How to Get Your Ontario Real Estate Licence

Updated 12 August 2026 · Sourced from the Real Estate Council of Ontario

Ontario's licensing path changed in 2025. Humber is no longer the only route in — RECO now approves four education providers, and a single exam administrator handles testing across all of them. This page is the current, complete picture, updated as the rules change.

The five steps, in order

1
Meet the basic requirements
You must be at least 18, have an Ontario mailing address, and hold Canadian citizenship, permanent residency or authorisation to work in Canada. You also need an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent — RECO offers an Education Equivalency Assessment if your credentials are from outside Ontario.
2
Choose a RECO-approved education provider
Since 2025 there are four, not one. All four deliver the same RECO-approved curriculum and their learners sit the same exams against the same passing standard, so the choice comes down to schedule, delivery format, support and price — not to program quality or employer recognition.
3
Complete the Pre-Registration phase
This is the bulk of the work: a sequence of courses and simulation sessions covering residential and commercial transactions, ending in exams. Exams are administered by Meazure Learning, which took over exam delivery across every provider in mid-2025 to keep evaluation consistent.
4
Find a brokerage and register with RECO
You cannot trade in real estate until you are employed by a registered brokerage and RECO has approved your registration. Your brokerage submits the application. Commission splits, desk fees and training vary enormously between brokerages — this decision affects your income more than almost anything else in your first year.
5
Complete Post-Registration within two years
Registration is not the finish line. You must complete the Post-Registration phase within two years of first registering, and then meet continuing education requirements every registration cycle to stay in good standing.

RECO-approved education providers

All four are approved to deliver the Real Estate Salesperson Program (pre- and post-registration) and the Real Estate Broker Program. Because the curriculum, the exams and the passing standard are identical across providers, the only things worth comparing are cost, schedule, delivery format and learner support.

Provider	Status
Humber Polytechnic	Ontario's sole provider from 2019 until 2025
Algonquin College	Approved 2025
Fleming College	Approved 2025
Career College Group	Approved 2025

Exams for every provider are administered by Meazure Learning, which took over Ontario real estate exam delivery in mid-2025 specifically to keep evaluation consistent as the number of providers grew. For what each of the six exams covers and how long you get, see the Ontario real estate exams explained.

What it actually costs

Course fees are the largest line but far from the only one. Plan for all of the following, and treat any single headline figure with suspicion:

Education program fees, charged by your chosen provider
Exam fees, and rewrite fees if you do not pass first time
RECO registration and the mandatory insurance program
Real estate board and association dues — TRREB, OREA and CREA if you join
Brokerage desk fees, technology fees and commission splits once you register
Your own business costs: marketing, a vehicle, a phone, professional photography

Most people getting licensed in Ontario today should expect the all-in cost of reaching registration to land in the $6,000–$8,000 range, with the education program itself accounting for roughly $5,000 of that. Fees differ between providers and change from intake to intake, so confirm current pricing with the provider directly before you enrol.

Budget separately for your first six to twelve months of income. Commission-only work means there is a real gap between registering and your first cheque clearing.

Common questions

How long does it take to get a real estate licence in Ontario?

Most people take roughly nine to eighteen months from starting the Pre-Registration phase to being registered with a brokerage. The program is self-paced within provider deadlines, so the timeline depends largely on how quickly you move through courses and whether you pass exams on the first attempt.

How much does an Ontario real estate licence cost?

Budget for the education program itself plus registration and ongoing costs. On top of course and exam fees you will pay RECO registration, insurance, board and association dues, and — once registered — brokerage desk fees. Programs are priced in the region of $5,000 and most people find the all-in cost of getting licensed lands somewhere between $6,000 and $8,000, but fees differ by provider and change over time, so confirm current pricing directly with the provider before enrolling.

Is Humber still the only provider in Ontario?

No. Humber was the sole RECO-approved provider from 2019 until 2025. RECO has since approved four providers — Humber Polytechnic, Algonquin College, Fleming College and Career College Group — and Humber's original program closed to its final cohort in 2025.

Does it matter which education provider I choose?

Not for licensing purposes. All four are RECO-approved, deliver the same curriculum, and their learners sit identical exams administered by Meazure Learning against the same standard. Brokerages do not favour one provider over another. Compare on cost, course schedule, delivery format and the amount of learner support included.

Do I need a brokerage before I finish the courses?

No, but you cannot practise without one. You must be employed by a registered brokerage for RECO to approve your registration, so most people start interviewing brokerages while finishing the Pre-Registration phase.

What is the difference between a salesperson and a broker in Ontario?

Salesperson is the entry-level registration and is what most people mean by 'real estate agent'. Broker is a further qualification requiring the Real Estate Broker Program plus experience as a registered salesperson; brokers can take on additional responsibilities including running a brokerage.

Building your career after registration

Sources

Real Estate Council of Ontario — About real estate education in Ontario
Real Estate Council of Ontario — Real Estate Salesperson Program: Pre-Registration

Licensing requirements are set by RECO and can change. Always confirm current requirements and fees with RECO and your chosen provider before enrolling.