YES!!!

Business Training: CEO,COO,CFO

Yes, if any private company sold licenses to that many unqualified people they would be arrested, but every state seems to enjoy the money so they continue.

Yes, the requirements to enter this business should be a lot more than what it is.  Some say, getting a license is one thing but succeeding is another.  Very True...but the requirements to enter should be changed.  It's totally out of control...at least in CA. 

Yes but hours alone is not the answer, what we teach is the answer.

I wish every realtor had to pass the Broker test.  That would raise the level of knowledge and professionalism of many of the not so serious realtors out there.

Every time we have a real estate boom, we get a surge in new agents. At my initial MLS training years ago, I was told to look right and left at the table I was sitting and told these people would not be in the business after a year. I heard that 75% of new agents quit after a year. Making a living selling real estate is not the easy thing people think it is. Takes time, support, and being able to live on savings until that first closing happens. It is not easy for many to be responsible for their own hours and work effort. You cannot do real estate "part time" with any success.

Yes.

Yes, I do think so. -Kasey

ABSOLUTELY!  

Unfortunately, it's gotten worse instead of better. When the market is good, our profession becomes one that suddenly everyone wants to enter - qualified or not...and the doors are held wide open for them to enter!

becoming successful in real estate takes more than passing a test...one could be very intelligent and not have business!! others who don't know squat coult be soaring with the eagles!!!  it's who you know, not what you know!!! just saying...

Yes

Yes, make it harder by adding a common sense test

The Orlando board just put out stats for agents in Central Florida.

38% have been in business less than 1 year...real scary thought!

Eve

After several decades of being in the business, I've never seen such UNQUALIFIED new agents, and they seem to be everywhere - their one-and-done deal. 

Absolutely there should be steeper entry requirements.

It is too easy in Texas.  Seven courses, pass the test, pay the fee you get your license.

Sefton Eisenhart Yes, mentoring, training and an apprenticeship should be mandatory.

How do you differentiate a fair-weather wannabe from a future top producing professional on day 1?  A stupid exam?  

I don't think there should be a high bar to become an agent, but I do wish brokers would set the bar higher on who they hire. Too many companies hire anyone off the streets that's passed a test.

YES!!!! YES!! and YES!!!!

If you can fog a mirror, you can get a license!  Or so it seems these days.  I'm really tired of getting Brokers involved to clean up their agent's mess!

Sefton Eisenhart as others have stated this topic has been debated forever, including at ActiveRain. Here in Pennsylvania the requirements are set by the PA state legislature. Except for adding 14 hours of CE in the 90's they have not changed the requirements. 

Totally. The bar must be raised. In North Carolina you no longer need even a high school diploma and they recently changed the pass rate for state exams to 71% because too many people were failing. Maybe they should have considered the quality of the real estate schools' education and the aptitude of the students instead. There has been considerable discussion on this subject in Active Rain in the past.

Yes. Seems there's a real estate agent on every corner, taking business away from me and doing a bad job for their clients and making my job more difficult.

Yes, think the test needs to be more difficult, and requirements need to be added.

Simple answer is "yes", but the state licensing agencies don't seem to care!

Without a dout!

Dorie Dillard nailed this one!

what would you like to add to the requirements?

Perhaps, but remember that it is the folks who aren't pros that drive many consumers to find full time professional agents with super skills.

Yes.

I don't think it is a guarantee that more education will make better agents.

Sefton Eisenhart - a good idea for sure...

Definitely!

Definitely

I would be fine with that. Since I started many years ago the standards have increased drastically and the fallout rate is still pretty much the same.

Absolutely....some sort of weeding out program is needed as in love me or leave me

       Yes.

     Require a financial statement from new agents proving that they have enough money to live on for 6 to 12 months.  That's how long it takes many agents to close on their first transaction.

Yes

It is not an agent problem.

It is a broker problem. When broker are penalized for not developing real estate professionals there needs to be a cost.

My recommendation:

Brokers must exhibit how many agents are considered 'interns' in that office. That would be all agent with less the 5 transaction sides a year. These agents should have the word INTERN shown on the marketing and cards.

Brokers must be limited regarding how many interns they can shelter at one time.

Brokers who are traditional sanctuaries of incredibly inexperienced agents would have to change their ways.

Broker would then invest resources and effort to train agents in all aspects of real estate AND guide them in growing their business.

Today, brokers business model is summed up as 'Pay the fee, you're ok with me."

Those who chant 'RAISE THE BAR' are exclusionists who are protecting their turf and relevance by an effort to keep others off their mountain.