ArmInfo. In Armenia, realtors are required to pass an exam and obtain a professional certificate (license) to legally conduct brokerage activities. At its October 1 meeting, the RA government approved the procedure for conducting professional qualification exams for realtors.
The justification for the draft Cabinet resolution notes that the need for the draft government resolution is due to the adoption of the Law "On the Activities of Realtors." The law establishes professional qualifications for realtors and also establishes the procedure for conducting qualification exams for realtors, the list of documents required to participate in the qualification exam, the procedure for submitting them, and the procedure for selecting commission members. In this regard, to ensure the implementation of the law and establish a uniform procedure for organizing and conducting qualification examinations for realtors, it is necessary to adopt this draft law.
According to the Law, the Cadastre Committee is the authorized state governing body in the real estate sector in the country, which organizes and conducts the professional qualification of real estate agents. In accordance with Part 1 of Article 16 of the Law, qualification examinations are conducted by a qualification committee established by the authorized body. The draft law clearly defines the procedure for publishing applications for the qualification examination, requirements for their content, the list of documents required to submit an application for the examination, as well as the procedure and form for their submission. The draft law also details the procedure for conducting the qualification exam, the use of necessary computer programs during the exam, the procedure and conditions for appealing exam results, the relevant deadlines, and the procedure for issuing a qualification certificate.
The draft law clearly defines the procedure for forming the qualification commission, the number of commission members, mandatory requirements for candidate members, including a list of required documents, and the procedure, deadlines, and methods for submitting an application for membership. Furthermore, the draft law establishes the procedure and conditions for selecting candidates who meet the mandatory requirements for admission to the qualification commission.
The adoption of the draft law will ensure a uniform, transparent, and predictable procedure for organizing and conducting professional qualification exams for realtors, as well as clearly regulated selection of members of the qualification commission, which will fully implement the provisions of the Law "On the Activities of Realtors."
To qualify for the exam, a higher education is required. An exception is made for individuals without higher education who have completed specialized certified courses (for example, the program at the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia (NUACA). The professional examination committee is approved by an order of the head of the Cadastre Committee, which determines its composition, work regulations, and the list of examination questions. The committee includes specialized specialists from the Cadastre Committee, representatives of the Ministry of Finance, as well as independent experts and representatives of self-regulatory organizations (SROs) in the real estate sector to ensure transparency.
A strict rule is in place: committee members are not allowed to directly or indirectly participate in the preparation of candidates or be associated with the submission of specific qualification applications, in order to eliminate bias. The committee makes decisions based on examination results collectively. A decision is considered legitimate if a majority of the committee members present vote in favor of it.
