One of the great misconceptions, I think, about real estate brokerage is that it entails nothing more than hashing out a deal, shaking hands, and going on to the next without a backward glance: Lather, rinse, repeat to infinity (or retirement).

There’s a lot more to it than that, particularly as the industry adapts to new technologies, laws and real estate uses. Brokers today must continually learn about all of those and more, often by law. In fact, the New Jersey Real Estate Commission requires all brokers, salespersons or broker-salespersons to complete 12 hours of continuing education by July 1, 2013 to renew or reinstate their licenses. The question is how to get that education amid all that deal-making.

A couple of real estate services organizations have taken matters into their own hands, offering classes that qualify for continuing education credits. TriState Realtors Commercial Alliance, which advocates for professionals in New Jersey, Delaware and Southeastern Pennsylvania has launched the Commercial Real Estate School of New Jersey, which offers courses specifically around the state’s requirements. Madison Learning Center, the educational arm of Madison Commercial Real Estate Services has launched Monthly Learning with Madison, a series of free breakfast seminars in New York and New Jersey.

Given the many changes that are taking place in how this business runs (constant change is what makes it fun, after all), it is both more difficult and more important than ever to keep on learning. Good for TriState and Madison for trying to make the process easier. And let me know what all of you are doing, too.

The opinions in the article are the author's own and don't express views of Mack-Cali or any of its representatives.