Hello, aspiring realtor!
Have you ever asked yourself these questions: "Which is the best RES course? How long does it take to complete? Is the express or normal course duration a better fit for me?"
In this article, I will provide an overview of the various options for real estate salesperson courses offered by the top 5 RES course providers. I will also discuss the duration of each course and who they are most suitable for, whether you are working full-time, have young children, or prefer to intensively study and complete the course as quickly as possible.
These days, courses span between 2 weeks to 19 weeks depending on the course structure you choose.
Thankfully, CEA approved course providers have many variations that makes it easier to find one that works around your schedule.
It is important to keep the following points in mind:
CEA requires a minimum attendance of 75% to qualify for the RES exams.
If you meet the attendance requirement, you will receive a Certificate of Attendance, which is required for exam registration.
If you intend to take the RES exams, you must meet the RES Course admission criteria.
If you are taking the course for learning purposes only and do not plan to take the exams, you are not required to meet the admission criteria, but you will not receive a Certificate of Attendance and will not be able to take the RES exams.
The costs listed for RES courses do not include RES Exam fees.
NTUC members can use UTAP subsidies to cover up to $250 of their RES Exam costs.
RES Courses Comparison Review
(By duration & intensity)
RES School: Hastor Property Training Academy
- Highly recommended due to reputed high passing rate among new RES.
- Trainers Daryl Ou and Celeste Ng are also renown in the industry for their acumen in anticipating exam questions and training abilities. Their course materials are also renown as one of the better ones for exam revisions.
Venue Choice:
190 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh #02-514 Toa Payoh Central Singapore 310190
Located above KFC, use the stairs beside KFC to go up to level 2.
There are 3 types of RES course at Hastor to cater to various needs.
Cost:
$650 nett (No GST)
Weekday Evenings
Duration:
- Spread over 18 evening classes over 6 weeks.
- Lessons are on weekdays only.
- 7 to 10pm on all days
- Allows you to finish the course in a shorter time possible.
- Suitable for full-time employed people who are only available in the evenings.
Weekday Mornings and Afternoons (Express Course)
Duration:
- Spread over 14 half or full days.
- Lessons are on weekdays only.
- 930am to 1230pm or to 5pm on some days.
- Allows you to finish the course in a shorter time possible.
- Ideal for those who need to go for the nearest exam date.
- Suitable for those who have the flexibility of attending weekday day classes.
Weekends Only (10 days)
Duration:
- Spread over 6 weeks and 10 weekends, Saturday and Sunday.
- Suitable for those who are working full time on weekdays.
- 930am to 1230pm or to 5pm on some days.
RES School: BenchMark Pro
Venue:
151 Chin Swee Road #03-31
Manhattan House Singapore 169876.
There are 3 types of RES courses at Benchmark Pro, all taught by the trainer and founder David Huan.
Costs:
- $650 Nett (No GST)
- SkillsFuture credits can be used.
Course Types and Durations:
Weekends RES Crash Course (3 Weekends)
Duration:
- Spread over 3 weekends consecutively (Sat & Sun x 3)
- 830am to 630pm daily.
Suitable for:
- People who work very busy weekdays and only have weekends available.
- Working parents who have to shuttle and take care of the children on weekdays.
Full Day RES Crash Course (8 Weekdays)
Duration:
- Spread over 8 full days.
- Monday to Thursdays X 2 weeks consecutively.
- 10am - 530pm daily.
- Allows you to finish the course in the shortest time possible.
Suitable for:
- People who have ample leave to clear one shot and prefer intensive lessons rather than spreaded out over time.
- Self-employed people who have freedom of working wherever they are.
- Those on a sabbatical and unemployed currently.
- Those who need to make it in time for a nearing exam date.
Weekday Nights RES Course
Duration:
- Spread over 14 week nights.
- Only on weekdays.
- 7pm - 10pm.
- Allows you to pace yourself in learning and absorbing topics.
Suitable for:
- Those who prefer to learn in smaller chunks.
- People who are not able to take full day leaves over a period of 8 days.
- Working adults who may need to work late sometimes.
- Those whose exam dates are a few months away.
RES School: Pioneer Training Centre
Venue: Jurong East or Sunshine Plaza in Bencoolen Street
There are 4 types of RES courses at Pioneer Training Centre.
Costs:
- $738 per pax. $650 per pax if you sign up with a buddy.
- SkillsFuture credit claimable.
Course Types and Durations:
Weekends RES Course (4 Weekends)
Duration:
- Spread over 4 weekends consecutively (Sat & Sun x 4)
- Rotates lessons between half days to full days on alternate weekends.
- Example on some days lessons are only 10am - 1pm or 2 - 5pm and on some days both sessions.
Suitable for:
- People who work very busy weekdays and only have weekends available but yet do not want to burn their entire weekends totally. (So it's kind of the less intense version of Benchmark Pro's 3 weekends course)
- Working parents who have to shuttle and take care of the children on weekdays and yet want to enjoy some weekend time as well.
Full Day RES Crash Course (Mon/Wed/Fri)
Duration:
- Spread over just 6 full days (Interestingly as Benchmark Pro needs 8 full days to complete the same syllabus)
- Lessons are only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
- 10am - 5pm daily.
- Allows you to finish the course in the least time possible.
Suitable for:
- People who have ample leave to clear and prefer intensive lessons rather than spreaded out over time.
- Self-employed people who have freedom of working wherever they are.
- Those on a sabbatical and unemployed currently.
- Those who need to make it in time for a nearing exam date.
Weekday Nights RES Course
Duration:
- Spread over 9 weeks.
- Only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- 7pm - 10pm.
- Allows you to really pace yourself in learning and absorbing topics.
Suitable for:
- Those who prefer to learn in smaller chunks.
- People who are not able to take full day leaves easily.
- Working adults who may need to work late sometimes.
- Those whose exam dates are a few months away.
Express Weekday Nights RES Course
Duration:
- Spread over 19 days with some rest days in between.
- Only on weekday nights.
- 7pm - 10pm.
- Less intense than the full day course but still intense nonetheless.
Suitable for:
- Those who prefer to learn in smaller chunks.
- People who are not able to take leave to do the intensive course.
- Working adults who may need to work late sometimes.
- Those whose exam dates are at least 1.5 months away.
RES School: Real Centre Network
Venue Choice:
Real Centre Network (Toa Payoh) 490 Toa Payoh Lor 6 #09-16 HDB Hub Biz 3 Singapore 310490 Tel: +65 6511 3009
Real Centre Network (Tampines) 300 Tampines Avenue 5 #05-03 NTUC Income @ Tampines Junction Singapore 529653 Tel: +65 6260 0301
There are 5 types of RES courses in RCN and it varies according to their training venue.
Costs:
- $834.60 ($780 + GST)
- SkillsFuture credit claimable.
Course Types and Durations:
Weekends RES Crash Course (5 Weekends)
Duration:
- Spread over 5 weekends consecutively (Sat & Sun x 5)
- 10am - 5pm on most days except 10am - 1pm for 2 days.
Suitable for:
- People who work very busy weekdays and only have weekends available.
- Working parents who have to shuttle and take care of the children on weekdays.
Note:
- Comparing just the weekend crash courses, this is the longest compared to Benchmark Pro's 3 weekends and Pioneer Training's 4 weekends.
Saturdays Only RES Course
Duration:
- Spread over 2 months.
- Every Saturday 10am to 5pm.
Suitable for:
- People who work very busy weekdays and only have weekends available.
- Working parents who have to shuttle and take care of the children on weekdays.
- Those who do not wish to burn their entire weekend studying.
- Those who need to go for church or family outings on Sundays.
Full Day RES Crash Course (Mon/Wed/Fri)
Duration:
- Spread over 8 full days (Interesting as Pioneer Training takes only 6 full days (Despite also being 10am to 5pm daily) to complete the same syllabus)
- Lessons are only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
- 10am - 5pm daily.
- Allows you to finish the course in the least time possible.
Full Day RES Crash Course (Mon/Thurs)
Duration:
- Spread over 10 full days (Interesting as the above intensive full day course takes 8 days only while this takes 10.)
- Lessons are only on Mondays and Thursdays.
- 10am - 5pm daily.
- Allows you to finish the course in the least time possible.
Suitable for:
- People who have ample leave to clear and prefer intensive lessons rather than spreaded out over time.
- Self-employed people who have freedom of working wherever they are.
- Those on a sabbatical and unemployed currently.
- Those who need to make it in time for a nearing exam date.
Weekday Nights RES Course (Weekdays)
Duration:
- Spread over 19 weekday nights.
- Only on weekdays.
- 7pm - 10pm.
- Allows you to pace yourself in learning and absorbing topics.
Suitable for:
- Those who prefer to learn in smaller chunks.
- People who are not able to take full day leave easily.
- Working adults who may need to work late sometimes.
- Those whose exam dates are a few months away.
Weekday Nights RES Course (Tues & Thurs)
Duration:
- Spread over 2 months.
- Only on Tues and Thurs. 2 lessons per week.
- 7pm - 10pm.
- Allows you to pace yourself in learning and absorbing topics.
Suitable for:
- Those who prefer to learn in smaller chunks.
- People who are not able to take full day leave easily and prefer a less intense course than the above.
- Working adults who may need to work late sometimes every week.
- Those whose exam dates are at least 3 months away.
RES School: Singapore Estate Agents Association (SEAA)
Venue Choice:
Paya Lebar Square (2min walk from Paya Lebar MRT station)
There are 3 types of RES courses at SEAA and it's ideal for those who are working or living around Central East areas.
Cost:
- $728 per pax or $700 per pax if you sign up with a buddy.
- SkillsFuture credits can be used.
Course Types and Durations:
Weekends RES Crash Course (9 days)
Duration:
- Spread over 5 weekends (9 days) consecutively (Sat & Sun)
- 10am - 5pm
Suitable for:
- People who work very busy weekdays and only have weekends available.
- Working parents who have to shuttle and take care of the children on weekdays.
Note:
- Comparing just the weekend crash courses, this is longer compared to Benchmark Pro's 3 weekends and Pioneer Training's 4 weekends.
Full Day RES Crash Course (9 Days Express)
Duration:
- Completed over 9 consecutive full days
- Lessons are only on weekdays.
- 10am - 5pm daily.
- Allows you to finish the course in the least time possible.
Weekday Nights RES Course (Weekdays)
Duration:
- Spread over 18 weekday nights.
- Only on weekdays.
- 7pm - 10pm.
- Allows you to pace yourself in learning and absorbing topics.
Suitable for:
- Those who prefer to learn in smaller chunks.
- People who are not able to take full day leave easily.
- Working adults who may need to work late sometimes.
- Those whose exam dates are a few months away.
So, we have compared all the different permutations of courses available among 5 of the highly recommended RES course centres - Hastor Property Services, Real Centre Network, Pioneer Training Centre, SEAA and Benchmark Pro.
All five are highly recommended and have trainers whom our new on board agents have commended well.
Particularly trainers such as Daryl Ou and Celeste Ng from Hastor, David Huan from Benchmark Pro and Harry Yeo and Kent Soo who are able to engage students well and spend extra time and effort elaborating concepts if required.
To summarise, to make your life easier & hopefully better your odds of passing the RES exams on your 1st attempt, choose a course that:
1. Fits your work-life schedule the best so you will have the mental capacity to absorb all the new knowledge.
2. Is in a convenient location that you won't have much excuses to miss class. Not that you should if you are serious about this career.
3. Good patient trainers who are willing to help you understand concepts better by explaining and many times re-explaining.
Did this article help you in some way?
Like, comment and share the love with your friends who are also taking their RES course soon so that it saves them the trouble researching.
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Stuart Chng, Executive Group District Director at Huttons, is a renowned leader and personality in the real estate industry.
He adores music and can play a few instruments decently without upsetting his neighbours. When not doing so, he enjoys pillow fighting with his son and coming up with silly puns which barely amuses his wife.
Professionally, he is a licensed real estate agent, an avid stocks, options and real estate investor, business owner, team leader, speaker and columnist for several property newsletters and blogs and is often quoted in media interviews on 938FM, Channel 8, PropertyReport, PropertyGuru and other publications.
Throughout his career, he has helped many clients grow their wealth through selecting great property investments and managing their portfolios actively. Read his clients' reviews here.
Stuart has also coached many top million dollar producing agents from different real estate agencies in Singapore. Read his agents' reviews here.
P.S. Brand new and interested in the RES Course? Find out how much capital a real estate agent needs to get started and the 9 skills you will need to thrive as a realtor today!
P.P.S. Passed your RES Exams? Find out what steps to take next to quickly reach your goals!
P.P.P.S. Find out which real estate agency to join after passing your exams!