Key takeaways
- →New mortgage associates in Alberta must complete two courses in sequence — Fundamentals of Mortgage Brokerage, then Practice of Mortgage Brokerage — each with its own licensing exam.
- →Multiple RECA-recognized providers deliver both courses, including the Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association (AMBA) and Alberta Real Estate School; RECA explicitly cautions against choosing a provider based on speed or price alone.
- →Since May 2025, all mortgage licensees — not just new entrants — must complete the Mandatory Re-Licensing Education on Private Lending before renewing.
- →Advancing from mortgage associate to mortgage broker requires two years of licensed experience within the last five years, plus a separate Mortgage Broker Program and exam.
RECA doesn't deliver its own courses — it recognizes course providers who deliver curriculum meeting its standards, then licenses individuals who pass the accompanying exams. For mortgage, that means two required courses to get in the door, plus a separate education track once you're already licensed.
Here's how the whole structure fits together, from your first course to what RECA expects once you renew.
01 · What are the two courses required to become licensed?
Fundamentals of Mortgage Brokerage comes first — it's the course every new mortgage associate must complete before anything else. Practice of Mortgage Brokerage follows, and both require passing an accompanying exam through a RECA-recognized provider before you're eligible for licensing.
See the full path to becoming a mortgage associate for where these two courses fit alongside eligibility, brokerage sponsorship, and RECA's suitability review.
02 · Who can you take these courses through?
RECA maintains a list of recognized course providers rather than delivering the curriculum itself. For mortgage, that includes the Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association (AMBA) and Alberta Real Estate School, among others, each publishing their own exam pass-rate statistics that RECA makes publicly available for comparison.
RECA is explicit on this point: “while it may be tempting to choose the shortest or least expensive course, it's important to select a program that will adequately prepare you to provide competent service in your chosen sector.” Our course selection guide walks through what else to weigh beyond price.
03 · Is there education required beyond Fundamentals and Practice?
Yes — and it applies to everyone, not just new entrants. Starting May 2025, RECA requires all mortgage licensees to complete the Mandatory Re-Licensing Education on Private Lending before renewing, administered by the Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association. It sits alongside your regular renewal, not in place of the Fundamentals and Practice courses new associates already completed.
We cover the full renewal cycle, including this requirement, in Alberta mortgage licence renewal, explained.
Coursework done, brokerage next
Get licensed, get placed, and start building without a hiring budget.
Treadstone gives newly licensed Alberta mortgage associates the fulfillment capacity to take on more files than they could process solo.
04 · What education is required to move from associate to broker?
Advancing from mortgage associate to mortgage broker isn't automatic, and it's not just a matter of time served. RECA requires at least two years of licensed experience as a mortgage associate within the last five years, plus completion of the separate Mortgage Broker Program and its accompanying exam.
We cover the practical differences between the two licence classes — and who supervises whom — in mortgage broker vs. mortgage associate in Alberta.
05 · What happens once you've finished both courses?
Passing Fundamentals and Practice doesn't itself make you licensed — you still need a sponsoring brokerage and RECA's formal approval before you can start working files. Once that's in place, the education requirement shifts from one-time coursework to an ongoing renewal cycle, and building a client base becomes the actual job.
That's the point where Treadstone's fulfillment and growth support tends to matter most — new associates who can lean on processing help spend their first year closing files instead of drowning in them.
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.