The Ontario Real Estate Exams, Explained
Updated 12 August 2026 · Sourced from the Real Estate Council of Ontario
There are six exams between you and an Ontario real estate registration: four written theory papers and two attached to multi-day simulation sessions. Here is what each one covers, how long you get, and the deadlines that apply along the way.
Theory exams
4
Simulation exams
2
Time to finish
24 mo
Then register within
1 yr
Every stage, in order
The courses must be completed sequentially — you cannot skip ahead or reorder them.
Course 1 — Real estate essentials
2-hour theory examFundamentals: the role and responsibilities of an agent, the regulatory framework, and the legislation governing the sector.
Course 2 — Residential real estate transactions
3-hour theory examListing, marketing, selling and leasing residential property: services for buyers and sellers, property types and construction, pricing, agreements of purchase and sale, and regulatory obligations.
Course 3 — Additional residential transactions
3-hour theory examSpecialised residential work: condominiums, new construction, rural properties, multi-family dwellings and residential leasing.
Simulation Session 1 — Residential
Simulation session examA five-day practical session applying residential transaction knowledge to single-family homes and condominiums.
Course 4 — Commercial real estate transactions
3-hour theory examOffice, retail, industrial and agricultural property: listing, marketing, selling and leasing, brokering business sales, and preparing contractual agreements.
Simulation Session 2 — Commercial
Simulation session examA four-day practical session focused on commercial transactions.
Course 5 — Getting started
No examLaunching your career: obtaining and maintaining registration, insurance requirements, choosing a brokerage, and the transition into your first year of trading.
The deadlines that catch people out
Three separate clocks run across the licensing path, and they are easy to miss because each starts at a different moment.
- 24 months
from the day you begin your first course — to complete the entire pre-registration phase — all five courses, both simulation sessions and all six exams.
- 1 year
from completing the pre-registration program — to submit your application to register as a real estate agent with RECO. Miss it and your completed education no longer carries you to registration.
- 2 years
from registering with RECO — to complete the post-registration phase of the program. This one applies after you are already working.
Who sets and marks the exams
RECO owns the curriculum and the standard. Four approved providers deliver it — Algonquin College, Career College Group, Fleming College and Humber Polytechnic — and since mid-2025 a single external administrator, Meazure Learning, has run exams across all of them.
That last point matters more than it sounds. It means your exam is the same exam regardless of who you studied with, so no provider offers an easier route to registration. Compare them on price, schedule and support instead — the full comparison is in our guide to getting your Ontario real estate licence.
Common questions
How many exams are there in the Ontario real estate program?
Six. Four written theory exams attached to Courses 1 through 4, plus one exam at the end of each of the two simulation sessions. Course 5, Getting Started, has no exam.
How long is each Ontario real estate exam?
The Course 1 theory exam runs two hours. Courses 2, 3 and 4 each have a three-hour theory exam. The two simulation session exams sit at the end of a five-day residential session and a four-day commercial session respectively.
What score do you need to pass?
Exam-prep providers consistently report a minimum passing score of 75%. RECO does not publish the pass mark on its public program pages, so confirm the current standard and any rewrite rules directly with your education provider before you sit an exam.
How long do I have to finish the program?
You must complete the entire pre-registration phase within 24 months of starting your first course. Once you finish, you then have one year to apply to register with RECO. After you register, you have a further two years to complete the post-registration phase.
Does it matter which provider I take the exams with?
No. Algonquin College, Career College Group, Fleming College and Humber Polytechnic all deliver the same RECO-approved curriculum, and since mid-2025 Meazure Learning has administered exams across every provider so the evaluation is consistent. Choose on cost, schedule, format and support instead.
Is the Ontario real estate exam hard?
It is demanding rather than tricky. The volume is the real challenge — five courses and two multi-day simulations covering residential, commercial and regulatory material, all inside a 24-month window, with a high pass mark and a heavy emphasis on compliance detail. Most people who struggle do so on Courses 2 and 3, which carry the largest share of residential transaction material.
What do I need before I can enrol?
A Canadian secondary school diploma, a GED certificate or an acceptable equivalent credential, plus proven English language proficiency. Providers may set additional requirements, so check with them directly. If your credentials are from outside Ontario, RECO offers an Education Equivalency Assessment.
Sources
- Real Estate Council of Ontario — Real Estate Salesperson Program: Pre-Registration
- Real Estate Council of Ontario — About real estate education in Ontario
Course structure, exam durations and programme deadlines are taken from RECO. The passing score is reported by exam-prep providers rather than published by RECO — confirm it, and any rewrite rules, with your education provider. Requirements change; always check RECO before enrolling.