One of the biggest causes of confusion for Wisconsin real estate licensees is understanding who does what. It’s easy to assume that the DSPS, the WRA, NAR, and your local REALTOR® association all have the same responsibilities. They don’t as each organization plays a different role, and understanding those roles makes it much easier to understand your continuing education and membership requirements.
What is the DSPS?
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) is the state agency that regulates Wisconsin real estate licenses.
- Issues real estate licenses.
- Renews real estate licenses.
- Establishes Wisconsin continuing education requirements.
- Approves continuing education course outlines.
When it’s time to renew your Wisconsin real estate license, you renew it through the DSPS—not through the WRA, NAR, or your local REALTOR® association.
What is the WRA?
- The Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA) is Wisconsin’s statewide professional association for REALTORS®.
- The WRA provides education, legal resources, forms, advocacy, and many other services for its members throughout Wisconsin.
What is NAR?
- The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) is the national professional organization for REALTORS®.
- NAR establishes membership requirements, including Ethics and Fair Housing training for members.
What is my local REALTOR® association?
- Your local REALTOR® association is where your REALTOR® membership is administered.
- If you have questions about your individual membership record or Ethics and Fair Housing training, your local association is usually the best place to start.
How do these organizations work together? Here’s an easy way to remember it:
- The DSPS handles your Wisconsin real estate license.
- NAR establishes national REALTOR® membership requirements.
- The WRA is Wisconsin’s statewide REALTOR® organization.
- Your local REALTOR® association administers your membership and maintains your training records.
Some Wisconsin continuing education courses approved by the DSPS also include the National Association of REALTORS® Ethics or Fair Housing training required for REALTOR® membership.
That means one course may satisfy both your Wisconsin continuing education requirement and a NAR membership training requirement.
Learn more in these related articles:
CLICK HERE to learn more about our Wisconsin CE courses!
Related Questions
Here are a few other questions Wisconsin real estate licensees frequently ask:
- Do I Send My CE Certificates to DSPS?
- What is the NAR Code of Ethics requirement?
- What is the NAR Fair Housing training requirement?
- What Wisconsin Real Estate Continuing Education is required this biennium?
- What Happens After I Finish My Wisconsin CE Courses?
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