How to Become a Realtor in Ontario in 2026

The legal floor: who can register

To register as a real estate salesperson in Ontario you must be at least 18, a resident of Canada, and able to pass a criminal record check. RECO will not register you if you have an unpardoned indictable conviction in the past five years for an offence involving fraud, dishonesty, or violence. Outside that, the path is open to anyone.

Step 1: Pass the REAT admission test (1 to 2 weeks)

Before you pay tuition, you take the Real Estate as a Professional Career test. It is a free 50-question multiple-choice assessment that screens for basic literacy and numeracy. Most candidates pass on the first try with no preparation. The point is to weed out applicants who cannot read and process technical material at a college level.

Step 2: Enroll with a RECO-approved provider (same week)

Once you pass REAT, you choose one of four RECO-approved providers: Humber Polytechnic, Algonquin College, Fleming College, or the Career College Group. All four teach to the same RECO competency framework. Humber is the largest, most-recognized, and most expensive. The four are roughly equivalent in content; the differences are in scheduling flexibility, support, and tuition. We break down the practical differences in our RECO provider comparison.

Step 3: Pre-registration courses (9 to 18 months)

Pre-registration is the bulk of the work. It includes five courses, two simulation assessments, and an orientation module. Each course requires roughly 80 to 120 hours of study before the exam. Full-time students who treat the program as their main occupation finish in 9 to 12 months. Most candidates working a regular job take 12 to 18 months.

The courses must be completed in order: Course 1, Simulation 1, Course 2, Course 3, Simulation 2, Course 4, Course 5. You cannot skip ahead; passing each course unlocks the next.

Step 4: Find a sponsoring brokerage (during pre-registration)

You cannot register with RECO without a sponsoring brokerage. Start interviewing while you are still in Course 3 or Course 4. Brokerages range from boutique independents to large national franchises (Royal LePage, Re/Max, Century 21). The differences that matter day one are the commission split, desk fees, training, mentorship, and culture.

New agents typically start at a 60/40 or 70/30 split (you keep 60 to 70 percent), with desk fees of $100 to $400 per month. Higher splits at large franchises usually come with mandatory desk fees and franchise dues. Lower splits at indie shops often come with full mentorship and lead access.

Step 5: Apply to RECO (2 to 4 weeks)

Once you finish Course 5, you submit your registration application to RECO through their MyWeb portal. The application includes:

• Proof of completion from your education provider
• Vulnerable Sector criminal background check
• Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance certificate from your brokerage
• Registration fee of approximately $590

RECO typically issues a registration certificate within two to four weeks of receiving a complete application. You cannot trade in real estate until that certificate is issued.

Step 6: Join a local real estate board

Your brokerage will usually require you to join the local Real Estate Board (TRREB in Toronto, OREB in Ottawa, etc.). Board membership gives you access to MLS and is mandatory if you want to list properties on it. Board fees range from $500 to $1,200 per year depending on the region.

Step 7: Articling (24 months to complete)

After registration you have a 24-month window to complete four articling electives. You can earn commissions during this period; the articling phase is regulatory continuing education, not a barrier to working. If you fail to complete articling within 24 months, RECO can suspend your registration.

Many candidates also join our free Facebook study group to compare notes, ask questions during prep, and find study partners going through the same Humber sequence.

Realistic total timeline

From the day you start REAT prep to the day RECO issues your certificate, expect 11 to 20 months. Plan for 18 months as the median. Anyone telling you they did it in 6 months either had no day job or skipped study time and rewrote multiple exams.

What about cost?

Total out-of-pocket to begin practising in Ontario is typically $6,500 to $9,200, including Humber tuition (~$4,795), RECO registration ($590), E&O insurance ($450 to $550), board dues ($500 to $1,200), and incidentals. We have a separate, line-by-line breakdown with the full first-year totals.

The first six months are the hardest

Once you are registered, the income runway is brutal. The median Ontario real estate agent earns under $50,000 their first year, and many earn nothing for the first three to six months while building a pipeline. Most people who fail at this career fail in the first 12 months, not because they cannot pass the exams, but because they ran out of runway before commissions started arriving.

The licensing path is the easy part. The hard part is what happens after you have the license.