Citrus College Prepares Students for Careers in Real Estate

By Dr. Edward C. Ortell, Citrus College Governing Board Member

Achieving a healthy work-life balance is the goal of many working Americans. As personal commitments multiply and the cost of living increases, jobs that provide competitive wages, flexible schedules and opportunities to work autonomously are especially appealing. For this reason, real estate is an excellent career choice.

Citrus College has been preparing students for careers in real estate for over five decades. A year after the Vocational Education Act of 1963 was signed into law, real estate became one of the first career technical education programs introduced at the college. Initially, the program's purpose was to educate students on the principles and practices of the field. However, it has expanded significantly in recent years.

Citrus College's licensed and experienced faculty now teach real estate finance, legal aspects, appraisal, property management and escrow. These courses, which meet California Department of Real Estate requirements, are offered in the classroom and online.

Students interested in pursuing a career in real estate have three options. First, they can earn skill awards. Citrus College currently offers two real estate skill awards – one that qualifies a student to sit for California's real estate salesperson license exam and one that fills the education requirements for the state's real estate broker license.

Another option is a certificate in real estate. To earn a certificate, students must complete 25 units of required courses in the real estate discipline. These classes equip them with marketable skills and provide them with the knowledge and coursework necessary to sit for the California real estate broker license exam.

The third option is the college's new associate of science degree in real estate. Debuting this fall, the degree is designed to help students enter careers in residential and commercial real estate, escrow, exchange, development, investment, leasing, property management, sales, and title insurance.

In addition to the new associate degree, the Real Estate program also has a new fast track option. A streamlined pathway to fulfilling the education requirements for the broker exam, these accelerated courses take content covered in a 16-week, three-credit course and condense it into a shorter time frame. By completing four, four-week classes, students can be ready to work in as little as one semester!

Citrus College's Real Estate program is a game changer for those individuals looking for a rewarding career. With its impressive state exam pass rates and its many graduates working in the field, the program is helping people achieve professional success. At the same time, frequent advisory council meetings with local real estate experts allow the college to ensure that the program stays relevant and that its graduates are of the highest quality.

For most people, buying a house is the most significant financial decision of their lives. Because of this, local residents need a real estate professional who maintains the highest standards of excellence. As the Duarte area's representative on the Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees, I am proud that Citrus College is producing such professionals.