Would real estate courses be a good first step or should I read some books and research before paying for courses and exams?

[Alicia Jade]

I am from Alberta, Canada and there we have a real estate training institution. Classes are affordable and I have the pre-requisites for the programs offered. Although I would need to choose if I want to take the residential or commercial course. Has anyone from Alberta taken courses at this institution that has any insight? And does anyone have any suggestions to resources I can exhaust to decide which type I should tackle first? Also, is this course worth taking if I have absolutely no knowledge of real estate yet?