Minn. Stats. 60K
82
82B

MINNESOTA RULES 2809.0070, 2809.0090

Appraiser Pre-License Course Approval Application

Insurance Pre-License Course Approval Application

Real Estate Pre-License Course Approval Application

Individual CE Course Approval Application

Course Approval Application

Application forms are available on the MN Dept. of Commerce web site, License Education, Sponsors & Coordinators section Course Approval Applications section: Appraiser Pre-License Course Approval Application, Insurance Pre-License Course Approval Application, Real Estate Pre-License Course Approval Application, Individual CE Course Approval Application, Insurance Course Approval Application.

Important licensing changes take effect July 1, 2010

Review licensing changes
Details and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about licensing changes for real estate brokers and salespersons, appraisers, insurance producers and adjusters, prelicensing and continuing education providers.

Pre-License Education Course Approval

Pre-License Education Course Approval Requirements for Sponsors/Coordinators

1. Out-dated applications will be returned.
2. Complete a Course Approval Application form. (download forms from column at right which contain these instructions)
3. Course Approval Application fee is $10 for each hour or fraction of an hour applied for.
4. Application and fee must be submitted to the Commerce Department at least 30 days before the initial offering of the course. Please note that faxing a copy of an application with a note that the original application and fee will follow does not meet this requirement. If complete applications are postmarked later than the 30-day requirement, the application will be reviewed, but the approval will not be made retroactive.
5. These items are required with the applications:
   • Course Materials: Core Matrix completed by Topic, Course Description, Timed Course Outline, Learning Objectives, Instructional Material for Students (Textbooks, Notebooks, etc.), Materials for Instructor Use (Overheads, etc if applicable), Examination and Answer Key
   • Policies Covering: Course Prerequisites, Instructor Qualifications, Attendance, Cancellation & Refund
   • Miscellaneous: Copy of proposed advertising including outline, Course Schedule, Students Course/Instructor Evaluation Form, Instructor's Resume/Bio, A copy of proposed Student Course Completion Certificate showing the Required Core Curriculum hours completed.
6. Education consists of courses that impart substantive knowledge that is appropriate and related to the Insurance, Real Estate, or Appraiser field.
7. The burden of demonstrating that courses impart substantive knowledge related to the Insurance, Real Estate, or Appraiser fields is upon the person seeking approval or credit.
8. Successful completion of Pre-License education includes full-time classroom attendance throughout the course, completion of required assignments or reading materials if applicable, and passage of an examination designed by the sponsor that is sufficiently comprehensive to measure the student's knowledge of all aspects of the course.
9. Qualified Pre-License Instructors must have one of the following qualifications:
   • a four-year degree in the industry for which the course is being taught;
   • a four-year degree with three years full-time experience in the industry for which the course is being taught;
   • a four-year degree with three years full-time experience in the business or profession relating to the subject being taught;
   • a postgraduate degree and completion of 45 hours of continuing education in the industry for which the course is being taught;
   • a two-year degree in the industry for which the education is being given and completion of 45 hours of continuing education in the industry for which the course is being taught;
   • a two-year degree or certificate with five years full-time experience in the industry for which the course is being taught;
   • a degree or certificate with five years full-time experience in the business or profession relating to the subject being taught; or
   • eight years of recent experience in the subject area being taught in the eight years immediately preceding the first course offering taught.
10. Failure to have only qualified instructors teach an approved course will result in loss of course approval.
11. Each course must have an approved Sponsor Coordinator, who is responsible for compliance with Minnesota education laws and regulations. Sponsor Coordinator Approval Application forms and instructions are available by clicking the appropriate heading under "Information for Course Sponsors".
12. The Sponsor Coordinator must notify the Commerce Department in writing within 10 days of any change in the information in this application for approval, including any addition or change in the names(s) of instructors who will teach the course.
13. Courses may not be advertised before approval, unless the application has already been submitted to the Commerce Department and the course is described in the advertising as "approval pending".
14. The number of approved hours must be accurately displayed on any advertisement for the course, and if the course offering is longer than the number of approved education hours, any advertisement must be clear that education credit is not earned for the entire course.
15. The course approval number must not be included in any advertisement. The course approval number must not be given to anyone until after the individual has successfully completed the course.
16. Course completion certificates must be completed in their entirety before given to a Student. No blank certificates are allowed to be given out or published.
17. Education courses that have been materially revised since their initial submission:
    • Will not considered for a renewal
    • Sponsor Coordinator must advise us to terminate the old course number when they reapply as for a new course.
18. Pre-License Education: Appraiser course must be at least 15 hours in length; Real Estate Salespersons Course 1, 2, 3, and the Broker Course must be 30 hours each; Closer course must be at least 8 hours in length; Insurance courses must be 30 Hours of Insurance Basics, 7.5 Hours of Life, 7.5 Hours of Accident and Health, 7.5 Hours of Property, or 7.5 Hours of Casualty
19. Appraiser Pre-License education must include the AQB approved, 15 hour USPAP Course (or its equivalent).
20. The qualifying/Pre-license Appraiser course application shows each of the required modules and the hours approved for that module. Please note that course certificates issued to students MUST indicate the number of hours approved per module.
21. There have been important changes regarding Appraiser qualifications. Minnesota has determined that we will use the *"Segmented" Scenario" for implementation of the new requirements. Please contact the Appraisal Foundation at www.appraisalfoundation.org for current publications such as "Executive Summary of the 2008 Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria", "A Guide for Understanding the 2008 Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria", and *"The Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria and Interpretations of The Criteria".
22. Sponsor Coordinators of educational courses should have a copy of Minnesota Rules Chapter 2809. These rules relate to both pre-licensing and continuing education for Appraisers, Real Estate, and Insurance licenses. Rules may be obtained on-line at www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/statutes.asp or by calling the Minnesota Bookstore at (651) 297-3000 or 1-(800) 657-3757.

Continuing Education Course Approval Requirements for Sponsors or Coordinators

1. Out-dated applications will be returned
2. Complete the Course Approval Application form. (Download form from column at right which includes these requirements and instructions. This is a Word Form, please follow instructions carefully.)
3. Course Approval Application fee is $10 for each hour or fraction of an hour applied for.
4. Application and fee must be submitted to the Commerce Department at least 30 days before the initial offering of the course. Please note that faxing a copy of an application with a note that the original application and fee will follow does not meet this requirement. If complete applications are postmarked later than the 30-day requirement, the application will be reviewed, but if the course approved it will not be made retroactive.
5. These items are required with the application:
   • Course Materials: Course Description, Timed Course Outline, Learning Objectives, Instructional Material for Students (Textbooks, Notebooks, etc.), Materials for Instructor Use (Overheads, etc if applicable), Examination and Answer Key
   • Policies Covering: Course Prerequisites, Instructor Qualifications, Attendance, Cancellation Refund
   • Miscellaneous: Copy of proposed advertising including outline, Course Schedule, Students Course/Instructor Evaluation Form, Instructor's Resume/Bio, A copy of proposed Completion Certificate for Student
6. Continuing Education must consist of courses that impart substantive knowledge that is appropriate and related to the Insurance, Real Estate, or Appraiser field.
7. The burden of demonstrating that courses impart substantive knowledge related to the Insurance, Real Estate, or Appraiser fields is upon the person seeking approval or credit.
8. Minn. Statute 2809.0060 provides a list of non-approved courses. The following will not be approved for credit:
   • Courses designed solely to prepare students for passing a license examination.
   • Courses in mechanical office or business skills, including typing, speed reading, or other machines or equipment. Computer courses are allowed, if appropriate and related to the industry to which the courses are directed.?
   • Courses in sales promotion, including meetings held in conjunction with the general business of the licensee.
   • Courses in motivation, salesmanship, psychology, time management, or communication, except as prescribed in pre-license training.
   • Courses related to office management or intended to improve the operation of the licensee's business. This item does not apply to building contractor continuing education courses.
   • Courses that are primarily intended to impart knowledge of specific products of specific companies, if the use of the product or products relates to the sales promotion or marketing of one or more of the products discussed.
9. Except for the following two exceptions, all course offerings must be open to any interested individuals. Attendance cannot be restricted to any particular group of people, and is permitted to be restricted only on the basis of class size.
   • Courses that are sponsored by a Real Estate Broker company are permitted to be held on the company premises; however, they must be open to any interested individuals.
   • Courses that are sponsored by or affiliated with an Insurance Company or Agency are permitted to be held on company premises, and are permitted to restrict attendance to producers of the Insurance Company or Agency. Courses that have restricted attendance or are held on company/agency premises are considered to be "Company-Sponsored" courses.
10. Instructor qualifications for continuing education are:
    • a four-year degree in any area plus two years practical experience in the subject area being taught
    • five years practical experience in the subject area being taught
    • a college or graduate degree in the subject area being taught
11. Failure to have only qualified instructors teach an approved course will result in loss of course approval.
12. Each course must have an approved Sponsor Coordinator, who is responsible for compliance with Minnesota education laws and regulations. Sponsor Coordinator Approval Application forms and instructions are available by clicking the appropriate heading under "Information for Course Sponsors".
13. The Sponsor Coordinator must notify the Commerce Department in writing within 10 days of any change in the information in this application for approval, including any addition or change in the names(s) of instructors who will teach the course.
14. Courses may not be advertised before approval, unless the application has already been submitted to the Commerce Department, 30 days in advance, and the course is described in the advertising as "approval pending".
15. The number of approved hours must be accurately displayed on any advertisement for the course, and if the course offering is longer than the number of approved continuing education hours, any advertisement must be clear that continuing education credit is not earned for the entire course.
16. The course approval number must not be included in any advertisement. The course approval number must not be given to anyone until after the individual has successfully completed the course.
17. Course completion certificates must be completed in they entirety before being given to a Student. No blank certificates, with a Coordinators signature, are allowed to be given out or published in any way.
18. Continuing Education courses that have been materially revised since their initial submission:
    • can not be offered as a subsequent offering
    • will not be considered as a renewal
    • Sponsor Coordinator must advise us to terminate the old course number when they reapply as for a new course.
19. Continuing Education courses: Appraiser must be at least 2 hours in length, while Real Estate and Insurance must be at least 1 hour in length.
20. Appraiser Continuing Education must include the AQB approved, 7 hour, USPAP Update (or its equivalent) with every two year renewal. Course must have been taught by an AQB approved 7 hour USPAP approved Instructor and the Instructors name and AQB ID# must be included.
21. Real Estate Continuing Education must include 1 hour each of Fair Housing and Agency Law with every two year renewal. In order to better identify approved Real Estate Continuing education courses that include Fair Housing or Agency law, new course names will be added that include the prefix "F" and "AL". These prefixes will be used if approved courses include at least one hour of either required specialty.
22. There are no Continuing Education requirements for Closers or Insurance Adjusters.
23. Sponsor Coordinators of educational courses should have a copy of Minnesota Rules Chapter 2809. These rules relate to both pre-licensing and continuing education for Appraisers, Real Estate, and Insurance licenses. Rules may be obtained on-line at www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/statutes.asp or by calling the Minnesota Bookstore at (651) 297-3000 or 1-(800) 657-3757.
    
    
    
    Contact the Department of Commerce at Education.Commerce@state.mn.us if you have education questions or concerns.