Persons exempt from real estate licensure include attorneys, trustees, on-site managers, government employees, and those with power of attorney, as these professionals are regulated by other standards. Licensing ensures quality in the labor market, and around 29% of U.S. workers are in licensed professions.
Persons who deal with real estate for others but are exempt from licensure include: attorneys, trustees and executors, on-site residential managers, government employees dealing with real estate as part of their work, and those with power of attorney. These exemptions exist because these individuals typically have other professional regulations or oversight and often do not engage in real estate transactions as their primary business.
For example, attorneys may handle real estate transactions as part of legal services provided to their clients, but their primary regulation comes from their license to practice law. In the case of government employees and those acting under the power of attorney, their roles and responsibilities are defined and regulated through other means.
Occupational licenses are essential in many fields to ensure that professionals meet specific educational or skill standards, providing a level of quality assurance to consumers. These licenses are typically issued by government agencies and cover a wide range of professions, from healthcare to engineering to cosmetology. Approximately 29% of U.S. workers are in jobs that require occupational licenses, highlighting the significance of licensing in the labor market.
In real estate, brokers and agents typically require a license to ensure they are knowledgeable about property laws and market conditions. However, the exemptions mentioned above recognize that certain professionals may carry out real estate-related activities within the scope of their primary profession, thereby not requiring a separate real estate license.