If you’re thinking about starting a real estate career in Calgary, here’s a straightforward breakdown of the steps you’ll need to follow to get licensed as a REALTOR® in Alberta.
Check Your Eligibility
Create Your MyRECA Account
Go to MyRECA.ca — this is the Real Estate Council of Alberta’s portal for all your applications and courses.
Submit an Eligibility Application
Fill out the online form, pay the fee (usually $100–$150 CAD), and get ready to upload documents.
Provide ID & Photo
Upload a clear, passport-style photo and valid government ID (like a driver’s license or permanent resident card).
Show Proof of Education & English
You’ll need to show your high school diploma or post-secondary transcripts. If they’re not in English, submit a certified translation.
For the English language requirement, you can use:
- A Canadian high school diploma
- CLB level 7 or higher
- IELTS or TOEFL results
Wait for RECA’s Approval
Once your documents are reviewed and accepted, you’ll get an email. You can’t move ahead until this is done.
Complete Your Real Estate Education
Enroll in the Fundamentals of Real Estate Course
Choose a RECA-approved education provider. This course covers real estate basics, contracts, laws, and ethics. It’s fully online and self-paced.
Write the Fundamentals Exam
After finishing the course, book your exam. You get two chances to pass with at least 70%. The exam costs around $200 per attempt.
For studying both fundamentals of real estate course and practice course, we highly recommend you go over every topic in competency blueprint and find topics to focus with exam weight piechart then buy practice exams provided by RECA before booking your final exam.
Pick Your Practice Area
Next, choose your specialization:
- Residential Real Estate (most common, this is for your day-to-day condos, houses and town houses, you get paid well when you close a deal and relatively easy to find clients)
- Commercial Real Estate (business lease/sale and commercial space lease/buy and sell, commercial deals take months and involve alot of complexity and to be paid well, property has to be big enough or rent high enough so for beginners I don’t think it is the best thing to get started with)
- Rural Real Estate (for farms, its very specialized)
- Property Management (for commercial lease and for becoming property manager, this can lead to full time permanent job where you get paid salary)
Enroll in the relevant practice course. These focus on day-to-day transactions and skills you’ll actually use on the job.
🔹 Complete & Pass the Practice Exam
After the course, write the practice exam (again, you need 70% to pass). Many new agents find the official RECA practice tests helpful to prepare.
Get Licensed & Join a Brokerage
Criminal Record Check
You’ll need a current criminal record check, which includes fingerprinting (about $100).
Choose a Brokerage
To get licensed, you must be signed on with a brokerage. Pick one that offers good support for new agents — for example, we at KO Realty help our REALTORS® with training, mentorship, lead generation and marketing tools.
Submit Your License Application
Your broker will approve your license application through your MyRECA account.
Pay Final Fees
This includes your licensing fee and mandatory Errors & Omissions insurance.
Start Your New Career!
Once RECA approves everything, you’re officially licensed and ready to work as a REALTOR® in Alberta.
Typical Time & Costs
| Phase | Timeline | Estimated Cost |
| Eligibility | 1–2 weeks | ~$200 |
| Education | 3–4 months | ~$2,000–$2,500 |
| Licensing | 1–2 months | ~$500–$700 |
| TOTAL | ~3–5 months | ~$2,500–$3,200 |
Pro Tip
Your first year is crucial — joining a supportive brokerage makes a huge difference. At KO Realty, we help new agents build confidence, close deals, and grow their business with proven systems and 1-on-1 guidance.
Questions? Reach out anytime at info@korealty.ca or call us at 403-400-0699.
Written by Junny Ko (Owner / Broker of KO Realty – Calgary Real Estate Brokerage)
