Continuing Education and Ethics
Questions: Do real estate brokers receive enough continuing education? And can adults learn ethics?
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Here in North Carolina, the Real Estate Commission mandates that actively licensed brokers take at least eight hours of continuing education annually. This generally breaks down into one four-hour Commission-required Update course, and one additional elective. Other states have similar requirements.
Now, as the market, various regulations, and paperwork requirements are constantly changing, I find the Update classes quite informative. As for the electives, well obviously, some are better than others. And some instructors are better than others for any type of class.
If a broker is a REALTOR®, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) requires an ethics class every three years, which most brokers use to fulfill their required elective for that particular year. In recent years, NAR has changed the requirement from one class every four years, to one class every two years, to the current one class every three years. Yes, I know they are trying to find the right balance. But one does wonder if they are finding the whole exercise effective?
I can tell you, and it is just my opinion, that I am not at all convinced that adults can learn ethics. I do think children and adolescents can and do learn ethics. But think about how we go about teaching children right and wrong. It is a years-long daily exercise of example and instruction and correction, involving parents, family, teachers, faith leaders, etc. And children’s books and stories, and Mister Rogers and Sesame Street. Right?
But can one learn ethics as an adult? I really don’t know, but I remain quite skeptical. I think rather than learn ethics, adults choose ethics. We all choose whether to be ethical or not. But you decide for yourself.
In terms of the required ethics classes, I am sure that NAR would argue that something is better than nothing. And I suppose that is true. But I fear these classes are mostly for the sake of appearance. Ethical window dressing?
And yes, I do realize that our advanced society faces some complex ethical questions. Medical and military ethics come to mind. And of course, practitioners should study these. But let me assure you, the ethical questions in the real estate business are not that complex. They typically boil down to simple honesty.
So again the questions are: Is this enough continuing education? And would more help achieve a better class of broker? Here I actually think the answers are no and yes. In the pre-licensing classes, the students are totally new to the business, and therefore the subject matter is fairly basic. With continuing education, I find the material more useful to practicing brokers. And it falls almost entirely on the Conveying Real Property side of the business. If nothing else, these classes force the Client Acquisition brokers to, at least, listen to and hopefully take in some substance.