RECO Collaboration Summit strengthens sector dialogue on education and professional standards

RECO recently hosted its second Collaboration Summit: Advancing Excellence in Real Estate Education & Professional Standards, bringing together over 100 leaders from across the real estate sector.

Participants included representatives from brokerages, industry associations, real estate boards, education providers, and policy and regulatory organizations across Ontario. The summit was structured as facilitated working sessions to gather input and inform the next phase of RECO’s education modernization strategy.

At the centre of the discussion was a shared understanding: when consumers make one of the most significant financial decisions of their lives, they must be supported by professionals shaped through strong education and continuous learning.

The level of engagement throughout the afternoon was strong, with thoughtful discussions and a shared commitment to strengthening education and professional standards across the sector.

Key takeaways

• Education as a regulatory tool: Move beyond a passive requirement to support competency, address risk, and reinforce accountability.
• Strengthening practice readiness: Better prepare registrants through applied learning, supervised experience, and demonstrated competency.
• Raising professional standards: Increase expectations with stronger entry standards, a focus on ethics, and role-based learning.
• Leveraging data and technology: Use data and technology to better target education, strengthen assessment, and support continuous improvement.

Ahead of the summit, participants shared perspectives on key areas:

• 87% identified strengthening competency as a primary role of education
• 75% identified regulatory knowledge as critical to practice readiness
• 61% emphasized the importance of closer collaboration across the sector
• 41% supported using data to better target learning

These insights reinforce a clear direction: education must be more applied, targeted, and outcomes-driven, supported by stronger collaboration across the sector.

Insights from the summit are currently being consolidated and will inform the next phase of RECO’s education reform. This work will continue in close collaboration with the sector. By working in tandem, RECO and the sector can help shape professionals who are better equipped to serve consumers and strengthen trust in the real estate market.

The RECO Collaboration Summit is part of an ongoing engagement strategy to ensure a broad range of perspectives continue to shape this work across the province.