ONE
Education and Licensing
Requirements
• 19 years or older
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Legally allowed to work in Canada
• Complete Salesperson Licensing Course (SLC), either in-class or online
• Pass the real estate exam with a minimum grade of 70%
• Submit an acceptable criminal record check to the Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission
TWO
Courses and Fees
To become a licensed salesperson you must first complete the Salesperson Licensing Course, which is available both in-class and online through the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS® (NSAR), with a timeline of either four weeks or six months, respectively.
Visit the NSAR website to learn more about the course, as well as additional fees: https://www.nsrealtors.ca/NSAR/BecomeaREALTOR/EducationLicensing
To register, please contact the NSAR directly:
Website: www.nsrealtors.ca
Phone: 902-468-2515
Email: education@nsar.ns.ca
Once you have completed the licensing course, you will have one year to pass the examination. Students have a maximum of two attempts, and must receive a minimum mark of 70% in order to pass. Those who are unsuccessful must wait 12 months from their last day of class before they can apply to retake the course.
Examinations are held on the second Saturday of each month, and applications must be received one week in advance. Students who prefer to take the exam at a designated Access Nova Scotia office are subject to that office’s availability and will be contacted by the Commission directly with a scheduled appointment.
Those who pass the exam have six months to apply for a licence.
THREE
Criminal Record Check
You must obtain a criminal record check in order to apply for your realtor license. The Real Estate Commission has an account with MyBackCheck, which is available for each applicant’s use through the Commission’s homepage. It is important to apply for your criminal record check through the Commission, as it will automatically appear in their account for review, as well as reduce the regular rate of $55.00 to $33.00(+tax).
To start your criminal record check application with MyBackCheck directly through the Commission, click here.
The Commission will also accept criminal record checks from the following providers:
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
• Halifax Regional Police
• Commissionaires
• Municipal/town police
FOUR
Review and Complete the Salesperson/Associate Broker Licence Application.
Submit your application, fee, and required supporting documents to the Commission. Carefully review and complete the licensing application, and compile all the required original documents. Incomplete packages will not be accepted.
Note: Your license application must be signed by the Broker or Managing Associate Broker of the brokerage with whom you will be licensed.
FIVE
Application Requirements
• A complete and notarized Salesperson/Associate Broker Licence Application or Broker Licence Application and a Schedule A.
• Your birth certificate, permanent resident card and/or citizenship card/certificate.
• A government issued photo ID (provincial driver’s licence/provincial photo identification card/passport).
• An up-to-date original criminal record check from the Commission, or other listed providers.
• Proof of a complete high school education or approved equivalent, i.e. grad certificate, transcript, post-secondary education certificate, diploma, or degree.
• All supporting documents must be in English (documents that are not in English must be translated by a certified translator).
• Payment in cash, cheque, money order, debit, Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. Licensing fees are not prorated.
License applications can be notarized by the Commission office. Applications can be submitted by mail, fax, email, or in person:
Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission
601-1595 Bedford Hwy.
Bedford NS B4A 3Y4
Email: licensing@nsrec.ns.ca
Fax: 902-468-1016
SIX
Purchase Errors and Omissions Insurance
After you submit your license application to the Commission you will be issued a restricted license in order to obtain Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance. E&O is mandatory for all licensees in Nova Scotia and is purchased through the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS®.
Contact the NSAR at 902-468-2515 for further information on rates and how to obtain E&O insurance. Once proof of E&O is provided to the Commission, with a copy of your NSAR receipt, the restriction will be lifted and you may begin your trade in real estate.