The path to your real estate license — and the brokerage waiting on the other side.
Getting licensed in Ontario is an 8-step process through RECO and one of four approved colleges. Building a real career takes more than passing the simulations. We'll walk you through both.
Eight steps from curious to closing your first deal.
This is the path everyone walks in Ontario. We've broken it down so there are no surprises, no hidden fees, and no missing pieces.
Check your eligibility
You'll need to be at least 18, legally able to work in Canada, and hold a Canadian secondary school diploma or recognized equivalent (GED also accepted). Ontario residency is not required, but you'll need to register with an Ontario brokerage.
Choose your education provider
As of 2026, RECO has approved four providers for the Real Estate Salesperson Program: Humber Polytechnic, Algonquin College, Fleming College, and Career College Group (CCG). All four deliver the same curriculum and exams — pick based on format, schedule, and support.
Complete the four pre-registration courses
Course 1: Real Estate Essentials. Course 2: Residential Transactions. Course 3: Additional Residential Transactions. Course 4: Commercial Transactions. Each course has a final exam with a minimum of 75% to pass.
Pass the two simulation exams
After your four courses, you'll complete two simulation sessions that test practical application; residential, and commercial. These mirror real-world transactions and are where many candidates need extra prep.
Choose a brokerage
You can't register with RECO independently. You need a sponsoring brokerage. Interview thoroughly: commission splits, training, mentorship, technology, culture. This decision shapes your first years more than the courses do. Consider KIC →
Register with RECO
Submit your RECO application within one year of finishing your real estate program. You'll need a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check, your transcripts, and brokerage sponsorship. Processing takes 2–4 weeks.
Join your local real estate board
Toronto Regional, Ottawa, Hamilton-Burlington, and others. Your local board gives you MLS® access and the REALTOR® designation. OREA (provincial) and CREA (national) memberships flow through your board.
Complete post-registration education
Within two years of registering with RECO, you must complete the post-registration program (a compliance course plus electives). Continuing Education is then required every two-year renewal cycle.
What it actually costs to get started.
No fluff, no fine print. Here's the honest breakdown of becoming a REALTOR® in Ontario — and what it costs to keep practicing once you are.
Pre-Registration Program
- Application fee$75–$125
- 4 courses + 2 simulationsincluded
- Exam retakes (budget)~$200–$400
RECO Registration
- RECO registration fee~$590
- E&O insurance~$480
- Criminal record checkvaries
Board Memberships
- Local board dues~$1,140
- OREA feesincluded
- CREA national dues~$1,480
Ongoing Costs
- RECO renewal~$590
- Continuing Educationrequired
- Board dues (annual)~$2,500+
The cost most people miss: 6–12 months of living expenses. Most new agents don't close their first deal for 3–6 months. In Ontario's market, especially the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), competition is steep and the ramp-up is real. Planning your runway is the difference between a career and a near-miss.
Three words built our brokerage. They're literally in the name.
When you finish your simulations and register with RECO, every real estate brokerage in Ontario will pitch you. Here's what makes us different and why our agents stay.
Knowledge
Mentorship from leaders who've trained hundreds of agents. Onboarding programs that don't end after week one. The training you'd expect at a top boutique at any scale.
Integrity
Transparent splits. No hidden fees. Leadership that picks up the phone. We tell new agents what to actually expect. That includes the hard parts.
Community
An agent-owned brokerage with offices across BC, Alberta, and Ontario. You're not a desk number, you're a partner in something growing.
Wealth-building participation
Opt in to allocate 5% of your commission earnings toward long-term equity opportunities.
Modern technology stack
The tools top producers actually use such as a CRM, marketing, transaction management, ect. All included.
Accessible leadership
Our managing brokers are reachable, hands-on, and invested in your first transactions specifically.
Pan-Canadian network
Referrals and collaboration across three provinces. Your network expands the day you join.
"I came to KIC fresh out of my Humber courses with no clients and no plan. Eighteen months in, I've closed more deals than I thought possible in year one. The training was real. The mentorship was real."— A KIC REALTOR
Things people ask before they sign up.
How long does it actually take?
Most candidates finish the pre-registration program (4 courses, plus 2 simulations) in 6–12 months, plus 2–4 weeks for RECO registration. Realistic total: 8–14 months from "starting" to "actively trading." You then have 2 years to complete post-registration education.
Which of the four education providers should I pick?
All four — Humber Polytechnic, Algonquin College, Fleming College, and Career College Group — deliver the same RECO-approved curriculum and the same exams. Tuition is standardized at roughly $4,795. Pick based on learning format (fully online vs. hybrid), scheduling flexibility, and support resources. Humber remains the most popular by volume.
Do I need a degree?
No. You only need a Canadian secondary school diploma (or recognized equivalent like GED). The pre-registration program is open to anyone meeting that bar who passes the application requirements.
Can I work full-time while I study?
Yes — most candidates do. The program is largely online and flexible. Just plan your runway carefully so you can transition once registered, especially given Ontario's competitive market and longer ramp-up time.
What's TRESA and how does it affect me?
TRESA is the Trust in Real Estate Services Act — Ontario's governing legislation for real estate professionals. It defines client vs. customer relationships, disclosure requirements, and conduct standards. RECO administers and enforces TRESA. You'll learn it inside out in Course 1.
What's a typical commission split for new agents?
It varies. Most new-agent splits start around 50/50 or 60/40 at brokerages providing training and leads. Splits typically improve with experience and production. Ask any brokerage you interview for their full fee schedule, not just the headline number.
Begin your Ontario career with a brokerage that backs you.
Whether you're still researching the real estate course or weeks away from your exam, we'd love to talk.
Let's talk.
No pressure, no pitch deck, just a real conversation about your goals.