states it on the site..your membership at the board will be suspended...and the online COE training is free..

Thanks for the clarification.  In Hawaii we still generally refer to them as clients.

Midori, Folks need to understand that it is not the state or local association that has set out this mandate it was NAR.  And the local association has to send the license back to state if one does not have their ethics training done every 4 years.

Thank you ma'am for the reminder.

Been through it....again. It is so exciting...can't wait till next time!

Thanks for writing. Our office manager ran several sessions for us so we would all be in compliance. It is important especially now.  Bonnie

Don't remind me, Midori. LOL.  I need to sign up for a Legal and Ethics class.

Hi Midori, I guess I should attend one of the training sessions. I take a lot of training on-line, but like you, I do like the classroom setting. Congratulations!

Hi Midori, I guess I should attend one of the training sessions. I take a lot of training on-line, but like you, I do like the classroom setting. Congratulations!

Midori - I just recently completed the CoE Course in class - loved being with fellow Realtors(r) in a class. To my surprise I found out that 400 Lakeland Association Members still had not taken this mandatory class- WOW.

Did you know that Article 9 is the most violated.

Fair...yes it is long gone. Although to me it makes no sense. But Honesty is much more measurable that Fair.

I will be taking some classes in the near future for a designation.  The code of ethics is included.  You may want to check with your local board to see if they offer this.  It's worth considering.

Unfortunately, taking the course doesn't make you ethical.

Thanks for the reminder.  I was lucky and took my class this summer with Lola (Blogging Credits) and Gwyn B. here in Michigan.  They're both great to listen to.

Hi Midori - this is interesting information since my board told me something different.  Thanks for the online link, I'm off to check it out RIGHT NOW!!!  It wouldn't do to get out of compliance :-)

I also took it with Gwyn of Acme Institute in Michigan.   She did an awesome job!   Like you, I prefer my education classes to be in person. 

Midori .. you are right, we all have to take continuing education classes in every state!

Hi Midori!

I took the on-line version as offered via NAR. It was very informative and educational. There are always things to brush up on. I enjoyed it- mandatory or voluntary! There was a link on the NAR site that shows who completed the COE course, I can't locate it now, I wanted to show everyone that I DID IT!!!

EDUCATION AT NAR

Midori,
I've been trying to decide whether to take it online or attend a class--still undecided.  Timewise, I like the online option.

This is a great post, Midori, thanks for sharing.  I bet that half of my clients don't know this...off to compose an email notifying them now.  Thanks again!

Midori,
The anonymous commenter was me--I didn't realize I had been kicked off.

The term "client" is alive and well here.  In fact, we have to use the word CLIENT, when we have a buyer representation agreement (otherwise it is a customer). (Yes, we have to use customer, or refer to them as customers, if they are not clients.)

As far as the Code of Ethics, I'm up to date on all my courses and credits, and even take additional ethics courses, if they are available (every year, at minimum).  You can never know too much.

taking this course made me realize how clueless a lot of realtors are about ethics. 4 hours of my life I can never get back. It is the same as the mandetory CE to renew your license and half the room is clueless about how agency is created.

Ours is quadrennial and not too many people know about it!

Midori, It is such an important class, yes it is boring, but we all need to go and pay attention.  Too bad the public does not know the difference between agent and REALTOR(R).

I was just working on the online course today!   Canadian REALTOR(s) also have until December 31st to complete the course (dependant on when you received your license).

Midori:  I called when I saw that come across our MLS board news.  SO SMART OF YOU TO DO IT YEARLY!

Took care of it early this year.  I have lots of free time.

We have Ethics here with a dinner and a movie setting. The movie is from NAR. It's really cool, I have been to Chucks courses many many times. He does a wonderful job as you said. I still don't know why he didn't take the board job though. Anyway happy blogging.

Frankly I have a moral compass that leads me to follow the code of ethics, not membership.  To imply because an agent doesn't belong to an association of Realtors doesn't have to abide by a code of ethics is low.  The Real Estate Commission has regulations that make any agent behave with ethics.

Midori great way to share. Just this morning I was checking to make sure all our agents had taken their class and checked the NAR site. But just as an FYI make sure you cross reference with your boards to see if they posted yet. I took mine last year and it was not on the NARsite yet.

Midori, this is timely! I have my entire office registered to take a local class offered by our board. Some of them are just not good self study learners! But I plan to do the NAR on line class as it's actually more detailed.

This post is just a heads up on the fact that all members of the National Association of REALTORS have to take this and that you can take this education on line for free ...

doesn't matter to me whether you are a REALTOR or not..as a matter of fact please accept my apology for having offended you..let me rephrase:

2 out of 3 licensee's in Florida are not members of the National Association of REALTORS and are not obligated to abide by the REALTOR Code of Ethics

I'm proud to be a REALTOR but it does not have any bearing on how I feel or view people who choose not to be.

Don thanks for making the info clearer..

Taking the course does not make you ethical...I realize that its still part of maintaining your REALTOR status.

Let me know how you like the on line version....

Midori... Grea post.. We have to attend these classes in Tennessee as a requirement to keep our license

Its a shame that taking the ethics course does not make all Realtors ethical!

This is a good reminder to all of us.  I believe it was completed with my continuing education last year, but I will verify.

Midori,

Fair was removed from Article 1 because it used to say, "REALTORS® pledge themselves to protect and promote the interests of their client.  This obligation to the client is primary, but it does not relieve REALTORS® of their obligation to treat all parties fairly and honestly."   

If I am working in the best interest of my Buyer client, I am working hard to get him/her the best deal that I can.  The Seller, who is a "party" to the transaction, would certainly not think that I am being FAIR to him/her.  As it was explained to me by a well known national instructor, FAIRNESS implies a certain amount of EQUAL treatment.  Our clients require a much higher degree of care.  We must, however, treat all parties Honestly.  Does this explanation help you?

Personally, I chose the Home Study course for the 4-hour Ethics.  So far, I have spent about 8 hours on the material.  It is more rewarding to me to KNOW the subject material when I am finished than to just complete the requirement.

Two weeks ago, several of us from our local Board of REALTORS® drove to Iowa City for a specialized training course on Professional Standards.  It really helped prepare us for a case that we heard on the Professional Standards Committee this past Monday. 

The Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® has tons of good stuff in it and I would recommend that everyone re-read it in its entirety!

Are things in Daytona Beach getting better?

Take care,

Lucky :)

Midori thanks for the post I took the on line course and refreshed/learned more about the code. I appreciate the reminder that the quadrennial is due so I can assure the other agents in my office has completed the course.

Midori...

All members of the NAR must take the code of ethics class once during each quadrennial as defined by the NAR, not your license cycle, or every 4 years. For example, if you just joined the board and took COE with orientation, you will have to take it again in the quadrennial commencing January 1, 2009.

Speaking of quirky differences, in Georgia we are not fiduciaries by law! Interesting, eh?

Midori,

Just finished my continuing ed so this will be next.  The ethics course has been on my mind lately--I just want to get it done.

I rather like the old Bert Rodgers online...takes me about 30 minutes and I'm done.

Interesting post. I will have to take this course again because they lost my paper work. Do you think we forget the code. This will be times 4 for me aggghhh

I enjoy the CE requirements of our state.  It gives me an opportunity to gain new knowledge as well as build on current knowledge.  I have found the core law and code of ethics courses refreshing and a reminder of the manner in which we need to conduct our business. 

Thanks for the reminder!  Oh wait, I had one earlier this year.  But it was a good reminder for me to check and see if I need any credits at all!

This looms larger over me everyday. We were planning to go to the MAR Conference (Maryland Association of Realtors) last month in Ocean City MD and get this done. We had planned to knock out all of our CE credit requirements in one day.

But we were actually busy with our pipeline bulging with sellers and buyers and closings etc, etc. Credit for that goes to hard continuous work just about 24/7 over the last two years. Meaning no vacations! I really was looking forward to smelling the salt air and getting sand between my toes for a few days.

Anyway, yeah, reminder, yee ha. I'm reminded that I need a week at the beach.  :(

However, if there is any bright side to the latest financial and Wall Street woes, it's that our buyers are all so freaked out they are disappearing into the wood work. So maybe it's time for us to take a road trip?

Cowabunga?

Rob

I take the one offered by my Board of Realtors pretty much every year. 

This is a great post that inspired many interesting comments - thank you!

Great post Midori!  I had all my hours in, but took an ethics class this summer anyway.  My company offers our continuing ed classes at no charge.  I have come away from every class I have ever taken with something that was burned into my memory.  If I can avoid future lawsuits/client conflicts, it is worth taking the time and being bored for an afternoon. 

I've been to Ethics classes to put me to sleep, and others that were really interesting. It depends on the instructor. And I do have to take mine by the end of the year... not looking forward to it! =/ (short attention span)

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I think we are all lucky that we are in an industry in which a code of ethics is a requirement. It would be nice if all industries and our elected officials adhered to something similar.

Hi Midori,

Most associations that we belong to offer the course free.  Everyone should ask their association when the next ethics course is offered.  I took it in June and even though I have been a realtor for over 5 years, there is always something to learn.

I too try to take this class every year.  At least every other year.  I wish this class were mandantory more often than once every four years.  We all need a refresher course and gentle reminders of this information regularly.  I chair the new Realtor orientation class in our board and while researching material I started thinking about this topic.  A new Realtor has just been licensed.  They come to orientation and get additional data to put on top of all the pre-license stuff they just crammed for the test.  They dive in and begin their real estate career and we wait four years to give them the opportunity to be reminded of how they should act.  I've been involved in this orientation program for several years now and I still learn something new every time I cover the material.  I just wish everyone had the same opportunity.

I have already completed mine and it is so much fun. I can't wait till next time.

Chris

I took the class earlier this year but must have fallen asleep when they mentioned "client".  Always something new to learn in the rain.

Midori,

The course of ethics should be the minimum not the exception.

We should go above and beyond.

Midori,

Good reminder.

I took the class on line. Got to love education where the dress code includes bunny slippers.

Diane

Just finished the online course. Was not so bad for online training, unfortunately I was not wearing bunny slippers.

Wow....if I get my license before Dec 31, 2008, I would have to take this test too?  I'm in NJ.

I am both a Realtor and an attorney, and to keep my licenses current, I have to complete regular ethics courses for each of them, as well as the regular continuing education courses for both (sometimes I wish they could overlap so one class would count for both licenses, but I always learn good things from every class, so that's good).