Key takeaways
- →Starting May 2025, all Alberta mortgage licensees — not just new entrants — must complete the Mandatory Re-Licensing Education on Private Lending, the “Mortgage Broker Private Lending 2025 Re-Licensing Course.”
- →The course is administered by the Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association (AMBA) and covers how private lending works for borrowers and lenders, when it's appropriate, and how to guide clients entering or exiting private loans.
- →It must be completed before licence renewal; anyone who misses the renewal deadline and later applies to reinstate must complete the course before reinstatement.
- →RECA states re-licensing education requirements can change year to year, and this Private Lending course is the standing requirement as of this research — not necessarily a permanent, unchanging one.
Alberta's pre-licensing education — the Mortgage Associates Program — only covers getting licensed in the first place. Separately, RECA runs a re-licensing education system that can require every existing licensee to complete a new course before their next renewal, regardless of how long they've already been licensed.
That system currently requires the 2025 Private Lending course. Here's what it covers, who it applies to, and the deadline structure around it.
01 · What is mandatory re-licensing education in Alberta?
It's a continuing-education requirement RECA (via the Mortgage Broker Industry Council) can apply to every mortgage licensee ahead of a renewal cycle — distinct from the one-time pre-licensing courses new entrants take to get licensed in the first place.
02 · What is the 2025 Private Lending course, and who has to take it?
Starting May 2025, the Mortgage Broker Industry Council required all mortgage licensees to complete a Re-Licensing Education Program on private lending — the Mortgage Broker Private Lending 2025 Re-Licensing Course, administered by the Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association (AMBA).
The course is built around understanding how private lending works for both borrowers and lenders, identifying when private lending is the appropriate option, and guiding clients entering or exiting private loans.
03 · When does it need to be completed, and what happens if I miss it?
The course must be completed before licence renewal. If a licensee misses the renewal deadline and later applies to reinstate their licence, the Private Lending course must be completed before reinstatement is granted — it doesn't disappear just because the licence has lapsed.
For the reinstatement fees themselves, see Alberta Mortgage Licensing Costs.
Compliance handled, files still moving
One more mandatory course. Same file volume to manage.
Treadstone's fulfillment associates keep Alberta mortgage files moving through renewal season, regardless of which course RECA adds to the requirement next.
04 · Does Alberta's re-licensing education requirement change from year to year?
Yes, potentially. RECA itself states that re-licensing education requirements can change year to year, and directs licensees to check its official page for the current requirement. The Private Lending course, in force since May 2025, is the standing mandatory re-licensing requirement as of this research, but a licensee renewing in a future cycle should confirm what's current rather than assuming this exact course still applies.
For how this compares with Alberta's renewal cycle generally, see Alberta Mortgage Licence Renewal: The Annual Cycle, Explained, and see how Treadstone works with Canadian mortgage professionals to keep files moving through renewal season. Treadstone's Canadian Mortgage Underwriting Course waitlist is open for licensees adding underwriting skill alongside their re-licensing requirements.
Frequently asked questions
This article is general information to help you scale — not a substitute for tailored advice on your specific business, licensing, or compliance obligations. All figures are illustrative examples for planning purposes; actual costs vary by province, market, and brokerage.