Licensing guide · Ontario

How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Ontario

Last checked October 10, 20267 sources checkedNOC 63101

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with the Real Estate Council of Ontario to work as a real estate agent in Ontario or to use a protected title.

Protected titles: Not listed in the sources checked

Show the source

“Real estate is a regulated profession in Ontario, so all real estate agents must be registered with the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO).”

From reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/becoming-a-real-estate-agent, checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status: Licence required See the source
Routes: Trained in Canada: 6 steps

Licensed in another province: 6 steps

Trained outside Canada: 5 steps, listed one-time fees $100
Annual fees: Not stated by the regulator Check with Real Estate Council of Ontario

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

6 steps without a listed fee
Listed time: 24 months (only 1 of 6 steps state a time)

Meet eligibility requirements
The applicant must meet all registration requirements under TRESA, including being at least 18 years of age.

Source
“You must be a least 18 years of age to apply.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/becoming-a-real-estate-agent
Complete pre-registration education
The applicant completes the Pre-Registration Phase of the Real Estate Salesperson Program, made up of five courses, two simulation sessions and six exams, within 24 months.

Time: 24 months
Time source
“You will have a maximum of 24 months to complete pre-registration.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/becoming-a-real-estate-agent

Source
“The Pre-Registration Phase of the program is comprised of five courses, two simulation sessions, and six exams which must be completed sequentially. You will have a maximum of 24 months to complete pre-registration.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/becoming-a-real-estate-agent
Find a brokerage
The applicant must find a real estate brokerage to work for, since registration requires employment by a brokerage.

Source
“In order to be registered in Ontario, you must be employed by a real estate brokerage.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/becoming-a-real-estate-agent
Obtain criminal record check
The applicant obtains a current Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check to support the application.

Source
“RECO relies on Criminal Record & Judicial Matters Checks (CRJMCs), also known as a level 2 check, to assess an individual’s suitability for registration”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/becoming-a-real-estate-agent
Apply for registration
Source
“You must complete the application for new salesperson registration in MyWeb.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/becoming-a-real-estate-agent
Purchase insurance coverage
The applicant purchases the professional liability insurance coverage when applying, paying the pro-rated portion of the annual premium.

Source
“Insurance coverage must be purchased when you apply and is renewed on an annual basis once you are registered.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/becoming-a-real-estate-agent

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Real Estate Council of Ontario

6 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

6 steps without a listed fee

Complete challenge examination
The applicant completes the Interprovincial Challenge Examination, which fulfils the education requirement for registration.

Source
“Complete the Interprovincial Challenge Examination”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility
Secure brokerage employment
The applicant secures employment by an Ontario real estate brokerage.

Source
“Secure employment by an Ontario real estate brokerage”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility
Submit application and fee
The applicant submits a completed interprovincial application and pays the application fee.

Source
“Submit a completed interprovincial application and pay the application fee”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility
Provide licensing history
The applicant provides licensing history from their qualifying jurisdiction.

Source
“Provide licensing history from their qualifying jurisdiction”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility
Apply for CRJMC
The applicant applies for a Canadian Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check through Triton Canada.

Source
“Apply for a Canadian Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC) through RECO’s exclusive provider, Triton Canada”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility
Pay insurance
The applicant pays the required professional liability insurance.

Source
“Pay the required professional liability insurance”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Real Estate Council of Ontario

6 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

Listed one-time fees: $100
4 steps without a listed fee
Listed time: 0.5 months (only 1 of 5 steps state a time)

Create MyWeb account
The applicant must have a RECO MyWeb account and a unique identifier number issued by RECO.

Source
“Applicants must have a Real Estate Council of Ontario MyWeb account. If an applicant does not have a Real Estate Council of Ontario MyWeb account, one must be created.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility/education-equivale...
Submit assessment application
The applicant submits a completed Education Equivalency Assessment Application with supporting documents and the application fee through MyWeb.
- Education Equivalency Assessment Application fee: $100
  Source
  “Applicants must provide a $100.00 application fee, in Canadian funds, by Visa, Mastercard, Visa Debit, or Mastercard Debit.”
  reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility/education-equivale...
Source
“Applicants must submit a completed Education Equivalency Assessment Application with applicable documents and application fee to the Real Estate Council of Ontario’s Education Department, via the Real Estate Council of Ontario ‘s online portal, MyWeb.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility/education-equivale...
Assessment and decision
RECO assesses the application and emails a decision letter, which takes up to 15 business days.

Time: 15 days
Time source
“Assessments take up to 15 business days to complete.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility/education-equivale...

Source
“Assessments take up to 15 business days to complete.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility/education-equivale...
Complete required education
The applicant follows the decision letter's instructions on the specific education required to be eligible to apply for registration.

Source
“Once an applicant receives their decision letter, they must follow the specific instructions on how and where to access their courses as set out in the decision letter.”
reco.on.ca/learners/more-information/education-equivalency-assessment
Apply for registration
Once equivalency requirements are met, the applicant may proceed to the application process for registration as a salesperson under TRESA.

Source
“When education equivalency assessment requirements have been met, an applicant may proceed to the application process for registration or reinstatement as a salesperson under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA).”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility/education-equivale...

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $100

One-time fees listed for Trained outside Canada, by type
Fee type	Amount	Share
Application	$100	100%
One-time total	$100	100%

4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Service charge for reversed application fee: $35 (if the Education Equivalency Assessment Application fee is reversed, such as a credit card chargeback)
Source
“If an applicant’s Education Equivalency Assessment Application fee is reversed (example: a credit card transaction chargeback) it will be subject to a service charge of $35.00.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility/education-equivale...
Additional service charge: $35
Source
“An additional service charge of $35.00 will be added to the fee payment amount owing.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility/education-equivale...

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

To qualify for admission to the Real Estate Salesperson Program, an applicant must hold a Canadian secondary school diploma or GED certificate, or an acceptable equivalent credential, and proven English language proficiency is required.
Source
“To qualify for admission, an applicant must hold a Canadian secondary school diploma or GED certificate, or an acceptable equivalent credential. Proven English language proficiency is also required.”
reco.on.ca/learners/becoming-a-real-estate-agent

Experience

To be eligible to apply for registration as a real estate broker, you must have been registered and employed as a salesperson for at least 24 of the 36 months immediately preceding the application.
Source
“To be eligible to apply for registration as a real estate broker, you must have been registered and employed as a salesperson for at least 24 of the 36 months immediately preceding the date of the application.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/becoming-a-real-estate-broker

Police check

New salesperson applicants must provide a current Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check in support of their application.
Source
“the following individuals are required to provide a current CRJMC in support of their application, business registration, or as requested by the Registrar”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/becoming-a-real-estate-agent

Insurance

All real estate salespersons and brokers in Ontario must participate in RECO's professional liability insurance program.
Source
“All real estate salespersons and brokers in Ontario must participate in RECO’s professional liability insurance program.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/becoming-a-real-estate-agent

Other

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to apply.
Source
“You must be a least 18 years of age to apply.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/becoming-a-real-estate-agent
Applicants must be financially responsible, carry on business lawfully and with integrity and honesty, and registration must not be contrary to the public interest.
Source
“the applicant will carry on business in accordance with law and with integrity and honesty”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/becoming-a-real-estate-agent
Interprovincial applicants must be currently licensed or registered in their originating jurisdiction.
Source
“To be eligible, interprovincial applicants must be currently licensed or registered in their originating jurisdiction”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility
To be eligible for education equivalency assessment, applicants from another country must be from a country in which real estate is a regulated profession, with real estate licensing and education.
Source
“To be eligible for education equivalency assessment, applicants must be from a country in which real estate is a regulated profession, with real estate licensing and education.”
reco.on.ca/learners/more-information/education-equivalency-assessment

Already licensed in another province?

Extra steps

Applicants licensed in another Canadian province or territory must complete the Interprovincial Challenge Examination, secure Ontario brokerage employment, submit an application with fee, provide licensing history, obtain a CRJMC and pay insurance before registering.

Source

“Complete the Interprovincial Challenge Examination”

reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Real Estate Council of Ontario

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with Real Estate Council of Ontario

Exams

Interprovincial Challenge Examination

Source
“Individuals who hold a valid real estate salesperson or broker licence in a Canadian jurisdiction have the opportunity to write the Interprovincial Challenge Examination in Ontario.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility/interprovincial-ch...
Broker Qualifying Exam

Source
“Successful completion of the Broker Qualifying Exam is a requirement to getting started with the Real Estate Broker Program.”
reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/becoming-a-real-estate-broker
theory exam

Source
“includes five courses and two hands-on simulation sessions, each culminating in a theory exam, except course 5”
reco.on.ca/learners/becoming-a-real-estate-agent

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with Real Estate Council of Ontario

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with Real Estate Council of Ontario

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with Real Estate Council of Ontario

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 63101, Real estate agents and salespersons. Wages for 2021 in Canadian dollars a year; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Ontario and Canada
Where	Low	Median	High	Outlook
Ontario	$37,561	$62,400	$206,000	Moderate (3 of 5)
Canada	$32,867	$58,400	$178,000	—

Wages by region and job outlook in Ontario

Wages in every province and territory

Real estate agents in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 6 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

British Columbia Licence required
Alberta Not confirmed yet
Saskatchewan Licence required
Manitoba Licence required
Quebec Licence required
New Brunswick Licence required
Nova Scotia Licence required
Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
Yukon Not confirmed yet
Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
Nunavut Not confirmed yet

Compare real estate agent licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

Becoming a real estate agent reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/becoming-a-real-estate-agent · fetched October 10, 2026
Labour mobility reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility · fetched October 10, 2026
Education Equivalency Assessment reco.on.ca/learners/more-information/education-equivalency-assessment · fetched October 10, 2026
Education Equivalency Assessment Policy reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility/education-equivale... · fetched October 10, 2026
Real Estate Salesperson Program: Pre-Registration reco.on.ca/learners/becoming-a-real-estate-agent · fetched October 10, 2026
Becoming a real estate broker reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/becoming-a-real-estate-broker · fetched October 10, 2026
Interprovincial Challenge Examination reco.on.ca/agents-and-brokerages/labour-mobility/interprovincial-ch... · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a licence to work as a real estate agent in Ontario?

Yes. Registration with the Real Estate Council of Ontario is required to practise in Ontario.

Which exams are required?

Interprovincial Challenge Examination, Broker Qualifying Exam, theory exam.

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