Part Time RE Agent to RE Broker

[Tony C.]

In the state of Georgia, it looks like the requirement is you need 3 years of being an ACTIVE RE salesperson before you can qualify to apply for the RE brokers license. That said, is it possible for a part time RE agent with 3 years of experience to become a RE broker? Are there some who are part timers but find themselves obtaining a broker's license fairly easily? How strict is the state in enforcing the "active" requirement?

[Shane Hedeen]

As best I understand your question, what states write in for requirement of 'active' might vary from place to place. From my time in my salesperson courses in MN, you must have your license active and hung with a broker for xxx period of time. 

My assumption for how the state defines active would be this: you would have to keep license active and hung somewhere for that whole time. You would also have to keep current on all continuing education and other requirements for re-license in your state. Beyond that, they may look into whether you were an active dues paying member to any associations like MLS and local realtor associations, but I'm not even sure they would.

This is me speaking as NOT a current broker or with any type of legal advice, but how I read it, you could be working "part time" or "full time." I do not believe the state would withhold the broker license if you had all requirements, and just happened to be "part time" and therefore probably produce less in terms of transactions. Who are they to determine how many hours per day you worked at it? 

That said, my bigger overarching question would be this. Why are you looking to get broker license? Is it to start your own RE company and go independent or start a new franchise? Are you looking to employ and oversee others and start a company? Maybe you just want the broker license and then to keep working where you are. My two cents would be a little hesitant if you were thinking of going and hiring others, and being their broker if you've only been in the business part time. Would you want a broker who has never worked the actual job full time? We obviously don't know each other, and I'm not trying to come across harsh in any way. Good brokers are very well versed in their craft, usually due to many years of learning and working in the business full time. I'm sure it can be done on a not full time basis, my hunch is that's not the norm if you interviewed brokers around your area. 

Hopefully someone in Georgia can answer to the specific requirements in your state, but thought I would chime in with what I think as an agent. If you're in Georgia, check with your current broker to start if you have a good relationship there. If not, go ask a few other brokers locally too. 

Best of luck in the process, and I'm excited to hear from some different people to the specifics of the broker license piece of it.