Code of Ethics
Mandatory Training Requirement
WHAT IS THE REQUIREMENT?
The National Association of REALTORS® requires all existing members (except our REALTOR® Emeritus members) to complete 2.5 hours of ethics training every three years. All REALTORS® regardless of area of specialty (appraisal, commercial, land, property management, residential, etc.) must satisfy this NAR membership requirement.
Upon joining the association, all new members are required to complete the free online New Member Code of Ethics course from the National Association of REALTORS® within sixty (60) days. If the sixty (60) days fall into the next ethics cycle, new members are not exempt from the existing member requirement and will be completing two (2) ethics courses in one cycle.
The goal of the training requirement is:
- to heighten member awareness of the key tenets of the Code of Ethics,
- to create an awareness of and appreciation for the role the Code can and should play in their professional lives;
- to enhance professionalism and competency; and
- to encourage REALTORS® to view their Code of Ethics as a living, viable guide in their daily dealings with clients, customers, and the public.
The current Ethics Cycle is January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024
WHERE CAN I TAKE AN ETHICS COURSE AND HAVE IT COUNT?
Our Self-Paced Online Ethics Courses
We have two courses that can be used for real estate license renewal as a side benefit.
Using the Code to Solve Ethical Dilemmas (3 credit hours)
Ethical Excellence: Raising the Bar (4 credit hours)
Check your Monday morning Weekly News & Update email for your GAR Member discount code to save 25% off the course fee.
NAR's free online course without any CE hours.
This course has specialized content for residential, commercial, and appraiser practitioners.
Code of Ethics (English version)
Code of Ethics (Spanish version)
NAR's Commitment to Excellence (C2EX) Program:
You can access C2EX, NAR’s innovative professional endorsement program, as a mobile app -anywhere, anytime - along with a digital coach who assists and motivates you on your endorsement journey. With the flexibility to create a development plan tailored to your schedule, you gain access to handy, concise content that fits seamlessly into your day-to-day tasks.
Download C2EX from the Apple Store or Google Play
Other REALTOR® Association's ethics courses.
You must send your certificate of course completion to us.
CCIM's online ethics course or SIOR’s ethics and professional standards course.
You must send your certificate of course completion to us.
Before you take an ethics course anywhere else,
Before you take an ethics course anywhere else,
please check with Danielle Ketcham (Membership & Education Director) to verify that it qualifies.
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Is this a real estate license requirement?
No, it is a NAR requirement and only affects your REALTOR® membership, including rights and privileges for agents. For BICs, it also affects the MLS rights and privileges for themselves and the agents in their firm.
Some ethics courses are approved for CE credit which makes a nice bonus that you can get some CE credit for renewing your real estate license while fulfilling this membership duty.
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I took an ethics course, isn’t it good for three years?
The requirement has a set 3-year – calendar year – cycle. Your deadline to complete subsequent ethics courses is not three years from when you last took a course.
The deadline will always be December 31st of every third year – 2024 | 2027 | 2030 | etc.
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What are the consequences of not completing the requirement?
On January 1, 2025, any REALTOR® who has not satisfied the requirement will be suspended from membership for two months or until they satisfy the requirement, whichever is sooner. This applies not only to the local association but also to the state and National Association of REALTORS®.
* A REALTOR® who is suspended shall lose all the rights, privileges, and services she is entitled to receive. As a suspended member, they lose their rights to all membership benefits. This includes; but is not limited to, member-only discounts or access to services such as forms and contracts, discounted CE classes, free professional development opportunities, networking events, RPR, and HouseLogic access and must discontinue the use of the REALTOR® trademark and any designation/certifications they hold. Plus, any sales completed while suspended will not count towards their transactions for sales awards.
Once the requirement is met their rights, privileges, and services are restored the next day. While suspended, though, their obligation to abide by the Code of Ethics continues, as does the obligation to pay dues.
On March 1, 2025, if they still are not in compliance, then they will be terminated* from membership.
* Any suspended or terminated member will be required to pay a reinstate fee.