Education programs abound for local professionals

by Jan K. Allen

SBJ Contributing Writer

It's never been more convenient to acquire the hours needed to sit for licensure as a real estate salesperson or broker. Springfield has two schools offering a frequently repeated selection of day and evening classes to earn the 60 classroom hours required for new salespeople, and the 48 additional hours required for brokers. The requirement is set by the Missouri Real Estate Commission.

Action School of Real Estate Inc. has both day and evening classes starting monthly. The $300 salesperson's course includes the textbook, course outline and application for licensure upon successful completion.

Administrator/instructor LaVern Kohl is a real estate broker, with many years' experience in the field. Kohl also has a master's degree in business administration, an investment specialist degree and taught for several years at Southwest Missouri State University prior to opening his own real estate school in the late 1980s. He has earned both the GRI and CRB designation.

Classes cover basic core studies required by the commission, including both state and federal regulations governing brokerage rules and real estate transactions.

Successful completion of the course of study enables the student to face the tough state exam fully prepared. Kohl said he is confident enough in the course plan to offer free "retakes" for up to six months after completion of the classes for students who fail the exam on their first try.

Lifetime Learning is the second full-time school certified by the state to offer real estate courses. Lifetime also offers classes for salespeople and brokers monthly, maintains a day and evening schedule, and students may repeat the classes if they fail the exam.

The school is owned and operated by Dr. Denny Mc-

Ilroy and his wife, Tonda. McIlroy has his doctorate in education. He is a licensed broker, appraiser and lead inspector.

Besides broker and sales classes, Lifetime offers the complete course of study required for appraisal licensure. A total of 180 hours are available, from beginning classes required for certification, to advanced preparation in both residential and commercial appraising.

Interspersed with regular classes, on a quarterly basis, Lifetime offers a Home Inspection course, taught by a contractor who is an expert in the field.

Both Action and Lifetime offer intermittent continuing education courses for Realtors to obtain the 12 hours in each two-year period renewal requirement set by the commission.

According to Mike Toler, assistant director of noncredit programs at OTC, Ozarks Technical Community College offers career enhancement courses approved by the Real Estate Commission for license renewal. Licensees can take up to four, three-hour courses at the rate of $30 per course. The classes are given at the North Town Mall location, Toler stated.

OTC also offers appraisal courses and, beginning this fall, the school will provide a 120-hour program, comprised of five sections, for residential appraisal certification. The four, 30-hour sections will cost $310 each, with a total cost of $1,250 for the entire program. Students can pay as they go, Toler said.

At Drury, Sue Rollins, associate dean of continuing education, said the school offers Real Estate Economics and Practice, aimed primarily at passing the test for licensure.

Drury also offers courses suitable for renewal in subjects such as Real Estate Law, Finance and Appraisal. The classes are available on a rotating, as-needed basis. Courses earn college credit and the cost is $119 per credit hour.

Drury does not offer a degree program in real estate, according to Tom Zimmerer, director of the Breech School of Business.

Although the school offers a good collection of courses in finance and marketing that could certainly be of benefit in sales, students seeking a real estate specialty must look elsewhere for the core courses needed to comply with state regulations for licensure.

Dr. Rob Owens, professor of finance and general business at SMSU, said the courses at the university are not specifically directed to any licensing requirements.

"Our intent is broad in scope," Owens said.

Owens went on to say that he has directed students to one of the specialty schools to get the studies needed to pass the state exam, once they've made the career choice to go into real estate sales.

SMSU offers a variety of related courses in finance, real estate law and appraisal. Students may obtain enough hours for a real estate minor along with a business degree.

Finally, Martin Realty provides both sales and brokerage classes. A schedule of designated times may be obtained at the office on Pershing Street. Owner Margaret Martin has more than 30 years' experience in the real estate business and has been teaching real estate courses for several years.

Electronic testing has made it easier than ever before to sit for the state real estate exam, according to Kohl.

Candidates may test in Springfield, by appointment, on any weekday and once a month on Saturday.

Test scores are available immediately, doing away with the long, stressful wait for written results through the mail from Jefferson City.

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