Policies and Procedures
GENERAL REGULATION
- Compliance with policies, rules, and regulations
- Every student is expected to know and comply with all current published policies, rules, and regulations as stated in the catalog, class schedule, and/or class supplementals. Documents are available via the school administration team.
- Policies, courses, programs, fees, and requirements may be suspended, deleted, restricted, supplemented, or changed through the action of the school’s leadership.
- The Iowa Real Estate School reserves the right to change, without notice, any materials, information, curriculum, requirements, and regulations.
ADMISSION
Any person interested in obtaining continuing education units may attend the Iowa Real Estate School. Falsification of any admission classes or official school certificates may be cause for denial or cancellation of admission. Exceptions to the admissions policies may be requested through the school.
It is not the responsibility of the Iowa Real Estate School to understand the education requirements for individual state real estate initial or renewal of licensure. Inquire to local jurisdictions about the required and accepted education prior to admission.
Classifications
- Pre-Licensure – A student who does not hold an active Salesperson license.
- Active Agent – A student who holds an active Salesperson License. Not eligible for pre-licensure courses.
- General Public- A student who does not hold an active Salesperson License and is not actively pursuing one.
Students must set up a MyIRES account by visiting iowareschool.com and inputting accurate personal information.
REGISTRATION
- Students must register according to the dates indicated and in the manner described within the class schedule. To be eligible for registration, students must have completed the appropriate steps listed under the Admissions section (2.3). The school may allow early or priority registration. Fees must be paid, or payment arrangements made by the due date to secure class enrollment. Students may not attend a class for which they are not registered or not eligible (e.g. active agents may not attend pre-licensure courses).
- The school reserves the right to enroll students in courses. The final decision for admission to any class for students admitted will be determined by the designated school administrator in consultation with the department chairperson and/or faculty.
- Class Registration and Completion Deadlines
For classes with published start dates and meeting times, registration in the class must be completed through iowareschool.com will end at midnight before the start of class. The exception to this policy is on a continuing education unit day event (CEU Day), registration for all classes closes at 8a the day of the event. - Changes (cancel and edits) to self-service registration for a class through iowareschool.com will end at midnight before the class starts.
- Course Extension
Due to Iowa Legislature, the Iowa Real Estate School is unable to authorize extensions on prelicensure courses. - Exceptions
Exceptions are limited to:
– Courses requiring permission of instructor.
– Courses for Special Populations or Cohorts.
– Enrollment in an alternative section of a course taught by the same instructor.
– Enrollment in an alternative section of a course taught by a different instructor.
– Students dropped due to Human or system errors may be reinstated.
– Other exceptions may be granted after faculty consultation with the student.
– Exceptions to class registration deadlines require permission of the appropriate instructor(s) and approval of the appropriate department/division chair or designee.
TUITION AND FEES
The Iowa Real Estate School reserves the right to change tuition and fee charges, when necessary, without notice. All students are classified for tuition purposes under one of the following classifications:
- Iowa Realty Agents
- Berkshire Hathaway | First Realty and Franchise Agents
- Pre-licensure Students
- General Real Estate Agents
- General Public
Time of Payment
All tuition, fees, assessments, and deposits must be paid at the time of registration or by the specified deadline date and per the fee schedule.
Tuition and Fees Schedule
| TUITION & FEES (Per Credit Hour or as noted) | Total/CR Hour |
| General Elective Tuition | $10.00 |
| Mandatory Tuition (4 Cr Hr) | $50.00 |
| Pre-Licensure Class (12 Cr Hr) | $100.00 |
Discounted Fees and Waivers
- Tuition and Registration Fee Waiver (Discount Codes) for
- Members of the Iowa Realty Brokerage: Elective fee waivers shall be funded through the brokerage for credit.
- Iowa Realty Managers will hold twelve unique discount codes annually. These will be valid for pre-licensure classes only and will be funded through branch office budgets.
Refund Policy
Refund Policy for Iowa Real Estate School Credit Classes (Hybrid, In-Person, Virtual)
Students who officially withdraw from credit classes within the withdrawal deadline (24 hours prior to the course start date) will be refunded 100% on the same method of payment they used to enroll.
Iowa Real Estate School Credit Class Cancellation Procedure
Access your MyIRES Account (via IowaReSchool.com or course confirmation email).
- Select My Account
- Locate Current Registrations
- Under the registration list, find the class you wish to cancel.
- Select Cancel
- Finalize your cancellation by selecting the Cancel Registration button.
Note: Deadlines that fall on a weekend or a school holiday will advance to the next workday. Calendar days include weekdays and weekends. Never attending is not an allowable refund exemption or an excuse for the debt incurred through registration.
Refund Policy for Partnership Credit Classes (Online, Asynchronous)
Students can withdraw from courses (60-Hour, Online Only) that are in partnership/collaboration with the Iowa Real Estate School and affiliate, Dearborn Real Estate Education/Re:Campus, if and only if, the course has not been initiated/started. A request for cancellation/refund must be completed within 30 days of purchase.
Partnership Credit Class Cancellation Procedure
- Provide written notice via email to iowarealestateschool@homeservicesiowa.com.
Note: Deadlines that fall on a weekend or a school holiday will advance to the next workday. Calendar days include weekdays and weekends. Never attending is not an allowable refund exemption or an excuse for the debt incurred through registration.
Canceled Class or Learning Environment Changes
When a class is canceled by the school, a notification will be sent 24 hours prior to the start of class, and a 100% refund will be made. If the learning environment for a course needs to be adjusted (e.g., In person to all virtual) due to an act of nature (inclement weather) or instructor need, a notification will be sent to the student’s email address on file. The school reserves the right to cancel or continue with scheduled classes, as necessary.
- Minimum class attendance: 5, Maximum class, in-person attendance: 44
Physical Product Return
- Textbooks and other materials cannot be refunded at any time through the Iowa Real Estate School.
Refund Exceptions
Students withdrawing from courses for one of the following reasons must submit a written request for a refund exception to the administration team or designated school official:
- A student with a serious illness, is verifiable by a doctor’s written statement that the illness prevents the student from attending all classes for the course. The doctor’s statement must be on file with the school before a refund can be given.
- Serious illness or death of an immediate family member that prevents the student from attending all classes for the semester. Immediate family members include spouse/partner, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, child, foster child, grandchild, stepchild, sibling, stepsibling, stepfather, stepmother, or spouse’s/partner’s father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, or in-laws in any one incident. Appropriate documentation must be provided before a refund can be given.
- Death of a student. Appropriate documentation must be provided before a refund can be given.
- A student in the Armed Forces or the National Guard who is called to active duty and assigned to a duty station, verifiable by a copy of the orders, will be allowed to withdraw and receive a 100% refund of tuition, provided courses have not been completed.
Requests for a total withdrawal from all courses for one of the above reasons may result in a partial prorated refund, provided courses have not been completed. All decisions made by the school are final.
Limitation: Never attending is not an allowable refund exception or an excuse for the debt incurred through registration.
STUDENT LEARNING STANDARDS
A credit hour is defined as an amount of instruction represented in course competencies and verified by evidence of student knowledge gained that reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct, live faculty instruction. In accordance with common practice in continuing education, instruction representing a credit hour is typically delivered in a 50-minute class period. Instruction is delivered in a traditional classroom setting or by electronic means whereby the instructor and student have real-time visual and audio contact to carry out their essential tasks.
A continuing education unit (CEU) indicates the value of an instructional credit. Standards for the awarding of credit hours are time-based. To obtain credit, a student must be properly registered, must pay fees, and be an active participant in the course. (See 5.1 for Attendance guidelines)
Attendance
- Only people who are registered for a class hosted by the Iowa Real Estate School may attend that class. Students who do not meet the attendance requirements may be withdrawn and a refund will not be issued.
Attendance Requirements
- Students who fail to attend the scheduled class, or to contact the instructor regarding absence before the scheduled class (see 3.3.1 Changes and/or 4.5 Refund Policy) meeting may, at the option of the instructor, be withdrawn.
- At the beginning of each course, each faculty member will provide students with attendance requirements.
– QR Codes are used for in-person attendance sign-in. It is the responsibility of the student to locate the code, complete the attendance form, and remain present for the entire duration of the session.
– Zoom reporting is used for all virtual environments. It is the responsibility of the student to remain signed in, and with a camera on, to receive a course completion certificate. An inability to remain “active” online is grounds for withdrawal or course incompletion.
- It is the student’s responsibility to consult with the instructor regarding official or unofficial absences or tardiness.
- Students bear the responsibility of notifying the administrative team when they discontinue a course. Please refer to 4.5 for the Refund Policy.
- Online, asynchronous courses must be attended to and completed within six (6) months of their initiation date.
Completion Certificates and Records
- The Iowa Real Estate School is not responsible for monitoring, updating, or providing information related to continuing education unit (CEU) count. Discrepancies with duplicate classes, CEU count, or completion certificates are the responsibility of the student and license holder.
- Information (student records, completion certificates) needed in the State of Iowa continuing education audit will not be provided directly to the requestor. It is the responsibility of the license holder to obtain all records and transcripts from the Iowa Real Estate School.
Learning Environment
The Iowa Real Estate School maintains an honor system. Dishonorable conduct is not codified; rather, the honor system is based upon the principle that any action deemed a breach of the community’s trust will be considered an opportunity for the withdrawal of a student at the discretion of faculty and leadership. Students enrolled in a virtual-education (hybrid, online, virtual) course are held to the same academic integrity as those enrolled in courses delivered face-to-face/traditional formats.
Definitions
Hybrid Learning
A hybrid course is synonymous with a blended course. A hybrid course is a class with approximately 50% – 100% of the course content, activities, and assessments using virtual-learning modes. Students participate in-person (face to face, traditional format) at an Iowa Real Estate School location or via virtual-learning platform (e.g., Zoom etc.)
In-Person Learning
In-person learning is face to face, traditional classroom setting, learning with at least 75% of the course content, activities, and assessments using traditional learning modes.
Online Learning
An online course is an asynchronous course with 100% of the course content, activities, and assessments using virtual-learning modes.
- The courses offered are a partnership and collaboration with the Iowa Real Estate School and an affiliate, Dearborn Real Estate Education/Re:Campus. These courses combine solid industry fundamentals with the latest real estate specific information. From the date of purchase, these courses must be completed within 6 months.
Virtual Learning
Virtual learning is a formal educational process in which the instruction (interaction between students and instructors and among students) in a course occurs when students and instructors are not in the same place. During virtual learning, the instructor and students have real-time visual and audio contact to carry out their essential tasks.
Virtual-Learning Modes
Instruction that may be synchronous or asynchronous and may use one or more of the following: the internet; one-way and two-way transmissions, closed-circuit, cable, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite, or wireless communications devices; audio conferencing; if used as part of the distance-learning course or activity; or any other means to augment learning when the instructor and students are not in the same place. Courses may be hybrid or online. Open-broadcast (viewing parties) of classes is strictly prohibited.
The policy does meet requirements but may not address additional virtual learning requirements that may be mandated by the Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau (PLB) or the Iowa Real Estate Commission or other accrediting bodies in which the school or its programs maintain specialized accreditation. Those programs should consider additional language, as necessary.
Netiquette Guidelines
The following are general guidelines related to network etiquette or netiquette for virtual learning experiences.
- Students access the Zoom Platform and use the credentials provided at the time of registration.
– Zoom Account Profiles must reflect the first and last name of the student used during registration (and the name that will be reflected on the completion certificate.)
- Students must utilize the video feature within Zoom to actively participate in live instruction and to receive the completion certificate.
- The environment used to actively participate in the course(s) should be distraction free, stationary, and should promote participation.
– The use of motor vehicles and transportation is discouraged and may result in student withdrawal at the instructor’s discretion.
– Hosting or participating in external orders of business is highly discouraged and may result in student withdrawal at the instructor’s discretion.
INSTRUCTION
The Iowa Real Estate School is accredited by the Iowa Real Estate Commission (IREC) and the Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau (PLB). Real estate salespeople and brokers in Iowa are under the regulation of the Iowa Real Estate Commission who accredits and grants pre-licensure coursework and continuing education units to affiliated institutions in Iowa.
DEFINITIONS
60 – Hour Prelicense Course
The 60-Hour Prelicense course is designed to meet the requirements for obtaining a salesperson license. The Iowa Real Estate School adheres to the Iowa Administrative Code, Chapter 4.1(9) Salesperson pre-license education requirements. As required by Iowa Code section 543B.15(8) and 193E—Chapter 16, To be eligible to take the salesperson examination, the applicant must complete the 60 live education or distance learning hours of real estate principles and practices during the 12 months prior to taking the examination. This course begins and access is gained at the time of purchase. A student has 6 months to complete this course. Due to Iowa Legislature, the Iowa Real Estate School is unable to authorize extensions on prelicensure courses.
12-Hour Prelicensure Course(s)
Prelicense courses are designed to meet the requirements for obtaining a salesperson license. The Iowa Real Estate School adheres to the Iowa Administrative Code, Chapter 4.1(9) Salesperson pre-license education requirements. As required by Iowa Code section 543B.15(8) and 193E—Chapter 16, The applicant must also provide evidence of successful completion of the following courses: 12 hours of Developing Professionalism and Ethical Practices, 12 hours of Buying Practices and must complete all the required pre-license education during the 12 months prior to the date of application. Active agents are not eligible for pre-licensure education.
Mandatory Course
Required by the State of Iowa, real estate (salesperson) professionals are required to complete specific (Ethics and Law) training to renew and maintain their license.
- Comprehensive Evaluation
The Iowa Real Estate School participates in ongoing evaluations by the Iowa Real Estate Commission (IREC) and coursework has fulfilled the comprehensive evaluation for issuance of continuing education units (CEU). - Mandatory Ethics Update Class
In July 2021, the Iowa Real Estate School’s Mandatory Ethics course was submitted to Des Moines Area Association of Realtors, Northeast Iowa Regional Board of Realtors, Quad City Area REALTORS® for approval of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) specific credential. This acceptance makes certain that Agents who are members of the corresponding Boards meet the requirement. Agents belonging to Boards outside of those listed above must contact their Board of Realtors to determine acceptance or denial of the credit. - New Course Approval
The Iowa Real Estate School is responsible for obtaining and approving new course curriculum outlines, learning objectives, and presentation materials. The school is responsible for submitting and communicating the course to the Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau before it is offered. There is a four-week turnaround time on course approval. - Class Offering
If a faculty member wants to offer a course via the Iowa Real Estate School, the instructor must contact the administration team four weeks prior to the desired date. The course must be offered to the public and hosted at an Iowa Real Estate School-approved location. - Instructors/Faculty
All instructors providing courses must qualify as an instructor per the Iowa Real Estate Commission (Iowa Code chapters 17A, 272C, and 543B). Completion of an approved instructor development workshop (two-year renewal required), ability to teach and communicate and possess in-depth knowledge of the subject matter, and approval by the Iowa Real Estate School’s leadership is required. - Recording of Classes
Iowa Real Estate School acknowledges that faculty members may limit the circumstances under which students may record (audio/visual) their classes. Each faculty member shall inform students of their class recording policy. - Course Materials
“Course materials” means any textbook or other instructional tool published for the purpose of classroom instruction and used for or in conjunction with a course. Iowa Real Estate School disapproves of unauthorized duplication in any form. Students who willfully disregard this policy and/or the copyright guidelines do so at their own risk and assume all liability for their actions.
