With the implementation of House Bill 532 on April 6, Clark State Community College will begin offering real estate courses online this fall. In addition, Clark State will also offer the education requirements as a degree option for individuals who would like to sit for the Real Estate Broker licensure exam.

“This new bill is awesome,” said Lisa Smedley, president of the Springfield Board of Realtors. “It offers broader access and convenience for those looking to continue or peruse their real estate career.”

Ohio House Bill 532 legislation is designed to update Ohio’s licensing structure and modernize the delivery of pre-licensing education.

Charlene Roberge Knight is a realtor with Lagonda Creek Real Estate in Springfield, Ohio; she will assist Clark State with developing the online course curriculum. “A lot of people interested in real estate have another full-time job, so being able to take classes online will increase attendance at Clark State due to the convenience,” she said.

Richard Sykes, assistant dean of business and applied technologies for Clark State, said often the real estate courses were offered during evenings and weekends because state law required them to be traditional, classroom courses. “This will be much more convenient for students, as they can now do the online work from home,” he said.

Following completion of the four required real estate program courses, students are able to sit for the Ohio Real Estate exam. The new associate degree is designed around fitting students with the additional skills they need to be successful in real estate.

Graduates are prepared for all real estate-related fields and often become agents, investors and brokers. Courses are offered in Springfield, Beavercreek and now completely online.