Understand Delaware’s Approval Requirement

To teach Delaware salesperson prelicensing, broker or associate broker courses, or continuing-education courses, you generally must obtain approval as a real estate instructor from the Delaware Real Estate Commission. The instructor qualifications apply across these instructional categories.

Instructor approval is separate from approval of the school or course provider. A provider may also need Commission approval for its courses, and an instructor may teach only courses or subject areas approved by the Commission.

Meet the Experience and Qualification Standards

The typical Delaware qualification path requires:

• At least five years of full-time experience in the real-estate-related area that you intend to teach; and
• At least one of the following:
• A bachelor’s degree;
• A Delaware broker’s or associate broker’s license; or
• A valid teaching credential from Delaware—or from another state with equivalent or higher standards—or at least five years of teaching experience in an accredited school, junior college, college, or university.

The experience should be relevant to the proposed subject. For example, an applicant teaching property management, finance, appraisal, or brokerage practice should be able to document professional experience in that field.

Special rule for real estate law

A bachelor’s degree is not the stated substitute for the legal qualification when teaching real estate law in prelicensing, broker, or continuing-education courses. In that situation, the applicant must generally be an active member of the Delaware Bar for at least five years.

Prepare the Application

Applicants should assemble:

• The Delaware instructor-approval application;
• A current résumé;
• Documents supporting the required experience and education, license, teaching credential, or teaching history;
• Any required fee; and
• Additional documentation requested by the Division or Education Committee.

The Commission’s published regulation directs applicants to submit the application, résumé, and applicable fees to the Division of Professional Regulation, Delaware Real Estate Commission, Education Committee.

A practical résumé should clearly identify:

• Employers and dates of employment;
• Whether each position was full-time;
• Real estate duties and subject-matter expertise;
• Delaware or other real estate licenses;
• Degrees and professional credentials;
• Teaching positions, dates, and institutions; and
• The specific Delaware courses or subject areas the applicant wants to teach.

File Early

Delaware’s regulation states that an instructor application should be submitted at least 60 days before the intended employment start date. An incomplete submission may not be treated as properly filed, so applicants should allow additional time to obtain transcripts, license verification, employment records, or other supporting documents.

Use the current application instructions provided by the Division of Professional Regulation rather than relying on an old form or an application obtained from an unrelated education provider.

Obtain Approval for Distance Education, If Applicable

Teaching online or asynchronous courses may involve an additional requirement. Delaware regulations state that instructors of asynchronous learning must obtain Distance Education Instructor Certification from IDECC, or its successor, and provide verification to the Commission.

The online course itself may also need certification through ARELLO, IDECC, or a successor organization before it can be submitted for Delaware approval. Confirm the current technology, course-delivery, and certification requirements with the Commission before developing or teaching an asynchronous course.

Understand the Approval Period

Delaware’s current public guidance states that instructor certifications are valid for two years and that there is no ordinary renewal process; a new application must be submitted when the approval period ends. The Division’s instructor page also advises applicants to submit a new certification application at least 60 days before the current certification expires.

Because administrative instructions can change, confirm the expiration date and reapplication procedure shown in the current approval letter and on the Division’s website.

Coordinate With an Approved Education Provider

Most instructors teach through a Delaware-approved real estate school, brokerage, professional association, or other education provider. Before accepting an assignment, confirm that:

• The provider is authorized to offer the relevant Delaware course;
• The course and subject area are approved;
• The instructor’s approval covers the proposed topic;
• Any required course outline, attendance, testing, or recordkeeping procedures are followed; and
• Online or asynchronous instruction meets the applicable distance-education standards.

Course providers generally bear responsibility for submitting course-approval materials, including the course outline and applicable fees, within the required timeframe.

A Practical Path to Becoming an Instructor

A common sequence is:

1. Build at least five years of full-time experience in a real estate specialty.
2. Obtain one qualifying credential or background, such as a bachelor’s degree, Delaware broker or associate broker license, teaching credential, or qualifying teaching experience.
3. Choose the subjects you are qualified and prepared to teach.
4. Assemble a résumé and supporting documentation focused on those subjects.
5. Obtain the current instructor-approval application from the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation.
6. Submit the application, résumé, documentation, and fee at least 60 days before the anticipated start date.
7. Wait for review by the Delaware Real Estate Commission’s Education Committee and Commission approval.
8. Teach only approved courses and subjects through an authorized provider.
9. Track the two-year approval period and submit a new application before approval expires.
10. Obtain any additional distance-education certification before teaching asynchronous courses.

Where to Confirm Current Rules

The Delaware Division of Professional Regulation and Delaware Real Estate Commission are the controlling sources for current instructor applications, fees, contact information, approval status, and administrative procedures. The Delaware Administrative Code contains the governing education and instructor provisions, but proposed amendments or updated forms may change the practical process.

Applicants should confirm all of the following directly before applying:

• The current instructor-approval form;
• The current fee;
• Whether supporting documents must be sent through an online portal or by another method;
• The exact approval period and reapplication deadline;
• Any subject-specific requirements; and
• Current distance-education requirements.

Authoritative Sources

• Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Real Estate Instructor
• Delaware Real Estate Commission — Frequently Asked Questions
• Delaware Administrative Code — Regulation 2925, Real Estate Commission Education Committee
• Delaware Code and Regulations — Regulation 2925 statutory authority