There was once a time when the only way you could learn about real estate and how to sell it was by joining an agency and following a senior agent around. Things eventually progressed to the point where a classroom course taught you many of the basics and a little field experience taught you the rest. Now you can learn real estate and get pre-licensing credits a number of different ways. If this career path interests you, check out the following education and credentialing options.

"Satellite" Classrooms

Live instructors teach real-time courses, which are then recorded and broadcast like TV to several "satellite" campuses, classrooms and offices. Each location has a time, a dial-in number to activate the speakers and a screens to view the instructor as the course is being taught. If you miss a day, you can still watch that day's lesson later and catch up because that is how ITV courses work. This may be especially helpful if there is not a college campus for miles and the local real estate agency provides you with paid training.

Webcams and Chat Courses

For this type of real estate course, you only need a computer, a webcam and the login information for the online education and training program scheduled for specific days and times. You can learn wherever this equipment exists, including learning from home in your pajamas. Everyone who enrolls in this type of course is sent a date, time and invitation code to enter the chat classroom. It is very similar to remote attendance of a real estate conference. Lots of people "attend," and the instructor sends all the information into the chat room as he or she discusses it. Webcams may be required to view materials, or the instructor may be the only one using a webcam to provide students with a visual on him/herself and the information presented. 

Independent Study Courses

Independent study courses can happen online or offline. Essentially, all of the textbook materials and visuals are given right at the beginning of the course, along with an assignment syllabus. Instructors are on hand for questions and grading, but you are, in effect, your own teacher. You are free to study at your own pace, so long as you complete each unit and the corresponding assignments and tests by the dates given. There are no punitive measures used if you finish your course early, but if you expect to apply for your licensing at the end of the course, you cannot be late on any of the assignments or tests. Otherwise, you may fail the course and have to take it again. Contact a business, such as On Going Education, for more information.