Real estate brokers and managing real estate brokers are licensed by the Department of Licensing in the state of Washington.  Under existing statute, real estate brokers and managing brokers must fulfill the following criteria in order to obtain a real estate broker's license:

• be at least 18 years old;
• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• complete 90 hours of approved real estate education within two years before applying for the exam, including a 60-hour course in real estate fundamentals, and a 30-hour course in real estate practices.

The real estate education requirements are waived for qualified applicants currently licensed in another state.

To maintain and renew a broker's license, a real estate broker or managing real estate broker must complete an education requirement.  Prior to renewing a broker's license for the first time, a broker must complete 90 hours of education with the following requirements prior to licensure renewal:

• 30 hours of an advanced practices course;
• 30 hours of a real estate law course;
• 3 hours of a current trends and issues in residential/commercial real estate in Washington (CORE) course; and
• 27 hours of elective continuing education courses.

For subsequent renewals, a broker must complete 30 hours of required education in the following:

• 3 hours of CORE education; and
• 27 hours of elective continuing education.

A broker's license must be renewed once every two years.

Individuals completing the 90 hours of instruction in real estate prior to obtaining their broker's license, and licensed brokers renewing their license for the first time, must complete three hours of instruction on fair housing and consumer protection issues.  Active licensed brokers making subsequent renewals to their license, must complete six hours of instruction on fair housing and consumer protection issues.

The Department of Licensing is directed to provide more specific training concepts within fair housing education after receiving input from the following entities:

• associations that represent real estate brokers and agents;
• Washington State Commission on African American Affairs;
• Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs;
• Governor's Office of Indian Affairs;
• Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs;
• Washington State Human Rights Commission;
• Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment;
• Washington State LGBTQ Commission; and
• Washington State Housing Finance Commission.

PRO:  In the last year, we have seen a lot in the news about the disparities in home buying.  Real estate brokers engage in helping people make the biggest purchase of their lives.  Members in our community have been discriminated against while in pursuit of buying a home as a first step towards creating generational wealth.  The approach used in this bill is consistent with best practices.  Education and outreach is the best way to prevent housing discrimination.  Enforcement of fair housing is enforced by multiple entities.
 
CON:  This bill is entirely redundant which makes it seem like the current education program does not address these issues, which is not true.  The CORE curriculum is required of all brokers.  The curriculum is already in place.