"We think the course is very timely," Pat Richardson, TAR's education manager, told GlobeSt.com. She says the launch hinges on approval from the Texas Real Estate Commission, which is expected to render a decision in 14 to 21 days. "Right now, it's out of our hands and into their hands," she says.
The National Association of Realtors course mandate had taken effect Jan. 1. Richardson says "it seemed logical" to team the flagship course with NAR's required class. Realtors who fail to take the class will "lose their ability to sell real estate until they are reinstated by the Texas Real Estate Commission," emphasizes Richardson. "It's crucial." Realtors are required to complete 15 hours of courses every two years.
She expects the first class to draw 1,500 to 2,000 of TAR's 50,000 members. But, she says, that will grow. By midyear, she plans to have more MCE curricula online. "Our first goal is to make sure the course works," she explains.
The online course has built-in periodic checks that would alert TAR if the student is not actually the realtor who has signed up for the class. "You can't guarantee 100%, but you also can't guarantee that that person walking into the classroom isn't representing somebody else," she told GlobeSt.com. The best part is a student can walk away from the computer to cut those million-dollar deals, unlike the traditional classroom. Richardson says the online venture is the best way to go to quickly disseminate information about legislative changes, new regulations and impact on the real estate community.
TAR will use a platform designed by Austin's IBT Technologies, an e-Learning infrastructure company. TAR has signed a multi-year contract with IBT for the premiere course and subsequent ones. IBT Technologies, found in 1998, counts among its clients Verizon and AGA Linde as well as professional associations and government agencies.
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