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2021 MREA Advisory Board Pre-Licensing Update

Angela McMillan

Posted by Angela McMillan
Mar 4, 2021 5:00:00 PM

After careful consideration of the data, the MREA Advisory Board recommended the GKAR Board of Directors discontinue offering the Pre-Licensing Course. In part, this decision was to allow further consideration to provide additional opportunities for education to its existing GKAR Members. The MREA Advisory Board will continue their review of the other MREA offerings and seek ways to enhance those offerings.

Background

In 2020, the Greater Kalamazoo Association of REALTORS® (GKAR) established the Michigan Real Estate Academy (MREA) Task Force to perform an overall review of the MREA. This group met several times throughout the year, and it was their recommendation to establish an MREA Advisory Board that would continue to further examine the operations and offerings of the MREA as well as make recommendations to the GKAR Board of Directors.

In 2021, the MREA Advisory Board was established. Their first order of business was to seek input from Membership. In February, two surveys were sent; one to REALTOR® Members and a separate survey to Brokers/Managers. The surveys were open for two weeks and together, received over 150 responses.

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View MREA Survey Results

The MREA Advisory Board reviewed the survey results along with a comprehensive report detailing each segment of the MREA’s offerings (Pre-Licensing, Continuing Education, Designations and Certifications, and Broker Prep). The MREA Advisory Board first reviewed in detail the Pre-Licensing Course. The report revealed a declining trend in MREA Students that became GKAR Members; the extensive resources it requires to host the course; and the financial obligation required to support the course. View the Pre-Licensing segment of the report here for your reference.

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The survey results were interesting because they also showed a trend that even though in-person classes were preferred, many of our Members took the Pre-Licensing Course online for convenience, pricing, or “it was quicker.” Then, 2020 (and COVID-19) happened and the MREA could not host in-person classes, yet GKAR had more new REALTOR® Members join than the year before when we subsidized the in-person course by over $47,000. Online learning was an option before 2020, however, now with the new reality and market shift, many people are becoming comfortable with it, and some even prefer it.

Approved Recommendation

After careful consideration of the data, the MREA Advisory Board recommended the GKAR Board of Directors discontinue offering the Pre-Licensing Course. In part, this decision was to allow further consideration to provide additional opportunities for education to its existing GKAR Members. The MREA Advisory Board will continue their review of the other MREA offerings and seek ways to enhance those offerings.

At their February meeting, the GKAR Board of Directors approved discontinuing the MREA Real Estate 101 Pre-Licensing Course, upon recommendation of the MREA Advisory Board, effective immediately.

We sincerely thank you for the many years of support. GKAR is continuing our relationships with The CE Shop and Oncourse Learning Real Estate who provide excellent online education for your future licensees. We will continue to promote those online opportunities on GKAR.com along with the resources and articles like “How to Get Your Real Estate License”. The website will be updated shortly to reflect the changes and direct your future licensees how to obtain their required education online.

As this chapter closes, the GKAR Board of Directors along with the MREA Advisory Board looks forward to providing more opportunities for education to its existing REALTOR® Members.

Angela McMillan

Angela McMillan

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