How to ...
Make the most of MCE

You have to do it if you want to keep your license. That’s why they call it mandatory. With a little thought and planning, MCE can benefit you for reasons beyond simply ensuring you maintain your status as a salesperson or broker. Here’s how:

• Don’t wait until the last minute. When you put off MCE, you narrow your choices to whatever courses are available at that time.
• Get recommendations. Talk to other agents and brokers to find out what courses, formats, and instructors they have found most helpful and enjoyable. Find out if the material will increase your knowledge in an area that will benefit you.
• Find the best format for you. Depending on your learning style and what’s going on in your career and life, decide whether you will do better with an online course, a classroom course, a 15-hour course, or a course that will earn you a designation as well as MCE credit.
• Engage. Deciding to make a class more meaningful will make it so. If you spend class time reading the newspaper or checking e-mails on your Blackberry, you surely won’t get much out of the experience.
• Get involved. You can learn much from asking questions and sharing experiences.
• Make it work for you. Look for ways to apply the knowledge to your business. Whether a class on contract changes, tips for getting more referrals, or steps to reduce your risk, there’s always something in it for you beyond the MCE credit.

The Texas REALTORS® Convention in San Antonio Sept. 5-9 offers 18 educational opportunities, most of which are approved or have been submitted for approval for MCE credit. See TexasRealtors.com for more information.

Illustration © Artville.

Buyers & sellers, visit www.texasrealestate.com.
REALTORS®, visit www.texasrealtors.com.