When it was announced a new and improved Professional Development Program (PDP) structure was coming this month, many members were obviously thrilled by the prospect of the Self-Directed learning component. That may explain why our Education Department has received a number of accreditation reports for a variety of random, fly-by-night endeavours.
To be clear, having lunch with an interior designer, taking a course in watercolour painting or horseback riding in Hawaii would not qualify as proof of Self-Directed learning under the new PDP.
However, there is some flexibility in how you attain the optional 6 hours of Self-Directed learning, if you choose to do so as part of your 18 hours of PDP for each licensing cycle. The basic requirements for Self-Directed learning must align with these guidelines:
- be verifiable and auditable
- can be proven to enhance professional practice
- must be at least one hour in length
The learning formats can be formal or informal such as:
- conferences
- panel discussions
- webinars
- brokerage or franchise training
- workshops and seminars
- courses
- other in-person and online learning
The topics as defined by BCREA are broad, from agency to disclosure, from business development to Feng Shui. BCREA’s PDP-transition page offers examples as to what qualifies and what doesn’t.
Most in-brokerage training will likely fall under Self-Directed learning.
You can claim your Self-Directed learning hours taken on or after January 1, 2020, not before.
To report Self-Directed PDP hours, REALTORS® need digital or hard copy proof of completion that includes the following information:
- your name
- name of the supplier of learning opportunity (members do not qualify as their own supplier)
- name of learning opportunity and date you took it
- length of the learning opportunity (in hour increments, rounded down to the nearest hour).
For details about the new PDP, visit REALTOR Link® where you’ll find videos, FAQs and other resources specific to the FVREB.