REALTOR®

A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who is a member of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and is bound by the REALTOR® Code, CREA's national code of ethics and standards of business practice. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark of CREA. Not every licensed real estate agent in BC is a REALTOR® — only those who hold CREA membership through a participating provincial or territorial association and local real estate board are permitted to use the trademark.

No. All real estate licensees in British Columbia are licensed and regulated by the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) under the Real Estate Services Act, SBC 2004, c. 42, regardless of whether they are CREA members. Only those licensees who also hold membership in CREA through a participating provincial or territorial real estate association and local board may use the REALTOR® trademark. CREA membership is separate from BCFSA licensing.

The BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) is the regulatory authority for all real estate licensees in British Columbia under the Real Estate Services Act (RESA), SBC 2004, c. 42, and the RESA Rules. BCFSA licensing and regulation is mandatory for anyone providing real estate services in BC, regardless of CREA or REALTOR® membership status. Verify current licensing requirements and disciplinary rules at the BCFSA website or with a BC lawyer.

BCFSA licensing under the Real Estate Services Act, SBC 2004, c. 42, is a legal requirement to provide real estate services in British Columbia and is enforced by the provincial regulator. CREA membership, which grants the right to use the REALTOR® trademark, is a voluntary professional membership that imposes additional ethical obligations under the REALTOR® Code, a national code of ethics and standards administered by the Canadian Real Estate Association. A licensee must hold BCFSA licensing to practice; CREA membership and the REALTOR® designation are optional.

No. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and may only be used by members of CREA who are in good standing. Use of the trademark without membership violates CREA's trademark rights. Verify trademark use rules and CREA membership requirements with CREA or a BC lawyer before using the term in any marketing or professional capacity.

The REALTOR® Code is the Canadian Real Estate Association's (CREA) national code of ethics and standards of business practice that binds all REALTOR® members. It sets out professional conduct standards, duties to clients and the public, and ethical obligations beyond those required by provincial real estate licensing law. BCFSA regulation under the Real Estate Services Act, SBC 2004, c. 42, operates separately; a REALTOR® in BC is subject to both BCFSA rules and the REALTOR® Code. Verify the current Code provisions with CREA or a BC lawyer.

CREA membership adds additional ethical and professional obligations under the REALTOR® Code but does not replace or override your licensing obligations under the Real Estate Services Act, SBC 2004, c. 42, and the BCFSA Rules. All BC licensees remain subject to BCFSA regulation, including licensing, conduct, disclosure, and discipline rules, whether or not they are CREA members. If you are a REALTOR®, you must comply with both frameworks. Verify your specific obligations with BCFSA, CREA, and a BC lawyer or notary.

A BC real estate licensee becomes a REALTOR® by obtaining membership in the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) through a participating provincial or territorial real estate association and a local real estate board. Membership requirements, fees, and board participation rules are set by CREA and the local boards, not by BCFSA or provincial real estate licensing law under the Real Estate Services Act, SBC 2004, c. 42. Verify current membership application steps and eligibility with your local real estate board or CREA.

Yes. If the REALTOR® is a BC licensee, you may file a licensing complaint with the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) under the Real Estate Services Act, SBC 2004, c. 42, for conduct or licensing violations. You may also file a complaint regarding violations of the REALTOR® Code with the local real estate board or the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), depending on the nature of the complaint. Verify complaint procedures and jurisdiction with BCFSA, your local board, or a BC lawyer.

REALTOR® membership subjects the licensee to the REALTOR® Code, which may impose higher ethical and professional standards than the minimum licensing requirements under the Real Estate Services Act, SBC 2004, c. 42, and BCFSA Rules. However, the primary consumer protections — licensing, mandatory insurance, complaint and discipline processes — flow from BCFSA regulation, not CREA membership. Verify the scope of protections available to you as a consumer with BCFSA, CREA, or a BC lawyer before engaging any real estate professional.