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We present to you the most frequent asked questions of real estate education and of the American Real Estate Academy.
Revised 2/21/2008
Topics
Courses and Registration
Return and Refund Policies
State Exam
Surety Bond
Continuing Education and Renewal Information for Salespeople and Brokers
Audio Tapes
Home Inspection Course
Q: What types of courses do you offer?
A: We offer a variety of state approved courses in both Real Estate and Appraisal. Visit the Courses section for more information.
Q: When do classes begin?
A: AREA provides a variety of different schedules to meet the needs of even the most hectic schedules. Visit the Schedules section for more information.
Q: How quickly may I complete the Salesperson Course?
A: The weekend course is the most condensed course that AREA offers. It may be completed in only 2 days.
Q: Is Waltham your only location?
A: No. We hold weekend and daytime salesperson courses as well as our Continuing Education courses in many different locations throughout the state.
Q: If I cannot attend the entire course or I need to miss a class is there any way to make up what I have missed?
A: Absolutely. You may make up whatever subjects that you are missing during another class or on a Monday by audio tape.
Q: Do I have to obtain my salesperson license before obtaining my broker license?
A: Yes. You must take and pass the salesperson exam and work for a broker as a licensed salesperson for one year before you can take your broker exam.
Q: How do I register for a Salesperson, Broker or Continuing Education course?
A: We offer the convenience of online registration for all of our courses. We have walk-in registration for the Salesperson and Broker license and Continuing Education courses. Students arrive the first day of the course and register at the door. All students may pre register if they wish by calling 800.462.0044 or coming to the Waltham office anytime Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Q: If I choose walk-in registration, is it possible that I could be turned away if the class is full?
A: No. We never have turned away a student in the history of the school due to lack of space. We always make sure we have ample room to accommodate anyone who comes in to register our real estate courses.
Q: How do I register for an Appraisal license or Appraisal continuing education?
A: Pre-registration is required for all appraisal courses. We offer the convenience of online registration for all of our courses. You must obtain and fill out an application for the course and either mail or fax it to the school with payment to ensure a space in the course. You may call the office at 1-800-462-0044 to receive applications by mail or fax or you can download them directly off out Web site. We do have a limit on the number of students that attend each appraisal course. Please do not wait for the deadline to send in the applications, the course is most likely to be full by that time.
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Bookstore Returns
You can return your online purchases for in-store credit only.
Returning to American Real Estate Academy:
- We'll refund (for store credit only) your online purchase if you:
- Return new books, unopened CDs, cassettes, unopened software, calculators, in their original condition.
- Return within 30 days of the shipment date listed on your packing slip.
- Ship returns at your own expense with original packing slip to: (You may also return merchandise in person at following address)
American Real Estate Academy
Returns Dept.
771 Main St.
Waltham, MA 02451
Note: Shipping charges are not refundable for all returned or refused orders.
Refund Policy
Salesperson & Broker Courses:
- Students may receive a refund minus a $25.00 administration fee if they have completed less than three of the eight subjects in the course and return the attendance sheet located at the front of their textbook.
- Students may receive a prorated refund minus a $25.00 administration fee based on amounts paid if they complete three or more of the eight subjects in the course.
- This refund policy is valid for six months from the date of enrollment. After six months there is no refund for the course.
CE Courses:
- Students may receive a refund minus a $15.00 administration fee if they cancel their enrollment in the CE course (did not attend any part of course) To receive this refund they must return the blue attendance sheet located at the front of their textbook.
- Students may receive a prorated refund minus a $15.00 administration fee based on amounts paid and how many hours they completed in the course. To receive this refund, they must return the blue attendance sheet located at the front of their textbook.
- This refund policy is valid for six months from the date of enrollment. After six months there is no refund for the course.
Appraisal Courses and Mortgage Origination Courses:
- A registration fee of $50.00 will be charged for all appraisal courses cancelled or rescheduled.
- If you wish to cancel your registration or switch to a later class date it must be brought to our attention at least 3 days prior to the starting date of the course or no refund will be administered.
- If a cancellation is requested within 48 hours of the course or you do not show up for the course no refund will be administered.
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Q: How soon can I take the exam after attending the courses?
A: You will receive a toll free number for the testing service on the final day of the course. The earliest appointment you may receive will be at least three business days from the time you make the appointment. We urge students to wait until they have completed the course to make their appointment.
Q: When and where is the exam held?
A: The exam is given by Promissor testing company. They have testing sites in Boston, Woburn, North Dartmouth, Worcester, and W. Springfield. The exam is given in Boston, Woburn, and North Dartmouth Tuesday through Saturday every week at 8 a.m. or 1 p.m. The exam is given in Worcester and W. Springfield Thursday through Saturday at 8 a.m. or 1 p.m. The testing service may open up additional days and times at these locations during busy periods. They will notify you of any additional testing days and hours that may be available when you are making your appointment.
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Q: What is a Surety Bond and how do obtain one?
A: Everyone that holds a broker license in Massachusetts must have a $5,000 surety bond. We provide the service to all of our students as well as anyone else that needs to obtain a surety bond for their broker license or for their company's license. **New Brokers must obtain a surety bond before they take the broker exam. Promissor issues a Professional ID number to all broker candidates at the time they make their exam appointment. Once a Professional ID number is received a bond can be obtained here at the office within a matter of minutes for a fee of $50.00. Bonds are renewed every five years.
Q: I have a broker license but it is inactive, do I still need to have a bond?
A: Yes. Anyone that holds a broker license whether it is active or inactive must have a current bond filed with the state. If you do not have a bond or if has expired the state will not renew your license.
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Q: Are brokers and salespersons required to complete continuing education?
A: To keep your license on an "active" status the state requires both brokers and salespeople to take a 12 hour curriculum for continuing education. If you would like to renew your license but are not using it at the moment you can bypass the continuing education and renew as "inactive" which means you cannot list or sell property but you can receive a referral fee if you refer a client to an active broker. Visit the Continuing Education schedule section for more information.
Q: Is there anyone exempt from continuing education?
A: Yes. Licensed Real Estate Brokers who are Massachusetts attorneys and are in good standing with the Bar are exempt from the continuing education requirement. This is only for Massachusetts attorneys. Brokers in Massachusetts who are attorneys in other states are required to complete the Massachusetts continuing education curriculum.
Q: When must Continuing Education be completed?
A: To renew your license on and "active" status you must complete the 12 hours of continuing education anytime during the 24 months prior to your renewal date which is your birthday.
Q: How do I renew my license active or inactive?
A: The Board of Registration will send a renewal form to you in the mail before the expiration date on your license. Question #2 on the renewal application will ask if you have completed the 12 hour requirement. You will answer "Yes" if you have completed the 12 hours or "No" if you have not. Once you have filled out the renewal form and answered Question 2 with the appropriate answer you then mail the renewal form to the state along with the renewal fee. If you have completed the 12 hours of continuing education you do not have to send in a copy of the certificate you received from the school it is for your records. We also keep a record of your completion in our database.
Q: If I renew my license "inactive" what is required to change the status to "active"?
A: An "inactive" license can be activated at anytime by completing the 12 hour continuing education requirement. When a license is renewed "inactive" a notice is mailed to the licensee which states that the license is renewed and is in an "inactive" status. At the bottom of the notice there is a section that can be filled out once the 12 hours of continuing education completed and that the licensee wishes to change their license status to "active". Once filled out and sent to the board of registration the license will be activated and an "active" license will be mailed to the licensee. One does not have to wait until the next renewal to activate a license it may be done anytime during the 24 month licensing period. If a license is inactive for more than one licence period a licensee is not required to attend 12 hours for every license period they have been inactive, only one 12 hour session is required to activate the license. Once the license is active 12 hours of continuing education is required every two years to keep the license renewed and on active status.
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Q: When and where are the audio tapes available?
A: Audio tapes are available at the Waltham office every Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Q: Can I take the tapes home?
A: No. Audio tapes are not to leave the building under any circumstances.
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NOTICE TO STUDENT
All questions pertaining to registration, refunds, school policy, course content, explanation of state licensing law, final exams (if applicable), and completion certificates should be addressed to American Real Estate Academy. American Real Estate Academy may be reached at 800.462.0044.
COURSE EXPIRATION AND REVIEW
All course lessons on the computer must be completed within 180 days from the date of enrollment (unless individual state law specifies otherwise). Access to the computer lessons will expire at midnight on the 180th day after enrollment. You have 90 days to access and review the course content after you have completed the last lesson in a course. (Regardless of when the course is completed within the 180 days from enrollment).
COURSE EXTENSION POLICY
If you cannot complete your course within the 180 days, then you may purchase a 60 day extension from American Real Estate Academy. The 60 day extension period begins from the date your course originally expires. You may purchase up to three extensions per course. It is your responsibility to contact your school coordinator to find out about purchasing an extension. It is recommended that you purchase the extension immediately after the course has expired in order to be able to have the full 60 days of the extension.
CERTIFICATE OF COURSE COMPLETION
Upon completion of course, you will receive a Completion Certificate. In the event the certificate is lost, a duplicate may be obtained from American Real Estate Academy offices by request. An administrative fee may be charged for the duplicate.
REGISTRATION CANCELLATION POLICY
You have the right to cancel your registration for any reason up to five (5) business days from the date of purchase. A cancellation fee will be charged to cancel a registration. The amount of the cancellation fee is 15% of the total purchase amount. If the course includes one or more textbooks, the books must be returned at the student's expense. The request for cancellation will not be processed until the book(s) are returned to the school in reusable condition (if applicable).
American Real Estate Academy will not cancel any registration of a course that falls outside the 5 business day policy, with the exception of any legitimate technical problems that cannot be overcome. Also, American Real Estate Academy will not cancel a registration for a completed course.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
For technical assistance, please call Technical Support at 1-800-743-8703 or email them at techsupport@mycoursepage.com. Technical Support is available Monday - Friday from 9:00am to 11:00pm EST and on weekends from 12:00 - 4:00pm EST. (Holidays are an exception to this schedule. On holidays, the Technical Support hours may change.)
The best and quickest way to address tech support issues is to go to www.mycoursepage.com/support. If you call Technical Support, please be prepared to explain your problem in detail and have access to your computer. In order to effectively troubleshoot your issue, our technicians begin the call by asking you a series of questions regarding your operating environment. We will need to know what type of computer you are using, the operating system you are using, the version number of your software, etc. Your call may be documented or monitored to help us maintain quality of service standards.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
In order to take this distance education course, your computer must meet the following system requirements:
- IBM PC Compatible Computer (minimum 350 MHz processor with 64 MB RAM)
- SVGA (800x600) video card, driver, and monitor
- Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000*/XP*
- Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or greater (free download available with course)
- Internet connection (minimum 56Kbps required, although we highly recommend a high speed connection such as DSL, cable or TI)
- Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.5 or greater (free download available with course) (CompuTaught courses do not support any "Beta" versions of Internet Explorer)
- Printer (for course documentation and Student Affidavit)
- Flash Player plug-in (free download available with course)
CD-ROM Version Only:
- CD-ROM drive (CD-ROM version only)
- 5 MB available hard drive space to install program and at least 7 MB available hard drive space per hour of course work (CD-ROM version only) For example: If you have purchased a 3 hour course and a 6 hour course, then you would need an average of 68 MB of available hard drive space (9 hours x 7 MB = 63MB plus 5MB to install)
* In order to install and use the CD-ROM courses (if available) on Windows 2000 or Windows XP, the User must belong to the Administrators or Power User Groups
REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETING THE COURSE
Please refer to the directions on your course home page for specific instructions regarding the completion of your course and the "Introduction" lesson located at the beginning of each course. To complete the course and receive your Completion Certificate, you must successfully complete the following requirements:
- Complete ALL instructional lessons in the course by answering each question correctly at least twice.
- Return a signed and dated Student Affidavit to American Real Estate Academy when the course is complete. The Student Affidavit is a signed document from you certifying that you have personally completed each assigned lesson of instruction. This student affidavit must be returned to American Real Estate Academy before you can receive credit for a distance learning course. (A "Student Affidavit" link will appear on your course home page upon completion of the course. Click on that link to obtain a copy of the Student Affidavit).
- CD-ROM Students: You MUST upload your course work upon completion of all course lessons. (Directions on how to upload your course are available on your course home page). If you do not have the ability to establish an internet connection, you must save your course work to a diskette and return that diskette to American Real Estate Academy so that the school administrator can check it for course completion. (Online courses will be automatically marked as complete when you finish the last lesson). Please note: It is highly recommended that you upload your course work every time you exit your course, as this will save any work that may be lost if you experience computer problems.
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