EDUCATION is one of the most important aspects of being a great real estate agent. Staying current with ever changing rules and regulations can keep your from making crucial mistakes.
The Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) requires each active licensee to take 16 total hours of TREC APPROVED classed every two year cycle, with the cycle ending on your license expiration date. For example, if your license expires 11/01/2011, you would be required to take 16 hours of continuing education, approved by TREC, between 11/02/2009 and 11/01/2011.
TREC also requires that 6 hours (as of 01/01/11) of the 16 hours of continuing education be in the form of the TREC CORE Course. The remaining 12 hours can be any TREC approved class (you can NOT take the same course twice in one education cycle).
As a rule, it is best to complete your education requirement THREE MONTHS prior to your license expiration date. Getting your education completed early allows time for any potential problems that might arise when you get ready to renew your license (for example, an education provider has not reported your credits to TREC).
Should you decide to place your license in an inactive status (meaning you wish to stop practicing real estate for a time period, but wish to be able to start your career again when you are ready), you must complete your continuing education hours before your license expiration date. When your license has been returned to the state - and you have completed your education requirements - you are then officially in a RETIRED status (remember - you can come out of retirement when you are ready). You still must pay your license renewal fee to keep the license active, even if you are "retired".
Failure to complete your education before your license expiration date - when you are "active" or "inactive" will prevent you from being able to renew your license - and, if you are an actiive licensee, will prevent you from practicing real estate.
So - EDUCATION is the KEY to a long, successful career in Real Estate.