Ever Thought About Becoming a Real Estate Instructor?

Sherri Barrett became a Texas REALTORS® instructor as a way to add value in her brokerage. The broker/owner of Huntsville-based Emblem Properties was already teaching agents; why not offer them CE credits for their participation? Now she’s approved to teach courses for the association.

The experiencegave a new perspective to Barrett, who chairs the Texas REALTORS® 2024 Professional Development Committee. “One of my goals this year is to make it easier for members to find out how to become an instructor,” she says. “We want to make it so you know where to go on texasrealestate.com and learn what’s required to teach the various courses.”

Your local and state REALTOR® associations are always looking for great teachers. If you’re waiting for a sign to get involved, here it is.

There are many reasons to apply to teach real estate courses. Maybe you want to give back to your industry or are eager to share your knowledge and skills with others. Teaching for Texas REALTORS® may also offer you and your broker greater exposure in your community and beyond, Barrett says.

The drive to serve motivates many members to become teachers, says Gregory Lang, Education and Housing Initiatives Program Manager for Texas REALTORS®. “Members have a desire to see their fellow license holders educated properly. For some, being an instructor may be their career, but for others, they love to teach in addition to their brokerage or sales activities.”

How Do I Get Started?

The first question you need to answer is: What do I want to teach? Texas REALTORS® lists the instructor requirements for popular courses on its website.

To teach classes for the GRI, Broker Responsibility, Legal Update I and II, REALTOR® Launch, Texas Risk Reduction Specialist, and Texas Accredited Commercial Specialist, your application must show at least one of the following qualifications:

• A college degree in the subject area and three years of teaching or training experience
• Five years active experience as a license holder (or as a broker to teach Real Estate Brokerage, Broker Responsibility, and TRRS courses) and three years of teaching or training experience
• The equivalent of one of the previous bullet points after consideration of your personal experience, research, authorship, or other significant endeavors in real estate.

Depending on what you want to teach, you may have additional requirements.

If you don’t meet those requirements, don’t worry! You may be able to substitute equivalent credentials based on your personal experience. In fact, you might already be qualified to teach a CE elective class.

You can submit your application with the $75 application fee. Texas REALTORS® will waive the fee if you’re signing up to teach a pre-existing class or will allow others to teach a course you develop, Lang says.

Show Your Expertise

If you want to teach certain courses, such as requirements for designations, you will have additional requirements. For example, you must earn the Graduate, REALTOR® Institute designation before being able to teach GRI courses. You will need to audit GRI courses, complete Instructor Training Institute courses, present a mock presentation, and have an interview with the Professional Development Committee.

What Happens After I Submit My Application?

Association staff reviews all applications for eligibility. “We see if there are any courses the applicant can teach immediately,” Lang says. “If they qualify, they can get approved now.”

Some advanced courses may require additional steps. “We’re not willing to put just anyone out there in front of agents because if we want to raise the bar, we need to ensure we’re giving them the best instruction,” Barrett says.