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How to Get Your Real Estate License in Ontario (2026)
4 min readPublished Updated
Quick answer
To become a real estate agent in Ontario you must be at least 18, complete the pre-registration phase of the Real Estate Salesperson Program delivered by Humber Polytechnic (five courses, two simulation sessions and six exams, within 24 months), find a brokerage to employ you, obtain a criminal record and judicial matters check, and apply for registration with the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) within one year of finishing. Budget about $5,300 in published Humber and RECO fees, plus RECO's mandatory insurance.
1. Check that you are eligible
- You must be at least 18 to apply for registration with RECO.
- Humber's admission requirements: a Canadian or US secondary school diploma, GED, Canadian Adult Education Certificate or an acceptable post-secondary equivalent; proof of English language proficiency; and a unique identifier issued by RECO, with your full legal name.
- RECO also assesses suitability — for example financial responsibility and honesty — and publishes a policy on criminal history you can use to self-assess.
2. Complete the pre-registration phase at Humber
Humber Polytechnic delivers the Real Estate Salesperson Program as RECO's approved education provider. The pre-registration phase is five courses, two mandatory simulation sessions and six exams, taken in order, and you have a maximum of 24 months from the start of Course 1 to finish it.
- Course 1: Real Estate Essentials
- Course 2: Residential Real Estate Transactions
- Course 3: Additional Residential Real Estate Transactions
- Simulation Session 1: Residential Real Estate Transactions
- Course 4: Commercial Real Estate Transactions
- Simulation Session 2: Commercial Real Estate Transactions
- Course 5: Getting Started
3. Find a brokerage to employ you
You cannot be registered, or trade in real estate, unless you are employed by a registered brokerage, and your RECO application must name it. RECO suggests contacting several brokerages and comparing compensation, environment, training and professional development. For a new agent, the training, mentorship and lead flow on offer matter as much as the split.
4. Get a criminal record and judicial matters check, then apply to RECO
New salesperson applicants provide a criminal record and judicial matters check (CRJMC). RECO directs you to its provider, Triton, through its MyWeb portal as part of the application — RECO advises against applying on Triton's website directly. You apply in MyWeb, and you must apply within one year of completing the pre-registration phase.
5. Buy RECO's insurance and start trading
Every salesperson must participate in RECO's professional liability insurance program (errors and omissions, consumer deposit and commission protection insurance). You pay the pro-rated premium once your application is reviewed, and renew each year; the policy period runs from 1 September to 31 August. Once registered and insured, you can trade.
6. Finish the post-registration phase within two years
To renew at the end of your initial two-year registration cycle, you must complete the post-registration phase: the mandatory Compliance course plus two of five electives, such as residential or commercial investment strategy and rural, recreational and waterfront properties.
What it costs
Humber uses pay-as-you-go pricing: you pay for each course, exam and simulation as you reach it. Totals from Humber's and RECO's published schedules:
- Humber application fee: $125 (non-refundable)
- Pre-registration phase: $4,140, including exam fees payable to Meazure Learning ($120 per exam)
- Post-registration phase: $655 (Compliance $345 plus two electives at $155)
- RECO registration as a new salesperson: $356 ($306 plus a $50 application review fee)
- Together about $5,276, before RECO's insurance premium, any exam retakes ($120 each) and optional review sessions
- RECO renewal afterwards: $350 per cycle ($306 plus $44 for continuing education)
Key takeaways: getting a real estate license in Ontario
- Be 18+, with a high-school diploma or equivalent and English proficiency.
- Finish Humber's pre-registration phase — five courses, two simulations, six exams — within 24 months.
- Apply to RECO within one year, naming the brokerage that will employ you.
- Budget about $5,300 in published fees, plus RECO's mandatory insurance.
- Complete the post-registration phase before your first renewal, two years in.
Getting a real estate license in Ontario: frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a real estate license in Ontario?
Humber gives you up to 24 months to finish the pre-registration phase, and you then have one year to apply to RECO. Many people finish faster while working; after registering you have your first two-year cycle to complete the post-registration phase.
How much does it cost to become a realtor in Ontario?
About $5,276 in published fees: Humber's $125 application fee, $4,140 for the pre-registration phase, $655 for the post-registration phase and RECO's $356 new-salesperson registration — plus RECO's insurance premium and any exam retakes.
Do I need to join a brokerage?
Yes. In Ontario you must be employed by a registered brokerage to be registered with RECO and to trade in real estate, and your application has to name it.
Can I take the Ontario real estate course online?
Humber's courses are delivered as eLearning, with the two simulation sessions facilitated live. Exams are invigilated, and optional in-class or virtual review sessions are available for Courses 2 to 4.
Sources
- Real Estate Salesperson Program: pre-registration phase — Humber Polytechnic
- Real Estate Salesperson Program admission requirements — Humber Polytechnic
- Real Estate Salesperson Program fees — Humber Polytechnic
- Becoming a real estate agent — Real Estate Council of Ontario
- Criminal record and judicial matters check (CRJMC) — RECO
- Fee schedule — Real Estate Council of Ontario
Published by Summitly, the website of Coldwell Banker Summit Realty, Brokerage, registered with the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO); an independently owned and operated Coldwell Banker franchise. Broker of Record: Waqar Afzal. Questions or corrections: our contact form. How we write and check these pages: editorial policy.
Cite this guide
Summitly Editorial. (2026, June 4). How to Get Your Real Estate License in Ontario (2026). Summitly (Coldwell Banker Summit Realty, Brokerage). https://www.summitly.ca/guides/how-to-get-real-estate-license-ontario
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Summitly is the technology platform of Coldwell Banker Summit Realty, Brokerage, a brokerage registered with the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), 310-3100 Steeles Ave W, Vaughan, ON L4K 3R1. Each Coldwell Banker office is independently owned and operated. Agents join as self-employed, commission-based independent contractors, not employees; terms are those of the brokerage's agent agreement, and fees are before HST. Verify any brokerage or agent on the RECO public register.
