I. Policy Summary for Mandatory New Member Code of Ethics Orientation
New members or prospective new members of the National Association of REALTORS® are required to complete an orientation program on the Code of Ethics of not less than 2 hours and 30 minutes of instructional time. Associations of REALTORS® are required to provide such program to new members/prospective new members either on their own, in conjunction with other Associations, or through some other method (such as online courses). Any course offered by a Board/Association, regardless of format, must meet the learning objectives and minimum criteria for such courses as established by the National Association of REALTORS® from time to time.
II. Minimum Time for New Member Code of Ethics Orientation
A minimum of 2 hours and 30 minutes of instructional time is required. Boards and associations may choose to format this time in any reasonable blocks, including the following formats:
- One class of 3 hours in length with two breaks of ten to fifteen minutes each. Depending on state law, this format may qualify for continuing education credit.
- Three classes of approximately 1 hour each.
- Inclusion of the required content and time elements into a full day or multi-day new member orientation program (which includes other topics such as legislative efforts, MLS, fair housing, antitrust, etc.).
Boards and associations should not divide the content into sessions of less than 50 minutes each (considered to be one hour of instructional time) unless the content is part of a longer program which includes other topics. For example, it would not be considered to be a reasonable division of content to have a fifteen minute presentation on the Code of Ethics at each of 10 monthly board meetings. The nature of the content is such that a minimum of one hour of instructional time is necessary to accomplish the intended learning environment.
III. Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the New Member Code of Ethics Orientation class, participants will be able to:
1. Briefly describe the history of the Code of Ethics as it relates to its origins, its influence on state licensing laws and its establishment of arbitration as the monetary dispute resolution process between REALTORS®.
2. Identify concepts in the Preamble to the Code of Ethics, including concepts such as the wide distribution of land ownership, highest and best use of the land, principles of competency, fairness and high integrity and the concept of adherence to the Code regardless of an inducement of profit and/or an instruction from clients to the contrary.
3. Identify the Golden Rule as one of the foundations upon which the Code of Ethics is built.
4. List the major categories of Articles in the Code (Duties to Clients and Customers, Duties to the Public and Duties to REALTORS®).
5. Describe the structure of the Code and its supporting materials (Articles, Standards of Practice and Case Interpretations).
6. List Articles of the Code which are commonly the subject of complaints.
7. Describe the concepts of these commonly cited Articles of the Code, including Articles 1, 2, 9, 12, and 16.
8. Given case studies, fact scenarios or similar interactive learning methods, identify possible violations of the Code of Ethics, specifically related to the commonly cited Articles.
9. Describe the professional standards enforcement process of the association, including the distinction between an ethics complaint and an arbitration request, and the differences between the Grievance Committee and the Professional Standards Committee.
10. Briefly describe the bases upon which a procuring cause arbitration claim is decided.
Share