Commission FAQs

What is the Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission?

The Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission is an independent, non-government agency, responsible for the regulation of the real estate industry. The Commission is comprised of a Board of Directors, committees and full-time staff members.

What is the purpose of the Real Estate Commission?

The Commission's mandate is to ensure consumer confidence in the real estate industry by establishing standards for applicants and real estate Industry Members, which promotes higher standards of professionalism, competence and integrity.

The Commission is responsible for administration of the Real Estate Trading Act and is accountable for its conduct to consumers and licensees, and the provincial government. Specifically, it is responsible for:

• Administering and revising the Commission By-law, which defines the duties of licensees, the Board of Directors, and Commission staff, as well as the business and affairs of the Commission, including services provided and fees levied on licensees.
• Setting the Policies and Procedures that govern licensees trading in real estate.
• Setting the requirements for licensing indiviuals as real estate brokers and salespeople, including entry educational requirements, admission exams, and continuing education requirements.
• Holding conduct hearings arising from complaints of improper conduct by licensees.
• Administering the Real Estate Recovery Fund.
• Appointing a Registrar, setting the philosophy, direction, and policies and for the Commission and its staff.
• Submitting an Annual Report to the Minister responsible for the Act.

How does the Commission ensure consumer confidence in the real estate industry?

By licensing licensees, enforcing certain standards of practice required by the Nova Scotia Real Estate Trading Act, and investigating and taking disciplinary action against licensees found in violation of the Act, the By-law, or the Policies and Procedures.

What is the difference between the Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission and the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors®?

The Commission is a self-governing regulatory body appointed by the provincial government to license and regulate the real estate industry in Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS® (NSAR) is a professional association with voluntary membership that offers services to its members, like MLS® and Errors and Omissions insurance. Only licensees who belong to NSAR can call themselves REALTORS®.