If you haven’t taken an ethics course in the last three years, you have until the end of 2012.
Or else.
The National Association of Realtors mandates that every member of a NAR-affiliated association take an ethics course within a four-year period and return a course completion certificate to their local office. The current period started on Jan. 1, 2009, so do the math: Dec. 31, 2013 is the deadline.
Those who don’t face license suspension.
“Many think this has something to do with the state but it doesn’t,” said NEFAR’s Melanie Green. “This is a NAR requirement that we support. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation has zero to do with this.”
NEFAR has eight more sessions this year. They are around the area and run from 1-4 p.m. Most are free; some may have a small charge.
There is also an online course that does have a fee because it’s outsourced to a private company. Information is at nefar.com, linking to Online Real Estate Classes, or at NAR’s realtor.org.
There’s one other way: if you’ve completed a
GRI 1 course through Florida Realtors during the cycle, the proof of your course completion will
be accepted.
The schedule of NEFAR classes:
Feb. 1: Palatka Best Western
March 14: Jacksonville Beach Comfort Inn
April 4: NEFAR / St. Johns Service Center
May 9: Orange Park Holiday Inn.
June 13: NEFAR main office.
July 5: Palatka Best Western
Aug. 1: Jacksonville Beach Comfort Inn.
Sept. 5: Orange Park Holiday Inn.
— Fred Seely