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Home Agents and Brokerages Moving to Ontario? Education Equivalency Assessment Policy

Effective Date: July 1, 2025
Approved by: Registrar, TRESA

Purpose

To outline the rules, eligibility, and criteria governing the Real Estate Council of Ontario’s Education Equivalency Assessment Application process.

Scope

The Registrar is authorized to recognize prior learning achieved through formal learning and experience as equivalent to completing some or all the educational requirements specified in O Reg. 579/05, s. 1 and s.6 of the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA).

Definitions

A complete list of definitions used in this policy begins on page 7. 

Implementation

Criteria

  1. Credit (equivalencies, recognition) may be granted to applicants who have completed and been evaluated in real estate registration/licencing programs or been granted real estate salesperson or broker or equivalent licences.
  2. Decisions are rendered in accordance with pre-established criteria set by the Registrar. Where gaps may be identified new criteria may be developed.

Eligibility

  1. Credit eligibility is based on the following experience and/or formal learning:
    1. An expired Ontario real estate registration (beyond 24-months)
    2. A previous or current real estate registration or licence in a jurisdiction other than Ontario that does not otherwise meet the eligibility for labour mobility
    3. The prior successful completion of a real estate registration or licence education program in a Canadian jurisdiction, including Ontario
    4. The completion of the Real Estate Salesperson Program, or at least one (1) pre-registration course/examination, or the completion of the Salesperson Registration Education Program, or at least one of the following pre-registration courses at the OREA Real Estate College:
      • The Real Estate Transaction General & The Residential Real Estate Transaction
      • The Commercial Real Estate Transaction
      • Real Property Law
  1. Experience described in section 3. b), c) and d) of this policy must be within the currency of learning limit of five (5) years.
  2. Experience described in section 3. c) of this policy requires full completion of a program of study to enter practice in the relevant jurisdiction.
  3. Credit may only be granted if formal learning and experience meets the criteria listed in section 3. a), b), c), and/or d) of this policy, or a combination.

Application, supporting documents, fee

  1. Applicants must submit a completed Education Equivalency Assessment Application form.
  2. Applicants must submit an official academic transcript from each institution at which real estate registration/licencing courses, examinations, and programs were taken for which credit is being sought.
  3. Applicants who have held a real estate registration or licence in a jurisdiction other than Ontario must provide a licencing history from the real estate regulatory/licencing organization(s) for any or all jurisdictions in which they are/were registered/licenced.
  4. Applicants must provide a $100.00 application fee, in Canadian funds, by Visa, Mastercard, Visa Debit, or Mastercard Debit.
  5. If an applicant’s Education Equivalency Assessment Application fee is reversed (example: a credit card transaction chargeback) it will be subject to a service charge of $35.00. Applicants will be sent a written notification informing them of any outstanding fees owing.
  6. Failure to replace a reversed Education Equivalency Assessment Application fee payment within five (5) calendar days of being sent a written notification, will result in the abandonment of the applicant’s Education Equivalency Assessment Application, or the cancellation of the applicant’s decision (if already granted). An additional service charge of $35.00 will be added to the fee payment amount owing.
  7. Applicants must have a Real Estate Council of Ontario MyWeb account. If an applicant does not have a Real Estate Council of Ontario MyWeb account, one must be created.
  8. Applicants must have a unique identifier number issued by the Real Estate Council of Ontario.
  9. Applicants must provide their full legal name, residential address, phone number, email address, date of birth, and designate learner dentification number, if applicable. 

Assessment process and timelines

  1. Applicants must submit a completed Education Equivalency Assessment Application with applicable documents and application fee to the Real Estate Council of Ontario’s Education Department, via the Real Estate Council of Ontario 's online portal, MyWeb.
  2. The eligibility of an application, including its applicability, sufficiency, authenticity, and the currency of its supporting documents, will be assessed, verified, and measured against the Registrar’s decision criteria for granting credit.
  3. Credits are determined on a course-equivalency basis, and may include registration courses and examinations, simulation sessions, or continuing education (CE) courses.
  4. The amount and type of credits awarded will depend on the currency of an applicant’s registration experience and/or prior learning, whether the applicant has met curriculum expectations in a specific course, and the types of equivalencies offered by the Registrar.
  5. When applicable, applicants will be sent a Notice of Deficiency, by email, informing them of any missing information or required documentation.
  6. If an applicant fails to provide the information or documentation required to process an application within 60 calendar days from the date they are sent a Notice of Deficiency, the Education Equivalency Assessment Application will irrevocably become abandoned, and any fees will not be refunded.
  7. Applicants may request an extension of 60 calendar days to respond to a Notice of Deficiency. Such requests must be submitted in writing to the Real Estate Council of Ontario’s Education Department in advance of the Notice of Deficiency deadline date.
  8. An application deemed abandoned for a missed deadline cannot be reactivated.
  9. Assessments take up to 15 business days to complete.
  10. Decision letters will be emailed to applicants.

Deadlines

  1. Education Equivalency Assessment Application decisions are valid for one (1) year from the date the decision letter is issued to the applicant, unless otherwise specified in the decision.
  2. Applicants must adhere to education equivalency assessment deadlines set by the Real Estate Council of Ontario, including, but not limited to, Notice of Deficiency and registration application due dates.
  3. Education equivalency assessment deadline dates will not be extended.
  4. An applicant who does not complete their education requirements within the timeline stipulated in their Education Equivalency Assessment Application decision letter must submit a new Education Equivalency Assessment Application, supporting documents, and fee, and a new decision will be issued.
  5. Applicants who reapply for education equivalency assessment are not guaranteed the same decision.

Registration

  1. Applicants for registration will be bound by the current Education Equivalency Assessment Application decision at the time of the application for registration.
  2. When education equivalency assessment requirements have been met, an applicant may proceed to the application process for registration or reinstatement as a salesperson under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA).
  3. Despite section 32, an Ontario real estate broker, beyond a 24-month break in registration, may reinstate as a broker when education equivalency assessment requirements have been met, provided that no more than five (5) years have elapsed since termination of registration.
  4. Education Equivalency Assessment Application decisions address only educational matters. To qualify to apply for registration with the Real Estate Council of Ontario, an applicant must meet educational requirements and all other criteria for registration under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA).

Personal information—confidentiality

  1. The Real Estate Council of Ontario will maintain the confidentiality of all documentation related to an education equivalency assessment request, except as provided by law.

Restrictions

  1. RECO’s Real Estate Broker Program and/or Interprovincial Challenge Examination are not eligible for credit.
  2. Incomplete program components, courses, and/or examinations, and any formal learning assessed as a “fail”, is not eligible for credit.
  3. Education equivalency assessment cannot be used to upgrade a failed course grade or to extend a program end-date.
  4. The Real Estate Council of Ontario does not grant or facilitate examination rewrites or second course attempts.
  5. Prior learning experience, described in section 3. c) and d) of this policy must have been acquired no more than five (5) years before the Education Equivalency Assessment Application date to be considered for credit.
  6. The experience described in section 3. b) of this policy must be from within a jurisdiction in which real estate is a regulated profession, with real estate licencing and education.
  7. Work experience and/or prior learning not listed in section 3. of this policy is not eligible for credit.

General guidelines

  1. The Education Equivalency Assessment Application fee is established by the Real Estate Council of Ontario and must be paid in full before the assessment can begin.
  2. The Equivalency Assessment Application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable, regardless of the outcome of an application.
  3. Supporting documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a certified or notarized translation by a certified translator.
  4. The Real Estate Council of Ontario may request additional supporting documentation or information for verification purposes or to determine a document’s authenticity.
  5. The Real Estate Council of Ontario may contact any regulatory agencies and/or educational institutions named in an application and/or supporting documentation.
  6. Applicants may be asked to submit original copies of their supporting documents for verification purposes.
  7. Education Equivalency Assessment Application forms and accompanying materials will not be returned to applicants or forwarded to other organizations.
  8. Applicants must follow and satisfy education delivery designate admission requirements to gain entrance into the Real Estate Salesperson Program, when applicable.
  9. Applicants must declare if they have a valid Education Equivalency Assessment Application decision when applying for admission into the RECO Real Estate Salesperson Program.

Applicant integrity

  1. The Real Estate Council of Ontario may request additional documentation to confirm the authenticity of any part of an applicant’s Education Equivalency Assessment Application and/or supporting documentation at any time.
  2. Evidence of false, misleading or deceptive information provided on an Education Equivalency Assessment Application form or any supporting application documentation, may result in:
    1. The Real Estate Council of Ontario’s refusal to issue a decision to an applicant
    2. The Real Estate Council of Ontario’s revocation of a decision and/or credit(s) previously issued to an applicant
    3. The Real Estate Council of Ontario imposing terms, conditions, or limitations on an applicant’s registration, such as additional training or coursework
  1. In cases where an applicant has been sanctioned by the Real Estate Council of Ontario for examination or other academic misconduct, the applicant will no longer be permitted to proceed with their current Education Equivalency Assessment Application decision.

Appeals

  1. Education equivalency assessment eligibility and/or decisions cannot be appealed.

Transfer credit

  1. Applicants enrolled in the RECO Real Estate Salesperson Program with an active Education Equivalency Assessment Application decision are not eligible for transfers between education delivery designates. 

Roles and responsibilities

  1. Applicants are responsible for:
    • applying for education equivalency assessment, following instructions throughout the application procedure, paying the application fee, and providing all necessary evidence, as set out in the Education Equivalency Assessment Application form and instructions
    • familiarizing themselves with all requirements and policies related to education equivalency assessment
    • meeting educational requirements and deadlines set out by the Real Estate Council of Ontario
    • satisfying program admission requirements for entry into the Real Estate Salesperson Program, when appropriate
  2. Education Services, within the Real Estate Council of Ontario, is responsible for:
    • providing information and supporting applicants for education equivalency assessment
    • evaluating applications and supporting documentation to determine applicant eligibility
    • rendering decisions within pre-established protocols
    • relaying decisions, credit results, and educational requirements to applicants, education delivery designates, and applicable Real Estate Council of Ontario business units within designated timeframes
    • ensuring applicants are treated fairly throughout the application process
  3. Education delivery designates are responsible for:
    • validating learner Education Equivalency Assessment Application decisions with the Real Estate Council of Ontario
    • recording credits earned through education equivalency assessment within its learner record system and on a learner’s education record
    • supporting education equivalency assessment applicants post the Real Estate Council of Ontario’s decision
    • keeping learners informed of applicable registration or program information
    • determining eligibility for program admission 

Definitions

“Applicant” – a learner, prospective salesperson, or previous Real Estate Council of Ontario registrant who applies to have their prior learning and/or experience assessed for credit toward a credential.

“Application form” – a webform that applicants complete to apply for education equivalency assessment.

“Assessment” – the process used for evaluating and granting credit for prior learning experience.

“Continuing Education” – online continuing education credit courses provided exclusively by the Real Estate Council of Ontario.

“Credit” – when an applicant is exempted from completing a specific program component, course requirement, or program of study. 

“Education delivery designate” – an entity with whom the Real Estate Council of Ontario has entered into a contractual agreement to deliver registration education on its behalf. 

“Education Equivalency Assessment” – an application process that allows individuals to document and have assessed their formal real estate learning and experience for the purpose of granting academic credit.

“Equivalency” – a level of achievement equivalent to completion of an educational or training program component(s). 

“Examination Provider” – a designate that develops and administers Real Estate Registration Education Program examinations on behalf of the Real Estate Council of Ontario.

“Formal Learning” – learning that leads to a qualification or academic credential. 

“Learner” – (1) a current learner of the Real Estate Council of Ontario’s real estate registration program; or (2) a previous learner of the Real Estate Council of Ontario’s real estate registration program within the last 5 years.

“Licencing History” – a formal letter from the real estate regulatory/licencing organization(s) in which an applicant has been registered/licenced, including registration/licence start and end dates, current registration/licence status, and the current/previous name(s) of employing brokerage office(s).

“Official academic transcript” – an official document outlining a learner’s academic performance at an educational institution, including: the institution’s name, learner’s name, a summary of courses, examinations and programs completed, marks/grades received, completion dates, and certificates and credits (if awarded).

“Prior Learning” – knowledge or competence an individual has acquired in previous training and/or work experience.

“Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO)” – a not-for-profit corporation that is delegated the authority by the Ontario government to administer the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA). The Real Estate Council of Ontario regulates the real estate profession, protecting the public interest through a safe and informed marketplace. 

“Real Estate Registration Education Program” – the education programs developed or approved by the Real Estate Council of Ontario and delivered by a designated education provider. Completion of the Real Estate Registration Education Program allows those interested to proceed to apply for registration with the Real Estate Council of Ontario.

“Registered” – registered under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA), or any other registration, licence, permit, certificate or other authorization required under TRESA to carry out an activity governed by TRESA.

“Registrant” – an individual who is licenced as a salesperson, broker, or a brokerage under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA).

“Registrar” – the individual appointed by Real Estate Council of Ontario’s Board of Directors and/or by the deputy minister to the Minister as the chief registration or licencing officer under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA), who performs the duties assigned to the position of Registrar under the Act, and the regulations made thereunder.

“Registration” – the process whereby an individual applies to the Real Estate Council of Ontario to be licenced under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA).

“Supporting Documentation” – the documented evidence that demonstrates an applicant’s prior learning experience. Documentation may be in the form of official academic transcripts, education records, and registration licencing histories.

"TRESA" – the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002, and the regulations thereunder.