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What Realtors® Need to Know About Fair Housing Training Requirements

By MNR News posted 16 days ago

  

What Realtors® Need to Know About Fair Housing Training Requirements 

Fair housing laws and practices are essential for strong communities and a healthy economy. When discrimination occurs, it disrupts the housing market and prevents qualified Minnesota buyers from achieving the American dream of homeownership. 

Since fair housing laws are a core part of the Realtor® Code of Ethics, both NAR and the Minnesota Department of Commerce (MN DOC) require ongoing training to maintain an active license according to their specific licensing/renewal cycles. 

With April being Fair Housing Month, now is a great time to review these requirements and explore your training options to stay in compliance and ensure your license remains active. 


NAR Fair Housing Requirements 

The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) requires Realtors® to complete Fair Housing / Anti-Bias Training upon becoming a member, and every 3 years thereafter, coinciding with the Code of Ethics training timeline. However, please note that this requirement is in addition to the Code of Ethics training. 

For more on the Code of Ethics Requirement or to check your status, please click here. 

NAR calls these blocks of 3 years a “cycle.” The current “Cycle 8” requirement began January 1, 2025, and ends December 31, 2027. That is the amount of time in which all Realtors® must complete their fair housing training.  

Qualified training must be at least 2.0 hours of CE. Those 2.0 hours must be completed during the same approved course.  

Training may be completed through NAR’s online courses or other methods such as online or classroom courses via your local/state associations, like MNR’s offerings.   

MN DOC Fair Housing Training Requirements  

As part of the continuing education that is due each license year and biannually in Minnesota, all residential real estate brokers and salespersons* must complete specific module training that covers topics in real estate that are significant and of current interest in the real estate market and profession. These requirements are created and/or approved by the MN DOC. 

Please note: The annual MN DOC requirements around Fair Housing and Agency ARE NOT the same as NAR’s and must be completed separately. 

The Minnesota Department of Commerce (MN DOC) continuing education requirements include: 

  • Agency Laws: At least 1.0 CE hour 

  • Fair Housing: At least 1.0 CE hour  

Keep in mind that you cannot retake the same continuing education course for credit within the same licensing period. 

*Commerical-Only Exemption  
“’Commercial-only brokers and salespersons who are engaged solely in the commercial real estate business and whose commercial-only status has been verified with the Commerce Department through the required filing do not have to complete a course on agency law, a course on fair housing, and a specific module training course, but must fulfill all other continuing education requirements.” — MN DOC Licensing Guide 

MNR’s “Fair Housing & Agency” Class Fulfills NAR Cycle 8 AND MN DOC Annual Requirements  

You can fulfill both training requirements during the same approved MNR class!  

    • Wednesday, May 21 | 9 am–1 pm | $40 (Member price) | 3.75-hrs CE 

This course satisfies NAR Required 2.0 Hours of Fair Housing continuing education, DOC Required 1.0 Fair Housing and DOC Required 1.0 Hour of Agency continuing education. 

  • Fair Housing On Demand—Coming Soon!  

    • Free for MNR Members, will be available via the MNR Academy 

Fair Housing Training Options Offered by NAR 

  • In-depth exploration of fair housing law, best business practices, and diversity in real estate; also includes option to obtain AHWD Certification 

  • C2EX CertificationMembers who complete At Home With Diversity or Fairhaven as part of their C2EX course work after January 1, 2025, will also satisfy their Fair Housing requirement. 


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