With simply days remaining, the Monetary Companies Regulatory Company of Ontario (FSRA) says hundreds of Ontario brokers and brokers nonetheless haven’t accomplished two training programs required to keep up their present licences.

FSRA is reminding Ontario mortgage professionals that they won’t obtain their licence if they don’t move the obligatory persevering with training course by March 31, 2024. The course sometimes takes about 5 to seven hours to finish.

As of final week, FSRA mentioned 7,122 folks had but to finish the persevering with training course.

Wendy Horrobin, FSRA’s head of licensing and danger evaluation, mentioned these numbers have been shrinking week after week as professionals guide their exams, however careworn the results of lacking the deadline.

“We’re definitely urging all brokers and brokers to essentially act now in the event that they haven’t already began,” Horrobin mentioned. “Time is of the essence at this level, given the date within the month that we’re in.”

1000’s but to finish non-public mortgage course

On high of the persevering with training course, March 31 can be the deadline to finish the non-public mortgage course and obtain a Stage 2 licence.

Below the brand new Ontario licensing system launched by FSRA in 2022, a stage 2 licence can be required by March 31, 2024, for brokers and brokers eager to deal with each non-public mortgages and investments for personal traders and mortgage lenders.

This class takes roughly per week after all work to finish, Horrobin mentioned, and likewise requires brokers to schedule and efficiently move the examination.

FSRA mentioned 5,560 folks had but to finish their non-public mortgage course as of final week.

Mortgage brokers (together with principal brokers) who don’t full the non-public mortgage course by March 31 may have their licences downgraded to a stage 1 standing and received’t be allowed to deal in non-public mortgages.

Horrobin mentioned additionally they received’t be capable to reapply for a Stage 2 licence instantly. These reverting to Stage 1 might want to wait no less than a yr earlier than retaking the course. For brokers, it might take as much as three years to rebuild their credentials, based on FSRA, and should considerably disrupt a brokerage’s enterprise. That is very true within the case of principal brokers.

New necessities improve protections for customers and traders

FSRA and the federal authorities created the present licensing system again in 2022, with enhanced academic necessities for any brokers and brokers working with non-public mortgage lenders and elevating capital as a part of their work.

Based on the regulator, the brand new necessities higher shield customers and traders by making certain brokers and brokers are in a position to give acceptable recommendation when coping with non-public mortgages.

Since saying the brand new necessities in 2022, FSRA mentioned it frequently reached out to principal brokers, brokers, and Stage 2 brokers to remind them of its new licensing necessities.

That included calling 40 particular person principal brokers at Ontario’s largest brokerages, holding two FSRA webinars with 1,300 contributors, and sending out month-to-month reminders in licensed communications by FSRA itself.

Between October 2023 and March 2024, FSRA mentioned it despatched out 58 electronic mail reminders and e-newsletter articles in its licensing communications. Extra sources are additionally accessible on FSRA’s web site.

Mortgage Professionals Canada, together with the Actual Property and Mortgage Institute of Canada and the Canadian Mortgage Brokers Affiliation – Ontario, are the three organizations accredited to supply each the persevering with training and personal mortgage programs. The persevering with training course grew to become accessible final November whereas the non-public mortgages course has been accessible since early 2023.

Whereas March tends to be a busy interval for brokers and brokers trying to renew their certification, Horrobin mentioned final yr’s numbers recommend most professionals do full their renewals on time.

She hopes that may proceed this yr, however warns the method could take just a little longer this yr. That’s as a result of renewals on “odd” years solely require brokers and brokers to pay their payment and submit info to FSRA, whereas even years, like this yr, additionally require that they full the persevering with training course.

“Final yr, we had one in every of our highest on-time renewals, which means many brokers and brokers did renew on time, and efficiently accomplished the entire necessities there,” Horrobin mentioned. “On condition that there are a couple of further necessities this yr, it’s actually necessary to get them finished effectively forward of the March 31 deadline.”