Is it beneficial to become a licensed real estate agent?

[Brad Huseman]

I am working to become a real estate investor with a focus on buying and holding rental properties. I'm positioning myself to purchase my first rental property and educating myself in as many relevant areas as possible. A friend is taking an online course to become a real estate agent in hopes to gain knowledge around investing. At $500 and 90 hours of curriculum, will I have an adequate ROI in the way of knowledge gained, access to MLS and ability to sell my own properties by taking this course? Or is my time better served by continuing to read as many books as I can get my hands on and educating myself in other ways.