New program provides free real estate education for graduating TN seniors
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance has launched a new program that allows qualifying 2024 high school seniors the opportunity to study real estate for free.
The Tennessee High School Senior Real Estate Licensing Program partners with Kaplan Real Estate Education.
At least one student from Dobyns-Bennett High School is already studying real estate and completing an internship at Red Door Agency in Kingsport. Trevor Day has paid nearly $500 for the combined 90-hour course he’s taking to earn his real estate license.
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He told News Channel 11 he thinks the investment will pay off and while he may not have been able to take part in the new program, he is excited others can now earn their license for free through it.
“It provides a great opportunity I think for anyone who’s willing to do the work,” Day said. “As long as you get your GED (or high school diploma), it’s a low barrier to entry with such a high area to make money in, so it’s really great.”
Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) Chairman Geoff Diaz said the initiative is in line with Governor Bill Lee’s efforts.
“The initiative really originated with Governor Lee in his first and second terms trying to make professional licensing and opportunities more available to Tennesseans,” Diaz said.
According to the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance website, to be eligible, applicants must:
Be 18 years or older to submit a licensing application after passing the official licensing exams. The online courses (pre-licensing education and exam prep) and the official licensing exams may be taken and completed prior to turning 18.
Submit fingerprints for a background check.
Provide proof of a high school diploma or equivalent certification.
Provide proof of completion of 60 credit hours of education before sitting for the PSI exam and have completed the 30-hour New Affiliates course before applying for a license. Kaplan will provide you with completion certificates.
Successfully pass the state and national portions of the real estate exam. Both exams must be taken and passed within 6 months of each other and submitted to the TREC.
Day said he thinks it’s a great opportunity for other graduating seniors because it’s an industry that doesn’t require a degree.
“I love everything there is to do with real estate, especially the sales aspect of being an agent and the marketing part of it,” he said. “So its really cool you can go out there and pave your own path.”
Red Door Agency’s Director of Agent Relations Aaron Amos said the younger generation can bring a new perspective to the industry.
“A lot of things are moving more digital, and having success in TikTok and social media, having experience in those things and having a good concept of how they want to move forward in the industry and innovate the industry would be a really good thing to start with,” Amos said.
A spokesperson for The Northeast Tennessee Association of Realtors said there are currently about 1,800 members in East Tennessee who hold a realtor license. That number increases every year. TREC Chairman Geoff Diaz said that shouldn’t deter the students as it’s still an industry that rewards hard workers with a good salary.
The scholarship program is being funded by disciplinary action placed against current licensees. The fines levied go to fund education programs for TREC.
For more information on the program, click here.
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