Mandatory Course 2026

Overview

Contracts: Precision, Practice, and Professionalism
2026 Mandatory Course

We are pleased to introduce the 2026 Mandatory Course, Contracts: Precision, Practice, and Professionalism, designed to move REALTORS^® beyond form completion to professional judgment in Alberta residential transactions.

Residential real estate contracts are where client intent becomes legally binding and where risk is either well managed or unintentionally created. This course focuses on how Alberta's residential purchase contract operates in practice.

Through realistic scenarios and Alberta-specific guidance, the course explores six practice-focused modules and emphasizes disciplined contract management, clear communication, and knowing when referral or broker guidance is required.

Available as of October 5, 2026.

Course access

Start the 2026 Mandatory Course.

Access the Mandatory Course through the AREA sign-in portal when the course opens. Additional PDF resources can be added once the 2026 versions are available.

Start Mandatory Course MANDATORY COURSE NAVIGATION GUIDE

Course highlights

Built for competent, defensible practice.

Focus

Strengthen your ability to manage timelines, conditions, amendments, schedules, and holdbacks with precision; verify and explain titles, Real Property Reports, and title insurance within your professional scope; respond to disclosure, privacy, and accuracy risks with sound judgment; and recognize when a situation calls for broker guidance.

Deadline January 31, 2027

The course must be completed by this date.

Evaluation 70%

Required grade to pass. You may retake the exam as needed.

Duration 4 hours

Course length requirement for in-person or online learning.

What you will learn

Apply contract precision principles to manage timelines, delivery, and documentation in Alberta residential transactions.
Distinguish between conditions, terms, amendments, schedules, and holdbacks, and use each appropriately to manage client risk.
Verify and explain key property information, including titles, RPRs, and title insurance, within professional scope and regulatory expectations.
Recognize and respond to disclosure, privacy, and accuracy risks using sound professional judgment.
Identify situations that require escalation, referral, or broker guidance to protect consumers and uphold professional standards.

Frequently asked questions

The AREA 2026 Mandatory Course was released on October 5, 2026 and is now available in your member account.

Completion options

Members may choose one of the following options to fulfill the 2026 Mandatory Course requirement:

Take the course online: Contracts: Precision, Practice, and Professionalism (available in your member account).
Apply for course equivalency: Submit a Third-Party Course Equivalent application to pd@albertarealtor.ca. View application criteria in the Third-party equivalent course section.

Log into your member account using your member board credentials.

Deadline: January 31, 2027 at 11:59 PM (failure to complete will result in account suspension)

Where can I find the course?

Visit albertarealtor.ca/mandatory-course-2026
Select Click here to access the Mandatory Course to log in to your AREA Learn account to access Mandatory Course.
Sign in using the AREA/CREA login option.
Select the Professional Development Folder.

What is the passing grade?

70% on the final exam.

How long does the course take to complete?

Approximately 3 hours of reading and an online exam.

How do I change the view on my screen?

Look to the top-right corner of your course screen.
Click the view box.
Select your preferred view (four options available).

How do I download my course certificate?

After passing the final exam, look at the bottom-left corner of your screen.
Click the small arrow to download your certificate.

Need Help?

Email: pd@albertarealtor.ca

Call: 403-228-6825

Tip: Complete your course early to avoid last-minute technical issues or risk of account suspension.

Third-party equivalent course

Alternative ways to meet the requirement.

AREA event equivalency options

GL Days 2026 registration

To use your GL Days 2026 attendance as equivalency for the 2026 Mandatory Course requirement, you are obligated to attend the full 2-day program held in Edmonton on November 19-20, 2026.

Learn more

Banff Western Connection 2027 registration

To use your BWC 2027 attendance as equivalency for the 2026 Mandatory Course requirement, you are obligated to attend the full conference held in Banff on January 28-30, 2027.

Learn more

How to apply for third-party equivalency

Select a course from a recognized institution by the December 1, 2026 deadline.
Email your full name, brokerage name, selected course or conference title, and institution or organization to pd@albertarealtor.ca.
After completion, submit proof of successful completion or conference registration information.
AREA will review your request and confirm whether the course or conference qualifies as a substitute.

For questions or assistance, contact pd@albertarealtor.ca.

Troubleshooting

Need help with the course technology?

Use the technology troubleshooting guide for support with common access, display, and navigation issues. If you are having issues, reach out to pd@albertarealtor.ca.

View PDF guide Important Mandatory Course Information

Third-Party Equivalent Course

If you prefer an alternative to the mandatory course, you have two options.

1. You can apply to fulfill the requirement through a Third-Party equivalent course.
*This option allows you to align your professional development with your interests while still meeting AREA’s mandatory course requirements.

2. You can attend AREA's full GL Days program held in Edmonton, AB on November 25 - 26, 2025.
* Get more information and register by visting the GL Days page: https://info.albertarealtor.ca/government-liaison-days

Criteria for a Third-Party Equivalent Course

Recognition: The course must be from a recognized institution such as NAR, CREA, REIC, a polytechnic, university, or college.
Assessment: The course should include a testing or measurement component.
Verification: Completion of the course must be verifiable.
New Learning: The course must be new to you, not one you’ve previously completed.
Deadline: Submit your request to pd@albertarealtor.ca by December 1, 2025.
Completion Date: The course must be completed by December 31, 2025.
Duration: The course must be equal to or longer than the mandatory course (3 hours in-person or 90 minutes online).
Relevance: The course should enhance skills expected of a REALTOR®.
Accessibility: The course must be available to all members, not specific to a particular brokerage.
Exclusions: Licensing education cannot substitute for the mandatory course.

Apply for Third-Party Equivalency Now

1. Select a Course: Choose a course from a recognized institution, such as NAR, CREA, REIC, a polytechnic, university, or college by December 1, 2025, deadline.
2. Before completing the course, send an email to pd@albertarealtor.ca with the following details:

Your full name
Your brokerage name
Selected course or conference title
Name of the institution/organization offering the course

3. Submit Credentials: After completing the course, submit proof of successful completion to pd@albertarealtor.ca or email pd@albertarealtor.ca with conference registration information, if you use the conference substitution. We will update your member account and provide credit for your 2025 Mandatory Course.

4. Await Confirmation: We will review your request and confirm if the course or conference qualifies as a substitute.

For any questions or further assistance, please contact us at pd@albertarealtor.ca.

Apply Now

To use your GL Days 2025 attendance as equivalency for the 2025 Mandatory course requirement, you are obligated to attend the full 2-day program held in Edmonton on November 25-26, 2025.

Learn More

Opt-in Savings

Included Tools

2026 Mandatory Course

Contracts: Precision, Practice, and Professionalism
2026 Mandatory Course

Start the 2026 Mandatory Course.